GRE Study Guide

What is the GRE?

The GRE stands for Graduate Record Examination. It is a type of standardized test for students who aspire to join post-graduate programs in the U.S. and other countries. The GRE is divided into two types of tests. The first one is a general test, and the second one is divided into subject tests. When speaking of GRE, priority is always given to the general test at first. The general test is what all applicants must take, unlike the subject tests, which are specific to their chosen subjects.

The general test contains questions that are designed to simulate the thinking abilities, which you would need at a business school or any other post-graduate course. The general test contains various sections that include analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning. The verbal and quantitative reasoning tests are scored on a scale between 200 and 800. On the other hand, the analytical writing section relies on point-based scoring, where six points are the highest that can be scored. The verbal reasoning test aims to measure a candidate’s ability to evaluate and analyze written content and process the information found within that written content. Quantitative reasoning tests your ability to solve problems by using quantitative methods, which might include arithmetic, algebra, data analysis, and geometry. The Analytical Writing section tests abilities related to writing and critical thinking. It tests your ability to explain and support ideas or concepts in a fluent and efficient manner.

Who Takes the Test?

The GRE is taken by a wide range of students who aspire to enroll in graduate courses or business school. The aspiring applicants come from all over the globe, and their general aim is to pursue a master’s degree, doctoral degree, or even an accredited MBA online program. The GRE helps in measuring the abilities and skills of the candidates using a common system, especially since the applicants originate from various cultural and educational backgrounds. The GRE results are then used by various panels that oversee admissions, fellowships, or scholarships as a supplement to already existing undergraduate results, recommendation letters, and various other necessary qualifications.

The test is taken at authorized centers located across the globe in various countries, cities, towns, and so on. To be more specific, there are around 1000 authorized GRE centers located in 160 countries. Most of the countries offer the computer-delivered tests throughout the year. In fact, in Korea, Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, the computer-delivered test is available up to thrice a month. The countries that do not follow the computer-delivered test system use an alternative system called the paper (delivered) GRE test. This type of GRE test is conducted thrice a year in the months of February, October, and November.

Overview of Question Types on the GRE

There are 3 main sections in the GRE General Test. These sections include Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing. Each section is designed to test your general intelligence and is not at all related to your expertise in a chosen field of study. In fact, some would say that the General Test is much more relevant than the chosen field of study.

Verbal Reasoning:

Conduct an analysis of a piece of discourse and derive conclusions from it.

Use reasoning skills with help from insufficient data.

Determine the writer or author’s perspective or assumptions from reading the written content.

Understand different kinds of meanings such as figurative meaning, literal meaning, and intended meaning.

Identify significant points and distinguish them from less significant points.

Make sense of textual structure and also summarize the given text.

Understand the meanings of specific words, sentences, and whole paragraphs.

Understand the connection between words and concepts/ideas.

The Quantitative Test:

Interpret quantitative data or information and then analyze it.

Find solutions to problems using mathematics.

Implement mathematical systems such as algebra, arithmetic, data interpretation, and geometry to solve problems.

A calculator is usually provided during this part of the General GRE Test.

The Analytical Writing Test:

Articulate or explain ideas fluently.

Support these ideas with the help of examples and reasoning skills.

Analyze claims and their related evidence.

Discuss coherently and with focus.

Manage the various core aspects of written English.

The entire purpose of the Analytical Writing Section is to help you showcase your skills in responding appropriately to a given task.

GRE Question Structure

There are two particular types of GRE General Tests. One is the Computer-Delivered Test, and the other is the Paper-Delivered Test. The following breaks down what you can expect from each type.

The Paper-Delivered Test:

Time: The time given is 3 hours and 30 minutes for the entire test. The test contains a total of 6 sections with a 10-minute break provided after the completion of the second section.

The time given is 3 hours and 30 minutes for the entire test. The test contains a total of 6 sections with a 10-minute break provided after the completion of the second section. Time per section: Each test is provided with a particular time limit. The Analytical Writing Test is divided into 2 sections. Each section must be answered in 30 minutes. The first section involves the analysis of a problem while the second one involves the analysis of an argument. Similarly, the Verbal Reasoning Test is divided into two sections with a total of 25 questions per section. The time provided is 35 minutes for each section. As for the Quantitative Analysis Test, there are two sections again with 25 questions each. The time provided for each section is 40 minutes.

Each test is provided with a particular time limit. The Analytical Writing Test is divided into 2 sections. Each section must be answered in 30 minutes. The first section involves the analysis of a problem while the second one involves the analysis of an argument. Similarly, the Verbal Reasoning Test is divided into two sections with a total of 25 questions per section. The time provided is 35 minutes for each section. As for the Quantitative Analysis Test, there are two sections again with 25 questions each. The time provided for each section is 40 minutes. Order of the tests: The Analytical Writing Test is always the first part of the GRE General Exam. However, the other two tests may arrive in any order.

Candidates are allowed to skip and return to questions in the sections provided under Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning. The answers can also be changed if needed.

The Computer-Delivered Test:

Time: The time provided for the Computer-Delivered GRE General Test is 3 hours and 45 minutes. There are 6 sections in the test with a 10-minute break being provided after the completion of the third section.

The time provided for the Computer-Delivered GRE General Test is 3 hours and 45 minutes. There are 6 sections in the test with a 10-minute break being provided after the completion of the third section. Time per section: The Analytical Writing Tests contains a single section that is divided into 2 separate tasks. Each task must be completed in 30 minutes. The first task is to analyze a problem, and the other is to analyze an argument. Similarly, the Verbal Reasoning Test has 2 sections with 20 questions each. The time allotted per section is 30 minutes. The Quantitative Reasoning Test has 2 sections with 20 questions each and a 35-minute time limit per section.

