This post was written from the collective wisdom of Manhattan Prep GRE instructors.

Quick: here’s an expression from a GRE math problem. How do you simplify it?

√2¹⁴+2¹⁷ 

A great GRE problem will often reveal math misconceptions we don’t even know we have! There are a lot of different wrong ways to simplify this expression. Try it out before you keep reading—then we’ll look at some other math myths and common mistakes, and how to avoid second-guessing on the GRE. 

1. Adding and Subtracting Exponents

First of all, if you added the exponents together, you’re going down the wrong track. Here are some things you can’t do with exponents, and why. 

• If you’re adding two exponents together, you can’t simplify like this: 

a² + b² does NOT equal (a + b)² !

• You also can’t go the other way: 

(a + b)² does NOT equal a² + b²!

• It doesn’t work with subtraction, either. 

a² – b² does NOT equal (a – b)²!

(a – b)² does NOT equal a² – b²!

Double-check this rule using some small numbers. Remember the Pythagorean triples: sets of three integers that can be the side lengths of a right triangle, like 3, 4, and 5. Let a and b equal 3 and 4: 

3² + 4² = 5² = 25

(3 + 4)² = 7² = 49

So, you can’t freely go back and forth between 3² + 4², and (3 + 4)²; they have different values. 

That’s not exactly the situation in the problem from earlier, though. In that case, the two bases are the same, but the two exponents are different: 

2¹⁴ + 2¹⁷

Unfortunately, there’s not a simple rule for adding exponents with the same base, like there is for multiplying or dividing. The only way to actually simplify something like this is to factor out a like term. 

The number 2¹⁴ divides into both 2¹⁴ and 2¹⁷. You can rewrite 2¹⁴ as (2¹⁴)(1), and you can rewrite 2¹⁷ as (2¹⁴)(23). Here’s how to start simplifying: 

√2¹⁴+2¹⁷

√(2¹⁴)(1) +(2¹⁴)(2³)

√(2¹⁴)(1+2³)

√(2¹⁴)(9)

Finally, there’s no more addition, so you can safely take the square root. The square root of 2¹⁴ is 2⁷, and the square root of 9 is 3. So, the answer to the original problem is (2⁷)(3). 

In short: 

• Don’t “split” or “join” bases when you add or subtract exponents. Remember the example of 3² + 4²: it definitely doesn’t equal 7²!
• If the bases are the same, there is something you can do, although it takes a little more work: factor out a common term, then simplify from there. 

By the way, the same goes for square roots. Here’s something else you can’t do with the expression above: 

√2¹⁴+2¹⁷ does NOT equal √2¹⁴+√2¹⁷!

Use the same example, with 3, 4 and 5, to double-check. Because 3, 4, and 5 form a Pythagorean triple, √3²+4² =5. That’s not the same as √3²+√4², which equals 7. 

2. Weird Exponents

When you see something unusual in an exponent—a fraction, a negative number, or a variable—the ultimate math mistake is to panic and bail out. The normal exponent rules still work in the normal way, even when the exponent looks strange. Apply the same rules that you would in an easier problem.  

For example, the rules of exponents say that when you raise an exponent to another power, like (2⁵)⁷, you multiply the two exponents together, getting 2³⁵. 

Okay, what about (2^8x)^-0.5? 

Simplify it in exactly the same way as the previous problem: multiply the two exponents together, giving you 2^-4x. 

Normally, when you divide one exponent by another with the same base, you subtract the exponents from each other, like this: 

2¹⁰/2⁴=2^10-4=2⁶

Use the same process when the exponents look awkward: 

2^7x/4/2^-x/4

2^{(7x/4 – (-x/4))}

2^8x/4

2^2x

Don’t let exponent problems intimidate you into making math errors.

3. Comparing Values

One GRE math problem type is Quantitative Comparisons. Solving these involves comparing two values, so of course the GRE loves to take advantage of a common mistake people make when comparing numbers. 

When you’re comparing two negative numbers, the one that looks larger is actually “smaller”: for instance, -8 is smaller than -5. This might seem obvious, but on test day, it’s easy to let stress get the better of you and make a quick but incorrect assumption. To stay safe, visualize a number line when you compare negative values. The value to the left is the smaller one.

This is particularly useful when comparing negative fractions, which are doubly difficult because of how counterintuitive fractions can be. Ask yourself: which of these negative numbers is further away from zero, or further to the left? That’s the smaller one. 

Use a number line to avoid missing a GRE Quantitative Comparison problem at the last moment!

4. PEMDAS

If you’re simplifying a GRE math expression using PEMDAS, here’s a common pitfall to avoid: when you’re doing multiplication or division, work from left to right! Contrary to the acronym, you DON’T actually do all of the multiplication first, then all of the division. Instead, you do them both at the same time, in left-to-right order.

So, here’s an expression: 

10 / 5 * 6

And here’s the right way to simplify it: 

2 * 6

12

Here’s what you shouldn’t do: 

10 / 30

⅓

The same is true for addition and subtraction: do them both together, working from left to right. This could save you from some silly math mistakes on the GRE. 

5. Negatives and Parentheses

These two values look similar but are actually different: 

(-3)²

-3²

The first is equal to positive 9, while the second equals -9. That’s actually because of PEMDAS again! Making something negative is the same as multiplying it by -1, so the negation falls under the ‘M’ step of PEMDAS. To simplify the first expression, whatever’s inside of the parentheses comes first: take the number 3, then make it negative. Then, move on to the exponent: take that negative number and square it, making it positive again. 

To simplify the second expression, since there are no parentheses, start with the exponent: 3² equals 9. Then, make it negative, giving you negative 9. 

6. Ratios

You may have noticed a common feature in the answer choices of GRE ratio problems: many of the answers will be nearly identical to each other, but in reverse. For instance, you might see a set of answer choices like these: 

(A) 4 to 7

(B) 3 to 5

(C) 1 to 1

(D) 5 to 3

(E) 7 to 4

That’s the GRE taking advantage of a common math mistake: accidentally flipping a ratio backwards. This falls under the “pure careless mistake” category! Even if you understand ratios perfectly, you might fall for this one. To avoid it, try two things. First, in most ratio problems, the best way to organize your scratch paper is with a well-labeled table or chart. Don’t just jot down the ratios by themselves. Second, a useful “sanity check” is to look back at the problem and decide which part of the ratio should, logically, be bigger. If the problem deals with the number of apples and pears in a fruit salad, and it’s clear that there are more apples than pears, you shouldn’t have a ratio whose first part is smaller than its second part. If you do, you may have flipped it.

Understand Your Math Mistakes

When starting your GRE studies, you may be tempted to put away a missed problem as soon as you figure out why you got it wrong, especially if it felt like a careless mistake. Of course, you shouldn’t dwell on and beat yourself up over math errors. But there’s a difference between beating yourself up and gathering good data. Really strive to know your errors: identify them, understand them, know where they came from, write them down, and make a real plan to avoid making them a second time. 

The post Common Math Errors on the GRE appeared first on GRE.

