Conducted by US-based Education Testing Service (ETS), Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized, computer-based, multichoice exam accepted by all top US Universities for MBA, MS, Law and other graduate programs. GRE exam scores are accepted by more than 1,300 business schools including Harvard, Wharton, Chicago and almost all other Top 50 B-schools as ranked by Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Financial Times and U.S. News & World Report. According to information shared by GRE, 70,136 test takers took the GRE exam from India in 2020-21. GRE 2022 exam has 3 sections: Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) section, Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning. GRE Exam 2022 can be a good alternative to GMAT, particularly for students who have good English language skills. Also, taking GRE 2022 exam cost a less than GMAT exam. GRE score validity is for a period of 5 years. In this MBAUniverse.com article, written keeping in mind Indian students, you will get all the vital information on GRE 2022 Exam like What is GRE Test, GRE Registration Process, Exam Pattern, Preparation, Colleges and Universities accepting GRE, comparison with GMAT & CAT, What is GRE Score Validity, Latest updates on GRE Test 2022 and a lot more. So, continue reading…
Types of GRE Test
Let us start with the basics. There are two different types of GRE tests: GRE General Test and GRE Subject Test.
GRE General Test
‘GRE General’ test is commonly used exam for admission to MBA, Specialized Master’s Program, Law and other graduate programs. There are three sections in the GRE General Test – Analytical Writing Assessment, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning. Check GRE General Test Pattern below. The answer to the query as to why take the GRE General Test is that GRE General measures one’s command of quantitative ability like basic arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis as well as college-level vocabulary. More importantly, it measures your reasoning ability to analyse and evaluate written material, think critically, and solve problems.
GRE Subject Test
The GRE Subject Tests are conducted for admissions in the field of Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Psychology. This test aims at evaluating the applicants’ ability on a specific subject. We will be discussing GRE General Test in this article.
GRE 2022 Key Highlights & Benefits of GRE 2022 Exam for Indian Students
GRE Highlights and benefits accruing from GRE Exam 2022 for Indian Students are more than perceived. GRE 2022 opens up different avenues for higher studies for any serious test-taker. Here are a few benefits of taking the GRE 2022 with special consideration to Indian students:
- Leverage your English Language Skills: GRE exam 2022 can be a good alternative to GMAT, particularly for students who have good English language skills compared to their Quantitative ability.
- Test-taker Friendly Design: The GRE test-taker friendly design lets you skip questions within a section, go back and change answers and have the flexibility to choose which questions within a section you want to answer first.
- Wider Acceptance in different programs: While the GMAT is primarily meant for MBA programs across the world, the GRE General Test opens up various other opportunities. Apart from being accepted by most of the MBA programs, it is generally accepted for Specialized Masters, Law, and Doctoral (PhD) programs across the best universities in the world.
- Younger Test takers: While most of the GMAT test takers are working professionals with an experience of more than 2 years, the scenario is completely opposite in case of the GRE. Candidates in their pre-final year of graduation generally take the test, as the best courses don’t have an eligibility requirement of any work experience prior to getting an admit.
- Access to Scholarships: GRE test takers with high scores can apply to thousands of scholarships offered by Universities and B-schools to needy but meritorious students. Indian students regularly apply and get these scholarships.
- Lower Fee: Also, one small advantage over the GMAT is the relatively lesser application fees.GRE Exam Fee in India is US$ 213, which is approximately INR 15,975 (1 US$ = INR 75). While, GMAT Exam Fee in India is US$ 275, which is approximately INR 20,625 (1 US$ = INR 75).
GRE General Test at Home offered amidst COVID-19 crisis
GRE at Home Test started during the Covid-19 pandemic. Now Students all over the world including India can take GRE Exam from the comforts of their homes! The GRE at Home Test is identical in content, format and on-screen experience to the GRE General Test taken at a test center. This test in however available only for a limited time till COVID-19 situation becomes normal. So, check details on GRE/ETS official site and take advantage of this opportunity.
Types of Programs Accepting GRE Exam
As already explained above, the wide variety of programs available to a GRE candidate is unmatched.
- 2 Year or 1 Year MBA Programs offered by B-schools and Universities
- Specialized Masters in Management (MiM) Programs in Finance, Accounting, Business Analytics etc offered by B-schools and Universities
- PhD in Management Programs
- Graduate Schools for Engineering
- Law Schools
- Other programs like PhD, Health Services, Education and other fields
GRE Test Taker’s Graduate Degree Objectives
Below are the most popular programs for GRE test takers. About 60% of test takers reported a graduate degree objective of either master’s degree (37%) or doctorate (22%). MBA was the third most popular program amongst GRE exam takers.
