Everything You Need to Know About the GRE Exam ????

Everything You Need to Know About the GRE Exam ????

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is one of the most widely accepted standardized tests for graduate school admissions, including business and law programs. It’s designed to measure the skills that matter most in today's demanding academic environment, regardless of your field of study. In this post, we’ll give you a comprehensive overview of the GRE, including its structure and scoring system.

What Does the GRE Measure? ????

The GRE General Test assesses a wide range of skills developed over time, including:

• Verbal Reasoning: This section measures your ability to understand and analyze written material, draw conclusions, and evaluate arguments. It also tests your understanding of relationships between words and concepts.
• Quantitative Reasoning: This section focuses on your ability to interpret and analyze numerical data, solve problems using math models, and apply basic concepts from arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis.
• Analytical Writing: In this section, you’ll be required to articulate complex ideas, support them with relevant examples, and demonstrate a well-structured discussion. Clear communication and logical reasoning are key here.

What Is the Structure of the GRE Exam? ????

The GRE General Test is computer-delivered and divided into the following sections:

Verbal Reasoning:

• Question types include reading comprehension, text completion, and sentence equivalence.
• You’ll encounter multiple-choice questions, where you select one or more answers, and passage-based questions where you analyze the author’s intent and reasoning.

Quantitative Reasoning:

• You’ll be asked to solve problems involving quantitative comparison, multiple-choice, numeric entry, and data interpretation.
• An on-screen calculator is provided to help with calculations during the quantitative section.

Analytical Writing:

• You’ll complete a 30-minute "Analyze an Issue" task, where you’ll develop and support your own viewpoint on a given topic, providing reasons and examples to back up your stance.

How Does the GRE Scoring System Work? ????

The GRE uses a section-level adaptive scoring system. Here’s how it works:

• The computer selects the second section of both the Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning sections based on your performance in the first section.
• Your final score is based on the number of questions you answered correctly, and scores are then adjusted through a process known as "equating" to account for variations in question difficulty across different test versions.

For the Analytical Writing section, essays are evaluated on a 6-point scale. Scores are assigned based on the overall quality of the essay, including structure, argument development, and language use. Both human evaluators and automated software (e-rater?) assess your essays for proficiency.

The GRE offers more flexibility for graduate school admissions, making it a great option if you’re considering a variety of programs beyond business school. With a wider acceptance rate and more versatile question types, it allows you to showcase strengths in both verbal and analytical skills. Choosing the GRE can broaden your opportunities and keep your options open for different graduate paths.

If you’re preparing for the GRE and need guidance, our expert team at Merchant GMAT & Admissions is here to help. Visit us at www.merchantgmat.com to learn more about how we can support you with test prep strategies, study plans, and more. ???