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What is GRE?

Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is the world’s most widely used admissions test required for application to graduation (MS) and research (Ph.D.) programs across the universities of the world.It is a program used for admissions for graduate programs as well as for business and law schoolsThe GRE score is accepted by most universities in the USA and many top universities in the UK, Singapore, Germany, Australia and in most of the other countries.

GRE is administered by ETS (Educational Testing Services) and is conducted throughout the year, except on Sundays and National holidays. The score is valid for 5 years. However, the colleges prefer scores within the last 3 years. You can send the GRE score to 4 universities free of cost(included in the GRE fees).

Ideal time to take the GRE is at least one year prior to college intake dates.

What does the GRE test on?

The GRE General Test closely reflects the kind of thinking you’ll do in today's demanding graduate school programs, including business and law. It measures your verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing skills — skills that have been developed over a long period of time and aren’t related to a specific field of study but are important for all.

Test Pattern of GRE

The GRE revised General test is administered as a computer adaptive test, but not all sections are adaptive. Each of the verbal and quantitative assessment portions of the exam has two sections. For both of these assessments, the first part is not computer adaptive, while the second is.

The overall testing time for the computer-delivered GRE is about three hours and forty-five minutes. There are six sections with a 10-minute break following the third section.

An unidentified unscored section that does not count toward your score may be included and may appear in any order after the Analytical Writing section. Questions in the unscored section are being tried out either for possible use in future tests or to ensure that scores on new editions of the test are comparable to scores from earlier editions.

An identified research section that does not count toward your score may be included in place of the unscored section. The research section will always appear at the end of the test. Questions in this section are included for ETS research purposes.

Analytical Writing

The first section of the GRE is Analytical Writing Assessment or Essays. ETS publishes all essay topics on their website along with the commentary and hence it becomes easier to prepare for the essays. The tasks come from a wide range of subjects from the fine arts and humanities to the social and physical sciences but no task requires specific content knowledge. It requires you to provide focused responses based on the tasks presented, so you can accurately demonstrate your skill in directly responding to a task. The score is given in the range of 1 to 6.

The Analytical Writing section measures your ability to:

○ articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively

○ support ideas with relevant reasons and examples

○ examine claims and accompanying evidence

○ sustain a well-focused, coherent discussion

○ control the elements of standard written English

There are two tasks in this section:

◽ Analyze an Issue

◽ Analyze an Argument

Analyze An Issue Task

The Analyze an Issue task assesses your ability to think critically about a topic of general interest and to clearly express your thoughts about it in writing. The issue statement is followed by a set of specific instructions. The specific instructions could be one of the following:

1. Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position.

2. Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the recommendation and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, describe specific circumstances in which adopting the recommendation would or would not be advantageous and explain how these examples shape your position.

3. Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the claim. In developing and supporting your position, be sure to address the most compelling reasons or examples that could be used to challenge your position.

4. Write a response in which you discuss which view more closely aligns with your own position and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should address both of the views presented.

5. Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the claim AND the reason on which that claim is based.

6. Write a response in which you discuss your views on the policy and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider the possible consequences of implementing the policy and explain how these consequences shape your position.

Sample Analyze an Issue Tasks

1. As people rely more and more on technology to solve problems, the ability of humans to think for themselves will surely deteriorate.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position.

2. A nation should require all of its students to study the same national curriculum until they enter college.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the recommendation and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, describe specific circumstances in which adopting the recommendation would or would not be advantageous and explain how these examples shape your position.

Analyze An Argument Task

The Analyze an Argument task assesses your ability to understand, analyze and evaluate arguments and to clearly convey your evaluation in writing. You are presented with a brief passage in which the author makes a case for some course of action or interpretation of events by presenting claims backed by reasons and evidence. Your task is to discuss the logical soundness of the author's case according to the specific instructions by critically examining the line of reasoning and the use of evidence. The specific instructions could be one of the following:

1. Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed to evaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken or strengthen the argument.

2. Write a response in which you examine the stated and/or unstated assumptions of the argument. Be sure to explain how the argument depends on these assumptions and what the implications are if the assumptions prove unwarranted.

3. Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be answered in order to decide whether the recommendation and the argument on which it is based are reasonable. Be sure to explain how the answers to these questions would help to evaluate the recommendation.

4. Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be answered in order to decide whether the advice and the argument on which it is based are reasonable. Be sure to explain how the answers to these questions would help to evaluate the advice.

5. Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be answered to decide whether the recommendation is likely to have the predicted result. Be sure to explain how the answers to these questions would help to evaluate the recommendation.

6. Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be answered in order to decide whether the prediction and the argument on which it is based are reasonable. Be sure to explain how the answers to these questions would help to evaluate the prediction.

7. Write a response in which you discuss one or more alternative explanations that could rival the proposed explanation and explain how your explanation(s) can plausibly account for the facts presented in the argument.

Sample Analyze an Argument Tasks

1. In surveys Mason City residents rank water sports (swimming, boating, and fishing) among their favorite recreational activities. The Mason River flowing through the city is rarely used for these pursuits, however, and the city park department devotes little of its budget to maintaining riverside recreational facilities. For years there have been complaints from residents about the quality of the river's water and the river's smell. In response, the state has recently announced plans to clean up Mason River. Use of the river for water sports is, therefore, sure to increase. The city government should for that reason devote more money in this year's budget to riverside recreational facilities.

Write a response in which you examine the stated and/or unstated assumptions of the argument. Be sure to explain how the argument depends on the assumptions and what the implications are if the assumptions prove unwarranted.

