GRE Test Structure

The Basic Outline

On Test Day, you will see:

  An Introductory Computer Tutorial

(This is designed to introduce you to the basic functions of the computer and is untimed.)

 The Analytical Writing Section

• One Issue Task (You will have a choice of two different essay topics.)

• One Argument Task

 The Verbal Section (30 questions in 30 minutes)

• Antonyms

• Analogies

• Sentence Completion

• Reading Comprehension

 The Quantitative Section (28 questions in 45 minutes)

• Quantitative Comparisons

• Problem Solving

• Data Analysis

You may also see:

 An Unscored Verbal or Quantitative Section

(This section will not be identified and may appear any time after the Analytical Writing section.)

 An Identified Research Section

(This section is not scored and always appears at the end of the test.)

How the GRE is Scored

Currently, the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the GRE are scored on a scale from 200 to 800 in 10 point increments. The average Verbal score is 470 and the average Quantitative score is 590. These scores are based on an unpublished formula that is based on the number and difficulty level of correctly answered questions. The Analytical Writing sample is scored on a scale from 0 to 6. Each of the two essays is given an independent score by two different essay readers. The scores are then averaged and rounded up to the nearest half-point.

(Click here to read more about how the GRE will change in 2011.)

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