Why? Because we all realize that we could completely mess up a QC question and still get to one of the 4 answer choices, clueless that we’ve messed up. It’s not like the questions with the 5 regular answers, where at least I know when I mess up because my answer isn’t in the answer choices!

What is QC?

The GRE isn’t really a math test. These kinds of tests are actually trying to test us on our executive reasoning skills—that is, how well we make decisions and prioritize when faced with too many things to do in too short a length of time.

Quantitative Comparison questions test our ability to (quickly) analyze some information and figure out how two quantities compare to each other. Imagine your boss dumping a bunch of stuff on you and saying, “Hey, our client wants to know whether Product A or Product B is better liked in the marketplace. Can you answer that question from this data? If so, which is it: A is better, B is better, or people think they’re about the same?”

We do, of course, have to do some math—and sometimes that math is quite annoying. We usually don’t, however, have to do as much as is necessary on the more normal quant questions.

How does QC work?

If you already feel comfortable with the basics of QC, you may want to skim or skip through this particular section of the article.

QC questions will always give us two columns labeled Quantity A and Quantity B. There also might be additional information up above the two columns; if so, this information is a given that we have to consider when evaluating the problem.

The overall question, every single time, is: which Quantity is bigger?

For example, we might see this:

Oliver is 4 years older than Sam

Quantity A                                          Quantity B

Oliver’s age now                                Sam’s age in 5 years

Which Quantity is bigger? Can we tell? And is that answer always true? In this case, let’s say that Oliver is 10 today. If so, then Sam is 6 right now, using the information contained in our given. How old will Sam be in 5 years? He’ll be 11, or 1 year older than Oliver today. For at least this one example (Oliver = 10), then, Quantity B is bigger.

There are four possible answers. Can we eliminate any based on what we’ve found out so far?

(A) Quantity A is always bigger than quantity B.

(B) Quantity B is always bigger than quantity A.

(C) The two quantities are always equal.

(D) I can’t tell, or there isn’t an always one way relationship

Answer A can’t be right, because we’ve just found one example where B is bigger. Answer C can’t be right for the same reason. So we’re down to two possible answers: B and D.

So, will this relationship always be true? Will the quantity in column B always be bigger? Or are there other possibilities?

No matter how old Oliver is right now, Sam is always 4 years younger. In 5 years, then, Sam will always be 1 year older than Oliver is right now. Quantity B will always be bigger, so answer B is correct.

Here’s a shorter way to remember the four answer choices to the question Which one is bigger?

A: Quantity A always

B: Quantity B always

C: Equal always

D: None of the above

Notice the theme? The first three answers are always answers. If we don’t have an always situation, then the answer must be D.

Try another one

Here’s another problem to try; what answer do you get?

x² – 9 = 0

Quantity A                                          Quantity B

3                                                          x

We don’t have much to do for the two quantities; A gives us a plain value and B gives us a plain variable. Here we have to do some work with the given:

(x+3)(x–3) = 0

x = –3, x = 3

Alternatively, you could solve this way:

x² = 9

x = +3 and x = –3

The two possible values for x are 3 and –3. If Quantity B is 3, then the two quantities are equal, and A and C can’t be the correct answers. If, on the other hand, Quantity B is –3, then Quantity A is bigger, and B can’t be the correct answer. Because we don’t have an always situation, the correct answer is D.

What’s my overall QC strategy?

A new question pops up on the screen. Now what?

(1) Write down ABCD (your answer grid)

(2) Read the problem. Write down any givens. If there’s any way to manipulate or simplify that information, do so.

(3) Look at the two statements; write them down in some form. Your real goal here is to figure out how to compare the information, not necessarily find some specific value for each one. (As we saw with the Oliver and Sam question, we still might be able to determine an always relationship even when we don’t know specific values for the quantities in question.)

There are lots of different strategies to tackle this comparison—too many to list in one article, unfortunately—but some ideas about what to do are below (just after we finish step 4 of our full process).

(4) Cross off answers as you can eliminate them; either pick when you get down to one, or guess and move on when you get stuck.

How to Compare Quantities:

First, notice anything that’s similar about the two quantities:

– Do they both contain the same variables or refer to the same item, or person, etc.?
– If the problem includes a given, is there a way to use that given to find a connection between the two quantities?

Next, try to simplify the quantities. If both are complex, see whether you can simplify them at the same time. You can perform the same manipulations to the two quantities as long as they are legal manipulations for inequalities:

– You can add or subtract the same quantity from both sides

– You can square both sides; you can also take the square root as long as you know both quantities are positive

– You can multiply or divide both sides by the same amount as long as you know that both are positive

For example:

Quantity A                                          Quantity B

x² – 4x + 2                                          x^{2 –} 6x + 9

Both sides contain an x² term; subtract it from both sides:

Quantity A                                          Quantity B

–4x + 2                                                –6x + 9

We can also add 4x to both sides:

Quantity A                                          Quantity B

2                                                      –2x + 9

The simpler comparison becomes: Which is bigger, 2 or –2x + 9?

Well, let’s see. If x = 10, then Quantity B becomes -11, so Quantity A is bigger. Cross off answers B and C on your answer grid.

But there are no restrictions on the possible values of x. What if it’s negative? If x = –10, then Quantity B becomes 29, so Quantity B is bigger. Cross off answer A on your answer grid.

The correct answer is D.

Okay, these are weird. What can I do to get better?

An enormous amount, actually. This article barely scratches the surface of DS. There are all kinds of great strategies out there—how to test numbers, how to prove answer D, how to use theory vs. real numbers, and so on. If you’re taking a class or using some kind of a test-prep book, then you should be getting this strategy as part of your regular program. If you’re not, then you should make sure to seek out Quant Comp strategies during your preparation; such strategies will change the game for you!

Here’s one article to get you started; browse our blog for more.

Finally, of course, you’ll have to learn a bunch of math. The above, though, should help you get started on this kind-of-bizarre question type in the first place!

The post Quantitative Comparisons? What’s that mean? appeared first on GRE.

Any answer to the “what’s a good GRE score?” question should come with a disclaimer. Do you want a good GRE score for a PhD program in medieval history, or for an EMBA at your state university? Do you have weak college grades but ten years of work experience, or are you a current student with a 4.0 GPA? The real question to ask is “what’s a good GRE score for me?”—and the simple answer is, a good score is whatever score will impress the programs you’re applying to!

But how good does your score need to be in order to do that? Most of my students are taking the GRE in order to get into MBA programs. Assuming that you’re one of those students, you’re probably reading this article because:

• you want to know what GRE score to target as part of your MBA application.
• you’re wondering whether to take the GMAT or GRE.
• you’re curious about how good a certain GRE score is, relative to the average.

We’ll address all three of those points in this article, starting with a deep dive into how GRE scoring works. (And if you’re not an MBA applicant, start with this article from Kaplan instead!)

What Makes Up a Good GRE Score?

Your GRE score isn’t just one score, it’s three. Schools can see your Quant score, your Verbal score, and your Analytical Writing score. You could have a good Quant score and a bad Verbal score, or vice versa—even on the same test!

