The Graduate Record Examination is a globally accepted exam which is accepted by US universities to admit students for various technology courses. This exam test students on their verbal, mathematical and analytical skills. However, GRE Test is only one of different parameters that the graduate schools look at to verify the selection of a candidate. A high score alone does not assurance an offer from an institute.

The scores offer ordinary measures for comparing the eligibilities of aspirants and aid in assessing grades and recommendations.

Structure and Syllabus of GRE

GRE is of two types

GRE General Test

• Analytical writing skills
• Critical thinking
• Quantitative reasoning
• Verbal reasoning

GRE Subject Test measures undergraduate attainment in 8 specific areas of study.

The test includes of four parts. The first part is a writing section. The other three are of multiple-choice style. They are verbal test, quantitative aptitude and experimental test. The entire examination takes about 4 hours.

Verbal section

The verbal part includes analogies, reading comprehension passages and completions. Multiple-choice response parts are graded on a scale of 200-800, in 10-point additions. This part mainly examines vocabulary. Average scores in this part are significantly lower than the quantitative section. In a typical test, this part may include of 30 questions, and 30 minutes may be allotted for it.

Quantitative section

The quantitative part will consist of questions testing problem solving and quantitative comparison skills high-school level. Multiple-choice parts are graded on a scale of 200-800, in 10-point additions. In a typical examination, this part includes of 28 questions. Candidates may be given 45 minutes to finish the division. This division typically covers 14 questions from quantitative comparison, 10 discrete quantitative and 4 data interpretation.

Analytical writing section

The analytical writing part includes of two dissimilar essays, an “issue task” and an “argument task”. The writing part is graded on a range of 0-6, in half-point additions. The program allows only fundamental computer functions and does not contain a spell-checker. If the 2 scores are within one point, the average of the scores is taken. If the 2 scores vary by more than a point, it will be assessed by a third reader.

Issue task

Aspirants choose between 2 topics upon which to write an essay. The duration to write the essay for this essay is 45 minutes. Issue topics chosen from a group of questions.

Argument task

The examination taker will give an “argument”. In addition, it will ask to write an essay that evaluates the argument. Exam takers ask to consider the argument’s logic and to make ideas about how to progress the logic of the argument. The duration of the essay is 30 minutes. Arguments selected from a many of topics.

Experimental section

The experimental part can be verbal or quantitative. It includes new questions that ETS is taking for further use. Although the experimental section does not count toward the applicant’s score, it is unrevealed and appears the same to the real (scored) division of the examination. As applicants have no clear way of knowing which part is experimental, they forced to finish this division. This division does not come out on all GRE tests

Subject GRE

The GRE Subject examination is available in eight fields as below.

Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology

This section covers 180 multiple type questions.

• Biochemistry - 36%
• Cell biology - 28%
• Molecular biology and genetics - 36%

Biology

200 multiple-choice questions

• Cellular and molecular biology
• Ecology and evolution
• Organismal biology

Chemistry

130 multiple-choice questions

• Analytical Chemistry - 15%
• Inorganic Chemistry - 25%
• Organic Chemistry - 30%
• Physical Chemistry - 30%

Computer Science

70 multiple-choice questions

• Computer organization & Architecture- 15%
• Other topics- 5%
• Software systems & Methodology- 40%
• Theory & Mathematical Back ground- 40%

Literature in English

230 questions

• Biography
• Criticism
• Drama
• Essay
• Literary theory
• Novel
• Poetry
• Short story

History of the language

• Cultural and Historical Contexts - 20-25%
• History & Theory of Literary Criticism - 10-15%
• Identification - 15-20%
• Literary Analysis - 40-55%

Mathematics

66 multiple-type questions drawn from programs usually provided at the undergraduate level.

• Calculus and its applications - 50%
• Elementary algebra, linear algebra, abstract algebra, and number theory - 25%
• Others - 25%

Physics

100 multiple-choice questions

• Descriptions of physical situations - Diagrams, Experimental data, Graphs
• Classical Mechanics - 20%
• Electromagnetism - 18%
• Optics and Wave phenomena - 9%
• Thermodynamics & Statistical Mechanics - 10%
• Quantum Mechanics - 12%
• Atomic Physics - 10%
• Special Relativity - 6%
• Laboratory Methods - 6%
• Specialized Topics - 9%

Psychology

205 multiple-choice questions

• Experimental or natural science oriented - 40%
• General - 17%
• Social or social science oriented - 43%

Eligibility Criteria

General GRE examination carried out entire year. This examination is open to every aspirant, irrespective of his or her age or academic background. Aspirants can select the date and time for taking GRE Test. The examination is carried out from Monday to Friday twice per day. GRE test is for Doctoral Study in the US. It is needed by some universities for post graduation courses. GRE Subject test is a written examination. It carried out thrice a year.

How to Apply?

Candidate can register for the GRE test by phone before 3 business days before the exam. Online registration can do by the website. Fax registration is another option. Postal registration can do by submitting the draft to the Prometric Centre at New Delhi. Applicants should register before 3 weeks of the test day. Once they receive the documents aspirants will get confirmation notice. The applicants can call the Prometric office to confirm the appointment.

Important Dates

The General Test offered year-round at computer-related centers in the U.S., Canada, and several other nations. It is provided at paper-based examination centers in fields of the world where computer-based testing is not available.

List of GRE Test Centers

• Prometric Testing (P) Ltd, 119/25A, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Civil Lines, Allahabad – 211001
• Prometric Testing (P) Ltd, Maini Sadan, 1st Floor, No 38 Lavelle Road, 7th Cross, Bangalore – 560001
• Prometric Testing (P) Ltd, Flat 1/C, 1st Floor, Sukh Sagar Bldg, Sarat Bose Road,Calcutta – 700020
• Prometric Testing (P) Ltd, No 15, 2nd Floor, Romar House, Jagannathan Road, Nugambakkam, Chennai – 600034
• Prometric Testing (P) Ltd, Avenue 1, Street 20, Plot 1672, Road 12, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad – 500034
• Prometric Testing (P) Ltd, Marwah House, Saki Vihar Road, Saki Naka, Andheri (E), Mumbai – 400072
• Prometric Testing (P) Ltd. PTC Towers, 2nd Floor, SS Coil Road, Thampanoor, Trivandrum – 695001

Contact Address of GRE

• Address:  Prometric Testing Private Limited, 2nd Floor, DFL Infinity Tower - A, Sector 25, Phase ll, DFL City Guraon, Haryana 122002, India
• Tel: 91 - 124 – 4147700
• Fax: 91 - 124 - 4147773

Reference Books for GRE

• Barron’s how to prepare for GRE
• GRE-Preparation Course by jeff Kolby
• Kaplan
• Peterson’s Ultimate GRE tools
• Princeton review

Study Plan

Many resources are there that the aspirants can practice. Once the applicants register in ETS will get software named PowerPrep. It covers 2 practical exams. There are review materials and practice questions are there. ETS does not license their previous questions to any other firm. ETS contains ‘’BIG BOOK’’ with many GRE questions. Many firms offer books, programs and preparation resources.

How and Where To Get the Results?

Aspirants can get the score within 10 to 15 days. Score will be directly sent to you and the institutes the applicant has indicated. Those who appear the test at Hong Kong, Korea, Mainland China, Taiwan, will get the score after 6 days of the exam. Results can be sourced online too.

Expected cutoffs

The candidates require an average score to get admission in the universities abroad and the range can differ to 750 to 800.

Score Validity

GRE® General Test scores are valid for 5 years. However, it is advisable not to maintain score older for more than 2 years.