GRE, for master's and doctoral admission.
Required or recommended by many graduate programmes in the US and Europe, and used by funding committees. Shorter than it used to be, and adaptive by section.
- Graduate
- admission worldwide
- About 1h 58m
- test duration
- 260–340
- total score
- 5 years
- validity
- Adaptive
- by section
KEY TAKEAWAYS
What this page covers
- The GRE is a graduate aptitude test, not a subject test — your degree subject does not decide your score.
- The shortened format runs about 1 hour 58 minutes across five sections.
- Verbal and quantitative are each scored 130 to 170; analytical writing is scored 0 to 6.
- Scores stay valid for five years, longer than any English proficiency test.
- The general test fee is around US$205, with regional variations.
- ScoreSelect lets you choose which sittings a university sees.
ABOUT THE TEST
A graduate aptitude test, not a subject test.
The GRE measures reasoning rather than what you studied, which means a strong undergraduate record does not automatically translate into a strong score. Quantitative sections cover school-level maths under time pressure, and verbal sections lean on academic vocabulary. Both respond well to structured practice, which is why starting early matters more here than raw ability.
- 01Reasoning, not syllabusYour degree subject does not decide your score.
- 02Section-adaptivePerformance in the first section sets the second.
- 03Funding relevanceAssistantships and fellowships often look at the quant score.
What the GRE measures
The GRE tests reasoning rather than recall. Quantitative sections cover school-level mathematics under time pressure; verbal sections lean heavily on academic vocabulary and the structure of written argument. A strong undergraduate record does not automatically produce a strong score, which surprises a lot of applicants.
It is also section-adaptive: your performance in the first verbal or quantitative section determines the difficulty of the second. That makes early accuracy disproportionately valuable, and it is the single most useful thing to practise.
Exam pattern
Three measures across five sections in the shortened format, running under two hours.
Measure | Sections | What it tests |
|---|---|---|
Verbal Reasoning | Two | Text completion, sentence equivalence, reading comprehension |
Quantitative Reasoning | Two | Arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis |
Analytical Writing | One | One analytical essay task |
How scoring works
Verbal and quantitative are reported separately; most programmes look at the measure relevant to their discipline rather than a combined figure.
Component | Detail |
|---|---|
Verbal Reasoning | 130 to 170, in one-point increments |
Quantitative Reasoning | 130 to 170, in one-point increments |
Analytical Writing | 0 to 6, in half-point steps |
Validity | Five years from the test date |
Fees and registration
The GRE General Test is priced in US dollars, with some regional variation.
Fee type | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|
GRE General Test | Around $205 |
Rescheduling | Charged per change, rising closer to the date |
Additional score reports | Charged per institution beyond the free sends |
Subject Tests | Priced separately where your programme requires one |
Fees are set by ETS and vary by region. Confirm the amount for Bangladesh on the official ETS portal before registering.
Booking and results
The GRE runs year-round at test centres and, where permitted, at home under proctoring. Unofficial verbal and quantitative scores appear at the end of the test, so you leave knowing roughly where you stand.
Official scores follow within about ten days. ScoreSelect then lets you decide which sittings to report, which removes most of the risk from an early attempt.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the GRE for my programme?
Fewer programmes require it than a few years ago, but many still recommend it, and a good score can offset a weaker undergraduate record or an unusual academic background. Funding is the other consideration — assistantships and fellowships often use the quantitative score as a filter even when admission does not. We check the current requirement for each programme on your shortlist before you commit to preparing, because it changes year to year.
What score should I target?
It depends on your course, university and timeline. A CI Study counsellor will answer this for your exact situation in a free 45-minute consultation.
GRE or GMAT for a business master's?
It depends on your course, university and timeline. A CI Study counsellor will answer this for your exact situation in a free 45-minute consultation.
Is the at-home test accepted?
It depends on your course, university and timeline. A CI Study counsellor will answer this for your exact situation in a free 45-minute consultation.
How does ScoreSelect work?
It depends on your course, university and timeline. A CI Study counsellor will answer this for your exact situation in a free 45-minute consultation.
How long should I prepare?
It depends on your course, university and timeline. A CI Study counsellor will answer this for your exact situation in a free 45-minute consultation.
FREE CONSULTATION
Tell us what you're planning.
We'll build the shortlist.
- 01A 45-minute call with a counsellor, not a salesperson
- 02A shortlist built around your budget and your grades
- 03An honest read on your admission chances
- 04A written plan with the deadlines that matter
“They told me honestly that two of my five choices were out of reach. That saved me two application fees.”
Nusrat J. · Dhaka → Manchester