By the way, you can’t submit only your Quant score, or only your Verbal score, to a school. You have to send all of the scores from a certain GRE together. You can submit results from multiple GREs, but schools generally won’t pick and choose your highest sections—they’ll look at each test as a whole.

Your GRE Quant score will be a number from 130 to 170. About 6% of test takers earn a perfect Quant score. At the opposite end, very low Quant scores are rare: only about 6% of test takers score in the bottom quarter of the range (140 or below).

A perfect GRE Verbal score is much rarer than a perfect GRE Quant score. The Verbal scale also goes from 130 to 170, but only 1% of test takers score a 169 or 170, and only 4% earn a 166 or higher. Almost all of us will score between 135 and 165 on Verbal.  

Finally, your writing score will be a number from 0.0 to 6.0. Very high and very low GRE writing scores are uncommon. A 4.0, 4.5 or 5.0 is a good GRE writing score, and a 5.5 or 6.0 is exceptionally good. Even a slightly lower score might not seriously affect your applications, as long as you can demonstrate your writing skills in another way.

How Common is a Good GRE Score?

The ETS provides data about how common or rare each GRE score is. This can give you a broad sense of what counts as a good score. Here’s a summary of the data for GRE Quant, based on scores from 2019 to 2022.

So, 168 is certainly a good GRE Quant score: only one test taker out of every eight has a score that high. For comparison, in 2023, one out of every eight people in the United States earned more than $122,000.

Here’s the data for GRE Verbal:

Only one out of every hundred test takers scores a 169+ on Verbal, which is as rare as an individual in the US earning $420,000 a year.

The ETS doesn’t publish data on combined, or overall, GRE scores. However, schools that publish their average GRE scores will typically publish the Quant and Verbal scores separately, so you can compare them to your own scores.  

Do You Need a Good GRE Score for Top MBA Programs?

A 168 on GRE Quant is a one-in-eight score, while a 165 is one-in-four. Those are both good GRE scores, since they compare well against the scores that most people earn. But in order to get into a great MBA program, do you need to be one out of eight, or is one out of four good enough?

As the GRE becomes more popular for MBA applicants, a number of top programs have started publishing their average scores online. This article from Poets & Quants analyzes the data. Here’s a sample of the average GRE scores earned by successful applicants to top MBA programs.

On average, successful applicants to top-10 MBA programs have both GRE scores in the low 150s to mid 160s. For most top-50 schools, a good GRE score is in the high 150s to low 160s on both sections. Based on this data, an overall GRE score of 315 to 320 is a good GRE score for MBA applicants, while a score of 325 is excellent.

What’s Better: A Good GRE Score, or a Good GMAT Score?

There are a couple of different ways to compare a GRE score to a GMAT score. For instance, you could look at the percentile that corresponds to your GRE score and find the GMAT score that’s at the same percentile. A 156 on GRE Quant is a 50th-percentile score; a 50th-percentile score on GMAT Quant, correspondingly, is a 44.

However, that would give you the wrong impression of your results. Percentiles compare you to everyone who takes a certain test. That’s fine when you’re taking the GMAT, since most people who take the GMAT are MBA applicants. But MBA applicants are only a minority of GRE test takers. Comparing your score to everyone else’s is like comparing apples to oranges.

One alternative is to use this tool, created by the ETS, to compare GRE and GMAT scores. It isn’t perfect, but it does suggest something interesting: schools seem to be accepting applicants with “lower” GRE scores, compared to their GMAT counterparts. Here’s an article that analyzes the GMAT or GRE scoring question in greater depth.

Does that mean that weaker test takers can use the GRE to get admitted to top programs? Possibly, but you should be skeptical.

First, the statistics can’t tell you whether you would get a good score on the GRE or GMAT. Across a large population, some people will perform better on the GMAT, and others will perform better on the GRE. If you’re stronger at the GMAT, your “GMAT advantage” will more than cancel out any “GRE advantage” in applications.

It’s also possible, without more data, that the GRE applicants were better than the GMAT applicants in other ways—aside from their test scores. The number of people submitting GRE scores to most top schools is relatively small, and we don’t know exactly what those applicants look like outside of their scores.

Your best bet is actually to decide which test to take independently: the GMAT or the GRE? Take your target schools’ average scores for both tests into consideration, but don’t assume automatically that you’ll have better chances with the GRE.

Once you’ve picked your test, research the score data for the schools you’re applying to. Start with the average score for admitted students. Then, set a target right around that average—or a few points higher or lower, depending on the rest of your application. For instance, if you’ve gotten weak grades in Quant-related classes in the past, you might aim for a slightly-higher-than-average GRE Quant score to show that you’ve mastered the subject.

What if your situation is more complicated, and you really don’t know what a good GRE score is for you? Consider contacting an admissions consulting service, such as mbaMission—they’ll even do a free half-hour phone call with applicants. Take a look at our guide to starting your GRE studies to learn what’s involved in taking the GRE, and consider signing up for a free trial session of any Manhattan Prep GRE course. 

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The post What’s a Good GRE Score? appeared first on GRE.

This post was written by GRE Instructor Tyler Johnson. Big news in the GRE world as ETS announces the first format changes since 2011! Details are still being released; we’ll update this post whenever new information becomes available.

When will the new GRE launch?

The new test arrives September 22, 2023. The last date that the legacy GRE will be given is September 20, 2023; after this date, everyone will take the new GRE.

How is the GRE Changing?

The most notable change is that the GRE General Test will be condensed to about two hours, significantly shorter than the four-hour duration of the legacy test. Each section, including analytical writing, quantitative reasoning, and verbal reasoning, will be shorter. The unscored experimental section and mid-test break will be eliminated as well. Additionally, you and your desired schools will receive your official GRE scores within 8–10 calendar days instead of the previous 10–15 days.

Here are the format details for the new GRE General Test:

In addition to the graded quant and verbal sections, the legacy GRE also has a 30-35 minute ungraded experimental section that will be removed from the new GRE. The mid-test 10-minute break between sections 3 and 4 will be removed as well—though the shorter 1 minute breaks between each section should remain.

Can I use my existing GRE study materials for the new GRE?

Yes! Although the section lengths have changed, the average time per question has not: Quant still allots ~1:45 per question and verbal ~1:30 per question. Additionally, the quant and verbal content areas are remaining the same, so you can continue to practice with existing materials (with one exception: You no longer need to study for the Argument Essay). The breakdown of question types and formats should remain proportional to the legacy test as well, though we’re still waiting for confirmation of the exact count. Likewise, the scoring curve and the advice to graduate admissions programs on interpreting scores will remain the same.

So if you’re currently studying for the GRE, you will need to tweak your macro-timing strategies at the section level. But for the most part, you can continue to study as you have been.

Should I Take the new GRE or the legacy GRE?

When are your application deadlines? The current/legacy version of the GRE General Test will be available until September 20, 2023. From September 22, 2023 onward, all test takers will be enrolled in the new shorter GRE test. Therefore, if your application deadline is before October, plan to take the legacy version sometime prior to September 20th. However, if your application deadline allows for it, you can choose between the legacy and new test based on personal preference (or even take both).

