The GRE exam measures the academic abilities of graduate school applicants.
Most graduate programs in the United States require applicants to supply satisfactory standardized test scores as a criterion for admission. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) allows graduate applicants to demonstrate academic aptitudes and prove to the admissions committee, their readiness for graduate-level work. The GRE is developed and administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and has registration, component and test-day requirements that test-takers must meet to successfully pass the exam.
Registration Requirements
After deciding to take the GRE as part of the graduate school application process, test-takers must first register for the exam. According to the ETS website, the GRE for test-takers in the United States, Canada and select international locations is a computer-based test that can be registered for via the Internet, phone or mail.
To register via the Internet, test-takers should visit the GRE section of the ETS website, and follow the links for Internet registration. Internet registration requires that test-takers pay the exam fee with a credit or debit card. To register by phone, test-takers should call the Prometric Candidate Services Call Center at 1-443-751-4820 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Payment of the exam fee can be made with a credit or debit card. To register by mail, again, visit the GRE section the ETS website. Follow the "Register" link to print out, and fill out a Voucher Request Form. Payment of the exam fee can be made by credit or debit card, personal check, certified check or money order. Mail the form and payment to:
ETS-CBT/GRE
Box 371859
Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7859
ets.org/gre
The GRE can also be taken as a paper exam in select international locations where the computer-based exam is not available. Test-takers can register for the paper exam via the Internet or mail. To register via the Internet, test-takers should visit mygre.ets.org to create a GRE account and register for the exam. Payment of the exam fee can be made with a credit or debit card. For the paper-based test also, test-takers can find and print the registration form from the GRE section of ETS website. Payment of the exam fee can be made by credit or debit card, certified check or money order. The form and payment can be mailed to:
ETS-GRE
Box 382013
Pittsburgh, PA 15251-8013
ets.org/gre
Required GRE Components
GRE test-takers are required to understand the components of the exam in order to pass and achieve satisfactory scores. According to the ETS website, the GRE contains three sections.
The first GRE section is analytical writing which measures analysis skills and writing abilities. It requires test-takers to write an essay to each of two prompts, in an hour and 15 minutes. The second GRE section is verbal reasoning which measures comprehension and analysis skills. It requires test-takers to answer 30 questions in 30 minutes. The third GRE section is quantitative reasoning which measures mathematical problem-solving skills. It requires test-takers to answer 28 questions in 45 minutes.
Test Day Requirements
In order to successfully take and pass the GRE, there are requirements that test-takers must meet on the day of the exam. Test-takers need to arrive on time to take the scheduled exam and be prepared to stay for its entirety. Regardless of whether taking the computer or paper-based test, test-takers are required to bring valid identification and an authorization voucher or admission ticket to the test center. According to the ETS website, a valid form of identification is a passport, state/province ID, national ID, military ID or driver's license. All forms of identification must include the test-taker's name, signature and photograph. Test-takers will be subjected to identification validation upon arrival at the test center in the form of photography, fingerprinting or videography.
Those taking the computer-based test should also have a list of schools to which scores should be sent. Paper-based test- takers also need to bring three to four, sharpened No. 2 pencils.
Test-takers are required to surrender personal items prior to beginning the exam. Materials needed to successfully complete the exam will be supplied by the testing center.
If any of these test-day time requirements are not met, test-takers risk their chance to take the exam and achieve satisfactory scores.
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