What is GRE Exam?

GRE 2018: What you need to know!

GRE stands for Graduate Record Examination. It is a standardised test that is taken by the candidates applying to graduate schools or business schools in various countries, especially the US to pursue a Masters of Science (MS), MBA, MEM or a doctoral degree. The GRE has been conducted by the Educational Testing System (ETS) since 1949. ETS is the largest non-profit private testing and assessment organisation.

GRE assesses the verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing and critical thinking skills of candidates. It consists of two tests: GRE general test and GRE subject test. The test is about 3 hours 40 minutes long and has six sections. A 10-minute break is given after the third section of the examination.

How can a good GRE score benefit you?

If you are planning to study abroad and get a prestigious foreign degree, then GRE is the first step to it! An impressive GRE score will not only give you an international exposure but also high-profile career options. A good GRE score also increases your chances of getting scholarships. However, some graduate schools give a lot of importance to GRE, and some don’t. Importance of GRE depends on the programme that you’re seeking admissions to. For instance, a program related to arts & humanities may give less importance to your quantitative scores in GRE as compared to your verbal scores. The GRE subject test helps by highlighting your subject knowledge and skill level of a particular subject and makes your application stand out from the rest of them. The GRE subject test is for those candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in a particular discipline. If you have a weak undergrad GPA or little work experience, a high GRE general test score may still allow you to be accepted by graduate schools. For more than 60 years GRE score has been used by graduate schools and B-schools as a supplement to undergraduate score and thereby helping students with applying for higher studies.

Are you eligible for GRE?

Anyone who is interested in pursuing a graduate program from a reputed business school can take GRE irrespective of one’s nationality, age, minimum qualification, caste or creed. There is no specific eligibility criteria, but you are required to produce your original passport as proof of identity at the exam centre, so make sure that you have a valid passport before you register for the GRE.