If you find that your biggest challenges stem from fatigue/endurance issues, you will likely find more success with the new shorter exam. Most people are likely to prefer taking a shorter test.

But if you find your brain needs some warm-up time before getting into the zone, you may prefer the longer legacy test. If you fall into this latter category, though, we recommend completing a 15-minute warmup exercise before starting the test, whether it’s the long or short version. Don’t use the real test as part of your warm-up!

The post The GRE is Changing—What You Need to Know appeared first on GRE.

Studying for the GRE on your own? Load up your GRE study calendar right now—it’s time to get organized.

GRE Studying: The Big Picture

Start by filling in your test date. Not sure when you’ll take the test? Just pick a date that’s in the right ballpark. Plan to spend the two days before your test relaxing, mentally preparing for test day, and doing some light, easy review problems.

Next, mark down any travel or commitments you have coming up. Be realistic about what will and won’t affect your ability to study. You don’t want your whole plan to revolve around studying hard during your beach trip, only to realize once you get there that it’s not going to happen.

Count backwards from your test date by about one week, and choose a day for your dress rehearsal. This is your last practice test, so choose a day when you’ll be able to give it your full attention. On dress rehearsal day, do everything exactly how you’ll do it on test day: timing, scratchwork, breaks, everything.

Next, count backwards another two weeks. You should take and review a GRE practice test about every 14 days—and no more often than every 10 days. Since the GRE is a long test, for many of us, that’ll mean taking a practice test every other weekend. Put these practice tests on your GRE study calendar now. Also, give yourself at least three hours (ideally, over two study sessions) to review each test.

Think of your GRE studying as coming in three phases. Early in your studies, you’ll be spending most of your time learning content. Close to test day, you’ll be spending most of your time practicing problem-solving and staying sharp with what you already know. In the middle, you’ll be doing both of those things—brushing up on a few topics, but also practicing your problem-solving skills.

Here’s what you might have on your calendar right now, if you’re starting it on August 25:

Filling in the Gaps with Your GRE Study Calendar

Don’t get overwhelmed: start by only filling in the first two weeks of your GRE study calendar. Your needs and goals will change as you take practice tests and learn more about your performance.

Start by analyzing your most recent GRE practice test. Your goal is to find the areas that are currently high-value for you. That means:

• Areas where you’re missing easy problems and need to brush up on the basics;
• Areas that showed up frequently on your practice test (think Fractions or Sentence Equivalence, not Combinatorics or Logical Reading Comprehension).
• Areas that are just a little too tough for you right now, or that take you just a little too long.

Choose about 3-5 focus areas to start with. That seems like a lot, but it’s actually better for your brain in the long run if you jump around between topics, rather than just working on one until you’re exhausted.

Here’s what you might do to study each of these areas:

• Read the Manhattan Prep Strategy Guide chapters on the topic.
• Do the end-of-chapter problems in the Strategy Guide.
• Do some problems from the relevant chapter in the 5lb. Book of GRE Practice Problems.
• Watch the relevant lesson in GRE Interact, and/or do the Drill It problems on the topic from Interact.  

You don’t have to do every one of these things for every single topic you study! Use what works best for you.

Unless you only have a short time to study on a particular day, try to include two different topics. You should also go back to previous topics on later days. That’s called interleaving, and it helps promote memory formation.

On top of that, dedicate at least one day each week to reviewing your problem log and redoing problems you missed in the past.  

Okay! Now we’re ready to zoom in on the first two weeks of our example GRE study calendar. Suppose that this student was much stronger on Verbal than on Quant, but also missed a lot of Reading Comprehension problems. In Quant, she did pretty well on word problems, but found that she’d forgotten the basic algebra and geometry rules.

This student is starting her first week, once she finishes reviewing her practice test, by brushing up on the rules for Algebra, Reading Comprehension, and Geometry. As the second week starts, she mixes in more GRE problems on the topics she was weak on. She also builds in two review sessions before her second practice test. Importantly, she takes two days completely away from studying.

Your GRE study calendar will look different, depending on your own strengths and weaknesses and how much time you have before test day. But, you should use the same general ideas from this example: mix up your studies across different days, build in a lot of time for review (and use it!), and be realistic about days you won’t be able to study. The more you plan your studying ahead of time, the less stressed you’ll be when it comes time to actually sit down and do the work.

What Happens in a GRE Trial Class?

Your GRE trial class is the first session of our regular GRE course—you’ll be attending right along with the students enrolled in that course. You’ll learn what’s on the GRE and how the GRE is scored, including the implications for how to get ready to take the test. You’ll also learn about Quantitative Comparisons (the often-baffling Quant question type that was invented for the GRE) and how to study vocabulary and meaning in complex sentence structures—the most critical skill for the Verbal section of the exam.

If you like the teacher and course structure, you can join the class; if you don’t or aren’t ready yet, no worries. The trial is no-strings-attached / no credit card is required.

The post Your GRE Study Calendar appeared first on GRE.

The most common GRE vocabulary words are rare but reasonable. The vocab questions don’t test the simplest GRE Vocabulary words, like cat or go. They also don’t test the hardest GRE Vocabulary words, like conodont or acnestis. The words tested on the GRE fall between these two extremes. They aren’t words that you see every day, but you’ll eventually run into them if you read plenty of high-quality writing—which is one thing the GRE is testing for!

The most common GRE vocabulary words are “academic” words, of which English has many, and pretty much any academic word is fair game on the GRE. Odds are, you won’t see any of the same vocabulary words as someone who takes the GRE a month later. That makes it futile to try to list the “most common GRE vocabulary words”: since there are so many different possibilities, and since everyone sees different problems on the GRE, there’s no way to predict which words you might see! However, you’re not out of luck. If you choose your study resources wisely, you can maximize the odds that you’ll know the words you need.

A good starting place for GRE vocabulary is the 500 Essential GRE Words. You can get this set of words as a stack of paper flashcards here, and that’s a good choice if you’re planning to add your own imagery and examples to your flashcards.

To develop this list of words, we started with the words that had appeared in published official GRE problems. Then, we analyzed those words and found that they had a number of common characteristics. Based on this, we were able to add additional words that might not appear in the Official Guide to the GRE, but that were very likely to appear on the GRE in general. To boost your GRE vocabulary, start with this set of words, then move to the 500 Advanced GRE words, which are rarer but still useful. You can also use the Manhattan Prep GRE app, which contains both!

What follows is a sample of common GRE vocabulary words that have appeared in published problems in the past. That doesn’t mean that they’ll appear on your GRE. However, this list will give you a sense of what you might see on your GRE—and how much vocabulary you need to learn! Look at these words as a sampling of GRE vocabulary—enough to get a taste of what to expect. We’ve divided them up based on the difficulty of the problems in which they initially appeared.  

Basic Common GRE Vocabulary Words

Imminent: Something that’s imminent is about to happen in the near future. You might have heard the phrase “imminent danger”: it refers to danger that’s immediately present, as opposed to danger that might cause problems in the future. An approaching tidal wave is an imminent danger, while rising sea levels are less imminent.

Extraneous: A long, dull textbook might contain a lot of extraneous information: information that’s not really relevant to the topic. Extraneous means irrelevant or unrelated.

