GRE Exam Pattern 2023

GRE Exam Pattern 2023: Overall & Sectional Composition, Scoring pattern, Test Duration

Conducted by US based Educational Testing Service (ETS), the GRE is a ‘Computer Based Test’ which is widely used as an admission requirement for various graduate programmes including MBA by business schools, primarily in the United States, as well as some universities and institutions in India and other countries. The GRE aims to assess the readiness of students for graduate-level academic work and evaluates their verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing skills. After making changes, GRE exam duration is now reduced to less than 2 hours effective September 22, 2023. The GRE exam pattern is now of 1 Hr 58 Minute duration with 55 questions.

The GRE exam score is accepted by more than 1,300 MBA colleges and universities across the Globe. The exam is conducted round the year and you can apply and appear in GRE 5 times a year to improve your score and percentile. GRE is conducted in two testing modes – Computer based test at Exam Centres and Online Proctored Test which you can take from the convenience of your home. Read Table of Contents below to know all about the GRE 2023 Exam key highlights, GRE Test pattern, testing mode, sectional composition, scoring pattern, key changes and more

Table of Contents

1. GRE Exam Pattern 2023: Key Highlights
2. GRE 2023 Exam Pattern: Sectional & Overall Composition
3. GRE Test Pattern 2023: Key Facts
4. GRE Syllabus 2023
5. GRE General Test Vs GRE Subject Test Pattern

GRE Exam Pattern 2023 Key Highlights
The GRE 2023 exam pattern aims to assess the readiness of students for graduate-level academic work and evaluates their verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing skills. Key highlights of GRE Exam 2023 Pattern are:

2. GRE Exam Pattern 2023: Sectional & Overall Composition
The pattern of GRE 2023 exam onwards tests the readiness of students for graduate-level academic work and evaluates their verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing skills. Below is shared the GRE Exam Pattern and Sectional composition

2.1 Highlights of GRE Test Pattern:

• Will take less than 2 hours to complete
• Only one Analytical Writing essay
• Test takers can expect to receive their official scores in just 8-10 days.

3. GRE Test Pattern 2023: Key Facts

• The Analytical Writing section will always be first in GRE Exam Pattern
• The Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and unidentified/unscored sections may appear in any order.
• The Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections are section-level adaptive
• The first part of Verbal and Quantitative sections is of average difficulty.
• The difficulty level of the second Part of each of these sections depends on your overall performance on the first part. For example, if you do very well on the first Quantitative Reasoning section, the second section of Quantitative Reasoning will be at a higher level of difficulty.
• The scoring for the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning takes into consideration the total number of questions answered correctly across the two sections, as well as the difficulty level of the sections.
• The advanced adaptive design of the GRE General Test allows you to move forward and backward throughout an entire section. Specific features include preview and review; "Mark" and "Review"; change/edit answers within a section; on-screen calculator for the Quantitative Reasoning section
• An unidentified unscored section that doesn’t count toward your score may be included and may appear in any order after the Analytical Writing section. Questions in the unscored section are being tried out either for possible use in future tests or to ensure that scores on new editions of the test are comparable to scores from earlier editions.
• An identified research section that doesn’t count toward your score may be included in place of the unscored section. The research section will always appear at the end of the test. Questions in this section are included for ETS research purposes.

4. GRE Exam Pattern & Syllabus 2023
GRE exam pattern & syllabus is clearly defined for each of its three sections. You should download GRE Syllabus 2023 Pdf and prepare accordingly. The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) consists of three main sections that assess different skills and abilities. GRE is conducted in two testing modes – Computer based test at Exam Centres and Online Proctored Test which you can take from the convenience of your home. The GRE syllabus for both testing modes is same. Shared below is the GRE section wise pattern & syllabus:

4.1 GRE Exam Pattern: Verbal Reasoning Section  

• Reading Comprehension: Assessing the ability to understand and analyze written passages across various subjects.
• Text Completion: Evaluating the ability to complete sentences by selecting the appropriate words or phrases.
• Sentence Equivalence: Testing the understanding of sentence structure and the ability to identify words with similar meanings.

4.2 GRE Exam Pattern: Quantitative Reasoning Section
GRE Quant Syllabus or GRE Maths syllabus is one and the same thing.  Below are shared the key topics covered in GRE Quant Syllabus

• Arithmetic: Topics include properties and types of integers, operations with integers, and concepts of factors and multiples.
• Algebra: Covers topics such as operations and properties of algebraic expressions, equations, inequalities, and functions.
• Geometry: Focuses on concepts of lines, angles, triangles, circles, polygons, and three-dimensional figures.
• Data Analysis: Involves interpretation and analysis of data presented in tables, graphs, and charts.

4.3 GRE Exam Pattern & Syllabus Analytical Writing Section

• Issue Task: Requires the test taker to present a position on a given issue and support it with relevant examples and evidence.
• Argument Task: Involves critiquing an argument by identifying its logical flaws and providing a well-structured analysis.

4.4 Important Note on GRE Exam & Syllabus

• It's important to note that the GRE General Test also includes an unscored research or experimental section that can appear in any order after the Analytical Writing section.
• The Unscored section in GRE is used for ETS research purposes and does not count towards your score.
• GRE Syllabus covers the major areas as tested in the GRE exam. Familiarizing yourself with these topics and practicing relevant questions will help you prepare effectively for each section of the exam.

5. GRE General Test Vs GRE Subject Test
Below are the key features of GRE General Test and GRE Subject Test

5.1 GRE General Test Pattern: The GRE General Test closely reflects the kind of thinking you’ll do in today's demanding graduate school programs, including business and law. It measures your verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing skills. These are the skills that have been developed over a long period of time and aren’t related to a specific field of study but are important for all.

5.2 GRE Subject Test Pattern: The GRE Subject Tests are achievement tests that measure your knowledge and skill level in a particular field of study. They’re intended for students who have an undergraduate major or extensive background in one of the key subjects like Mathematics, Physics and Psychology. GRE Subject Test scores are used by admissions or fellowship panels to supplement your undergraduate records, recommendation letters and other qualifications for graduate-level study.

GRE exam is conducted round the year and you can apply and appear in GRE five times a year to improve your GRE score and percentile. GRE is conducted in two testing modes – Computer based test at Exam Centres and Online Proctored Test which you can take from the convenience of your home.