The GRE revised General Test is Coming in August

The GRE General Test is Changing. Find Out What You Need to Know — and Why It's Good News for You.

For millions of students like you, a graduate or business degree can give you a big advantage in your future career. An important step toward achieving that goal — and the path to thousands of graduate and business programs all over the world — is to take the GRE General Test.

Now we're making that step even better for you. Starting this August, the GRE revised General Test will replace the current GRE General Test, giving you the advantage of a better test experience — and new types of questions that help show your readiness for graduate-level work.
Here's What You Can Expect from the GRE revised
General Test

A new test-taker friendly design for the computer-based test that lets you edit or change your answers, skip questions and more, all within a section — giving you the freedom to use more of your own test-taking strategies. Another new feature: an on-screen calculator.* Learn more about the new test-taker friendly design.
New types of questions in the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections, many featuring real-life scenarios that reflect the kind of thinking you'll do in today's demanding graduate and business school programs. Learn more about the new types of questions.
Special savings of 50% when you take the GRE revised General Test between August 1 and September 30, 2011. The 50% discount means big savings for you — and another big advantage to taking the GRE revised General Test. Learn more about saving 50% on your test fee.
Important score reporting information you need to know: If you take the GRE revised General Test during our special discount period of August – September 2011, your scores will be sent by mid-November. However, if you need your scores before November, take the current test before August. See the detailed score reporting schedule.

Something else to keep in mind when you receive your scores: The GRE revised General Test features a new score scale that can make it easier for schools to compare your GRE scores with the scores of other candidates. Learn more about the new score scale.

Ready to take the GRE revised General Test?

Registration is open now! Reserve your place today >

*For those taking the paper-based GRE revised General Test, calculators will be provided at the test center for use during the test.
Choosing Between the Current Test and the Revised Test

To help you decide which of the two tests to take, start by selecting which schools you're most interested in, then find out when they need your scores. Different schools have different admissions deadlines, so knowing when your prospective schools need your scores is an important part of making the decision between the GRE General Test and the GRE revised General Test.

If you need scores before November, start planning now. You will need to take the current test. You will want to register early to ensure you get a seat for your preferred date and location. If you take the current test in a split-test administration location early planning is especially important.

If you don't need scores until after November, taking the GRE revised General Test is a smart move. With these new changes in place, the revised test will give you a better test experience — and offer an even better way to show schools that you're ready for graduate-level work.
Another Reason to Take the GRE revised General Test:
You'll Save 50% When You Test In August or September 2011.

Here's an opportunity you don't want to miss: save 50% on the GRE revised General Test when you test between August 1 and September 30, 2011.

Test takers who save 50% on their test fee will have the same test experience and test advantages as those who take the GRE revised General Test after the special discount period is over; the only difference is the savings!

If you want to take advantage of this limited-time 50% discount, we recommend that you register as early as you can, since seats will fill up quickly during this special discount period. Registration for the GRE revised General Test is open now. Please note that if you test during this special discount period of August 1 – September 30, 2011, your GRE scores will be sent by mid-November. That means if you need your scores before then, don't wait — make sure you take the current test before August.
Make Sure You're Ready for the GRE revised General Test.
Here Are Important Dates You Need to Know:
Table with important dates about the GRE revised General Test MONTH MILESTONE
2011
AUGUST –
SEPTEMBER

August 1: First day of testing for the GRE revised General Test
August 1 – September 30: Save 50% on your test fee; if you test during this period, your scores will be sent by mid-November

OCTOBER –
NOVEMBER

If you test between October and November, you should check the detailed score reporting schedule to know what day your scores will be sent

DECEMBER

Normal score reporting resumes. Your score report will be sent 10 – 15 days after your test date

For Test Takers Taking the Paper-based GRE revised General Test

For those taking the paper-based GRE revised General Test in areas of the world where the computer-based test is not available, the test design and question types will be modified to be appropriate for a paper-based, linear test. Learn more about the paper-based test.
For Test Takers in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan or Korea

If you're taking the test in these areas, there are some important changes with the GRE revised General Test introduction you should know.
What You Can Do to Start Preparing Now