Erroneous: This word is related to the word error. In fact, it means “wrong.” One common phrase is “erroneous judgment”: an erroneous judgment is an incorrect one. For instance, you might make an erroneous judgment of someone’s character based on their appearance.

Insular: This GRE vocabulary word generally refers to a group of people, such as a community or a family. An insular group is one that doesn’t welcome people or ideas from the outside. The word comes from the same root as island and peninsula: think of an insular group as being similar to an island, where it’s difficult for new people and ideas to come in and out.

Medium Common GRE Vocabulary Words

Prosaic: Something that’s prosaic is ordinary and everyday. This word is the opposite of glamorous or exciting, and it could be a synonym of quotidian or humdrum. It comes from the same root as the word prose: prose is ordinary, everyday writing, as opposed to poetry.

Partial: This looks like a straightforward word, but it’s on this list because of its second definition. Partial can refer to a part of a whole, but it can also serve as the opposite of the word impartial. In that sense, partial means ‘biased’ or ‘favoring one side over the other.’ Judges are supposed to be impartial; a partial judge would probably do a poor job. You can associate this word with the words partisan and prejudiced, which are near-synonyms.

Ubiquitous: A ubiquitous thing is something that shows up frequently and is all over the place. For instance, coffee shops and rain are both ubiquitous in Seattle. Smartphones and the internet are ubiquitous. An experience or a phenomenon can also be described as ubiquitous: a ubiquitous danger is one that’s always lurking around the corner no matter what you’re doing.

Propagate: This word literally refers to breeding something, such as an animal or plant. However, the GRE often uses it in a more metaphorical sense. To propagate an idea or a belief is to spread it widely around to other people. In this sense, propagate is a synonym of disseminate and promulgate.

Tricky Common GRE Vocabulary Words

Quotidian: This word is the big brother of prosaic, which we saw earlier in the list. Literally, it refers to something that happens every day. However, it is typically used to describe something as mundane, ordinary, or unglamorous.

Restive: Restive tricks a lot of GRE test-takers because of its resemblance to words like rest and restful. However, restive is actually related to restless! It refers to something or someone that’s fidgety, on edge, tense, or unable to keep still. You may see this word used to refer to a restive crowd, which is a crowd that’s starting to lose its cool and become confrontational.

Pernicious: This word means harmful. However, it’s worth your while to learn exactly how it’s used. Something that’s pernicious isn’t just harmful; it’s typically harmful in a particular way. It’s not outright dangerous or violent, but rather, it causes a subtle or gradual type of harm. A blow to the head isn’t pernicious, but something like heart disease or the influence of social media might be. A good synonym for pernicious is insidious.

Diffident: This word refers to a type of personality. A diffident person rarely speaks up; he might be described as timid or reluctant.

Learning GRE Vocabulary

Learning GRE vocabulary words is a tough but important task. Your next step should be to read our tips for learning GRE vocabulary. Find a good source of words to learn—the 500 Essential GRE Words are a good starting place!—and go through and remove the ones you already know by heart. Then, read about the spaced repetition strategy to learn how and when to study words effectively. If you start now, you can master 50 or more new words per week between now and test day.

The post Most Common GRE Vocabulary Words appeared first on GRE.

You’re in luck—everything you’ve wondered about the GRE at home is here. Not only are we going to cover technical requirements, such as what to do before test day, and what to expect on test day, but we’re also going to cover the experience taking the GRE at home from the perspective of a single person (“Stuart”)—during 2020, that is. Stuart told me about his experience and so I just want to make sure you know that this isn’t necessarily what your experience will be like. Still, in case it might be helpful, we decided to report how it went down for one of our teachers. (Stuart isn’t his real name.)

To get started, what happens first?

Your tech requirements

First, you’ll have to install the ETS Test Browser as well as the appropriate web browser and extension (ProctorU recommends the Chrome browser). You’ll also have to run the ProctorU system check.

Once you’re inside ProctorU, you have the option of filling out a Live Technician form to chat with a technician if you want to—this is optional. It’s straightforward—you just give the technician access to your computer, and they can then see and hear you over your webcam. They can also take over your mouse (like they will during your actual test).

If you have bad luck and experience a tech-related issue on test day that is so extreme that it prevents you from taking the test, all’s not lost. Yes, it’s annoying, but you’ll probably be given the option to reschedule your exam for free. I’ll talk more about this momentarily. 

In general, be sure to carefully check out the technical requirements on the ProctorU resource center page and the ETS At Home information page prior to your test day. You are allowed to take the GRE on a computer, but not a mobile device. As of this writing, you can use a PC or a Mac. Oh, and ETS is now offering the GRE at home to test takers requiring accommodations, but be sure to confirm your accommodation with both ETS and ProctorU before your test to ensure that you’re all set.

Registration/Scheduling 

You can register and pay for the exam here. After creating an ETS account, logging in, and locating the “Register/ Find Test Centers, Dates” button, you will select the GRE General Test. From here, you should be able to choose the “test at home” choice. (Hover over the “info” icon for the essential requirements.)

Before you can pick your test date and exact time, you’ll need to both register and pay your fee of $205. The at-home test is administered 24/7 as of this writing.

Finally, ETS will send you an order confirmation via email. You’ll get a separate email with instructions for scheduling your test date and time, which you should receive within 24 hours. You’ll be given an initial password, but, as always with initial passwords, our suggestion is to change it to a password that you’ll easily remember. Finally, after doing all of this, you’ll get your test reservation and see a countdown timer on your ProctorU dashboard.

Rescheduling/Cancellation

According to the ETS website, the normal cancellation policy applies to the at home GRE—you’ll need to cancel at least 4 days in advance in order to receive a partial refund. However, you can reschedule your test for free at any time before your appointment. Just go to your ProctorU dashboard.

Getting ready for test day

As of this writing, the official website FAQ page does not address accommodations. However, several of our students have been told that accommodations are not being offered for the at-home option, and that test takers requiring accommodations will need to wait until testing resumes at test centers. It is possible this policy could change, and we will update this post as we learn more.

Getting Ready for At-Home GRE Test Day

Here’s the most important part: since you’ll have to use a surface that you can erase on (like a white board that teachers use in classrooms) for scratch paper, you will need to buy one. If you order one online, be sure to allocate plenty of time for it to arrive. Deliveries are still delayed, so be generous about this time allocation! 

You should watch the Student Walkthrough Video so that you know what the check-in process will be like. Be sure also to check out the ETS At Home information page as well as the Pre Exam Checklist Video.

What to expect on test day

Half an hour before your scheduled time (this is according to ETS, that is—ProctorU doesn’t actually tell you that you need to be early at all, so this is just playing it safe), sign in on your ProctorU dashboard. Your ProctorU exam link will become active just before your scheduled start time, and you’ll be given some instructions. 

Make sure you have an government-issued ID on hand. Then ProctorU will screen share, access your video and audio, and take over your computer. Your proctor might be early or late—if late, just hold tight; they’ll get there.

