What is the GRE Exam? A Complete Guide for 2025 Aspirants

Are you planning to pursue graduate studies abroad? If yes, then you’ve likely come across the GRE (Graduate Record Examination)—a widely accepted standardized test that opens doors to top universities around the world. In this blog, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the GRE: what it is, who needs it, the exam format, scoring, preparation tips, and more. If you’re planning to pursue graduate studies abroad, especially in the United States, you’ve probably heard of the GRE (Graduate Record Examination). It’s one of the most widely accepted standardized tests for graduate admissions worldwide.

In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the GRE in 2025 — what it is, the types of GRE, exam structure, eligibility, how to register, preparation tips, and more.

What is the GRE Exam?

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is a standardized test conducted by ETS (Educational Testing Service). It assesses a candidate’s readiness for graduate-level academic work and is accepted by thousands of universities and colleges worldwide, particularly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

Types of GRE

GRE General Test

This is the most commonly required test for graduate and business school admissions.

GRE Subject Tests

These are specialized tests that evaluate your knowledge in specific subjects like Math, Physics, Psychology, and Chemistry.

GRE General Test Structure

The GRE General Test is divided into three main sections:

Tasks: 1 “Analyze an Issue” task
Duration: 30 minutes
Measures: Critical thinking and ability to express complex ideas clearly.

Questions: 2 sections, ~27 questions total

Duration: 41 minutes

Topics: Reading comprehension, text completion, sentence equivalence

Questions: 2 sections, ~27 questions total

Duration: 47 minutes

Topics: Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, data interpretation

Doesn’t count toward your score but used by ETS for testing future questions.

Total Duration: Around 1 hour 58 minutes (shortened as of September 2023)

GRE Scoring System

Section

Score Range

Verbal Reasoning

130–170

Quantitative Reasoning

130–170

Analytical Writing

0–6

💡 Tip: Top universities often look for scores above 320 (combined verbal + quant) and 4.5+ in writing.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *