How Long is the GRE Exam? A Complete Guide
One of the most popular standardized examinations for admission to business and graduate institutions throughout the world is the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The GRE, which is given by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), assesses a candidate’s critical thinking, analytical writing, numeric reasoning, and verbal reasoning abilities. One of the most crucial questions you can have if you intend to take the GRE is How Long is the GRE Exam? Effective preparation requires an understanding of the format and length of the GRE. The length of each segment, breaks, and general test-taking techniques are all covered in detail on this page about the GRE’s overall duration.
What is GRE Exam?
It takes approximately one hour and fifty-eight minutes to finish the standardized, computer-delivered Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Additionally, there is a 15-minute shortened paper version of the GRE. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) administers both, and the computer-delivered version can be taken in a testing facility or at home. Only in places where a computer-delivered GRE is not accessible is the paper GRE option offered.
With questions requiring sophisticated reading comprehension and critical thinking abilities, the GRE general exam assesses a person’s credentials and readiness for graduate school.
How Long is the GRE Exam Section?
- Analytical Writing Section Time (30 minutes): The “Analyze an Issue” essay is the only assignment in the analytical writing portion, and it takes 30 minutes to complete.
- Verbal Reasoning Section Time (41 minutes): The verbal portions, which are divided into two verbal reasoning sections, take forty-one minutes to finish. There are twelve questions and eighteen minutes in the first portion, and fifteen questions and twenty-three minutes in the second. The second verbal reasoning section’s degree of difficulty is established by the first, which is of ordinary difficulty.
- Quantitative Reasoning Section Time (47 minutes): The section on quantitative reasoning (quant) lasts for forty-seven minutes. There are two sections on quantitative reasoning. There are 12 questions in the first section, which takes 21 minutes to finish. There are 15 questions in the second portion, which has a 26-minute time limit. The second segment’s degree of difficulty is established by the first 21-minute section, which is of ordinary difficulty.
GRE Exam Pattern
The topic area that the GRE is evaluating determines the exam format. The Physics and Psychology examinations take two hours, while the Mathematics test takes two hours and fifty minutes. Depending on the GRE subject, there are different numbers of questions.
- The physics test has 70 questions.
- The psychology test has 144 questions.
- The mathematics test has 66 questions.
When Will I Get My GRE Score?
Immediately following testing, one can check the verbal and quantitative parts’ unofficial scores. Official results can be viewed on the test taker’s ETS account eight to ten days following the GRE day.
When Will Schools Receive My GRE Score?
On test day, test takers can choose to send four official Institution Score Reports for free to the institutions they have identified through the ETS. Graduate schools get the GRE results 10 to 15 days after the exam date. After the exam day, test takers can pay to send their official scores or supplementary score reports. It takes five days for the graduate school to get the GRE results if they are requested online, and ten days if they are sent by fax or email.
Top Tips on How to Handle GRE Timing
- Skip questions: It is advised to skip questions and respond to the simplest ones first to free up more time for more difficult ones.
- Don’t spend more than 3 minutes on any single question: Make an educated assumption rather than investing too much time attempting to answer a difficult question. On the GRE, incorrect responses are not penalized!
- Memorize the format and directions for the GRE: You may save a great deal of time on the GRE by learning and comprehending the structure and instructions for each exam part.
Conclusion
How Long is the GRE Exam, It is crucial to comprehend the structure and timing of the GRE to do well on it. With distinct portions for analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and mathematical reasoning, the test lasts around one hour and fifty-eight minutes. Understanding the format of the test, managing your time well, and concentrating on your weak areas are all necessary for effective preparation. Performance can be enhanced by strategic response and format familiarity.
