Suppose you’re planning to pursue a graduate degree in any school in the United States of America or Canada. In that case, taking the GRE is a critical decision to make whether it’s an MBA degree, J.D, master’s degree, doctoral degree or a specialised master degree.
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a test owned and administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The GRE general test aims to measure the verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing and critical thinking skills of the test takers. Admissions or fellowship panels use the GRE scores to supplement the test taker undergraduate records.
The GRE test is available in computer-based and paper-based modes. It is available on the computer at more than 1,000 test centres in more than 160 countries. In mainland China, the test is available up to three times per month. In most places in the world, the test is available continuously. In areas of the world where the computer-based GRE general test isn’t available the GRE paper-based option is open twice a year, and the test is mailed to these areas.
One popular question aspirants ask is ‘How many questions is the GRE?’ To answer this question, it is key to remember that the GRE general test has four sections; the verbal reasoning section, the quantitative reasoning section and the analytical writing section. This question will be treated according to the number of questions per section.
Table of Contents
1. Quantitative Reasoning Section
In the quantitative reasoning section, there are two subsections with 20 questions each. Questions in this section include; 8 quantitative comparisons, nine problem-solving items and 3 data interpretation questions in each section. There are 40 questions in this quantitative reasoning section and the total time to answer all the questions is 1 hour and 10 minutes.
The questions in this section aim to assess basic high school level mathematical knowledge and reasoning skills such as elementary concepts, algebra, and geometry and data analysis. It evaluates the test takers ability to solve quantitative problems using mathematical models, understand, interpret and analyse quantitative information.
Questions in the quantitative reasoning section vary based on their format. Some require the test taker to choose a numeric answer, and some require the examinee to enter more than one answer while others require a single answer choice. That is why the examinee needs to understand, analyse and interpret the questions before answering.
Your score for the quantitative reasoning section will be determined by the number of questions answered correctly. Therefore, it is important to answer as many questions correctly as possible. There is the freedom to change questions and skip questions that seem challenging to answer. Also, the testing software has the ‘mark’ and ‘review’ features that allow the test taker to mark these problematic questions and revisit later within the time duration of the section.
2. Verbal Reasoning Section
The verbal reasoning questions of the GRE general test seeks to determine the test takers ability to; analyse and understand the relationship among words and concepts, comprehend the meaning of words, sentences and text, examine and draw conclusions from the discourse. The test takers skill in selecting important points, grasping the structure of a text and summarising it, identifying the author’s intent, assumptions and perspectives, distinguishing significant from minor or essential issues and apprehending multiple levels of meanings such as literal and figurative are also measured.
The verbal reasoning section consists of two subsections which have 20 questions to be completed in 30 minutes each—making the total of 40 questions in this section. The questions for each verbal reasoning subsection include; 6 text completion, four-sentence equivalence and ten critical reading questions. They are aimed at testing the skills mentioned above.
The GRE test software is designed to be test-taker friendly. Within the section timing, it lets the test taker skip questions within this section, go back and change answers, mark questions to be answered later and revisit them after answering the rest. The testing software also allows the examinee to have a full view of all the questions in the section and identify questions answered and those marked for review.
The test taker verbal reasoning scores are determined by the number of questions answered correctly. There is no subtraction for incorrect questions and no division for an average score.
3. Analytical Writing Section
In the GRE analytical writing section, there are two questions known as tasks. There are essay writing tasks which include; an issue task and an argument task.
The issue task, which is the first task has a time duration of 30 minutes. The test taker is given a pool of questions to select an issue topic and write an essay analysing the issue.
In the argument task, the test taker is given a pool of topics which the GRE Program has published to choose an argument and write an essay that critiques it. The idea is considered, and suggestions to improve the logic of the argument without making personal opinions are to be presented by the test taker. The time duration given to complete this task is 30 minutes.
Questions in this section seek to measure the test taker skills in responding to a task, analysing claims and accompanying evidence. Maintain a logical and coherent discussion, support ideas with relevant reasons and examples, and control the elements of the standard and written English, also expressing complex ideas clearly and effectively.
The ETS developed an elementary word processor on the testing software. The software contains basic functionalities such as; delete, cut and paste, undo the previous action, scroll and insert text. It is built so that the tasks can be delivered efficiently, and the test takers familiar with a specific commercial word-processing software can be satisfied.
The number of questions in the trial section varies, and it can either be quadratic or verbal. How many questions is the GRE is vital for aspirants to ask, so they can be well prepared to tackle the exams? Know this and know what to expect.
