How to prepare for the GRE General Test

The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is renowned worldwide as one of the most significant standardised tests for admission to post-Baccalaureate programmes. Universities often require prospective Master's or PhD students to take the GRE as part of the admissions process. This test, founded in 1936 and currently administered by ETS Global, is valid for five years and is accepted by over 1.200 business schools worldwide.

Taking the GRE General Test is a great way to show your abilities to schools

A level playing field

The primary purpose of the GRE is to provide graduate schools with a standardised measure of an applicant’s abilities and potential. It assists admissions committees in evaluating candidates from diverse educational backgrounds on a level playing field, ensuring fairness and objectivity in the selection process.

Three sections

The GRE General Test comprises three main sections: Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning.

Analytical Writing

The Analytical Writing section consists of two tasks: “Issue Task” and “Argument Task” which evaluates a candidate’s ability to express their thoughts logically and critically within a given time frame.

Verbal Reasoning

The Verbal Reasoning section assesses a candidate’s comprehension skills, word relationships and ability to draw conclusions. It includes reading comprehension passages, sentence equivalence questions and text completion exercises.

Quantitative reasoning

The Quantitative Reasoning section measures a test taker’s proficiency in mathematical concepts and problem-solving skills.

Prepare for the GRE with the free tools of ETS Global

Preparation is the key to success. It all depends on the time you have available and the methods you use. Before taking the GRE® General test, make sure you are informed; keep up to date on test procedures, tests, scores and practical information.

ETS offers a wide range of free tools on its website to help you prepare for the test. Simply create an ETS account (at the same place where you register and receive your scores) to access these resources free of charge.

The PowerPrep online test, for example, offers two free GRE tests with real questions you might encounter on the day of your exam. The second test is even timed and allows you to receive your scores. Practice under real test conditions to help you familiarise yourself with the test. Other free and paid resources are available on the ETS website.

Once you've taken the test and received your results, you can choose whether or not to pass on certain scores to the schools with the ScoreSelect® option. This gives you the opportunity to add value to your results, or even to communicate the test results without mentioning the scores.