Complete Guide to the GRE General Test Format

Overview of the GRE Format

The GRE General Test has two main scored sections — Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning — plus an Analytical Writing section. The exam takes a total of 1 hour and 58 minutes to complete, a significant reduction from the previous ~3 hour 45 minute format.

The Analytical Writing section is always first. After that, the two Verbal and two Quantitative sections may appear in any order. The first section of each measure presents average-difficulty questions, and the second section's difficulty is determined by your performance on the first — a process known as section-level adaptive testing.

Verbal Reasoning Section

The Verbal Reasoning section evaluates reading comprehension, text analysis, and vocabulary in context through 27 questions across two sections (12 + 15). About half the questions involve reading passages; the other half require completing sentences or short texts. Passages cover physical sciences, biological sciences, social sciences, business, arts and humanities, and everyday topics.

Question Types

The Verbal Reasoning section consists of three distinct question types:

Skills Tested

The Verbal section tests your ability to understand the meaning of words, sentences, and larger bodies of text; distinguish main ideas from supporting details; draw conclusions and make inferences from incomplete data; understand text structure and the relationships between parts; identify the author's perspective and assumptions; and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of arguments.

Quantitative Reasoning Section

The Quantitative Reasoning section tests proficiency in arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis through 27 questions across two sections (12 + 15). The math level is up to a second course in algebra — no trigonometry, calculus, or higher-level mathematics is required. An on-screen calculator is available for all questions.

Question Types

The Quantitative section contains four distinct question types:

Content Areas

Questions are drawn from four content areas. Each test section includes questions from all areas:

Analytical Writing Section

The Analytical Writing section consists of one 30-minute "Analyze an Issue" essay task. You'll receive an opinion on a topic of broad interest along with specific instructions on how to respond. A basic word processor is provided (no spell check or grammar check).

There is no "correct" position — the essay is evaluated on the quality of your argumentation, not which side you take. You're assessed on your ability to articulate complex ideas, construct and evaluate arguments, and sustain a focused, coherent discussion with control of standard written English.

Scoring Rubric

Each essay is scored by trained human raters and an automated scoring engine (e-rater). The final score is averaged. Occasional minor errors won't significantly affect your score, but severe or persistent errors will.

Scoring

Questions are marked as either right or wrong, and students are not penalized for guessing. Raw scores (number correct) are converted to scaled scores through an equating process that accounts for difficulty variations and section adaptation.

Scores are reported approximately 8–10 days after the test. With the ScoreSelect option, you can choose to send your most recent scores, all scores, or scores from specific test dates to institutions. Scores from a single test administration must be reported in their entirety.

Test-Taking Strategies

General Strategies

Answer every question — there is no penalty for wrong answers, and unanswered questions count as incorrect. Work at a steady pace without being careless. Use the mark and review feature to skip difficult questions and return to them if time permits. You can move freely forward and backward within any section and change answers before time expires.

Verbal Reasoning Tips

Read passages carefully before attempting questions, and always answer based on the passage rather than outside knowledge. Distinguish the author's own views from views they merely report. For Text Completion, analyze the passage's structure and logic before trying combinations. For Sentence Equivalence, don't just look for synonyms — ensure both words create coherent, equivalent sentences in context.

Quantitative Reasoning Tips

Use a 3-step approach: understand the problem, execute a strategy, and check your answer. Translate word problems into equations or diagrams. Use estimation and trial-and-error when they're more efficient than formal solving. Remember that you have an on-screen calculator available — use it for tedious arithmetic, but don't become over-reliant on it.

Analytical Writing Tips

Budget your time to allow for thinking, planning, composing, and proofreading. Save a few minutes at the end to check for obvious errors. Occasional minor typos won't hurt your score, but severe and persistent errors will lower it.

Quick Reference