The Analytical Writing Tests contains a single section that is divided into 2 separate tasks. Each task must be completed in 30 minutes. The first task is to analyze a problem, and the other is to analyze an argument. Similarly, the Verbal Reasoning Test has 2 sections with 20 questions each. The time allotted per section is 30 minutes. The Quantitative Reasoning Test has 2 sections with 20 questions each and a 35-minute time limit per section. Extra sections: There will be an Unscored Section or a Research Section provided, too. The Research Section will usually turn up right at the end of the test. The Research Section is provided for ETS’s (Educational Testing Service) research purposes, while the Unscored Section helps ETS try out questions that may be incorporated into the GRE General Test in the future. The Unscored Section also helps ETS compare the scores between earlier and newer editions of the test.

There will be an Unscored Section or a Research Section provided, too. The Research Section will usually turn up right at the end of the test. The Research Section is provided for ETS’s (Educational Testing Service) research purposes, while the Unscored Section helps ETS try out questions that may be incorporated into the GRE General Test in the future. The Unscored Section also helps ETS compare the scores between earlier and newer editions of the test. Order of the tests: The Analytical Writing Test is always the first, while the others may appear in any order. This is why even the Research Section or the Unscored Section must be treated as scored sections, in order to complete the test on time.

Questions can be skipped and returned to later, for which you are provided with ‘Mark’ and ‘Review’ features for each question. Answers can also be edited and corrected, if required.

The Scoring System for the GRE

The scores of the GRE General Test are valid for up to 5 years from the date of testing, after which you must take part in the test again if needed. These are the following scoring patterns for the GRE General Test:

Verbal Reasoning: 130-170 with an increment of 1 point.

Quantitative Reasoning: 130-170 with an increment of 1 point.

Analytical Writing: 0 to 6 points with an increment of half a point.

Sections that go unanswered will be marked as ‘NS’ or ‘No Score’. The scoring processes for the Computer-Delivered Test and Paper-Delivered Tests are similar. First, a raw score is calculated for the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning Sections based on the number of correct answers given. The number of questions with the right answers and the statistical aspects of the questions are factored into the raw score, as well. So two candidates who give the right answers to the same number of questions end up with varying scores, which is explained by the complexity of the questions each of the candidates answered.

The raw score is then is scaled to the final score using the method of equating. The final score is then fixed to reflect the differences in the complexity of the questions that appeared in different versions of the test.

As for the Analytical Writing Test, scoring is carried out by two readers who assess the answers based on writing skills and critical thinking abilities. Minor grammatical errors are usually overlooked; however, serious ones end up affecting the overall score. The readers score answers on a 0-to-6-point scale with half point increments. The average for both reader scores is calculated and rounded off to the closest 1.5 points, resulting in the final score for the Analytical Writing Test. If there is a wide difference between the scores provided by the first two readers, then the test is evaluated by a third reader.

What is ScoreSelect?

The ScoreSelect option allows you to send in only your best scores to the institutes or schools you are applying to. It basically means that you can take a GRE test twice and then choose the best scores to send.

When the time comes to actually send in the scores, you can choose from the following options:

On test day:

Most recent: The scores from the current test can be sent.

All options: It allows you to send scores from all the General Tests you took within the past 5 years.

You can also choose not to send in any of the scores for the time being.

After test day, candidates can send in extra score reports for a small sum.

Options include:

Most recent: Scores from the most recent test can be sent in.

All options: Scores from all the GRE General Tests from the past five years can be sent in.

Any option: Any particular set of scores can be chosen and sent as per your wishes.

The benefit of the ScoreSelect System is that you can choose to send in only your best scores. Plus, the schools or institutes will only have access to the scores that are sent to them. They will have no information about your performance on other GRE General Tests.

Additional GRE Resources on Getting Started:

Verbal Reasoning

What is assessed in this section? One of the most basic expectations for graduate-level students is that they are able to make sense of high-level prose and also analyze it. It covers the ability to know the meanings of words, sentences, paragraphs, and the entire textual content as a whole. This is exactly what is assessed by the Verbal Reasoning part of the GRE General Test. The questions that are presented in the Verbal Reasoning Test are designed to test your ability with regard to comprehending written text or content and evaluating it. It also tests your knowledge of sentence structure analysis and your ability to identify the relationships between concepts and words.

Three Types of Verbal Questions

The Verbal Reasoning Test is divided into 2 sections or tasks, each of which must be completed in 30 minutes. In each section, you will face 3 particular types of multiple-choice questions, which include:

Reading Comprehension

Text Completion

Sentence Equivalence

Overview of the Three Verbal Question Types

Reading Comprehension: The Reading Comprehension questions are specifically designed to test your command over understanding written text. This also includes testing your strengths in the area of text analysis, your ability to break down primary and secondary points, and your ability to identify the writer’s perspective. Around ten passages will be provided, and all of them will be non-fiction. The passages will be borrowed from subjects that range from physics and biology to social sciences and humanities. Each passage will be accompanied by a set of 6 questions that may pertain to the individual meaning of a word or sentence or may involve analyzing the entire passage. The answering process also varies for each question. You may be asked to choose one right answer or more than one right answer. You may also be asked to identify the answer from within the passage itself.

The Reading Comprehension questions are specifically designed to test your command over understanding written text. This also includes testing your strengths in the area of text analysis, your ability to break down primary and secondary points, and your ability to identify the writer’s perspective. Around ten passages will be provided, and all of them will be non-fiction. The passages will be borrowed from subjects that range from physics and biology to social sciences and humanities. Each passage will be accompanied by a set of 6 questions that may pertain to the individual meaning of a word or sentence or may involve analyzing the entire passage. The answering process also varies for each question. You may be asked to choose one right answer or more than one right answer. You may also be asked to identify the answer from within the passage itself. Text Completion: The text completion questions are designed to assess your skills with regard to reading. The objective of the test is to find out how well you can evaluate the text that you read. Therefore, critical or important words from the given text are omitted. You will be asked to replace these omitted words or phrases in order to arrive at a passage that makes sense or is coherent. The test is not as simple as it sounds. In fact, it can be extremely challenging, especially since the identification of one omitted word from the passage or text may depend on the identification of another omitted word from the same passage or text.

