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What is GRE (Graduate Record Exam) Test?
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What is GRE?
The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is designed to provide admissions committee members, career counselors, and prospective applicants with predictors of academic performance in graduate-level academic study (Masters and Doctoral programs). GRE scores are only one of several factors considered in the admission decision. Other factors include undergraduate GPA, faculty recommendation letters, application essays (personal statements), and work and other experience. Nearly 2300 American graduate schools (except business schools, which require the GMAT, and law schools, which require the LSAT) require GRE scores from each applicant.

This test is developed and administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) on behalf of the Graduate Record Examinations Board and the Council of Graduate Schools. GRE consists of two types of test programs;


What is the difference in Computer Based Test Format and Paper Based Test Format for GENERAL GRE TEST?

 

 Paper-Based Test Computer-Based Test
  Total Testing Time
upto 3 3/4 hours		 Total Testing Time
upto 3 1/4 hours (excluding Research Section timing)
SECTION 1 Analytical Writing
75 minutes
Part 1: Analyze of an issue (45 minute)
Part 2: Analyze an argument (30 minutes)		 Analytical Writing
75 minutes
Part 1: Analyze of an issue (45 minute)
Part 2: Analyze an argument (30 minutes)
SECTION 2 Verbal (2 sections)
30 minutes per section
38 Questions per section		 Verbal
30 minutes
30 Questions
SECTION 3 Quantitative (2 sections)
30 minutes per section
30 Questions per section		 Quantitative
45 minutes
28 Questions
SECTION 4 Pretest**
30 minutes
Number of Questions Varies		 Pretest**
Total given time Varies
Number of Questions Varies
SECTION 5 ---no research section Research***
Total given time Varies
Number of Questions Varies


What is GRE - General Test?
This test program measures students' abilities in Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical fields. It does not require any subject-specific theoretical study. (This is true only for the General GRE, and not for the GRE Subject Test, which is required by certain universities. In this section, we mean the General GRE whenever we refer to the GRE).


1) Verbal Section (30 questions - 30 minutes)
This section tests your ability to analyze and evaluate written material and synthesize information obtained from it, analyze relationships among component parts of sentences and recognize relationships between words and concepts.

2) Quantitative Section (28 questions - 45 minutes)
This section tests your basic mathematical skills and your understanding of elementary mathematical concepts, as well as your ability to reason quantitatively and solve problems in a quantitative setting.

3) Analytical Section (Two writing tasks - 75 minutes)
This section measures critical thinking and analytical writing skills. It consists of two analytical writing tasks :
  1. Analyze of an issue (45 minutes)
  2. Analyze an Argument (30 minutes)

NOTE:
*An unidentified verbal or quantitative pretest section may be included in both Computer Based Test (CBT) as well as Paper Based Test for possible use in future tests and may appear in any order after the analytical writing section. It is not counted as part of your score.

*An identified research section that is not scored may also be included in Computer Based Test only and this section would always appear in the final section of the test. Questions in the research section are included for the purpose of ETS research and answers will not count toward your scores.

What is GRE - Subject Test?
This test program measures achievement in specific fields of study. The subject based GRE are currently available in 8 disciplines, each of which measures achievements in specific fields.
 

*Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology

 *Literature in English
*Mathematics
*Biology *Physics
*Chemistry *Psychology
*Computer Science  


Is the GRE General Test administered only by Computer?
Except for some locations outside the U.S., (e.g., in China), the GRE General Test is available now only as a computer-based test. Both the paper-based and computer-based versions include the same type of questions, and scores for the paper-based and computer-based GRE are comparable to each other. In other words, test-takers who take the paper-based test are neither at an advantage or disadvantage vis-a-vis those who take the computer-based version. (The format of both versions is indicated in detail below.)

What is a Computer Adaptive Testing?
The GRE is been administered exclusively as a Computer Adaptive Test, or CAT. For complete details about this testing system click here.