Once your proctor shows up, he/she/they will tell you what to do next. You’ll probably be asked to place your phone out of reach (like across the room), and you’ll probably ask to pan your camera around to show the proctor the four corners of your room. You’ll also have the show the proctor what your erasable surface looks like (your whiteboard, or whatever you’re using). Finally, the proctor will unlock your test, and you’ll be free to begin!

Our instructor “Stuart’s” experience taking the test

Mostly Stuart’s proctor interacted with him through the chat rather than verbally, but a handful of times, she did hop on the mic. Before his test started, Stuart’s proctor told him that he could use both a whiteboard and the Manhattan Prep GMAT yellow pad. (Not everyone has been told this, however, so be aware that you may have a proctor who only allows you to use one erasable surface. Also, one person was asked to rip off the cover of the yellow pad because it had writing on it—so be prepared possibly to have to do that if you’re using a yellow pad—you may want to have scissors nearby. Also note that, though the GMAT yellow pad can’t be used for the GMAT Online.)

Even though it was not ETS policy, Stuart’s proctor also allowed him to have snacks on the table next to him, so that was interesting. 

When Stuart asked the proctor if he could get up for a bathroom break during a section (as opposed to during the break), the proctor told him to ask verbally if he needed to leave the room. Stuart didn’t end up needing to try this, but that’s what he was told. 

The only technical glitch Stuart had was during his essays section. There was an issue using his mouse, and so he tried to flag down the proctor but didn’t get a response. He spent about three minutes trying to get the proctor’s attention (of 30 minutes allocated for writing that essay) and ultimately decided to proceed with the section, never having heard from the proctor. 

It wasn’t until Stuart’s 10-minute break (the only break during the test) that Stuart once again tried to communicate with the proctor. He spoke and waved and, getting no response, got up to take his break. When he returned, his break time hadn’t expired, so he waited, eventually accessing the chat with the proctor through the Windows menu on his screen. The proctor then started the next section of the exam. 

At the conclusion of Stuart’s exam, he received his scores for the quant and verbal portions of the test, just like one does at a test center. (Note that your scores don’t appear in your ETS account right away—that takes a few days.)

What to take away from Stuart’s test-taking experience:

• Particular calls made by your proctor around what and what not to permit may not align with ETS’s stated policies. Rules seem to vary based on who is proctoring your test.
• Stuart had some issues trying unsuccessfully to communicate with his proctor, but it didn’t ultimately have a negative impact on his test in any significant way.
• For  Windows users, it could be useful to know that your Windows key could be helpful if you find that you are unable to access the chat window to communicate with your proctor.

Conclusion

ETS has announced that the GRE At Home will be available for as long as necessary due to the pandemic, so you will continue to have this option should you prefer it to a test center, at least for the time being. 

Want help studying? Go take a look at our GRE Starter Kit study syllabus, where you can also take a free full-length practice test. Good luck!

RELATED: Coronavirus GRE Updates and Accommodations

Don’t forget that you can attend the first session of any of our online or in-person GRE courses absolutely free. We’re not kidding! Check out our upcoming courses here.

Mary Richter is a Manhattan Prep instructor based in Nashville, Tennessee. Mary is one of those weirdos who loves taking standardized tests, and she has been teaching them for 15 years. When she’s not teaching the LSAT or GRE for ManhattanPrep, she’s writing novels under the last name Adkins. You can find them wherever you buy books. Check out Mary’s upcoming GRE prep offerings here! 

The post We Took The GRE At Home. Here’s What We Learned. appeared first on GRE.

In this time of social distancing, studying for the GRE in some ways should be easier for many of us—we no longer have to fight FOMO, because we don’t get to go out, anyway. But in other ways it can be harder. Being alone and/or indoors for extended periods of time can feel isolating, and the situation that has given rise to the social distancing causes anxiety for many of us.

My plan this week was to write a post on how to create an in-person study group, but since that’s not possible (nor a good idea) at the present date, I’ve decided to share ideas for how you can create an online GRE study group. 

GRE Online Study Group Step 1: Find fellow GRE takers

First, you want to find people who are taking the GRE soon, too. If you’ve taken a course, reach out to your fellow students. This is the most natural place to start, and it makes sense, too, because you likely already know each other somewhat. You’re also probably in the same time zone, or at least time zones that are amenable to live meeting. If you don’t have their contact information, ask your instructor for it.

Or try social media. Post on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter asking if anyone is studying for the GRE and wants to form a study group. So many people are preparing for this test at a given time that I suspect you will find at least a couple of takers. If those people then post on their own accounts, you can assemble a group of four to five people, which is a nice size study group (more on that below). 

GRE Online Study Group Step 2: Find a platform to use and a mutually agreeable time

I suggest Google Hangouts to start because 4-6 of you can sign in, see each other on video, and meet for free. There may be other platforms out there, but this one is the one that I know will work for you and is affordable. 

For screen sharing, you are also able to share your screen in Google Hangouts, but you won’t be able to share a whiteboard on which you can all write. For this you can use another Google app—either Google Docs or Google Slides—in a separate window that everyone has access to. This way you’re seeing each other on video but also can all watch as one person writes on the screen. (I swear I’m not pushing Google for any reason other than that it’s what I’ve used. If you have other platforms that you recommend or that work better, please share in the comments!)

GRE Online Study Group Step 3: Create a group of the right size—I suggest 4-5 people

Since you’ll need to find a mutually agreeable time to meet regularly—either several times per week or weekly, depending on your needs—what you don’t want to do is have so many people join your group that it’s impossible to calendar your meetings. 

Having a group of more than five people, I find, tends to lead to problems. It becomes challenging to coordinate schedules, and also, it becomes difficult for everyone to have adequate time to share. On the other hand, a study group of three can feel too small to be ideal—if two people are unable to attend for any reason, the third is left stranded. 

For these reasons, I suggest a group of four to five people. If more people than this express interest, the additional people can form a second group. Then, if the groups ever dwindle, you can combine them.

GRE Online Study Group Step 4: Create an agenda and leadership calendar for your meetings

It is best for your study meetings to have some structure. I recommend something like the following: 

• 10-20 minutes: Share/discuss challenging questions from homework
• 45 minutes: Do a timed practice set together (separately, working on your own, but the same set at the same time) and review
• 15 minutes: Do a round robin sharing important takeaways from the session

Next, I would assign one person to be the leader/facilitator each week. This person’s task will be to keep things going as planned and bring the group back to focus if attention drifts off topic. It’s good to rotate the leader/facilitator role so that responsibility is spread out across the group. If people in the group have a shared sense of responsibility to and for the group, they’re/you’re more likely to take it seriously—which means, at the most basic level, to show up consistently and reliably. 

A final tip

Finally, a benefit of a study group is that you can help each other stay calm. The GRE is an anxiety-producing test, and in this time of plenty of other reasons to be anxious, it can be especially rough. Consider having one person at each meeting share something that calms them—either a practice (like a meditation app or recording), a quote, a poem, or a trick for during the test or while studying. 

RELATED: Using the Computer to Your Advantage on the GRE

Don’t forget that you can attend the first session of any of our online or in-person GRE courses absolutely free. We’re not kidding! Check out our upcoming courses here.

