GRE Coaching

The Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections are section-level adaptive. The first operational section of each measure (i.e., Verbal and Quantitative) is of average difficulty. The difficulty level of the second section of each of the measures depends on your overall performance on the first section of that measure. For example, if for the Quantitative Reasoning measure you do very well on the first section, the second section of the Quantitative Reasoning measure will be at a higher level of difficulty. The scoring for the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning measures takes into consideration the total number of questions answered correctly across the two sections, as well as the difficulty level of the sections.

The GRE General Test uses the foundations of high school math to test quantitative reasoning. The test material measures your ability to understand basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis; to reason quantitatively; and to solve problems in a quantitative setting.

• The TOEFL iBT Writing section and GRE Analytical Writing measures are intended to measure different sets of skills. The TOEFL iBT Writing section contains two writing tasks: an independent task asks test takers to support an opinion in writing, and an integrated task that asks test takers to write responses that integrate and organize information from a reading passage and a lecture. These writing tasks are not designed to measure higher levels of critical thinking and analytical writing, but center instead on candidates' composition skills and command of English vocabulary, grammar, spelling, and syntax with some analysis and synthesis of material. Therefore, scores on the two tests are not comparable.
• Because the TOEFL® test emphasizes fundamental writing and comprehension skills, the TOEFL score can supplement an Analytical Writing score by helping faculty determine whether a low score on the GRE Analytical Writing measure is due to lack of familiarity with English or lack of ability to produce and analyze logical arguments.

• You can register for the test online or by phone. For more details, see Register for the GRE® General Test. You can also watch a quick video on How to Register for a GRE® Test. (Read transcript.)
• To learn how to register for the GRE General Test at home, visit the GRE General Test at home website.
• How can I see where and when the test is offered in my region?
• View test centers, test dates and seat availability.
  • What if I need to change the date or location of my test?
• If you have registered to take the GRE General Test, you must change or cancel your test registration no later than four days before your test date or your test fee will be forfeited. For example, the deadline to cancel a Saturday appointment is Tuesday. For test takers in Mainland China, you must change or cancel your test registration no later than 10 days before your test date. Watch a quick video on How to Reschedule a Test Date for the GRE® General Test.
• If you reschedule your test date, you will be charged a rescheduling fee of US$50. If you cancel your test within the time period indicated above, you will receive a refund equivalent to half of your original test fee. For test takers in Mainland China, follow the instructions on the NEEA website for requesting a partial refund.
• To change the location of your GRE General Test from one test center network to another (for example, from a Prometric® test center to a location outside of the Prometric test center network), contact GRE services.
• Reschedule or Cancel Your GRE General Test Registration.

ETS is committed to serving test takers with disabilities and health-related needs by providing services and reasonable accommodations that are appropriate given the purpose of the test. Testing accommodations are available for test takers who meet ETS requirements. See Accommodations for Test Takers with Disabilities or Health-related Needs.

• The GRE Program uses an elementary word processor developed by ETS so that individuals familiar or unfamiliar with specific commercial word processing software do not have an advantage or disadvantage. The ETS software contains the following functions:inserting text, deleting text, cutting and pasting, undoing the previous action
• Tools such as spell-checkers and grammar-checkers are not available in the ETS software. You can practice writing essays using the word processor component of the POWERPREP® Practice Tests.

• The GRE General Test is offered on a computer year round at Prometric® test centers, and also offered on specific dates at additional testing locations outside of the Prometric test center network.
• In areas of the world where the General Test is not available on computer at physical test centers, the GRE General Test at home option may be offered. The at home test is identical in content, format and on-screen experience to the GRE General Test taken at a test center. It is taken on your own computer at home and is monitored by a human proctor.

• Please contact ETS as soon as possible to report any irregular behavior that is either observed or reported to you — for example, someone copying from another test taker, taking a test for someone else, having access to test questions or answers before the test or using notes or unauthorized aids. All information is held in strictest confidence.

Email:TSReturns@ets.org

Phone: 1-800-353-8570 (United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Canada only)
1-609-406-5430 (All other locations)

Fax:1-609-406-9709

• The Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning measures of the GRE General test are section-level adaptive. This means the computer selects the second section of a measure based on the performance on the first section. Within each section, all questions contribute equally to the final score. For each of the two measures, a raw score is computed. The raw score is the number of questions answered correctly.
• The raw score is converted to a scaled score through a process known as equating. The equating process accounts for minor variations in difficulty among the different test editions as well as differences in difficulty among individuals' tests introduced by the section-level adaptation. Thus, a given scaled score of a particular measure reflects the same level of performance regardless of which section was selected and when the test was taken.
• For more information, see How the Test Is Scored.

• Each essay receives a score from at least one trained rater, using a six-point holistic scale. In holistic scoring, raters are trained to assign scores on the basis of the overall quality of an essay in response to the assigned task. The essay score is then scored by e-rater®, a computerized program developed by ETS that is capable of identifying essay features related to writing proficiency. If the human and e-rater scores closely agree, the average of the two scores is used as the final score. If they disagree, a second human score is obtained, and the final score is the average of the two human scores.
• The final scores on the two essays are then averaged and rounded to the nearest half-point interval on the 0–6 score scale. A single score is reported for the Analytical Writing measure. The primary emphasis in scoring the Analytical Writing section is on your critical thinking and analytical writing skills rather than on grammar and mechanics.
• During the scoring process, your essay responses on the Analytical Writing section will be reviewed by trained analysts using ETS essay-similarity-detection software and by experienced essay raters. See Independent Intellectual Activity.

• After completing the GRE General Test, you will be given the opportunity to report or cancel your scores. If you choose Report Scores, you will see your unofficial Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning scores at the test center. Because of the Analytical Writing essay scoring process, you will not be able to view your Analytical Writing score at the test center.
• Although you have the option to cancel your scores, consider very carefully before doing so because the score reporting choices available with the ScoreSelect® option allow you to report only the scores you feel reflect your personal best. If you cancel your scores, neither you nor any schools will ever see them and they will not be part of your reportable history. If you select to report your scores, you will view your unofficial scores on the screen and the score will become a part of your reportable history.
• Your official scores will be available in your ETS account and sent to your score recipients approximately 10–15 days after your test date.

• Three scores are reported on the GRE General Test:
  • A Verbal Reasoning score is reported on a 130–170 score scale, in 1-point increments.
  • A Quantitative Reasoning score is reported on a 130–170 score scale, in 1-point increments.
  • An Analytical Writing score is reported on a 0–6 score level, in half-point increments.
• Learn more about the scores reported.

• Your test fee entitles you to request that scores be sent to as many as four graduate institutions or fellowship sponsors at no additional cost.
• You will be asked to designate your score recipients at the test center or you can choose not to report your scores at that time.
• With the ScoreSelect option, you can decide which test scores to send to the institutions you designate, so you can send the scores you feel show your personal best. See Sending your Scores.
• You can also send score reports to institutions after test day for a fee. See Ordering Additional Score Reports.

• For tests taken on or after July 1, 2016, scores are reportable for five years following your test date. For example, scores for a test taken on July 3, 2020, are reportable through July 2, 2025.
• For tests taken prior to July 1, 2016, scores are reportable for five years following the testing year in which you tested (July 1–June 30). For example, scores for a test taken on May 15, 2016, are reportable through June 30, 2021.
• GRE scores earned prior to July 2015 are no longer reportable. GRE scores earned in July 2015 are reportable until June 30, 2021.
• Note: It takes approximately five business days to process requests to send GRE scores. If you plan to send scores and the date at which your scores are no longer reportable is approaching, allow enough time for processing or your scores may not be sent.