The text completion questions are designed to assess your skills with regard to reading. The objective of the test is to find out how well you can evaluate the text that you read. Therefore, critical or important words from the given text are omitted. You will be asked to replace these omitted words or phrases in order to arrive at a passage that makes sense or is coherent. The test is not as simple as it sounds. In fact, it can be extremely challenging, especially since the identification of one omitted word from the passage or text may depend on the identification of another omitted word from the same passage or text. Sentence Equivalence: This particular question type is quite similar to Text Completion. However, here, the questions are designed to assess your ability to make sense of an incomplete sentence and then choose the appropriate conclusion to the sentence. You will be asked to opt for two unique phrases or words that finish an incomplete sentence in such a way that it creates 2 finished sentences that enjoy the same meaning. The trick lies in focusing on the first part of the given sentence as it usually provides the clue to completing the sentence appropriately.

Study Strategy and Helpful Tips

Preparation for an examination such as GRE requires a lot of effort and hard work. Therefore, a strategy must be put in place. According to experts, you must dedicate at least 4 to 12 weeks of your time to prepare for GRE. Apart from improving your existing set of skills, experts advise that you practice using sample GRE tests. Taking practice tests has been known to significantly contribute to higher scores on the GRE Verbal Reasoning Test. You can also make use of the PowerPrep II software provided by ETS. The software provides you with sample tests that are exactly like the actual GRE Verbal Reasoning Test. This will provide you with an added advantage as you will have an idea of what to expect, especially when it comes to navigating and operating the Computer-Delivered Test. This will also save time and allow you to focus on the actual test.

You can also make use of various study resources provided by ETS. These resources are either free or available at very low prices. Some of these resources even include guidance videos that provide preparation strategies and tips. Another excellent resource is the Official Guide to the GRE Revised General Test. This resource provides tons of sample tests along with complete paper-based practice tests. The guide can be purchased as a paperback or downloaded as an e-book. You can also choose from a wide range of GRE study resources that are provided by third parties. They are available at bookstores, and the prices vary. Most of them are quite reliable; however, experts advise you to do some research on the third party resources before spending on them.

Another misconception that you might have about the Verbal Reasoning Test is that you are required to have a skilled vocabulary. Having a skilled vocabulary is definitely advantageous, but what’s more important is your ability to understand text. Therefore, make a habit of reading advanced texts on a regular basis. Also, make sure to check out various definitions and new words. Once again, sample tests are the best way to test your vocabulary.

The questions on the Verbal Reasoning Test are made up of different formats. Therefore, it is necessary that you read all the given instructions before answering the question. This will help you determine what type of answer you must provide. With regard to the Computer-Delivered GRE Test, you can always mark questions and skip them. Once you’re done with the remaining questions, you can come back to the skipped ones and try solving them. You also have the option of editing your previous answers, if you feel they might be wrong or incomplete.

The scoring of the Verbal Reasoning Test depends on how many questions you’ve answered correctly. There is no negative marking or credit for wrong answers, which means answering every question is the best thing to do. The ideal strategy to use here is to answer all the questions you know first, and then go back to the ones you aren’t sure of.

5 Verbal Reasoning Bonus Tips:

Get used to the question formats that we discussed earlier. Practice and make sure are thorough with them.

Read plenty of texts, especially complex ones. This will help you develop your comprehension skills. Do not focus too much on word lists. Instead, read as much as you can. This will help you improve your vocabulary and also your language skills.

Do not be ashamed to get help. Use resources or talk to other successful GRE candidates that you might know of. There are also many preparatory courses that are available that can help you out. Do not feel embarrassed to enroll in one.

Keep practicing with sample tests.

Learn to keep time and practice trying to solve questions within the given time.

Additional Verbal Reasoning Resources:

Quantitative Reasoning

Quantitative Reasoning is one of the most important and exhaustive sections in the GRE test paper. It assesses your reasoning skills in math and your ability to apply these concepts to real-life situations. It includes solving problems, most of which are given in the form of word problems. It tests your skills from the word go, converting words into mathematical problems, applying appropriate reasoning, and using suitable tools to come up with the correct answers. The section is quite extensive and can test your skills to the limit, so prepare accordingly to ensure that you are not overwhelmed when you take the test.

What is Assessed in the Quantitative Reasoning Section?

There are four major skills that are analyzed in the section: arithmetic, geometry, algebra, and data analysis. The analysis includes both knowledge and application skills of the theories that you have studied. The Quantitative Reasoning Section of the GRE tests your basic math skills, understanding of mathematical concepts, quantitative reasoning, and problem-solving skills using quantitative methods.

Arithmetic

The section includes basic mathematical principles and operations. Some of the topics covered in this section are:

Integers, their types, and their properties: Prime numbers Divisibility Remainders Factorization Even and odd integers

Arithmetic operations, roots, and exponents

Estimation

Ratio

Percent

Absolute value

Sequences of numbers

Decimal representation

Number line

Rate

Algebra

The section tests your ability to apply simple mathematical concepts to actual problems and solve them using quantitative reasoning and is comprised of topics like:

Factoring and simplifying algebraic equations

Problems with exponents

Relations, equalities, inequalities, and functions

Quadratic and linear equations

Simultaneous equations and solving inequalities

Converting word problems into equations and solving them

Graphs for slope of lines, functions, equations, intercepts, inequalities, and coordinate geometry

Geometry

The geometry section comprises only elementary geometry and does not test your ability to construct proofs. Understanding basic concepts and knowing Pythagoras’ theorem should get you past this section without much difficulty.

Perpendicular and parallel lines

Triangles, including 30-, 60-, and 90-degree angles, equilateral triangles, and isosceles

Circles

Polygons

Quadrilaterals

Similar and congruent figures

Area

Volume

Perimeter

Three-dimensional figures

Pythagorean theorem

Measurement of angles in degrees

Data analysis

The topics covered in this section are usually taught under basic algebra or as an introduction to statistics in high school. Here are some of those topics:

Basic descriptive statistics Median Mean Mode Standard deviation Range Quartiles Percentiles Interquartile range

Interpretation of data – Tables and graphs Bar graphs Line graphs Circle graphs Scatterplots Boxplots Frequency distributions

Elementary probability Independent events Compound events

Counting methods Permutations Combinations Venn diagrams



Anyone who has finished high school should be able to understand these concepts and apply them to basic analysis.