2. The following is a memorandum from the business manager of a television station.

"Over the past year, our late-night news program has devoted increased time to national news and less time to weather and local news. During this time period, most of the complaints received from viewers were concerned with our station's coverage of weather and local news. In addition, local businesses that used to advertise during our late-night news program have just canceled their advertising contracts with us. Therefore, in order to attract more viewers to the program and to avoid losing any further advertising revenues, we should restore the time devoted to weather and local news to its former level."

Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed to evaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken or strengthen the argument.

Verbal Reasoning

The Verbal Reasoning section measures your ability to analyze and draw conclusions from discourse; reason from incomplete data; identify author's assumptions and/or perspective; understand multiple levels of meaning,; distinguish major from minor or irrelevant points; summarize text; understand the meaning of individual words, sentences and entire texts; understand relationships among words and among concepts.

The GRE tests the above ability via the following questions types:

● Sentence Equivalence

● Text Completion

● Reading comprehension

Quantitative Reasoning

The Quantitative Reasoning section measures your ability to understand, interpret and analyze quantitative information and solve problems using mathematical models

The test is designed to check basic skills and elementary concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis.

Topics that are tested on GRE Quantitative Aptitude section are:

● Arithmetic-topics include properties and types of integers, such as divisibility, factorization, prime numbers, remainders, and odd and even integers; arithmetic operations, exponents and roots; and concepts such as estimation, percent, ratio, rate, absolute value, the number line, decimal representation and sequences of numbers.

● Algebra-topics include operations with exponents; factoring and simplifying algebraic expressions; relations, functions, equations and inequalities; solving linear and quadratic equations and inequalities; solving simultaneous equations and inequalities; setting up equations to solve word problems; and coordinate geometry, including graphs of functions, equations, and inequalities, intercepts, and slopes of lines.

● Geometry-topics include parallel and perpendicular lines, circles, triangles, quadrilaterals, other polygons, congruent and similar figures, three-dimensional figures, area, and perimeter, volume, the Pythagorean Theorem and angle measurement in degrees.

● Data analysis-topics include descriptive statistics, such as mean, median, mode, range, standard deviation, quartiles, and percentiles; interpretation of data in tables and graphs, such as line graphs, bar graphs, circle graphs, box-plots, scatter-plots, and frequency distributions; elementary probability of compound events and independent events; random variables and probability distributions, including normal distributions; and counting methods such as combinations, permutations, and Venn diagram.

The content in these areas includes high school mathematics and statistics at a level that is generally no higher than a second course in algebra; it does not include trigonometry, calculus or other higher-level mathematics.

The mathematical symbols, terminology and conventions used in the Quantitative Reasoning measure are those that are standard at the high school level. For example, the positive direction of a number line is to the right, distances are nonnegative and prime numbers are greater than 1. Whenever nonstandard notation is used in a question, it is explicitly introduced in the question.

The Quantitative Reasoning measure has four types of questions:

● Quantitative Comparison Questions

● Multiple Choice Questions - Select one answer Choice

● Multiple Choice Questions - Select one or more Answer Choices

● Numeric Entry Questions

Each question appears either independently as a discrete question or as part of a set of questions called a Data Interpretation set. All of the questions in a Data Interpretation set are based on the same data presented in tables, graphs or other displays of data.

You are allowed to use a basic calculator on the Quantitative Reasoning measure. For the computer-based test, the calculator is provided on-screen.

Test Design Features

The advanced adaptive design of the GRE revised General Test allows you to freely move forward and backward throughout an entire section. Specific features include:

Preview and review capabilities within a section

"Mark" and "Review" features to tag questions, so you can skip them and return later if you have time remaining in the section

The ability to change/edit answers within a section

An on-screen calculator for the Quantitative Reasoning section

You need to register and create a ‘My GRE Account’ on www.ets.org for the GRE test or to view your scores.

Schedule Your GRE General Test

You can take the GRE General Test once every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous rolling 12-months period (365 days). This applies even if you cancelled your scores on a test taken previously.

When selecting a test date, make sure your scores will be reported in time for your application deadlines. Score reports are sent to your designated score recipients approximately 10–15 days after your test date. When choosing a test date, allow time for delivery of scores and processing by the institution.

What Should One Do After Attempting the GRE?

GRE is generally taken by students who are willing to study abroad. After taking the GRE the score you obtain is valid for 5 years from the date of the test.However, the colleges prefer scores within the last three years. Having a GRE score in hand is a vital part of getting admission into top institutes abroad. While applying to a university abroad there are certain documents that an applicant has to submit which are a letter of recommendation, statement of purpose, academic qualifications, extracurricular activities, and many more. Ideal time to take the GRE is at least one year prior to college intake dates . June- July of the year prior to admission is ideal for taking the GRE, so that if your performance is not up to the mark, you still have time till September to take the second shot.

Procedure to join for a M.S course abroad

Once you have decided to join an M.S course abroad, you need to plan the dates for taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Both are world wide acclaimed English Proficiency Tests which are mandatory for admissions to colleges abroad.

Next is taking the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), which is another exam which tests the verbal ability as well as quantitative aptitude of aspirants. A good GRE score reflects the quantitative ability of students.

Along with the GRE and TOEFL/IELTS score, the next step is to send the test scores to the colleges and universities that you are interested in joining. You need to submit mark sheets too. Also, you need to obtain reference letters from the professors of the college where you completed your Undergraduate. US universities need a maximum of 3 reference letters. Next step is preparing a Statement of Purpose which describes why you are interested in pursuing an M. S course in a particular university. Financial documents should be submitted to prove that the aspirants are financially sound for pursuing M. S course

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