The GRE revised General Test is coming in August and you should start getting ready for it right now:

Find out when you need your scores to decide which test is best for your timing:
If you need your scores before November 2011, register now to take the current test before August. Otherwise, you can register for the GRE revised General Test and save 50% if you test between August 1 and September 30, 2011.
Sign up for official news and important reminders.
Learn about the GRE revised General Test — what's changing, and what those changes mean to you. Find out.
Check out Sample Questions, tips for answering and general advice for each section available now:
Analytical Writing
Verbal Reasoning
Quantitative Reasoning
Download FREE test prep materials to start practicing:
POWERPREP II Software for the computer-based test — includes a Test Preview Tool and Practice Test
Practice Book for the Paper-based GRE revised General Test (PDF)
Purchase additional test prep for even more practice:
The Official Guide to the GRE revised General Test
ScoreItNow Online Writing Practice

Strategy and Tips for the Computer-based GRE General Test

Become familiar with the test before test day. Read on to learn about the purpose of the test, the content of the questions, test day procedures and test preparation strategies and materials.
Once you know what to expect, it's time to practice.
Review the free GRE® Powerprep® software.
Try answering the free, interactive sample questions.
Review your knowledge of quantitative reasoning concepts.
Download the Math Review (PDF) or the full-length paper-based GRE® General Test Practice Book (PDF).
Review the two new question types that are included in the computer-based GRE General Test. You may see one new Verbal or one new Quantitative question in your test. These new questions will be counted toward examinee scores as soon as an adequate sample of data has been collected. View sample questions and additional information.
For the Analytical Writing section, the Powerprep software will give you advice about how to write effective essays for the "Issue" and "Argument" tasks. It will also let you practice writing essay responses under simulated testing conditions. For the Verbal and Quantitative sections, try to answer some sample questions to become familiar with the question format.
Analytical Writing Section

Writing tasks will be displayed on the computer, and you must type your responses.
"Issue" Task

The "Issue" task gives you considerable latitude in the way you respond to the claim made about a given issue. Practice writing responses on several of the topics, keeping to the 45-minute time limit. To prepare for this task, try asking the following questions when reviewing the published list of "Issue" topics:

What does the statement mean? What does it imply? What, precisely, is the central issue?
Do I agree with all or with any part of the statement? Why or why not?
Is the statement valid only in certain circumstances?
Do I need to explain how I interpret certain terms or concepts used in the statement?
If I take a certain position on the issue, what reasons support my position?
What examples — either hypothetical or drawn from my reading or direct experience — could I use to illustrate those reasons and advance my point of view? Which examples are most compelling?
What reasons might someone use to refute or undermine my position? How should I acknowledge or defend against those views?

"Argument" Task

Because the "Argument" task is constrained by the line of reasoning in the argument presented to you, read and analyze the argument carefully. Practice writing responses to several of the topics within the 30-minute time limit. Try asking the following questions when reviewing the published list of "Argument" topics:

What claims, conclusions, and underlying assumptions does the argument make?
What alternative explanations and counterexamples can I think of?
What additional evidence might weaken or strengthen the claims?
What changes in the argument would make the reasoning more sound?

Verbal and Quantitative Sections

IMPORTANT NOTE: Test-taking strategies appropriate for the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the computer-based GRE General Test are different from those that are appropriate for taking the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the paper-based GRE General Test. Be sure to follow the appropriate strategies for the testing format in which you will be testing. Computer-based testing strategies should not be used if you take the paper-based test.

Practice test questions under timed conditions so that you get used to the pace of the test. For example, if there are 30 questions in a section and you have a total of 30 minutes to complete the section, give yourself an average of one minute to complete each question. When you are practicing, keep time in mind and remember that if you spend too much time on one question, you will have less time to spend on others.
Use the computer tutorial. The tutorial is included in the GRE Powerprep software. The tutorial will let you try out the functions of the computer (e.g., the mouse, the scroll bar) used during the test.
When you arrive at the test center, you will have the opportunity to complete an untimed computer tutorial before the actual test begins. You can spend up to 30 minutes on the tutorial and other untimed sections to become familiar and comfortable with the computer before starting the timed sections of the test.
Once the test is under way, you can always click on "Help" to review the directions or a summary of the tutorial again, but be aware that this will count against the allotted time for that section of the test.
Some questions, graphs or passages are too large to appear completely on the computer screen. In these cases a "scroll bar" appears to the right of the material and the word "Beginning" appears on the information line at the top of the screen. These are cues to scroll for more information.