Most of the math that is included in the Quantitative Reasoning section of the GRE is elementary, covering only those topics that are taught at the high school level. It does not include high-level mathematics like calculus. If you go back and study some of your high school math books, they could become reference guides for your GRE preparation.

Although the level of understanding expected for mathematical concepts is fairly elementary, your skills will be tested to a large extent at times in the section. Understand all the basic concepts thoroughly, and then practice applications in as varied forms as you can. Sample questions and test papers that are available online can help you prepare well. We have also included a few links (at the end of the section) to test questions.

Four Common Types of Quantitative Reasoning Questions

The Quantitative Reasoning Section in the GRE test has four major areas, as discussed earlier in the book. These four areas are further tested in a number of ways to test your skills and expertise in the basics of math. Various types of questions based on different branches of the subject are used to understand your level of quantitative reasoning skills in elementary math.

The Four Types of Questions:

Multiple choice questions – select one option

Quantitative comparison questions

Multiple choice questions – select one or more options

Numeric entry questions

Pay particular attention to the multiple choice questions and ensure that you choose answers accordingly. Do not get confused between the single-option and multiple-option questions.

Here is a breakdown of the four different types of questions you will come across in the Quantitative Reasoning Section.

Quantitative comparison questions – In this section, you have to compare two quantities, compute them, and figure out the values for each based on the information provided in the question. These types of questions usually have a standard format for the options. The first two options suggest that one value is greater than the other.The third option states that the quantities are equal. The last option says that it is not possible to find the values with the information provided. If choosing the last option, ensure that you have checked the other options well and are absolutely certain that the problem cannot be solved with the information given.

In this section, you have to compare two quantities, compute them, and figure out the values for each based on the information provided in the question. These types of questions usually have a standard format for the options. The first two options suggest that one value is greater than the other.The third option states that the quantities are equal. The last option says that it is not possible to find the values with the information provided. If choosing the last option, ensure that you have checked the other options well and are absolutely certain that the problem cannot be solved with the information given. Multiple choice questions – select one option – You will have five choices from which you will have to choose the correct option based on the answer you get by working on the information provided in the question. The advantage here is that you know the answer is one of the five options, which narrows down the possibilities of you going wrong. Scan the options properly before you start working on the question. Doing so will give you a good idea of what the answer might be. If your answer does not match any of the options, check for mistakes in computation and reasoning, then reread the question to see if you have missed any important details.

select one option – You will have five choices from which you will have to choose the correct option based on the answer you get by working on the information provided in the question. The advantage here is that you know the answer is one of the five options, which narrows down the possibilities of you going wrong. Scan the options properly before you start working on the question. Doing so will give you a good idea of what the answer might be. If your answer does not match any of the options, check for mistakes in computation and reasoning, then reread the question to see if you have missed any important details. Multiple choice questions – select one or more options – These questions also have five options. However, you can choose more than one option in this set of questions. Do not get confused between multiple choice questions. Read them carefully and answer accordingly.Some questions will explicitly tell you or indicate somewhere in the wording as to how many options you can choose. Some questions will keep it open-ended and leave it up to you to decide the number of options to choose. These questions generally relate to averages or a range. Scan the options well as that may give you a good idea of the options you will need to choose. Keep computations simple as these questions are relatively easy to answer.

These questions also have five options. However, you can choose more than one option in this set of questions. Do not get confused between multiple choice questions. Read them carefully and answer accordingly.Some questions will explicitly tell you or indicate somewhere in the wording as to how many options you can choose. Some questions will keep it open-ended and leave it up to you to decide the number of options to choose. These questions generally relate to averages or a range. Scan the options well as that may give you a good idea of the options you will need to choose. Keep computations simple as these questions are relatively easy to answer. Numeric entry questions – These types of questions may be a little trickier than the other three and may require more time to solve. There are no options provided, so you have no indicators to compare your answers with. Read the questions carefully, ensure that you enter all the right values during computation, and pay attention to the answer boxes.Some answer boxes will indicate what kind of answer is expected. You may be expected to give the final answer in miles or kilometers, in feet or meters, as an exact answer, or with the decimal point rounded off. Go through the requirements carefully before and after doing your computations to ensure that you have followed the instructions well. Double check your answer before entering.

When preparing for the test, practice answering different types of questions and get to know what kinds of choices are usually given. Become familiar with the format of questions and options so that you do not waste time doing it on the day of the test.

Analytical Writing

The Analytical Writing Section, also known as the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA), is the essay section of the Graduate Record Examinations. It comprises two essay writing tasks of 30 minutes each, designed to measure your critical thinking ability and analytical writing skills.

Your overall objective in both essays will be to create a compelling and convincing thesis statement and to defend the same over the course of several paragraphs. You will be assessed and graded on three key parameters, which are your ability to: a) express complex ideas clearly and support them effectively, b) build strong arguments and evaluate them, and c) maintain a logical, focused, and consistent discussion.

Inside the Analytical Writing Section

The two analytical writing tasks included in AWA are – (1) the Analyze an Issue task, and (2) the Analyze an Argument task. Both tasks are complementary in essence. One requires you to take a stand on a given issue and justify it. The other requires you to assess whether someone else’s stand is logically correct or not.

Analyze an Issue

This task involves a relatively generic issue of broad interest. You will be presented with an opinion on the issue as well as a set of instructions, which outline how you should respond to the issue in question. Your task is to evaluate the issue, form your own views about the given opinion (that is, to agree or disagree with the given opinion), and to build an argument in support of the views or opinions. Your argument must be supported with reasons and examples.

