The General Test measures analytical writing, verbal, and quantitative skills that have been acquired over a long period of time and that are not related to any specific field of study.
Prospective graduate applicants take the General Test. GRE test scores are used by admissions or fellowship panels to supplement undergraduate records and other qualifications for graduate study. The scores provide common measures for comparing the qualifications of applicants and aid in evaluating grades and recommendations.
The General Test or GRE test is offered year-round at computer-based test centers in the U.S., Canada, and many other countries. It is offered at paper-based test centers in areas of the world where computer-based testing is not available. Test takers should find out the format which is available their area.
Any graduate, business or professional school, or any department or division within a school, may require or recommend that its applicants take the General Test, a Subject Test, or both. If approved by the GRE® Board, an institution seeking accreditation can also receive test takers scores.
The verbal section measures your ability to analyze and evaluate written material and synthesize information obtained from it, to analyze relationships among component parts of sentences, to recognize relationships between words and concepts, and to reason with words in solving problems. There is a balance of passages across different subject matter areas: humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
The quantitative section measures your basic mathematical skills, your understanding of elementary mathematical concepts, and your ability to reason quantitatively and solve problems in a quantitative setting. There is a balance of questions requiring arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. These are content areas usually studied in high school.
The analytical writing section tests your critical thinking and analytical writing skills. It assesses your ability to articulate and support complex ideas, analyze an argument, and sustain a focused and coherent discussion. It does not assess specific content knowledge.
Individuals taking the Analytical Writing section between July 1, 2009, and September 19, 2009, will be registered for the paper-based administration on October 24, 2009. Those taking the Analytical Writing section between September 20, 2009, and May 8, 2010, will be registered for the paper-based administration on June 12, 2010.
| Computer-Based Analytical Writing Test Dates | Paper-Based Verbal and Quantitative Test Dates | ApproximateScore Report Mailing Dates |
| July 1, 2009, through September 19, 2009 | October 24, 2009 | December 4, 2009 |
| September 20, 2009, through May 8, 2010 | June 12, 2010 | July 23, 2010 |
ETS is committed to serving test takers with disabilities by providing services and reasonable accommodations that are appropriate given the purpose of the test. Nonstandard testing accommodations are available for test takers who meet ETS requirements.