When can I take General GRE Test and Subject GRE Test?
For available test dates for both types of GRE Tests, please click here.

Are there examples of what the essay questions look like?
Yes. You can view all the topics for the analytical writing section on GRE Web site. In addition, scored sample essays are available, with commentary from GRE readers.

How is GRE scored?
The three major parts of the test are scored independently.
  • a verbal score reported on a 200-800 score scale, in 10-point increments,
  • a quantitative score reported on a 200-800 score scale, in 10-point increments, and
  • an analytical writing score reported on 0-6 score scale, in half-point increments.
If you answer no questions at all in a section (verbal, quantitative, or analytical writing), that section will be reported as a No Score (NS).
 
Your score will depend on the number of questions you answer in the time allotted as well as your performance on the questions given. To some extent, questions will be weighted according to their difficulty level. Unlike in the paper-based version, where you are given two sections of each area, your score will be based on one section each of verbal, quantitative, and analytical.
In addition to three scores out of 800, you will also be given a percentile ranking, indicating where you would place in a group of 100 students who took the same test you did. If your score says that you are in the 45th percentile, it means that for every hundred students, 55 scored better than you.

How many times should I take the GRE?
Most people are better off preparing thoroughly for the GRE, taking it one time and getting their top score. You can take the test as many times as you like, but many graduate schools will average your scores. You should call the schools to which you are applying to find out their policy. Then plan your strategy accordingly.

How do I register?
Complete and send the Registration Form in the 2003 – 2004 GRE Supplement to the Bulletin of Information to the GRE main office in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. Registration is by post only. Pay by Visa, MasterCard or American Express, or by dollar check. You will receive information concerning the reporting time and test centre address.

How much does General-GRE and Subject-GRE cost?
General-GRE price:
  • All locations including Pakistan: US$140.
  • United States, U.S. Territories, and Puerto Rico: US$115.
  • China, including Hong Kong, Korea, and Taiwan: US$175.
Subject-GRE Price:
  • All locations including Pakistan: US$150.
  • United States, U.S. Territories, and Puerto Rico: US$130.

How long will result of General-GRE OR Subject-GRE be valid?
Scores for General-GRE are valid for 5 years.
Scores of Subject-GRE are valid for 5 years.

Where is GRE-General test administered in Pakistan?
The GRE-General is administered in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore on computer round the year.

CBT Test centers list in Pakistan:

Karachi

 Islamabad Lahore
Global Education Foundation
(Test Center Number:8781)
Prometric Testing Center
Suite No. 217, 2nd floor
Plot No. G7, Block 9,
The Plaza, Scheme No. 5 Clifton
Karachi, Pakistan
Phone: 92-21-586-8218
Fax: 92-21-587-3181 		United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP)
Prometric Testing Center (Test centre #8782)
House 16, Street 84, G-6/4
Ataturk Avenue, Islamabad, Pakistan		 Lahore University of Management Science (Test Center Number: 8783)
Prometric Testing Center
Opposite Sector U.L.C.C.H.S.Lahore Cant.
Lahore, Pakistan
Phone: 92-42-5722670-9
Fax: 92-42-5722591

How do I register for Computer Based General GRE?
There are three ways you can register for a General Test.
Phone
  • Use VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or a voucher number.
  • Call the appropriate RRC (Regional Registraion Centers) at least 2 business days before your preferred test date (for Pakistan RRC centers list is given above).
  • A confirmation number, reporting time, and the test center address will be given to you when you call.
Fax
  • Use VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or a voucher number.
  • Fax the International Test Scheduling Form to the appropriate RRC.
  • The form must be received at least 7 days before your first-choice test date.
  • A confirmation number, reporting time, and the test center address will be faxed or mailed to you.
  • If you do not receive a confirmation of your appointment, call the appropriate RRC at least 3 business days before your first-choice test date. If you miss your appointment and did not call the RRC, your test fee will not be refunded. If you provide an email address, you may receive a confirmation by email.
Mail
  • Mail the International Test Scheduling Form to the appropriate RRC with appropriate payment.
  • The form must be received at least 3 weeks before your first-choice test date.
  • A confirmation number, reporting time, and the test center address will be faxed or mailed to you.
  • If you do not receive a confirmation, call the appropriate RRC at least 3 business days before your first-choice test date. If you miss your appointment and did not call the RRC, your test fee will not be refunded. If you provide an email address, you may receive a confirmation by email.