Analyze an Argument

This task involves an argument which has already been made with regard to a certain issue. You will be presented with a set of instructions that outline the criteria you should consider when evaluating the argument. Your task is to assess the logical soundness of the argument in question. You must assess the claims made by the arguments and evaluate the reasons and examples it provides in support to opine whether or not the given argument is rational and appropriate.

4 Tips to Ace the AWA

Before you begin preparing for AWA, here are four things to know about the section:

What is Being Measured?

The focus of the Analytical Writing Section is your ability to make clear, reasoned judgments and to express them coherently. It is not to test your knowledge of any particular subject or discipline. Thus, specific content knowledge from the given test is not graded in this section.

Each essay is scored on a scale of 0 to 6 in single-point increments. Your final score for the section is the average of the two essay scores rounded off to the nearest half-point. Thus, the final score is reported on a scale of 0.0 to 6.0. Analytical writing graders are trained to award the scores in 30 seconds or less.

As a control measure, an automatic essay grader is also used in calculating your scores. The purpose is to ensure the ETS-trained grader has made no mistake in scoring your test. The automatic essay grader, or E-rater, is an electronic software application that follows its algorithm to grade both essays and award a final score between 0.0 and 6.0. If the scores awarded by the E-rater and the GRE grader differ by more than one point (on the 0.5 scale), your essays are sent to another ETS-trained grader for reevaluation.

You Earn Points for:

The quality and depth of judgments/arguments made.

The logical flow of judgments/arguments in the essay.

The use of correct as well as effective grammatical structures.

What is Considered a Good Score?

Getting scores between 0.0 and 2.0 is both undesirable and uncommon. The vast majority of students get between 3.0 and 6.0, which can be considered a “good score” in general. To better understand the grading system and the meaning of each score, you can check out the score level descriptions provided by ETS.

What is Considered a Good Essay Length?

While there is no specific word limit or recommendation on the same, for that matter, longer essays tend to score better than shorter ones given they’re appropriate in terms of quality and depth. Longer essays that are not substantial will result in a low score. You will also have to consider the 30-minute deadline for each essay.

It is generally a good idea to limit the length of your essay to five paragraphs: one each for introduction and conclusion and three in the body of the essay. Ensure each paragraph is structured well (see below to learn more about structuring) and presents a new, compelling point.

How do you Write a Good Essay?

Writing a good essay is all about preparation and practice. Now that you know what skills are measured in the Analytical Writing Section, you can direct your preparations accordingly. A good essay can be characterized by three C’s:

Clear – There is a reason why simplicity is considered the ultimate expression of sophistication. Ensure you present your ideas in a direct, lucid, and clear manner. You don’t want to impress with complex sentence structures as graders actively look and score for clarity. Using an advanced, GRE-level sophisticated vocabulary is recommended, however, as it improves scores.

There is a reason why simplicity is considered the ultimate expression of sophistication. Ensure you present your ideas in a direct, lucid, and clear manner. You don’t want to impress with complex sentence structures as graders actively look and score for clarity. Using an advanced, GRE-level sophisticated vocabulary is recommended, however, as it improves scores. Cogent – Graders look for strong, compelling arguments from your side. To get a high score, you want to choose strong reasons and develop specific examples to express cogency. The trick is to express cogency in complex arguments and clarity in language at the same time.

Graders look for strong, compelling arguments from your side. To get a high score, you want to choose strong reasons and develop specific examples to express cogency. The trick is to express cogency in complex arguments and clarity in language at the same time. Coherent – The different ideas and opinions expressed in your essay, as well as the reasons and examples you present in their defense must be logically connected to one another. Ideas must flow logically, and so should paragraphs.

Apart from the three C’s, you also want to pay attention to your grammar. While minor grammatical errors here and there will not affect your scores, major errors or several minor errors definitely will. There’s a fifth parameter, as well, which will help you score well in the analytical writing section: structure.

Because your graders only have 30 seconds to grade your essays, they take a cursory glance of the essay first, stopping to read only what feels important. When glancing through, graders look for well-structured essays marked by distinct paragraphs, which 1) start with a topic sentence, 2) build into the opinion with examples and reasons, and 3) conclude with an articulation of the topic sentence formerly stated.

When practicing for this section, mark yourself on the three C’s of good essays as well as the structure and the grammar.

AWA Preparation Strategy

The single most helpful strategy is to practice, practice, practice. Writing your essays within 30 minutes and grading them (or having them graded by friends or family) will help you build speed and stamina. Keeping this in mind, here are six keys to preparing intelligently for the analytical writing section:

Read Sample Essays: The next best thing to writing essays is reading them. ETS has a great online resource of sample essays for both issue and argument tasks to help you understand what graders are looking for in your essays.

The next best thing to writing essays is reading them. ETS has a great online resource of sample essays for both issue and argument tasks to help you understand what graders are looking for in your essays. Create Outlines: It is never a good idea to jump straight into writing the essay. During the preparation phase, prepare an action strategy for yourself to tackle the section effectively. It is a good idea to include the tasks of brainstorming and outlining before getting started with the actual writing. Spend the first three to four minutes thinking of different ideas. Write them down quickly, and then spend one minute on creating an outline for your essay. This outline will help you manage the coherent flow of paragraphs. Start writing only after this. Follow the same strategy when taking the actual test as well.

It is never a good idea to jump straight into writing the essay. During the preparation phase, prepare an action strategy for yourself to tackle the section effectively. It is a good idea to include the tasks of brainstorming and outlining before getting started with the actual writing. Spend the first three to four minutes thinking of different ideas. Write them down quickly, and then spend one minute on creating an outline for your essay. This outline will help you manage the coherent flow of paragraphs. Start writing only after this. Follow the same strategy when taking the actual test as well. Review Practice Essays: You’ll be able to recognize your error patterns, common mistakes, and other problem areas in your writing. When reviewing, also take time to correct the mistakes and then read the final draft as one of the sample essays. Over time, you will become more aware of yourself and where you go wrong in the three C’s, grammar, and structure, thereby minimizing mistakes in the test. Use the scoring guide to grade yourself and monitor progress over the week. You should aim to move up the grade scale every week.

