GRE Sections - How Many Sections in GRE Exam?

GRE Exam Sections 2023

Much like many other standardised tests to study abroad, the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) consists of six sections. With the objective of evaluating the different academic skills of the candidate, the GRE exam analyses the Analytical, Verbal and Quantitative reasoning abilities of all test-takers.

All the sections of the GRE exam, also known as the GRE General Test have been designed to analyse the prospects of a candidate from the purview of graduate admissions at top universities around the world. Keeping a common ground in terms of the basic requirements and academic proficiency that any prospective student should possess for graduate admissions abroad, the GRE sections ensure they satisfy the basic requirements for graduate programmes across different disciplines.

The Graduate Record Examination, popularly known as the GRE exam,  is taken by applicants from all around the world who want to pursue a master's, specialised master's in business, MBA, JD, or PhD degree. The GRE Test, which is administered by ETS, is one of the most popular graduate admissions tests for applicants interested in pursuing MS or graduate courses overseas.

How many GRE sections are there?

There are six GRE sections in the General Test, which takes around three hours and 45 minutes to complete, with a 10-minute break after the third section and small 1-minute breaks in between other sections. Check out the table below to understand the exam pattern for GRE sections you will have to attempt this year.

GRE Exam Structure

The entire exam is conducted over a span of 1 hour and 58 mins, with dedicated time limits for the different GRE sections of the exam. As per the current exam pattern for the test, both for online and offline GRE exams, the Analytical Writing section, which consists of 2 separately-timed tasks, will always be the first section of the test. Subsequently, the GRE Verbal Reasoning and the GRE Quantitative Reasoning tasks will be conducted, each containing two sections.

What all is asked in GRE Exam?

You will have two independently timed writing tasks in the GRE analytical writing section. You must type your essay responses for the two computer-delivered writing assignments. With regards to the GRE Verbal Reasoning and the GRE Quantitative Reasoning sections, there will be different forms of questions in the two GRE sections.

Some questions across different GRE sections ask you to choose only one option, while others may ask you to choose one or more options, on the other hand,  other questions may want you to submit a numerical response. The GRE Quantitative Reasoning and the GRE Verbal Reasoning tests are adaptive at the sectional level. Based on your success in the first section of the measure, the computer chooses the second section. For use during the GRE Quantitative Reasoning sections, an on-screen calculator will be made available at the testing facility.

You are free to skip any questions in the GRE Verbal Reasoning and the GRE Quantitative Reasoning sections that you might find challenging to respond to. You can mark questions you want to go back to and look at them again during the allotted time. The testing software also provides you with access to a comprehensive list of all the questions in the GRE sections you are working on, allowing you to ensure that all the questions have been answered and those that have been flagged for further consideration.

Inevitably, the number of questions you successfully answer in both the GRE verbal reasoning and the GRE quantitative reasoning sections will determine your scores. However, if you choose the incorrect response to a question, your score will not be affected. Thus, it is recommended to attempt every question in order to maximise your chances of scoring high.

How is GRE Exam Conducted?

The ETS GRE exam is conducted at various times throughout the year, and students can take the exam in a designated GRE test centre or from the comfort of their own homes if they choose the 'GRE at Home' option. Candidates who want to take the proctored GRE exam at home must have the prerequisite system requirements and a test-friendly environment set up at home.

Who Accepts the GRE Score?

In English-speaking countries, the GRE is one of the most popularly accepted entrance exams at thousands of graduate, business and law schools. Admissions or fellowship committees use GRE scores to complement your undergraduate records, recommendation letters, and other credentials for graduate school. They provide a uniform metric for schools to compare. GRE scores are accepted across different universities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Singapore, Australia and many more.