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GRE FAQ - Frequently asked Questions

Sandweiss Test Prep realizes students and/or their parents may have many questions before deciding whether to take the GRE and how test results fit into one's academic plan. We've compiled the following frequently asked questions to address your concerns. Please call us if you need further information.

What is the GRE?

How is the GRE structured?

What's a good score on the GRE?

When should I take the GRE?

How do I register for the GRE?

What about the GRE Subject Tests?

What do I need to know about the new GRE?

What is the GRE?

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is a computerized multiple-choice exam required for admission to most graduate programs. The GRE tests math and language skills and includes a graded essay portion. The multiple-choice sections of the test are computer adaptive--meaning that the test reacts to your performance and adjusts question difficulty accordingly. The GRE is offered year-round at computer-based testing centers.

The GRE does not test how smart you are, how good a college student you were, or how good a grad student you will be. The GRE tests some basic knowledge and reasoning abilities, but most of all it tests how good a test taker you are. So whatever your strengths, it makes sense to maximize your ability to take the test.

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How is the GRE structured?

The GRE consists of four sections, an Analytical Writing section with two essays, followed by a Quantitative (Math) section, a Verbal section, and an unscored Experimental section. The three multiple-choice sections are presented randomly and there is no indication which section is unscored.

Issue Task: Essay - 45 minutes

Argument Task: Essay - 30 minutes

Quantitative: 37 questions - 45 minutes

Verbal: 41 questions - 30 minutes

Completing the section within the time allotted is critical, as there is a severe point penalty for not finishing.

What's a good score on the GRE?

The GRE is scored on a scale of 200-800.

A good score depends entirely on the schools to which you are applying and your overall strength as a candidate. In addition to GRE score, graduate programs consider your undergraduate performance, references, and application essays.

Very few programs will publish required GRE scores, but many make available median scores of their most recent entering class. Note that most universities have multiple graduate programs, each with their own individual expectations for GRE scores. An astrophysics program will have very different priorities from an English program.

How do I register for the GRE?

The easiest way to register for the GRE is online at www.gre.org. The current cost of the test is $150. You can also contact test centers directly to schedule a test appointment.

What about GRE Subject Tests?

Some graduate programs also require one of eight GRE Subject Tests for admission. These are Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Literature in English, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology. contact your prospective graduate program to see if you will be required to take a subject test.

Sandweiss Test Prep offers one-on-one tutoring for each of these subject tests.

What do I need to know about the new GRE?

Starting in 2011, the GRE will be administered in a significantly revised format. Click here for an overview of these upcoming changes. In our view, the new GRE will be an improved test with respect to the ways in which it measures skills that are important for success in graduate school. At the same time we strongly believe that the new GRE will be more difficult than the current version. Accordingly, we are advising all students who plan to attend graduate (or business) school starting in the fall of 2011 to prepare for an take the current version of the GRE.