Test Pattern in Computer-delivered GRE Test

The computer-delivered GRE General Test is of 3 hours 45 minutes duration. It is divided into six sections with a 10 minutes break after the third section.

  • Verbal Reasoning in 2 sections with 20 questions per section. You will get 30 minutes to complete each section
  • Quantitative Reasoning in 2 sections with 20 questions per section. You will get 35 minutes to complete each section
  • In Unidentified Unscored section, the number of questions and time varies*
  • In Identified Research section, the number of questions and time varies**

* Marks scored in this section are not counted in the GRE final score. It is only used to test the questions proposed to be used in the GRE General Test in the future. Since there is no way to identify the section that carries these questions, you will not be able to skip this section.

** The identified research section is also not included in the final score. It may be included in place of the unscored section or appear at the end of the test. The questions in this section are used by ETS for research purposes.

The pattern is similar in the paper-delivered test. Here again, the paper is divided into six sections – two each of Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning. The duration of the test is 3 hours 30 minutes with a 10 minutes break after the second section.

ETS provides a calculator for candidates to solve QR questions. You are not allowed to bring your own calculators. You will be able to attempt the VR and QR sections in any order you wish in the paper-delivered test. Analytical writing sections will be the first section. The order of the remaining sections is not fixed.

Test Pattern in Paper-Delivered Test

  • In Analytical Writing, Section 1 is the “Analyze an Issue” task and Section 2 is the “Analyze an Argument” task. You have 30 minutes each to finish the two sections
  • In Verbal Reasoning, you have to complete 25 questions each in two sections, with a time limit of 35 minutes per section
  • In Quantitative Reasoning, you have to complete 25 questions in each section, with a time limit of 40 minutes per section

GRE Subject Test

GRE Subject Test is available only in the paper-delivered format, conducted three times a year in April, September and October. The test duration for each subject is 2 hours and 50 minutes.

  • Biology: 190 five-choice questions
  • Chemistry: 130 multiple choice questions
  • English Literature: 230 questions
  • Mathematics: 66 multiple choice questions
  • Physics: 100 five-choice questions
  • Psychology 205 multiple type questions

GRE Scoring System

In the GRE General Test, the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections are scored on a range of 130-170, in 1 point increments. Analytical Reasoning is scored on a range of 0–6, in half-point increments. If you do not answer any questions of any/all measures, then a No Score (NS) is stated for that measure.

In the GRE Subject Test, all the tests are scored on a range of 200-990 with 10 point increments. The Biology and Psychology Tests also have a sub-score range on a 20–99 score scale, in one-point increments.

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