Mary Richter is a Manhattan Prep instructor based in Nashville, Tennessee. Mary is one of those weirdos who loves taking standardized tests, and she has been teaching them for 15 years. When she’s not teaching the LSAT or GRE for ManhattanPrep, she’s writing novels under the last name Adkins. You can find them wherever you buy books. Check out Mary’s upcoming GRE prep offerings here! 

The post How to Form an Online GRE Study Group appeared first on GRE.

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is a standardized test administered by testmaker ETS and used by graduate programs (including some business and law schools) to evaluate applicants. Taking the GRE is a standard step in the application process for most programs, and your score can hold considerable weight in your application. Admissions committees consider your GRE score, GPA, extracurriculars, and application materials to determine whether you qualify for graduate programs and whether you would be a good fit.

The GRE was created in 1936, and first used by Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Princeton. By 1948, over 45,000 students applying to 500 colleges took the exam.

The GRE is a multiple-choice, adaptive test: The more problems you answer correctly in one section, the harder the problems in the second section and the higher your overall scoring potential. It’s different from most other graduate school admissions exams in that you have the flexibility to answer problems within a section in the order you choose, flag problems as you go, then go back and change your answers if needed. 

The GRE General Test is the most commonly required GRE Test, but some programs may require or recommend that you take a GRE Subject Test as well. These tests are intended for students who have an extensive background in one of the six testing disciplines: Biology, Chemistry, Literature in English, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology. Check with your graduate programs to learn whether they require a GRE Subject Test in addition to the GRE General Test.

What is on the GRE?

The GRE is a computer-based, adaptive test that is part of your admissions package for many graduate schools. The GRE General Test is not supposed to test any content knowledge, but rather your ability to think critically and strategically problem solve. You may have to brush up on the topics that appear, including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, data analysis, reading comprehension, and college-level vocabulary, but really the GRE tries to assess how you think rather than what you know. 

GRE Sections

The GRE is made up of three sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing. Each section is scored separately. You’ll have two verbal sections, two quant sections, two essays timed separately but within the same section, and either an unscored section or research section. Neither the unscored nor research section counts towards your overall score, but there’s no way to tell which section is unscored. Treat every problem like it counts!

GRE Verbal

Here’s an in depth look at What’s Tested on the GRE Verbal Section, but in essence, there are three types of problems: 

• Text Completion: Do you know your vocab? You’ll be asked to complete the sentence by selecting vocabulary words that, in theory, any college student should know. In practice? You’re going to need to study these words. 

• Sentence Equivalence: Still vocab, but with a twist! You’re completing sentences by filling in the blank, the same as you are in text completion. Unlike text completion, however, you have to pick TWO words that create equivalent sentences. Miss one, you get the whole problem wrong.
• Reading Comprehension: This is the bulk of the GRE Verbal Section. You’ll see passages anywhere from a few sentences to a few paragraphs long. Some questions ask you to identify the main point or a specific detail. Others ask you to analyze the argument presented. Your ability to process a lot of information and think critically will be key here.

These sections also test your executive reasoning. Do you know which problems are worth investing time in? Which should be guessed? Which are worth going back to? Which you should bail on after the first minute? These decision making skills are a key part of the GRE Verbal Sections.

• Top 10 GRE Vocabulary Tips <<
• GRE Reading Comprehension Tips <<
• 5 Quick GRE Vocab Hacks <<
• GRE Sentence Equivalence: Practice Questions <<

And be sure to check out our GRE Word of the Day YouTube playlists, featuring hundreds of GRE vocabulary words.

GRE Quantitative

This post will give you an in depth list of What’s Tested on GRE Math, but all the content is tested using just two problem types:

• Quantitative Comparison: You’ll be given two quantities and asked to determine their relationship: whether they’re equal, which is greater, or whether there’s just no way to tell. If the quantities were in integer format, this would be easy (sure, 10 is greater than 7), but the GRE quantities are typically more obscure. You may be given information and have to solve for either or both quantities. Or the format of the two may be so different that you have to significantly change them before you can make a comparison. Critical reasoning skills are essential.
• Problem Solving: These are the problems you likely think of when you imagine a math test. Given information, pick the correct multiple choice answer. Some problems will format their answer as a blank box into which you’ll type your answer. A few questions will ask you to select multiple answers, and if you miss any, the entire problem is wrong. The GRE is not kind enough for partial credit.

Executive reasoning skills are an absolute must on the GRE Quantitative sections. Without deciding which problems to focus on and which to go through quickly, it can be hard to even finish the section, much less get a top score. Time management and executive decision making are a huge factor on the GRE.

• Top 10 GRE Quantitative Comparisons Tips <<
• Quick GRE Math Tips <<
• What are the hardest GRE Math questions? <<
• GRE Work Problems: Practice Question (with steps) <<
• GRE Interest Problems: Techniques <<
• Common Math Errors on the GRE<<

GRE Analytical Writing

The Analytical Writing section of the GRE consists of two essay assignments, each allocated 30 minutes. For the “Analyze an Issue” essay, you’ll be presented with a statement and expected to develop an argument either in support or opposition to that statement. It doesn’t matter which side you choose. What matters is how well formulated and organized your logical arguments are. In the “Analyze an Argument” essay, you’ll read a short passage containing a conclusion based on the stated facts. Without bringing in outside knowledge, you’ll analyze whether that argument is sound and pointing out any major flaws you see. Neither essay requires any content knowledge, but you will have to showcase your logical reasoning abilities.

• Top 7 GRE Essay Tips <<
• Should you care about the GRE essays? <<
• GRE Sample Essay Prompts <<

GRE Scores

How long does it take to get GRE scores?

You’ll see your scores immediately, with a small catch. Once you finish the test, you can opt to Cancel your scores, in which case you won’t be told what they were. If you instead decide to Report your scores, you’ll be shown your unofficial Verbal and Quant scores on screen. You’ll receive your official score report, along with your Analytical Writing score, 10-15 days later. 

How long are GRE scores valid?

GRE scores are valid for five years following your test date. 

GRE Score Ranges and Percentiles

You’ll receive a different score for each section of the GRE. The Verbal and Quant sections are scored from 130 to 170. The Analytical Writing section is scored from 0 to 6. Even though you take two Verbal and Quant Sections, as well as writing two essays, you’ll only receive one score for each section.

Average GRE Scores

The average GRE Verbal score is 151, and the average Quant score is 153. The average Analytical Writing score is 4.

What is a good GRE score?

The most comprehensive answer is that it depends on you. Your GPA, work and research experience, personal statements, and a slew of other things will all be considered with your GRE score in assessing you as a candidate. However, we can still give you a general sense of where to target.

For a good score, meaning you’re in the top quarter of test takers, aim for a Verbal score in the high 150’s, a Quant score in the low 160’s, and a Writing score above a 4. Most good schools would consider you in this range, including some of the Ivy’s.

If you’re looking for a really great score, try to score above a 163 on Verbal and above a 165 on Quant. Push Writing to 5.0 or higher. This is tough to pull off, and will take work, but about 10% of test takers score in this range.