Pace yourself throughout the test — You want to finish!

Use the resources available for test practicing (test preparation books, software) to become familiar with the test and test instructions before you get to the test center.
Read the directions carefully before you begin. The directions at the beginning of each test section give the total number of questions in that section as well as total time allotted for that section.
Budget enough time for each question so as to be able to complete the test without having to rush at the end of each section. Keep in mind the average amount of time to spend per question.
Once you start the test, an on-screen clock display will continuously count down the remaining time. You can hide this display if you want, but it is a good idea to check the clock periodically to monitor your progress. The clock will automatically alert you when five minutes remain in the allotted time for that section.
Use your time wisely. Read each question carefully to determine exactly what is being asked. Eliminate the wrong answers and select the best choice. Don't get stuck on a tough question and lose time. Keep moving through the test and try to finish each section.
You may want to use the one-minute break between test sections to replenish your supply of scratch paper. After the Analytical Writing section, an on-screen message indicates a 10-minute break is available. Section timing does not stop for unscheduled breaks.

Know the rules.

Computer-adaptive tests require that you answer every question in the order in which it is presented. You can't skip a question and go back. The computer selects the next question from a large pool of available questions based upon your previous responses.
Click on the appropriate answer. Answer each question by clicking on the oval next to the answer choice or by clicking on any part of the text of that answer choice. Complete the answer by clicking on "Next" and then "Answer Confirm." You can change an answer any time before confirming it by clicking on a different answer choice.
Understand the implications of exiting a section or quitting the test. Once you exit a section, you cannot return to it. Click on the "Test Quit" box at the bottom of the screen only to end the testing session. If you quit the test, you will not receive a score for any section, even for sections already completed. If you click on "Section Exit" or "Test Quit" by mistake, you will be given the opportunity to reverse or confirm that decision.
You may take the computer-based GRE General Test once per calendar month up to five times in a 12-month period. This applies even if you ended the testing session by clicking on "Test Quit" or canceled your scores after completing the test.

Understand how the test is scored.

The Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections are adaptive tests. Computer-adaptive tests are scored differently from most paper-and-pencil tests. The score on the computer-adaptive test depends on a combination of such factors as:
the number of questions answered within the allotted time
performance on questions answered throughout the test
the statistical characteristics (including difficulty level) of questions answered throughout the test

Don't panic if you don't know an answer.

Don't spend too much time on any one question. The last thing you want to do is waste a lot of valuable time on any one question. If, after a reasonable amount of thought, you don't know the answer, eliminate as many answer choices as possible and then select and confirm the best answer. Keep going and aim to complete the test.
If you are running out of time at the end of a section, make every effort to complete the test. Data indicate that most test takers get higher scores if they finish the test. In fact, based on analyses of test takers, a majority of test takers will score higher if they finish the test than if they do not attempt to answer all of the questions. There is a chance that guessing at the end of the test can seriously lower your score. The best strategy is to pace yourself so that you have time to consider each test question and won't have to guess.

Pattern and related Info.

Verbal section
The skills measured include the test taker's ability to analyze and evaluate written material and synthesize information obtained from it analyze relationships among component parts of sentences recognize relationships between words and concepts.

• 30 questions in 30 mins
• Score range: 200 – 800 Analogies, Antonyms, Sentence Completion, Reading Comprehension
• Quantitative Section
The skills measured include the test taker's ability to understand basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis reason quantitatively solve problems in a quantitative setting

• 28 questions in 45 mins
• Score range: 200 – 800
• Quantitative Comparison, Discrete Math, Data Interpretation
• Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA)
The skills measured include the test taker's ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively examine claims and accompanying evidence support ideas with relevant reasons and examples sustain a well-focused, coherent discussion control the elements of standard written English

• 2 essays
• Analysis of an Issue (45 mins.)
• Analysis of an Argument (30 mins.)


