GRE is known to be the most competitive admission examination in the world. GRE, also known as the Graduate Record Examination, is taken by students or professionals who wish to study aboard. The test helps screen the applicants for their English language and analytical abilities.
When you talk to someone from the admission committee in a university in the US or UK, they say that the importance of the GRE is the same as a Letter of Recommendation, less important when compared to the GPAs, and has more value than the other admission requirements.
Do you know that a good GRE score can help a student obtain a scholarship and cover up for lower academic scores? Now that we know how important GRE is let us learn more about the GRE from the experts at Hornet Visa and Immigration Consultancy.
GRE Examination – An Overview
The Educational Testing Service, also known as ETS, holds GRE every year. The examination can be taken every 21 days, and the scores are accepted in more than 160 countries and 1300+ universities globally.
During the GRE, the students are tested in three main sections, and they are
- Verbal Reasoning
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Analytical Writing Assessment
GRE is conducted via two modes, and they are computer-based and paper-based. Computer-based mode is the most common of them both. GRE is also an examination that helps weed out any ineligible applications. The sections in the exam keep getting in touch as you proceed, and the applicants get hard questions in the next sections.
Eligibility for GRE
Students or professionals who want to pursue their higher studies, like a master’s, abroad can register for GRE. There is no specific age limit or required qualification to register for GRE. Applicants must have valid and unexpired government ID proof, like a passport, to apply for GRE.
How to book slots for GRE?
It just takes 15 minutes to book your slot for GRE. If you plan to take GRE, the first step is to book a slot. Students often struggle to find the required slot even when they have a 2 months window to do the same.
Experts at study abroad consultancy often suggest that students can book the slot when they are ready to take the examination. By doing so, one can also find a GRE center nearby.
How to register for GRE?
Registration for the GRE can be done online, via mail, or by phone. However, many students prefer the online portal to register for the examination. Let us look at the step-by-step procedure for the same.
- Access the official website of GRE https://www.ets.org/gre.html, and create an account.
- Fill in all the personal information as asked, like the username, password, full name, contact information, DOB, etc. Ensure to enter the correct information, which is free of spelling errors.
- Students can now choose from the GRE General Test or the GRE Subject Test.
- Next, students can select the test date for GRE and the exam center and pay a fee for the examination.
- The fee for GRE in India is 205 USD.
The General Test format of the GRE
The general test of the GRE assesses the students based on their English language skills, mathematical aptitude, and analytical skills. The GRE General Exam is conducted in three categories, and they are,
- 2 sections on Verbal Reasoning
- 2 sections on Quantitative Reasoning
- 2 sections on Analytical Writing Assessment
Besides those mentioned above, the exam will have two more sections, namely unscored and research.
The Subject Test format of the GRE
If you have specialized skills in a specific subject, you can show your expertise by taking a GRE subject test. Though not common, the GRE subject test can be taken along with the general test, and it is presently available in four disciplines,
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Psychology
The GRE subject test has a time frame of 2 hours and 50 minutes, and it is one good way to showcase the student’s expertise in a certain subject.
GRE Examination Fees
To register for GRE, the applicant needs to pay the examination fee, which is 228 USD. Apart from the GRE examination, the other related fees are listed below.
- Rescheduling Fee – 50 USD
- Changing Exam Centre Fee – 50 USD
- Exam Cancellation Fee – 50 % of the exam fee is refunded
- Additional Score Report – 27 USD
- Score Reinstatement Fee – 50 USD
ETS also has a fee waiver for students with financial hardships, where 50% of the examination fees are waived.
GRE scores
We often see people say that there is no perfect GRE score. The minimum score per section is 130, and the maximum is 170. So, the total score obtained by an applicant in GRE can range between 260 to 340.
How can I send the GRE scores to various universities?
Once the GRE examination is done and one obtains the score, the same has to be shared with the universities. So, how do you get this done? Let us see.
Once you finish the GRE test (computer-based), you obtain the unofficial scores for verbal and quantitative sections. The overall GRE score, including the analytical writing assessment, is obtained in 10-15 days on the ETS website. If you have taken a paper-based test, the scores are obtained together on the ETS account after 5 weeks approximately.
Once received, the scores can be shared with 5 universities without additional cost via an ETS account. Applicants must pay an additional fee for every score report if they want to send them to more universities.
Applying for GRE and sharing your score reports can sound daunting, but it is necessary to make your study abroad dream a reality. Students must prepare in advance and follow a proper strategy that suits their study style. And we at Hornet Visa and Immigration are by your side throughout this journey.