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Graduate Record Exam
A standardized test that is an admissions
requirement for many graduate schools
Available at about 700 test centers in more
than 160 countries
In most areas, it is a computer-based test
Recently revised in 2011
◦ Enabled editing/changing of answers, skipping
questions, and on-screen calculator
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Sections:
◦ Verbal Reasoning
◦ Quantitative Reasoning
◦ Analytical Writing
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Assesses your ability to :
◦ analyze and evaluate written material and
synthesize information you obtain from it
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One half requires you to read passages and
answer questions on those passages
• The other half requires you to read, interpret, and
complete existing sentences, groups of sentences,
or paragraphs
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3 types of questions:
◦ Reading Comprehension
 Reading a passage and answering questions about it
 Test contains 10 passages with 1-6 questions for each passage
 Answers are mostly multiple choice. Some you will choose multiple
correct answers and some you will select a sentence from the passage.
◦ Text Completion
 Contains passages with words or short phrases omitted (1-3 blanks)
 Information in the passage is used to choose the correct answer
 Answers are multiple choice
◦ Sentence Equivalence
 Questions contain single sentences with one blank
 You will be asked to select 2 answers that both fit into the sentence
 Answers are multiple choice
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Assesses your:
◦ basic mathematical skills
◦ understanding of elementary mathematical concepts
◦ ability to reason quantitatively and to model and solve
problems with quantitative methods
Content:
◦ Arithmetic
◦ Algebra
◦ Geometry
◦ Data Analysis
Content is generally no higher than a second course in
algebra; it does not include trigonometry, calculus, or other
higher-level mathematics.
An on-screen calculator is provided for this section of the
GRE
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4 types of questions:
◦ Quantitative Comparison
 Compare two variables A or B
 Answer choices are: A is greater, B is greater,
quantities are equal, or relationship cannot be
determined
◦ Multiple Choice – select one
◦ Multiple Choice – select one or more
◦ Numeric Entry
 These questions require you to type in your answer
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Assesses your ability to :
◦ articulate and support complex ideas,
◦ construct and evaluate arguments
◦ sustain a focused and coherent discussion
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Contains two separately timed “tasks”
◦ issue task
◦ argument task
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Issue task
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Argument Task
◦ Purpose is to test your critical thinking and persuasive
writing
◦ You will be given an issue with specific instructions
◦ You will have to take a position with the issue and present
an argument (addressing what the instructions ask) for why
you support that position
◦ Purpose is to test your ability to understand, analyze and
evaluate arguments
◦ You will be given an argument and be forced to consider
the logical soundness of the argument by examining the
line of reasoning and the evidence it presents
◦ There will be specific instructions to follow when writing
your response
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Overall time is about three hours and 45
minutes
There are six sections with a 10-minute
break following the third section
The Analytical Writing section will always be
first, while the other five sections may appear
in any order.
¹An unidentified un-scored section may be included and may appear in any
order after the Analytical Writing section. It is not counted as part of your
score.
²An identified research section that is not scored may be included, and it is
always at the end of the test.
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http://www.aavmc.org/data/files/vmcas/test_chart_2012.
pdf
◦ For each school within the AAVMC
◦ MCAT can substitute for the GRE for some schools
 Listed on this link
Three scores are reported for the GRE:
If no questions are answered for a specific measure (e.g., Verbal
Reasoning), then you will receive a No Score (NS) for that measure.
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Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning
◦ score reflects the number of questions answered
correctly
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Analytical Writing section
◦ Each essay receives a score from two trained
readers
◦ If the two assigned scores differ by more than one
point, a third reader decides the final score
◦ Overall score is the average of the ratings given to
the two essays.
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Computer-based Test
◦ Official scores are sent to you and the score
recipients you designate about 10 – 15 days after
your test date.
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Paper-based Test
◦ Official scores are sent to you and the score
recipients you designate within six weeks after your
test date.
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You can also view your scores online free of
charge.
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How a department or admissions committee
evaluates GRE scores varies:
◦ use them as cutoffs to eliminate applicants
◦ use them as criteria for research assistantships and
other forms of funding
◦ look at to GRE scores to offset weak GPAs
◦ admissions committees will overlook poor GRE
scores if applicants demonstrate significant
strengths in other areas.
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GRE scores are due by October 1.
◦ There is normally a 3-4 week reporting time after
taking the exam, so taking the test no later than
August 15th is recommended.
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Average scores of those accepted to the Class
of 2015 were 460-590 on the Verbal and
Quantitative sections, and 4.5 on the
Analytical Writing section.
No minimum score required.
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Practice Questions:
◦ Kaplan
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http://www.kaptest.com/GRE/Home/index.html
Usually have workshops
Publish guides for the test
Courses anywhere from $500-$2200 with financial aid option
◦ ETS
 http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare?WT.ac=rx46
 Offers a variety of free and low-cost tools from practice questions to what to
expect on test day and tips for each section
◦ Barron’s
 http://barronstestprep.com/gre/gre-online-practicetests.php?gclid=CKiJx9vIiq8CFUhl7Aodmm0aCA
 Publish guides for the test
 Limited help online for free
 Access to online practice tests and solutions for $69
◦ http://www.greguide.com/gre-practice-tests.html
 Has practice problems for the new GRE
 Also has practice problems for the old test if you want to compare them
◦ The GRE is given year-round at computer-based
test centers in most locations around the world.
 Appointments are scheduled on a first-come, firstserved basis.
◦ You can take the GRE (computer-based and paperbased) only once every 60 days, and no more than
five times within any continuous rolling 12-month
period.
◦ Cost – $160.00
◦ In Mississippi:
 Hattiesburg – 7574
 University of Southern Mississippi
Walker Science Bldg. Rm 217
University Testing Center
 Jackson – 3600
 Prometric Testing Center
 Meridian - STN13965A
 Meridian Community College (No GRE)
Webb Hall
 Mississippi State – 7546
 Mississippi State University
Rice Hall
 Oxford – 7753
 University of Mississippi
University Avenue at Grove Loop
 Tupelo – 3603
 Prometric Testing Center
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Analytical Writing
 Budget your time wisely
 Allow a few extra moments at the end of each time to look
for obvious errors.
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Quantitative Reasoning:
 Quantitative Comparison
 Become familiar with the answer choices.
 Avoid unnecessary computations
 Plug in numbers.
 Multiple Choice:
 Use the fact that the answer is there
 For questions that require approximations, scan the answer
choices to see how close an approximation is needed
 Numeric Entry:
 Make sure you answer the question that is asked.
 Make sure you round your answer when asked to
 Examine your answer to see if it is reasonable with respect to
the information given.
• Verbal Reasoning:
 Reading comprehension:
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distinguishing between minor and major points
summarizing a passage
drawing conclusions from the information provided
analyzing a text and reaching conclusions about it
Identifying strengths and weaknesses of a position
 Text completion
 understanding the structure of a text in terms of how the parts
relate to one another
 identifying the author's assumptions and perspective
 developing and considering alternative explanations
 Sentence Equivalence
 understanding the meaning of individual words and sentences
 understanding the meaning of paragraphs and larger bodies of
text
 developing and considering alternative explanations