Total score range for the test: 400 – 1600 (Verbal + Quantitative); 0 – 6 (AWA)

The GRE® scores are technically valid for five years However, most of the top universities do not consider scores more than two years old .Being a Computer Adaptive Test, it is conducted throughout the year, on all weekdays you can register for the test online at www.gre.org OR by post/ telephone/ fax.

Test fees is US$180, this includes reporting your scores to 4 universities of your choice, on the day of the test If you want to report your scores to additional universities (or if you do not report your scores to any university on your test day, and would like to do so later), the fee is US$20 per university.

The GRE is a computer-adaptive test, which means your performance on previous questions determines which question you'll be asked next. The change to GRE has been cancelled.


Computer Adaptive Test
The GRE® Test is a CAT (Computer Adaptive Test). This means that the computer adapts the level of the questions to the test-taker's ability. Initially questions of medium difficulty level are administered to test – taker. If he / she answers these questions correctly, a more difficult question is given. Otherwise, an easier question is administered. So, at every stage, the computer tailors the test to the examinee's level. In this examination, the score depends both on the number of questions attempted and the number of correct responses.

Some points which you must know about the Computer Adaptive Test
• In verbal section each question has five answer choices and you must select one choice as your answer
• In the quantitative ability section each problem solving and data interpretation question has five answer choices. However, quantitative comparison questions have only 4 answer choices.
• Only one question appears at a time. To move to the next question, you have to mark an answer to the question that is currently on your screen
• Once you have confirmed your answer to a question you can't go back to a question and change your answer
• The questions are graded into 5 categories ranging from the easy to the hard category
• More points are awarded for getting the harder questions right
• You are penalized for not completing the test. Hence, your score depends on your accuracy, the difficulty level of the questions and the number of questions you attempted. At the beginning of the test, every candidate gets a question of average difficulty level (level 2 or 3)
• Questions in the verbal and the quantitative sections need not always be administered in groups. For example, if the first question that appears in the verbal section is an antonym, then you need not necessarily get a series of questions on antonyms alone. Two questions on antonyms may be followed by one question on analogies, followed by one on sentence completion. In other words, questions can appear in any particular order. Similarly, in the quantitative section, one question on problem solving may be followed by one question on quantitative comparison. This may be followed by one question on problem solving. Hence, the type of question that will come next cannot be predicted.

Everything You Need to Succeed in the GRE® Test

MyGRETutor, you'll find hundreds of practice questions based on the GRE Exam format, five fully adaptive practice simulation exams, a vocabulary tutor and a review of the exam's topics.
MyGRETutor GRE Practice Questions and Tests

Use the MyGRETutor practice questions to become familiar with the format of the exam. Or, use their tutorials to brush up on the topics that often appear on the GRE exam. MyGRETutor also offers several study plans to help prepare you for the test.
At MyGRETutor, You'll Find ...
3423 Vocabulary words with hints and definitions. Use our vocabulary tutor to increase your vocabulary and score higher on the verbal section of the exam.
847 MyGRETutor practice questions for the GRE Exam with hints and full explanations. The questions range in difficulty from easy to difficult.
114 Tutorial pages that you can use to become familiar with the format of the GRE General Test or brush up on math, verbal, or essay writing skills.
5 Practice tests based on the GRE Exam format. After each exam, receive a complete analysis of your performance.

Preparing for the GRE Exam
 MyGRETutor takes a special approach in preparing the candidate for the GRE test. Yes, it has vocabulary lists. Yes, it have hundreds of questions. And yes, it offers you a review of the test format. But it's not THESE things that make MyGRETutor so good. Rather, it is the WAY that it prepares you.

The practice questions at MyGRETutor are designed to help coach candidaes to the right answer. Each question affords multiple hints, leading you to the correct solution. It's simulated GRE practice tests are timed and computer-adaptive, and are based on the GRE Exam format. Our vocabulary tutor adjusts to candidates skill level. From the thousands of GRE vocabulary words that MyGRETutor has in its database, MyGRETutor selects those words that are matched in difficulty to your skill level. MyGRETutor provides you with hints and suggestions, and keep track of your progress.