You’ll be able to recognize your error patterns, common mistakes, and other problem areas in your writing. When reviewing, also take time to correct the mistakes and then read the final draft as one of the sample essays. Over time, you will become more aware of yourself and where you go wrong in the three C’s, grammar, and structure, thereby minimizing mistakes in the test. Use the scoring guide to grade yourself and monitor progress over the week. You should aim to move up the grade scale every week. Improve Vocabulary and Grammar: Graders look for sophisticated, GRE-level grammar and vocabulary. If you don’t have much preparation time, focus on grammar alone. Brush up on topics such as subject-verb agreements, active and passive voice, conjunctions, tenses, and the proper use of commas, semi-colons, etc.

Graders look for sophisticated, GRE-level grammar and vocabulary. If you don’t have much preparation time, focus on grammar alone. Brush up on topics such as subject-verb agreements, active and passive voice, conjunctions, tenses, and the proper use of commas, semi-colons, etc. Learn how to Manage Time: Managing time is very important to ensure your final submission is error-free and of high quality. Budget the 30 minutes to have sufficient time for five activities:

Reading the issue/argument as well as the instructions accompanying them.

Brainstorming ideas

Creating an outline

Writing the essay

Proofreading

Spend no more than five minutes on brainstorming.

Outlining the essay and proofreading the final essay in the end can be done within three to five minutes, as you don’t need to comb through the essay. Only check for large grammatical errors. Thus reading the issue/argument and instructions, plus writing the essay are the most time-consuming parts of the test. Aim for at least 20 minutes of writing time.

Leverage the published pool of topics.

The ETS also shares the entire pool of essay tasks, from which the Issue and Argument tasks are selected for your GRE exam. The Issue topics and Argument topics are listed categorically, and the topics you get in your test will be nothing more than a lingual variation of the topics from the pool.

Taking the Computer-delivered GRE?

The ETS has developed a dedicated word processor for use in the Analytical Writing Section. Only basic functionality such as cut, paste, delete, insert text, and undo previous action are available on the processor. Spelling and grammar checking functionality is not available. Therefore, when practicing for computer-delivered GRE tests, it is a good idea to either turn off or not use any additional features apart from the ones on the ETS word processor.

Additional GRE Analytical Writing Resources:

Most Common Mistakes Made by GRE Candidates

The GRE is a difficult exam, and it takes a lot of preparation to get it right and score well. If you are not well prepared or are simply nervous, you are likely to make mistakes. You may enter wrong values during computation, understand passages incorrectly, or take too much time and be left without enough to finish all the questions on the test. Here are a few mistakes that most candidates taking the GRE make in particular sections or overall through the entire test.

General Mistakes

Most students commit a few general mistakes while preparing for the GRE.

The GRE is an important test and is not something that you can get ready for at the last minute. Doing so will simply confuse you with the deluge of information, making you forget what you have already studied.

There are a number of free online resources that offer guidance and practice tools for the exam. If you do not use them, you may find it difficult to finish the test on time.

Each section of the test is distinctly different and requires preparation. If you do not practice equally as much for all the sections, your final score will suffer, even if you have performed exceptionally well in one section.

Look for multiple guide books, sample questions, and tests online when getting ready for the GRE. Sticking to just one kind of study material will make your preparation less diverse.

Start early, keep looking for new sources online, study well, and time yourself frequently when completing questions.

Common Mistakes in Analytical Writing

The analytical section is tricky as it tests language skills, logical reasoning, and creative ideas.

Spelling errors and typos are common when writing or typing quickly. Words get misspelled, or you end up spelling them wrong. For example, you may type ‘use’ as ‘sue’, thereby completely changing the meaning of what you say.

Not being clear in your arguments and ideas means that the examiner checking your paper will not be able to fully understand what you are trying to convey.

Errors in sentence formations are another major problem. Sometimes, you may have a thought that you are trying to convey but may end up writing long sentences that lose their meaning at the end and are plain confusing to read.

If you start writing in a hurry, you may actually miss the point of the argument and may misunderstand the entire point of the essay.

Take your time and do not rush through this section.

Common Mistakes in Quantitative Section

This section tests your skills with numbers and analytics.

Errors while writing an answer like not putting a negative sign or not using the decimal point can cost you points on the final score.

The most common mistake is entering wrong numerical values or using addition instead of subtraction as it can completely change your answer.

Being in a hurry and misreading questions usually happens when you are nervous or running out of time.

Confusing single-option and multiple-option questions can cost you dearly, as you may end up losing multiple points for such errors.

Read questions carefully, and double-check computations for errors.

Common Mistakes in the Verbal Section

This section tests your language understanding and writing skills.

If you do not read a passage carefully or understand it well, you could be answering all the questions for that passage wrong.

If you choose one correct and one wrong answer in sentence equivalence, you will lose out on scores for the entire question.

Many multiple-choice questions have similar-sounding answers, and it is common to get confused and choose the wrong option.

Using the same words over and over again, or using the same idea in different sentences throughout the essay, can cost you points.

Read passages carefully, and double-check answers and essays for mistakes.

You can get rid of most of these errors simply by being better prepared and knowing how to time yourself to finish the test well in time. Prepare well, be confident of your knowledge and reasoning skills, and you should be able to score well on your upcoming GRE test.

Do Not Ignore These if You Want to Score Well on the GRE

Here are a few tips to prepare well, answer correctly, and finish your test on time for your upcoming GRE test.

If you find a question difficult, mark it for later review and move on to the next one. It will help save time; you can get back to the question later and view it with a fresh perspective.

The Quantitative Reasoning Section will usually give you one option for an on-screen calculator for the computations.

There is an option to view all the questions in one section on a single page. Use it to get an idea of the kinds of questions before beginning your test for each section.

Time yourself for each question or each section and ensure you stick to the timeline. Doing so will ensure that you finish the test on time and do not miss out on any questions.

Take timed tests during preparation so that you know which sections are faster to finish and which questions take more time. It will help you set a timeline for the actual test.

