GRE exam prep is easier when you know exactly what the test looks like, how it is scored and how much time you need to study. This guide covers the current GRE General Test format, scoring, costs and registration, then gives you a step-by-step way to prepare: an 8-week study plan, the best free and paid GRE prep resources, sample GRE questions with explanations, and links to our full GRE practice tests.
| Full name | GRE General Test (Graduate Record Examinations) |
| Made by | ETS (Educational Testing Service) |
| Used for | Admission to graduate, business and law school programs |
| Test length | About 1 hour 58 minutes, five sections |
| Score scale | Verbal 130–170, Quant 130–170, Analytical Writing 0–6 |
| Fee | $249 in most countries (from August 1, 2026) |
| Where | At a test center or at home, available year-round |
Table of Contents
- What Is the GRE Exam?
- GRE Test Format and Timing
- What the GRE Tests: Section by Section
- How the GRE Is Scored
- How Much Does the GRE Cost?
- How to Register and Where to Take the GRE
- How to Prep for the GRE Exam: Step by Step
- 8-Week GRE Study Plan
- Best GRE Exam Prep Resources
- GRE Sample Questions
- Free GRE Practice Tests and Questions
- GRE Test Day Tips
- GRE Exam Prep FAQ
What Is the GRE Exam?
The GRE General Test is a standardized admissions test that many graduate schools, business schools and some law schools use to compare applicants. It measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing: skills built up over years rather than knowledge of one subject.
ETS also offers GRE Subject Tests in a few specific fields. Most programs ask only for the General Test, so that is what this GRE prep guide focuses on. Always check the admissions page of each program you are applying to.
GRE Test Format and Timing
Since September 22, 2023, the GRE has been a shorter test. According to the ETS test structure page, it takes about 1 hour and 58 minutes and has five sections:
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Writing (always first) | 1 “Analyze an Issue” essay | 30 minutes |
| Verbal Reasoning, section 1 | 12 questions | 18 minutes |
| Verbal Reasoning, section 2 | 15 questions | 23 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning, section 1 | 12 questions | 21 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning, section 2 | 15 questions | 26 minutes |
After the essay, the Verbal and Quantitative sections can appear in any order. Within a section you can skip questions, use the “Mark” and “Review” tools to come back to them, and change your answers. An on-screen calculator is provided for Quantitative Reasoning.
The GRE is section-level adaptive
The Verbal and Quantitative measures are adaptive by section: how well you do on the first section of a measure decides the difficulty of the second section. Within a section, every question counts equally. In practice, this means the first section of each measure matters a lot, so do not rush it.
What the GRE Tests: Section by Section
Verbal Reasoning
Verbal Reasoning tests how well you understand written material, draw conclusions, find an author’s assumptions and understand words in context. You will see three question types:
- Text Completion: a passage of one to five sentences with one to three blanks. You choose a word or phrase for each blank.
- Sentence Equivalence: one sentence, one blank and six choices. You pick the two words that complete the sentence and give it the same meaning.
- Reading Comprehension: short and long passages followed by questions about main ideas, details, structure and inference.
Quantitative Reasoning
Quantitative Reasoning tests arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis at roughly a high-school level, but the questions focus on reasoning rather than long calculations. Question types are:
- Quantitative Comparison: compare Quantity A and Quantity B and decide which is greater, whether they are equal, or whether the relationship can’t be determined.
- Multiple choice (one answer) and multiple choice (one or more answers).
- Numeric Entry: type your answer into a box, with no choices given.
- Data Interpretation: sets of questions based on a table or graph.
Analytical Writing
You write one essay responding to an “Analyze an Issue” prompt in 30 minutes. You take a position on a general issue and support it with reasons and examples. Essays are scored on a 6-point scale by a trained reader and by ETS’s e-rater scoring engine.
How the GRE Is Scored
| Measure | Score scale |
|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 130–170, in 1-point increments |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 130–170, in 1-point increments |
| Analytical Writing | 0–6, in half-point increments |
For Verbal and Quant, your raw score (the number of questions you answered correctly) is converted to the 130–170 scale. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so never leave a question blank. Official scores appear in your ETS account 8–10 days after your test, and they can be reported for five years. See Getting your GRE scores on the ETS website.
What is a good GRE score?
A “good” GRE score is one that is at or above the typical score for the programs you are applying to. Look up each program’s published averages or ranges. ETS also publishes percentile ranks so you can see how your score compares with other test takers. Set your target score before you start studying, because it decides how much prep you need.
