GRE Exam GuideEvery exam's format, scoring, and task types were checked against each exam board's own official documentation in July 2026.

Graduate Record Examination

Score range

Verbal 130–170 · Quant 130–170 · Writing 0–6

Duration

~1h 58m

Format

Computer Adaptive by Section (not by item)

Sections

3

Format

Test format & sections

Verbal Reasoning

41m (2 sections: 18m + 23m) · 27 questions (12 + 15 per section)

Text Completion — 1 blankText Completion — 2 blanksText Completion — 3 blanksSentence Equivalence — choose 2 words that create equivalent meaningReading Comprehension — single correct answerReading Comprehension — multi-select (all correct answers)Reading Comprehension — select a sentence in the passage

Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence test advanced academic vocabulary in context. Reading passages range from one sentence to multiple paragraphs covering humanities, sciences, and arts. Section 2 difficulty is set by Section 1 performance.

Quantitative Reasoning

47m (2 sections: 21m + 26m) · 27 questions (12 + 15 per section)

Quantitative Comparison — is Quantity A greater, equal, or less than B?Problem Solving — single correct answerProblem Solving — multi-selectNumeric Entry — type the answer, no choices givenData Interpretation — charts and tables, usually in 3-question sets

All math is high-school level — no calculus. Quantitative Comparison is unique to the GRE: choose A > B, B > A, A = B, or 'cannot be determined'. On-screen calculator provided. Data Interpretation sets appear 2–3 times per test.

Analytical Writing

30m (1 task) · 1 essay

Analyze an Issue (30m): take and argue a position on a broad claim

Since the September 2023 shortened GRE, this is the ONLY Analytical Writing task — the old Analyze an Argument task was removed entirely, so don't prep for it. Choose your stance and support it with reasons and examples; a nuanced, qualified position usually scores higher than a flat agree/disagree. Scored 0–6 by human rater + e-rater; if scores differ by >1, a second human scores.

Scoring

How GRE is scored

Verbal and Quant: 130–170 in 1-point increments. Writing: 0–6 in 0.5-point increments. Section-adaptive: Section 2 difficulty is set by Section 1 performance. Scores valid for 5 years.

Score levels

V163+ / Q166+
90th+ percentile
V157+ / Q159+
75th+ percentile
V151 / Q153
50th percentile (mean)
V144 / Q147
25th percentile
V<144 / Q<147
Below average

Typical requirements

V160+ / Q165+Top PhD programmes — Ivy League, MIT, Stanford
V155+ / Q158+Competitive master's and PhD programmes
V150 / Q153Average graduate admission threshold
AWA 4.0+Most programmes have a minimum writing score
FAQ

GRE frequently asked questions

What changed in the September 2023 GRE update?

The GRE General Test was shortened from approximately 3 hours 45 minutes to about 1 hour 58 minutes. The Analytical Writing section was reduced from two essays (Issue + Argument) to one (Issue task only). The Argument task was removed. The number of Verbal and Quantitative questions was also reduced.

How is the GRE scored?

Verbal Reasoning: 130–170 (1-point increments). Quantitative Reasoning: 130–170 (1-point increments). Analytical Writing: 0–6 (half-point increments). Total scores for V+Q range from 260–340. There is no single composite GRE score — programmes evaluate sections individually.

How long are GRE scores valid?

5 years from the test date. ETS will report scores up to 5 years old.

How many times can I take the GRE?

Up to 5 times within any continuous 12-month period, with at least 21 days between attempts.

What is the ScoreSelect option?

ScoreSelect lets you choose which GRE scores to send to institutions — either your most recent scores, all scores from the past 5 years, or any set you choose. You are not required to send all attempts, so poor test days do not automatically follow you.

Is the GRE accepted by business schools?

Yes — the vast majority of MBA programmes now accept the GRE alongside the GMAT, including Harvard Business School, Wharton, Booth, and Kellogg. Check each programme's admissions page for their current policy.