Keep these tips in mind and you will find it easier to manage your time during the test and give it your best shot.

Before the Test Prep Work

Before applying for GRE, make sure that the institutions and the courses you are applying for accept GRE scores. Here are a few facts that you should pay special attention to during your GRE preparation as well as on the actual test day.

Register on the official GRE website to get email alerts for submission dates and other important dates and updates. It will help you make sure that you do not miss out on any submissions and payments in the midst of your preparations.

Know that most business schools do not have a preference for GRE or GMAT. However, check with the school or schools you are applying for and the details of the programs you wish to enroll in to know the specific requirements.

Check the cost of taking the test, and ensure that you have the amount ready so that you do not have to rush at the last minute to arrange for funds.

Check various online sources to get more details about GRE. If you are not a native English speaker, you can take the test in multiple other languages, as well, so check for the details before applying.

Calculators are provided at the center, so you need not carry or use your own.

Pay attention to these small details. They can help you with important decisions about taking the test or the scores you need to target as well as ensure that you are on time and at the right venue for your tests. Know all the rules and regulations and follow them strictly if you do not want any last minute problems at the test center. Look at the list of documents to be carried to the center, and keep them ready beforehand.

Sample Test Resources

Here are a few links to sample questions and GRE test papers online that you can refer to and use when preparing for the test.

majortests.com/gre/

ets.org/gre/quantitative_reasoning_questions

The last link is a timed test that you can take once you have prepared for the various sections and want to check if you can complete the test on time. It will help you time yourself better for the actual test.

GRE is an important test. Be prepared for biometric testing at the center (a few hours before the test). Do not write any information related to the test on your personal belongings or clothing. Phones and all other electronic devices are barred from test rooms, so make sure you leave them outside. Only analog watches are allowed in test centers.

If you have any health-related problems or requirements which may prevent you from taking the test on a particular date, specify it while filing the application itself so that your request can be accommodated accordingly. Wear comfortable clothing during the test. Read through all the rules of the test so you go to the test center prepared accordingly. Stay calm, and you will be able to attempt the test better and give it your best shot.

Best GRE Prep Apps for Studying

If you want to get admission into a premier business school program, scoring high on the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is not the only option you have. Most schools also accept GRE (Graduate Record Examination) scores now. Of course, you will need to score high in this test to maximize your chances of gaining admission into the best schools. For this, studying effectively by identifying and using the best study materials is very important. So is learning how to study most effectively for the GRE test so that you score high and this is one area where technology comes to your rescue. The internet has transformed the field of education in many ways and the immense popularity of the Master of Business Administration Program is proof of this. For you, the GRE aspirant too, the internet has some benefits to offer in the form of GRE preparation apps that you can download. These Apps are designed to make GRE preparation easier, quicker, and more accessible.

There are a number of such apps today mainly because of the prevalence of smartphones and tablets. Plus, students are looking for innovative ways to ace the test and apps seem to be a good solution. However, one common mistake that students like you make is to think that these apps can substitute for studying, practicing, and sheer hard work. This is incorrect. Apps can make studying easier and faster. You still have to invest work, time, and attention in studying the right kinds of material if you hope to pass the test with flying colors.

So, if apps are not a substitute for studying, why should you download them at all?

First, apps are great supplements to your GRE studying and they improve your chances of scoring better

Mobile learning allows you to study on the go. That means your GRE preparation can go on when you are traveling or commuting, letting you devote more hours to studying

Apps give you access to study material from anywhere so even if you are away from home, your study schedule need not be interrupted

All GRE apps are NOT created equal

There hundreds of study-centric apps available today, but not all of them are designed with your needs in mind. Some of them may be too intricate to deliver value while others are just too basic and gloss over the learning part to be of any actual use to you. It will not do to download the cheapest app or the one that takes up the least space on your phone either because these may not offer any value addition to your GRE preparation. To pick the right ones, you should have a basic idea of what each one does and what it is good for. Match this information what your specific needs and you can quickly find a GRE preparation app that will give you maximum benefit.

1. The Official GRE Guide Mobile App by ETS

Overview:ETS is the company that writes and administers the GRE the material you access through the app, which is drawn from previous tests. The Start pack is $4.99 and it has verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning questions (25 each), 2 analytical writing topics. You can buy the Expansion pack at $19.99 which has 125 extra verbal and quantitative reasoning questions (each) and 4 additional analytical writing tasks.

App Pros:

Tips on how to answer are included so you can learn to answer quickly and correctly to maximize scores

You have explanations of why answers are right or wrong which makes for better understanding of the subject matter

Covers a good number of questions that are a good representation of the actual test

Various quiz modes for practice are a highlight

Highly reliable because it comes from ETS

Authentic questions and answers, meaning this can be your go-to source for study

Frequently updated (last update August 15, 2015)

App Cons:

Practice questions are limited in number and you may have to supplement with questions from other sources

The app does not offer questions or quizzes or helpful material that is different from what is already on site. The ETS site has all of the app’s content for free so the only advantage you have is the ease of access to this material on the go when you buy the app

Onsite, you will also find revised General Test Preparation material for GRE, absolutely free of cost

The Expansion pack is costly

Recommended For:

For those who are completely unfamiliar with GRE test questions/ pattern

For visually impaired because it has accessibility features

For those who will use these as the standard study material since it comes from the ETS, the original, authentic source

For those want to understand the GRE question structure and understand how to approach the questions

2. GRE+ by Arcadia Prep

Overview: You can start with free initial access and then make in- app purchases of various packages depending on the subject area that you need most help with. The Math package costs Complete Math Package ($15.99) Complete Verbal Package ($4.99), Complete Writing Package ($4.99), Sentence Equivalence, and Text Completion Package (2.99)

App Pros:

App comes with community feature- you can discuss questions and answers with other users for better learning

Quick response to queries

Question explanations are excellent, step by step solutions make it easy for you to understand how the answer has been arrived at

Built-in timer to pace yourself to match GRE test time

Scorecard lets you measure your performance

Very comprehensive, a good number of questions based on authentic study materials is included

Workspace and pen tool make it easy to do your working without reaching for books or pencils- a big advantage when you are studying on the go

App Cons:

Only initial access is free

The app offers good GRE study only when you opt for the add-ons, but these are quite expensive

Users point out that a number of errors are found in the study materials, formatting issues and missing information being the most common of such issues. However, these are generally quickly rectified as and when they are brought to light by users

Updates are slow and somewhat infrequent so the latest changes to the GRE test may not be incorporated. This can become a big problem if the test has undergone massive changes recently.