Sending scores
On test day you can send your scores to up to four graduate programs or fellowship sponsors as part of your test fee. With the ScoreSelect option you choose whether to send your most recent scores, all of your scores, or scores from any test dates you pick.
How Much Does the GRE Cost?
These are the fees listed on the ETS GRE fees page, effective August 1, 2026. Fees are in U.S. dollars and can change, so confirm them before you register.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| GRE General Test (most countries) | $249 |
| GRE General Test (China) | $237.86 |
| Rescheduling | $55 |
| Changing your test center | $55 |
| Additional score report (per recipient) | $40 |
If you have financial need, the ETS GRE Fee Reduction Program lowers the General Test fee to $100. It also gives you free access to some official ETS GRE prep materials.
How to Register and Where to Take the GRE
You register through your ETS account. You can take the GRE at more than 1,000 test centers in over 160 countries, or at home. ETS registration is open year-round, so you can pick a date that fits your study plan and application deadlines.
GRE at home vs test center
- At home: the same test as at a center, on your own computer, with a live human proctor. It is available around the clock, 7 days a week. Your computer and room must meet the ETS at-home requirements. If they don’t, you can’t test and you won’t get a refund.
- Test center: a good choice if your home is noisy, your internet is unreliable, or you simply focus better in a formal setting.
Whichever you choose, check the ETS ID requirements well before test day. The name on your ID must match the name on your registration.
Retaking the GRE
You can take the GRE General Test once every 21 days, up to five times in any rolling 12-month period. Because ScoreSelect lets you choose which scores schools see, many students plan for a possible retake when they set their test date.
How to Prep for the GRE Exam: Step by Step
- Pick your target score. Look up the average scores at the programs you want and aim a little higher.
- Take a full practice test first. Use a free official POWERPREP test from ETS to get your starting score in each section.
- Work out the gap. Compare your practice score with your target to decide how many weeks you need. Many students study for 1–3 months.
- Learn the question types. Each GRE question type has its own strategy, especially Text Completion, Sentence Equivalence and Quantitative Comparison.
- Review the math. Go back over fractions, percentages, ratios, exponents, algebra, geometry and statistics. Most Quant mistakes come from rusty basics.
- Build vocabulary in context. Learn words through reading and practice sentences, not just long word lists.
- Practice under timed conditions. Do timed sections and full-length tests, then review every mistake.
- Write practice essays. Write a few timed Issue essays and compare them with the ETS scoring guide.
8-Week GRE Study Plan
This plan assumes about 8–10 hours of study a week. If your starting score is close to your target, shorten it. If the gap is big, stretch it to 12 weeks.
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Take a full official practice test. Learn the test format and all question types. Start a vocabulary list. |
| 2 | Quant: arithmetic, number properties, fractions, percentages, ratios. Verbal: Text Completion strategy. |
| 3 | Quant: algebra, equations, inequalities, word problems. Verbal: Sentence Equivalence. |
| 4 | Quant: geometry and coordinate geometry. Verbal: Reading Comprehension. Write your first timed essay. |
| 5 | Quant: data analysis, statistics, probability, data interpretation. Mixed Verbal sets. Second full practice test. |
| 6 | Review your weakest question types from the practice test. Timed mixed sections. Second essay. |
| 7 | Full-length practice test under real conditions. Detailed error review. Focus on pacing. |
| 8 | Light review, a final practice test early in the week, test-day logistics, rest before the exam. |
Best GRE Exam Prep Resources
Free GRE exam prep
- ETS POWERPREP Online: free official practice tests that simulate the real GRE.
- ETS free resources: a free GRE math review, a free mini quiz, and official sample questions with explanations for every section. See the ETS GRE prep page.
- GradeHustler GRE practice questions: our free practice sets, linked in the section below.
GRE exam prep books
Start with ETS’s own books: the Official Guide to the GRE General Test and the official Verbal and Quantitative practice question books, which use real retired questions. Third-party books are useful for extra practice and strategy, but check that any book you buy covers the shorter GRE format introduced in September 2023.
GRE exam prep courses and classes
A GRE prep course or class makes sense if you need structure, a teacher to explain concepts, or accountability. When you compare the best GRE exam prep courses, look for:
- Materials updated for the current (post-2023) GRE format
- Full-length adaptive practice tests
- Clear explanations for every question
- A score guarantee or free retake of the course
- Live help or office hours if you get stuck
- A price that fits your budget. Official ETS options like the GRE Mentor course cost less than many big-brand courses.
GRE Sample Questions
Here are six original GRE-style sample questions, one for each main question type. Try each one, then open the answer.