| Percentage of GRE General Test Examinees, by Graduate Degree Objective | ||
| Graduate Degree Objective | Number | Percent |
| Master’s (M.A., M.S., M.Ed.) | 135698 | 37 |
| Doctorate (Ph.D., Ed.D.) | 80487 | 22 |
| MBA | 13204 | 4 |
| JD | 2025 | 1 |
| Postdoctoral Study | 2023 | 1 |
| Specialized Master’s in Business | 1585 | <1 |
Source: ETS/GRE
GRE Exam Pattern: Key Highlights
| Name | GRE (Graduate Record Examination) |
| Conducted by | ETS(Educational Testing Service) |
| Total Duration | 3 hours 45 minutes |
| GRE Fees | GRE Exam Fee in India is US$ 213, which is approximately INR 15,975 (1 US$ = INR 75). |
| Accepted for | MBA, Specialized Masters in Finance, Accounting, Business Analytics etc, Law, Other Graduate Programs |
| Sections | 3 Sections (Analytical Writing Assessment, Verbal Reasoning -2 sections, Quantitative Reasoning- 2 sections) + Unscored/ Research section -not scored) |
| No. Of Questions/Time limit | AWA – 2 Question / 30 Minutes each QR (1) – 20 Questions / 35 Minutes QR (2) – 20 Questions / 35 Minutes VR (1) – 20 Questions / 30 Minutes VR (2) – 20 Questions / 30 Minutes |
| GRE Score validity | 5 years |
| No. Of Attempts | Maximum 5 attempts in a year (Minimum 21 days between consecutive attempts) |
| GRE Contact in India | +91-1244517127 or 000-800-100-4072 Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. IST Email: GRESupport4India@ets.org |
GRE Eligibility: What are GRE Eligibility criteria for 2022?
What are GRE Eligibility criteria for 2022? In fact GRE Eligibility criteria is very simple and easy. Anyone who is a passport holder is eligible to take GRE exam. Aspirants of any age, who want to pursue programmes like MBA, MS or law programmes can take the GRE test. There are no specific age or qualification criteria mentioned by the ETS. However, candidates are expected to possess a graduate degree (ongoing or completed) in any discipline from a recognized university.
GRE Exam Dates
As the exams is conducted throughout the year, the question arises when should you take the GRE Test? The answer to this is that since there are no fixed official GRE exam dates, one can choose preferred GRE test dates 2022 and self-schedule the GRE 2022 exam dates according to the convenience and availability. However, the GRE 2022 exam dates chosen should be at least two months before your first application deadline.
GRE Exam Registration: How to Register for GRE 2022?
GRE is conducted throughout the year. However, the GRE exam registration appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Early submission of GRE exam application form can help one get the preferred test date and test location. The information filled in your GRE exam application form should match the passport details, else results may get cancelled.
How to Register for GRE 2022: Registrations can be made in the following manner:
- Online: ETS Account is required to register online for the test (log into your ETS account at www.ets.org/mygre). Pay registration fee of US$213 On successful registration a confirmation email from ETS will be sent mentioning your test choice, test date, test centre and score recipients.
- Phone: To book a slot on phone, call the Regional Registration Centre (RRC) on 91-124-4147700. This must be done at least two business days before the preferred test date. A conformation will be provided post this and the payment can be made online via JCB, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, or Visa credit or debit card.
- Fax: Completed application form should be print and sent to 91-124-4147773 with the appropriate fee. The form must be received by the office at least seven days before the test date.
- Mail: A printed application form along with the prescribed fee may be sent to the following address: Prometric, 2nd floor, DLF Infinity Tower–A, Sector 25, Phase II, DLF City, Gurgaon, Haryana – 122002, India. The form must be received by the office at least three weeks before the test date.
GRE Exam Fees: What is the GRE Exam Fees in India?
GRE Exam Fee in India is US$ 213, which is approximately INR 15,975 (1 US$ = INR 75). While, GMAT Exam Fee in India is US$ 275, which is approximately INR 20,625 (1 US$ = INR 75).
GRE Test Duration
The overall testing time for the computer-delivered GRE General Test is three hours and 45 minutes.
GRE Exam Pattern: GRE General Test Structure
The GRE General Test measures your verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing skills which have been developed over a long period of time. There are three test sections: Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning.GRE General exam structure &pattern details are as below.
| Measure | Number of Questions | Allotted Time |
| GRET Analytical Writing Test (One section with two separately timed tasks) | One “Analyze an Issue” task and one “Analyze an Argument” task | 30 minutes per task |
| Verbal Reasoning (Two sections) | 20 questions per section | 30 minutes per section |
| Quantitative Reasoning (Two sections) | 20 questions per section | 35 minutes per section |
| Unscored¹ | Varies | Varies |
| Research² | Varies | Varies |
1 An unidentified unscored section that does not count toward score may be included and may appear in any order after the Analytical Writing section.
2 An identified research section that does not count toward score may be included in place of the unscored section. The research section will always appear at the end of the test.