Good GRE Verbal scores:

• 90th percentile Scaled GRE Verbal Score: 162
• 75th percentile Scaled GRE Verbal Score: 157
• 50th percentile Scaled GRE Verbal Score: 151
• Bottom 50% Scaled GRE Verbal Score: 150

Good GRE Quantitative scores:

• 90th percentile Scaled GRE Quant Score: 166
• 75th percentile Scaled GRE Quant Score: 160
• 50th percentile Scaled GRE Quant Score: 153
• Bottom 50% Scaled GRE Quant Score: 152

Related Reading: How to Get a Perfect Score on the GRE

How long is the GRE?

The GRE takes approximately 4 hours to complete, not including check-in time. Here’s how the test will breakdown:

GRE Section Length

• Analytical Writing: 30 minutes per task
• Verbal Reasoning: 30 minutes per section
• Quantitative Reasoning: 35 minutes per section
• Experimental or Unscored: Varies (30 or 35 minutes)
• Optional Breaks (total): Approximately 12 minutes
• Total GRE test length: Approximately 4 hours

GRE Test Dates: When to take the GRE

You can take the GRE at any point. It’s offered year-round at Prometric testing centers or you can take it from home. Spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so register for your exam date early. Each graduate program has a unique application timeline; do your research ahead of time to ensure that you’re taking the GRE early enough to have your scores submitted before the application deadline (which usually takes 10-15 days). You may also want to give yourself enough time to retest, which means taking a 21 day break between tests.

GRE Cost: How much is the GRE?

In most countries, the GRE General Test costs $205. This fee allows you to send your score to up to four institutions. 

GRE Registration & Sign-Up

You’ll register through the GRE through your ETS account. Once you’ve made your account you’ll be able to choose your testing date and location.

How many times can I take the GRE?

You can take the GRE once every 21 days, up to five times per 12-month period.

What programs accept the GRE?

Most Master’s and PhD programs require the GRE, along with 1,200+ business schools and many top law schools.

GRE vs. GMAT

While Master’s and Phd programs typically accept only the GRE, business schools generally accept both the GRE and GMAT. These two tests have many similarities, and which you take is often a matter of your personal strengths and weaknesses, how many different types of programs you want to apply to, and whether the programs to which you’re applying have expressed any preference for one exam over the other. 

You should take the GRE if…

• There’s a possibility you’d apply to other graduate programs in addition to MBA programs. 
• Your testing strengths include vocabulary in context and number-crunching. 

You should take the GMAT if…

• One or more schools on your list have expressed a preference for the GMAT over the GRE. 
• You’re a flexible and creative thinker who’s good at word problems and data interpretation.

How to prepare for the GRE

You should plan to spend 100+ hours studying for the GRE. Start by taking a diagnostic test so you know where your strengths and weaknesses lie, and then use that to develop a strategy for boosting your score. Many people find it helpful to sign up for a GRE prep class, either self-guided or instructor-led, to teach them the best strategies for GRE success and help keep them accountable as they study. Manhattan Prep has many options to help you succeed on the GRE; choose one that fits your needs best, and try the first class for free.

More GRE Prep Resources:

• Complete GRE Course <<
• GRE for MBA Course <<
• GRE Just Math Course <<
• Foundations of GRE Math <<
• On-Demand GRE Prep <<

If you’re curious what you’d score on the GRE today, try our completely free GRE Practice Test.

The post What is the GRE? appeared first on GRE.

If your test was postponed due to COVID-19, you may find yourself anxious and/or unsure about what to do from here. In this post I want to share with you your current options and address common concerns/questions.

GRE Testing Options

As of March 23rd, you can take the GRE at home

First, some good news if you’re super bummed about having to wait: ETS has decided to offer the option in some countries to take your test from home. If you’re eligible, you may be able to schedule an an-home test date for April or beyond—you’ll want to be sure to make sure you have the correct equipment (a computer that runs Windows and isn’t a Mac, for example) and physical location. ETS states that the interface will appear just like it would in a test center. You can read more about this option in our blog post here, or visit this link to register. 

Some programs may change their deadlines—which means you may have the option to take it later than planned

But perhaps waiting to take it is not a bad idea. Even if you were facing a tight deadline, it’s possible that there will be programs that ease their deadlines given the current pandemic and resulting shutdown of much of society including test administration centers. If your test date was based on a tight timeline set by a school or schools in your application process, check with those programs to see what leeway there is under these new circumstances. 

Common concerns/questions

How should this affect my GRE studying? 

1. Take a break
   First and most importantly, in case you need permission from a GRE instructor and test preparation expert, it is fine to take a break. I’ll say it again: It is fine—even beneficial—to take a break. We’re in a global pandemic. The fact that half your brain is occupied thinking about how to get groceries while socially distancing yourself while worrying about older family members while wondering when all of this is going to pass means that studying for the GRE just got even harder than it already was. This is a time for all of us to cut ourselves some slack. Take a deep breath, step away from your study materials, and find your footing. A week, two weeks—or longer, depending on when it works best for you to take the test now. The GRE will be there when you get back.
2. Move into maintenance mode
   Maintenance mode is what it sounds like: continuing to study regularly enough that you don’t grow stale/lose what ground you’ve gained, but not intensely that you wear yourself out or “peak” weeks before the test actually comes. You can study for several hours a week in maintenance mode and then amp up your study as your new test date approaches—a month or so before the test.

How am I supposed to focus in this global crisis? 

It’s really tough, which is why I suggest taking a break. But when you’re ready to get back to it, there has never been a better time to incorporate a mindfulness practice into your study routine. I really like the free resources available here, but any kind of practice where you’re slowing your mind and focusing on the present—your breath, your physical sensations—is going to make everything easier: studying, planning, living. 

Listen, apart from occasional yoga, I didn’t meditate for 37 years; I just started a couple of weeks ago. As a newbie myself, I will testify that it does help.

Any good GRE study tips during this time? 

In a way, apart from all of the stressors of, well, the whole world right now, this is a great time for you to focus on your test prep! Ha.  

But seriously, there is a silver lining to this whole social distancing thing, which is that you don’t have to combat FOMO. You’ve just experienced a massive reduction in activities vying for your time and attention. It’s now basically down to: Netflix, or study? 

Still, since studying alone can become lonely, you may want to think about creating or joining an online study group—I write about how to do that in another blog post here.

Final thoughts

I am sending you all well wishes and positive thoughts. If you need more support, reach out to us—our courses are all running online, and you’re invited to come sit in on one of our live online classes for free. Good luck, stay well, and know that we’re here for you whether that’s now or later.

RELATED: The Official GRE Can Now Be Taken From Home

Don’t forget that you can attend the first session of any of our online or in-person GRE courses absolutely free. We’re not kidding! Check out our upcoming courses here.

Mary Richter is a Manhattan Prep instructor based in Nashville, Tennessee. Mary is one of those weirdos who loves taking standardized tests, and she has been teaching them for 15 years. When she’s not teaching the LSAT or GRE for ManhattanPrep, she’s writing novels under the last name Adkins. You can find them wherever you buy books. Check out Mary’s upcoming GRE prep offerings here! 

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