The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is a standardized test used for admissions into graduate and business schools, especially in the United States, Canada, and some other countries.
The GRE measures your academic readiness for graduate-level studies. Universities use it to evaluate your analytical writing, quantitative reasoning (math), and verbal reasoning (English) skills
Many universities use GRE scores as a key part of evaluating applicants for master’s and PhD programs in various disciplines (science, engineering, social sciences, humanities, etc).
Some MBA programs accept GRE scores instead of or in addition to the GMAT.
GRE scores provide a uniform measure to compare students from different academic and geographic backgrounds.
A strong GRE score can boost chances for scholarships or teaching/research assistantships.
While rare, some employers and government organizations may consider GRE scores for competitive jobs or internships.
The GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) general test is divided into three sections: Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning.
The exam is primarily computer-based and has a total duration of 2 hours (1 hour and 58 minutes). Each section is designed to assess different skills relevant to graduate-level studies:
GMAT Exam Sections |
Time Allocated |
Number of Questions |
|---|---|---|
Quantitative Reasoning |
47 Minutes |
24 questions |
Verbal Reasoning |
41 Minutes |
24 questions |
Analytical Writing |
30 Minutes |
1 Task |
GRE scores vary enormously depending on which university and which program you’re applying to. However, if you just want to know the general GRE ranges for these schools, we’ve averaged out the GRE scores for top universities in the table below.
University |
Average Verbal Range |
Average Quantitative Range |
|---|---|---|
Columbia University |
155-164 |
153-170 |
Cornell University |
157-164 |
153-170 |
Harvard University |
155-164 |
158-170 |
MIT |
158-164 |
162-170 |
New York University |
154-161 |
154-161 |
Princeton University |
158-164 |
156-170 |
Stanford University |
158-164 |
156-170 |
UC Berkeley |
157-164 |
155-170 |
University of Pennsylvania |
154-164 |
150-170 |
Yale University |
158-164 |
158-170 |