3. The Analytical Writing section will always be first. The Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and unidentified/unscored sections may appear in any order; therefore, students should treat each section as if it counts toward your score.
Now, let us understand each of the section in detail.
GRE General Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) Section
GRE Analytical Writing section measures student’s 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
The first essay requires you to state your stance and provide supporting evidence, while the second essay requires you to evaluate someone else’s position. The key to do well in this section is formulating a well-supported thesis in response to new and unfamiliar topic. For the “Analyze an Issue” task, you will read an opinion on a topic of general interest and be given instructions on how to respond to the issue at hand. For the “Analyze an Argument” task, you will need to consider an argument according to instructions given in the prompt.
GRE General Verbal Reasoning Section
GRE 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, such as literal, figurative and author’s intent
- select important points; distinguish major from minor or irrelevant points; summarize text; understand the structure of a text
- understand the meaning of individual words, sentences and entire texts; understand relationships among words and among concepts
In this section the questions are presented as Text Completion, Sentence Equivalence, and Reading Comprehension question types.
GRE Quantitative Reasoning Section
GRE Quantitative Reasoning section measures student’s ability to:
- understand, interpret and analyze quantitative information
- solve problems using mathematical models
- apply basic skills and elementary concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis
This section focuses on basic math skills and concepts like arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis. This section is a blend of:
- Multiple-choice Questions – Select One Answer
- Multiple-choice Questions – Select One or More Answers
- Numeric Entry Questions (Type the answer)
- Quantitative Comparison Questions (Compare two quantities and choose the statement that accurately describes the comparison)
Test-takers have an option of using the on-screen calculator during solving this section.
GRE Exam Preparation
The GRE tests both the logic and the aptitude of the test taker, across all sections, apart from the basic foundational knowledge of Maths and English. Since most candidates who score well recommend a time period of 8-12 weeks for the preparation as per the GRE exam syllabus 2022, the GRE preparation tips which we shall recommend is a detailed 10-week study plan to get a good score in the exam. Before starting with the plan, one should attempt the Free Diagnostic GRE test, based on GRE exam syllabus and is available on the official website, which will help in guiding the study plan further.
The GRE 2022 preparation tips for GRE exam preparation are that the initial 2-3 weeks should be dedicated entirely to the basic foundational concept building for Math and majorly that of English, especially grammar and reading skills. Vocabulary should also be given 20-25 minutes of daily preparation through any of the various sources available. The practice of the different types of questions under the categories of Quant and Verbal must be done through the Official GRE Guide.
Other GRE preparation tips are that the next 2-3 weeks’ time should be devoted mainly to the rigorous solving of the Quant question types of ‘Data Comparison’ and ‘Problem Solving’. Also, a ‘Performance Tracker’ should be maintained to keep a tab on the rightly and wrongly attempted questions, time taken, and also the usual error areas.
The final 3-4 weeks should be dedicated to the following:
- Practice of essay-writing, on both ‘Issue-based’ and ‘Argument-based’ topics, of which an entire list is provided on the official website.
- Attempting full-length tests as provided in the Official GRE Guide and also, on the official website of the ETS.
- Regularly reviewing and analyzing the mock test performance and also learning to improve on the weak areas, as found through the analysis.
- The regular focus on vocabulary should still be maintained and the performance tracker should be regularly updated after every mock test.
GRE Scoring Pattern
For the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections, the raw score (number of correct answers) will be converted to the scaled score below, which adjusts for minor variations. For the AWA section, the essays will be scored using a six-point scale. Scores for this section will be based on the overall quality of each essay in response to the assigned task, with emphasis on critical thinking and analytical writing skills. The essay score is then reviewed by one or more trained professionals and a computerized program (e-rater) developed by ETS. If the human and e-rater scores are similar, the average of the two scores is used as the final score.
Score scale for each of the three sections:
| Section | Score Scale |
| Analytical Writing | 0-6, in half-point increments |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 130-170, in 1-point increments |
| Verbal Reasoning | 130-170, in 1-point increments |
When will the GRE Scores be available?
The scores will be available on the ETS account on the GRE website 10-15 days after your test date. An email will be sent by ETS intimating the availability of the official scores, along with a confirmation that four FREE score reports have been sent to the schools which were selected by the applicant on or before test day. GRE applicants can access their scores by logging into their GRE account.
- GRE Score Report: GRE Tests provide a Score Select option to the applicants to decide which test scores to send to the institutions designated by them. ETS allows the applicants to give Maximum 5 attempts in a year with a minimum of 21 days gap between consecutive attempts. This option allows the test takers to be more confident on the test day knowing they can send the scores they feel are the best among the given attempts. The score select option is available for both the GRE General Test and GRE Subject Tests.