Sample 1: Text Completion
Although the committee intended its report to be ________, its recommendations were so vague that readers drew opposite conclusions from them.
- definitive
- lengthy
- controversial
- preliminary
- confidential
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. definitive
“Although” signals a contrast with “so vague … opposite conclusions.” The committee wanted the report to settle the question, so definitive fits. The other choices don’t contrast with vagueness.
Sample 2: Sentence Equivalence (choose two)
The senator was known for her ________ speaking style; she rarely used two words where one would do.
- verbose
- laconic
- florid
- terse
- candid
- diplomatic
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. laconic and D. terse
The second half of the sentence defines the blank: using very few words. Laconic and terse both mean brief, and both give the sentence the same meaning. Verbose and florid mean the opposite.
Sample 3: Quantitative Comparison
x > 0.
Quantity A: (x + 1)2
Quantity B: x2 + 1
- Quantity A is greater
- Quantity B is greater
- The two quantities are equal
- The relationship cannot be determined
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. Quantity A is greater
Expand Quantity A: (x + 1)2 = x2 + 2x + 1. Subtract Quantity B and you get 2x. Since x > 0, 2x is positive, so Quantity A is always greater.
Sample 4: Numeric Entry
A jacket priced at $40 is discounted by 25%. The sale price is then increased by 20%. What is the final price, in dollars?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: 36
A 25% discount gives 40 × 0.75 = 30. A 20% increase on $30 gives 30 × 1.2 = 36. Percent changes are applied one after the other, not added together, so the answer is not $38.
Sample 5: Multiple Choice (one answer)
If 3x − 7 = 11, what is the value of 2x + 1?
- 11
- 13
- 15
- 17
- 19
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. 13
3x = 18, so x = 6. Then 2x + 1 = 2(6) + 1 = 13.
Sample 6: Multiple Choice (one answer)
The average (arithmetic mean) of five numbers is 12. Four of the numbers are 10, 11, 14 and 15. What is the fifth number?
- 8
- 10
- 12
- 13
- 15
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. 10
Five numbers with an average of 12 add up to 5 × 12 = 60. The four known numbers add up to 50, so the fifth is 60 − 50 = 10.
Free GRE Practice Tests and Questions
Ready for more? These GradeHustler GRE practice sets give you full sections of Verbal Reasoning questions to work through:
| Practice set | What you will practice |
|---|---|
| GRE Test: General Test | Full Verbal Reasoning set: Text Completion, Sentence Equivalence and Reading Comprehension |
| GRE Exam Practice (June 2026) | Verbal Reasoning section with one-, two- and three-blank questions |
| GRE 2026 Section 5: Verbal Reasoning | Verbal practice section with mixed question types |
| GRE Sentence Equivalence Practice | Sentence Equivalence, Sentence Completion and Reading Comprehension |
GRE Test Day Tips
- Check your ID and your ETS confirmation the day before.
- At home: complete ETS identity verification at least 72 hours before your test, test your computer, and clear your desk and room.
- At a test center: arrive early and know the route.
- Plan your essay for the first few minutes before you start writing.
- Spend a steady amount of time on each question. Mark hard ones and come back to them.
- Answer every question. There is no penalty for guessing.
- Use the on-screen calculator only when it actually saves time.
GRE Exam Prep FAQ
How long should I study for the GRE?
Most students study for 1–3 months. Take a practice test first: the bigger the gap between your score and your target, the longer you will need.
Is the GRE hard?
The math is mostly high-school level and the vocabulary can be learned, but the time limits and question styles are tricky. Practising each question type under timed conditions is what makes the biggest difference.
Can I take the GRE at home?
Yes. The at-home GRE is the same test as at a center, with a live human proctor, and it is available 24/7. Your computer and room must meet ETS requirements.
How much does the GRE cost?
$249 in most countries from August 1, 2026 ($237.86 in China). The Fee Reduction Program lowers it to $100 for eligible test takers.
How many times can I take the GRE?
Once every 21 days, up to five times in any rolling 12-month period.
Can I use a calculator on the GRE?
Yes. An on-screen calculator is provided for the Quantitative Reasoning section. You can’t bring your own.
How long are GRE scores valid?
GRE scores can be reported for five years after your test date.
Is there free GRE exam prep?
Yes. ETS offers free POWERPREP practice tests, a math review and sample questions. GradeHustler’s GRE practice sets above are free too.
GRE® is a registered trademark of ETS. GradeHustler is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by ETS. Test details were checked against ETS’s official website. Always confirm fees and policies with ETS before you register.