GRE

Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is a standardized exam organized by ETS (Educational Testing Service), which is most commonly required for admissions in schools and colleges in the United States. The GRE program is owned and administered by the ETS. Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching had established GRE in 1936 AD.

The GRE is a broad analysis of critical thinking, analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning skills. The purpose of each GRE examination is to help graduate schools decide if a student got the right stuff for their program.

The score on GRE is varied widely between schools and departments within schools. The GRE is offered as a computer-based exam. Resulting in an exam that is not determined on a question-by-question basis, but rather by section. The performance of the first verbal and math sections determines the difficulty of the second sections presented. The cost to take the test is US$205, although ETS will reduce the fee under certain circumstances. They encourage financial aid to those GRE applicants who prove economic hardship.

Verbal Reasoning — Measures the ability to analyze and draw conclusions from discourse, reason from incomplete data, understand multiple levels of meaning, such as literal, figurative and author’s intent, summarize text, understand the meanings of words, distinguish major from minor points, sentences and entire texts,  and understand relationships among words and among concepts. Its motive is to test the ability to form conclusions from written materials, determine relationships between different parts of sentences, and between concepts and words. The time frame is 30 minutes for 30 questions. There is an emphasis on complex verbal reasoning skills.

Quantitative Reasoning — Measures the ability to understand, interpret and analyze quantitative information, apply the basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry solve problems using mathematical models, and data analysis. This portion of the exam aims to test skill at solving a variety of different math problems. The time frame is 45 minutes for 28 questions. There is an emphasis on quantitative reasoning skills.

Analytical Writing — Measures critical thinking and analytical writing skills, including the ability to articulate and support complex ideas with relevant reasons and examples, and accompanying evidence. There is an emphasis on analytical writing skills.

The first part, reading a paragraph on a general issue and then address that topic as deem fit for the next 45 minutes. The second part is to read and then critique an argument. 30 minutes is provided to complete this essay.