- On the test day: Once the candidates receive the scores, they can choose not to send the scores at this time or can select from the current test administration, else could send the scores from all GRE General Test administrations in the last five years.
- How to send GRE Score After test day: The candidate can send GRE score reports for a fee. They can send from the most recent test administration or send the GRE scores from all test administrations in the last five years or send the scores from one or as many test administrations as they want from the last five years.
GRE Cutoff Scores for B-schools: Who accepts GRE?
Given below is a table with Colleges accepting GRE Score. The list summarizes average GRE cutoff scores, required across sections of the GRE, for getting considered into the top 25 US university programs. Please note that for any other colleges accepting GRE scores 2022, the candidate must refer the official website of the B-school. These colleges also offer GRE Scholarships to high scorers
| B-School | 2019 GRE Average Quant Score | 2019 GRE Average Verbal Score | 2019 Total | 2019 Writing Score |
| Stanford GSB | 165 | 165 | 330 | 4.9 |
| Yale SOM | 164 | 165 | 329 | 4.9 |
| Harvard Business School | 163* | 163 | 326 | NA |
| MIT (Sloan) | 162 | 162 | 324 | 4.7 |
| Michigan (Ross) | 159 | 160 | 319 | 4.4 |
GRE Exam Centers
GRE Exam Centers are located in Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Calcutta, Chennai, Coimbatore, New Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad, Trivandrum and other prominent cities in India. There are more than one GRE exam centers in many cities. The Pros and Cons of taking the GRE at Home vs. in a Test Center are that you need to have a no disturbance environment and computer system with internet if you are taking GRE test from home else should report to the exam centre to appear in GRE exam at the scheduled date and time. There is no difference in GRE test pattern
GRE Vs GMAT: Similarities and Differences
While the two tests are very similar when it comes to the various sections and their preparation is concerned, there definitely are differences between the two. Though, both of them test the same skills, which include basic math, and English aptitude developed through high school education, the depth of understanding required and the methodology of the solutions for the questions asked, across the two, differ quite a lot. The table below will summarize the comparison between these two exams:
| Parameter | GRE | GMAT |
| Accepted for | MBA, Specialized Masters Programs in Finance, Accounting, Business Analytics etc, LawPrograms, PhD in Management Programs andother Graduate Programs | Primarily MBA Programs and MS Programs in Management/ Business Area |
| Duration of the test? | 3 hours 45 minutes | 3 hours 30 minutes |
| Sections | 3 (Analytical Writing Assessment, Verbal Reasoning -2 sections, Quantitative Reasoning- 2 sections) | 4 (Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Analytical Writing, Integrated Reasoning) |
| Navigation between Sections? | YES | NO |
| Adaptiveness | Section Adaptive | Question Adaptive |
| Score validity | 5 years | 5 years |
| No. Of Attempts | Maximum 5 attempts in a year (Minimum 21 days between consecutive attempts) | Maximum 5 attempts in a year (Minimum 16 days between consecutive attempts) Lifetime Limit of 8 attempts overall |
GRE v CAT
While the two tests are very similar when it comes to the various sections and their preparation is concerned, there definitely are differences between the two. Though, both of them test the same skills, which include basic math, and English aptitude developed through high school education, the depth of understanding required and the methodology of the solutions for the questions asked, across the two, differ quite a lot. The table below will summarize the comparison between these two exams:
| Parameter | GRE | CAT |
| Conducting body | ETS | IIMs |
| Exam date | Throughout the year (except Sundays and National Holidays) | 1 Day, 2 slots (last Sunday of November) |
| Application Cost | GRE Exam Fee in India is US$ 213, which is approximately INR 15,975. | INR 1800/- |
| Test type | Computer-based (section-adaptive) | Computer-based |
| Test duration | 3 hours 45 minutes | 3 hours |
| Score validity | 5 years | 1 year |
| Accepted by | All top Global Universities | IIMs, and all top Indian B-schools accept XLRI, NMIMS and Symbiosis |
Indian MBA Colleges Accepting GRE scores:
Given below is a table of some of the top B-schools across India, along with the respective program names, which consider GRE scores for admission:
| B-school | Program |
| ISB Hyderabad/Mohali | PGP |
| IIM-Ahmedabad | EPGP |
| IIM-Bangalore | EPGP |
| Indian Institute of Management Lucknow | IPMX |
| IIM-Udaipur | One-year MBA |
| Indian Institute of Management Visakhapatnam | PGP-DGM & PGPEx |
| IIM-Raipur | FPM |
| BITS School of Management (BITSOM) | 2 Year MBA |
Summing up:
In this article you have read about the components of GRE, what is GRE, types of GRE, how to register, how each section is scored, also, the difference between CAT/GMAT vs GRE and the top business schools accepting the GRE score. We hope this article could help you understand more about the exam and also choose an exam that will suit your purposes. All the best!