Recommended For:

Students who want in-depth review of concepts

Students who understand better when they can discuss with others working on the same topics

Those who study on the go (easy to solve problems even if you lack access to writing material)

Those who want to time themselves/ Improve their time- taken

3. GRE Prep App: Math, Verbal & Writing Videos by Magoosh

Overview: This free app that requires you to pay for premium content gives access to video lessons covering math, verbal and writing sections of the GRE test. It includes an introduction to the test, outlining the format, and giving detailed explanation of concepts. For premium content, you subscribe to the site and take a $100 one month package or $299 six month package.

App Pros:

Over 200 video lessons covering writing, math, and verbal sections of GRE

Comprehensive lessons, that have helped previous students improve scores by 8 points (average)

Animated examples make it easy to follow how the solution is derived

Created by experts

Option to measure progress

Tips and strategies for answering each GRE test question type are given

Practice questions also have video explanations

Option to measure your progress

Organized chapters that make studying more efficient

App Cons:

Lack of practice tests is a big drawback in this app

The videos play at a fixed speed, no speed selector, reviews of videos or of specific topics covered in the videos, this is inconvenient and takes much longer than necessary

For practice problems, you have to visit the site for downloads, pre-download of video for offline study is not possible

You need to download a second app to apply the concepts you learn or you have to visit the Magoosh website. The app cannot be considered a stand-alone study tool, in this respect.

Recommended For:

Ideal for those who are completely unfamiliar with GRE test structure/ questions

For those who study better through teacher- student interactions formats, which is duplicated in the videos

For those who want to have better control over their pace of study (the app has a personalized dashboard to make this easy)

For those want to track their progress

4. GRE Math Prep App – Your Teacher

Overview: This app is like having your own Math teacher on call and it is designed to mimic the tutoring format in a typical classroom. The app costs $9.99 but remember this is only a Math app, you will need other tools to cover the other sections of the GRE test. It comes with quite a number of examples, practice questions, and higher level test questions to train you thoroughly in the concepts and application.

App Pros:

Over 130 Math lessons cover all concepts thoroughly

Each lesson has video examples and interactive practice to help you understand how to solve problems. In addition, there are several self-tests and worksheets for practice.

It is like having a personal tutor take you through the math problems, explaining when you don’t get how to do it.

Basic concepts are covered so you can brush on forgotten Math knowledge in minimum time

App Cons:

You cannot track the lessons and section you have already completed

You cannot track your progress or measure improvement

A few more GRE practice level questions are needed

Only Math topics are covered, you will need to opt for other tools for the other GRE sections

Some students feel that this is a good primer but not enough for advanced test preparation

The GRE test questions are more complex and varied than the ones the app has, so it may not reflect the test very accurately

Recommended For:

For those who are not sure of basic Math concepts that are covered in the GRE test

For those who thrive in a typical classroom teaching environment with the personal guidance of the tutor

For those who perform better when interactive teaching via videos is used

If you need quick reminders of forgotten concepts and a ready- reckoner to tell you how to solve a problem, this app is a good fit

5. GRE Vocab Genius App

Overview: This $9.99 app is ranked right at the top among education apps and it is designed to help improve your vocabulary really fast. The app uses cognitive science techniques, teaching you via flashcards, adding some 2000 words to your repertoire.

App Pros:

The dynamic flashcards help you learn really quick

The app uses a tried and tested algorithm to help learn most efficiently so you save time while meeting study goals

Difficult vocabulary words are covered and definitions, sentences, and synonyms of these give you complete command over them

App covers the use of suffixes and prefixes for comprehensive learning

Adaptive learning allowing you to set your degree of difficulty- you can rate the words on a 5 point scale and prompt the program to increase the difficulty level

Visualization tools and feedback tools help you learn more efficiently and identify areas where you need to give more attention

App Cons:

Word search not possible so if you want to look up a specific word, this app is not useful

Root words are not included, meaning the app does not help identify other words emerging from the same root

Minimal features restrict the degree of learning you can achieve

Infrequent updates means that the latest changes in GRE vocabulary format may not be incorporated. The app was last updated on December 6th, 2014

Some users have encountered problems with the progress tracking functionality

Recommended For:

For those who find memorizing words difficult when traditional methods are used

For those with a poor vocabulary since the app covers several words, as well as, trains you to understand how suffixes and prefixes work

For those who are unfamiliar with apps since this one has a very intuitive user interface

For those want to track their progress with statistics to show their improvement on an ongoing basis

6. GRE Vocabulary Flashcard App by Magoosh

Overview: This free app helps you master 1000 words that are critical for GRE test with flashcards to test and improve your memory. The word definition is given and so is a sample sentence to show how it is used. Move up through various difficulty levels to gain mastery over the most difficult words.

App Pros:

Cards include a complete definition of each word and many example sentences to improve recall

Uses smart algorithm to make learning efficient and quick

Progress trackers let you measure how far you have come

Levels are divided in terms of difficulty level and you can progressively increase your vocabulary skills

The app identifies the areas where you lack so that you can focus more attention there

Example sentences come with clues that help remember and identify the word quickly

App Cons:

Words are repeated at times in different levels

Inconsistent categorization of words, for example, some simple words may be included in the ‘Difficult’ level while complex words appear in the initial levels

The app’s functionalities are not up to mark, for example, there is no way to permanently mark words that you already know

Lack of sound makes it difficult to understand how the words are pronounced

Synonyms are not included with the definition

App Recommended For: