It depends on your field. A combined Verbal + Quant of 320+ is competitive for strong programmes and 325+ for the most selective, but quantitative fields weigh Quant heavily and humanities weigh Verbal. Compare against your target departments' published averages.
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GRE General Test — Free Complete Guide
The entrance test for most master's and PhD programmes abroad. Master Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing, with original sample questions and a study plan.
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পরিচালনায় Shikkha Web
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- Verbal, Quantitative & Analytical Writing guides
- The shorter ~2-hour format explained
- The 260–340 scoring and percentiles
- Original sample questions in the official format
- A study plan and the scores grad schools expect
- Free 1-to-1 guidance on WhatsApp
- 340
- Maximum (V+Q)
- ~1h 58m
- Total test time
- 3
- Measures
- 5 years
- Score validity
What is the GRE?
The GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) General Test is the admission test most graduate schools use for master's and PhD programmes in the United States, Canada and many other countries, across almost every field except medicine and law. It is administered by ETS and can be taken at a test centre or at home.
Since a 2023 redesign the GRE is much shorter — under two hours — with no unscored research section. It measures Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing. Scores are valid for five years, and the ScoreSelect option lets you choose which test dates to report.
What you will find here
- In-depth guides for Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing
- Scoring explained — the 130–170 scales, the 260–340 total and percentiles
- Original sample questions in the official style, plus a practice walkthrough
- The scores that make you competitive by field
The GRE measures
Verbal Reasoning
Reading comprehension, text completion & sentence equivalence.
Quantitative Reasoning
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry & data interpretation.
All guides in this section
GRE Scoring & Practice — The 260–340 Scale Explained
How the GRE 260–340 score works, what makes you competitive by field, and a study plan with sample questions.
GRE Analytical Writing — The Issue Task & How to Score 5+
One 30-minute "Analyze an Issue" essay, scored 0–6 — the structure and habits that earn a 5 or 6.
GRE Quantitative Reasoning — Topics & Strategy
Two sections, 27 questions — the maths topics on GRE Quant, the question types and how to avoid careless mistakes.
GRE Verbal Reasoning — Question Types & Strategy
Two sections, 27 questions — GRE Verbal's reading comprehension, text completion and sentence equivalence, and how to beat them.
Frequently asked questions
About 1 hour 58 minutes since the 2023 redesign, with no unscored research section — one Analytical Writing task, two Verbal sections and two Quantitative sections.
Five years from the test date. If you test more than once, ScoreSelect lets you choose which dates to send.
Many US and Canadian programmes require or recommend it, but a growing number are optional. Always check the specific programme — do not assume in either direction.
Planning grad school abroad?
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