 
**If you have not received the admission ticket three working days prior to the first required test date, it is necessary that you contact the Regional Registration Center. Otherwise, you risk missing your appointment at the computer center and you may forfeit your test registration fee. The registration fee is not refundable, as mentioned on the back of the International Test Scheduling Form, when referring to the Confirmation Letter. If you provide an e-mail address, you may receive your confirmation by e-mail.**

Retaking the GRE
You may take the General Test (computer-based or paper-based) once per calendar month up to 5 times in any 12-month period. This applies even if you cancelled your scores on a test taken previously.

Taking the GRE again may not be helpful. Sometimes it is necessary to take the GRE more than once, like when a management school asks you for more recent scores than what you have. However, unless your scores seem unusually low compared to your performance in the practice tests, or if you have not been able to perform well because of a sudden illness or similar exceptional circumstances, it’s advisable not to succumb to the temptation of repeating the test. This is so for given the nature of the test, it is unlikely that your scores can substantially improve, and in fact, your scores may decrease.
If you repeat the test, your scores from the latest test date and the two most recent test administrations in the last five years will be reported to the institutions you designate as recipients. In any case, you cannot take the test more than once in the same calendar month, even if you have taken the test and cancelled your scores.

When and What should I bring at the test of the day?
You are expected to arrive at your test centre at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start of your exam. You are expected to bring the following items with you to the test centre :
For GRE-General (Computer Based)
  • Bring your authorization voucher if you registered by mail.
  • Acceptable Identification (Passport + Driving License/College Id Card etc.)
  • Names of 4 Colleges to which you want ETS to send your scores
For GRE-General (Paper Based Test) as well as GRE-Subject Test
  • your admission ticket
  • three or four sharpened soft-lead (No. 2 or HB) pencils and a good eraser (Pencils and erasers will not be supplied at the test center.)
  • acceptable and valid photo identification

At the end of your test, you can specify up to 4 colleges to which ETS will send your scores for free. Therefore, before appearing for the exam, prepare a list of your first choice colleges, by anticipating the range of your likely GRE score. ETS charges US$15 for every additional college you send your scores to. See the Institution code list.

How can I best prepare myself for the test?
There are many ways to prepare for the GRE. At the very least, you should familiarize yourself with GRE-General (computer or paper based test) or GRE-Subject Test and practice some questions beforehand, Once you are comfortable with the format, you will be free to concentrate on the content of the questions themselves. The amount of practice you need will depend on your ability, the time you have available before you take the test, and how familiar you feel with the test format. Beside, GRE web site provides you very useful preparation material , these include sample tests, often of the same or similar length as the actual GRE Tests, and will help ,you to become more familiar with the test.
You can prepare for the SATs by yourself or with friends.
In addition, you can take services of an experienced GRE teacher.

We have also provided some very useful GRE Preparation Tips for free;

How my GRE score is reported?
  • Paper Based General Test: score reports will be sent to you and to designated recipients up to 6 weeks after your test date.
  • Computer Based General Test: you can view unofficial verbal and quantitative scores at the test center except analytical writing score. Official scores for all sections will be sent to you and score recipients within 10 to 15 days after you take the test. Printed score reports are not available at the test center.
  • GRE Subject Test: Score reports are mailed within 4 - 6 weeks after you take a Subject Test, to you and up to 4 institutions you designated at the time of registration or on the admission ticket correction stub.
    To learn more about the score reporting process, read GRE Score Reporting.
    For detailed score interpretive information, download Interpreting Your GRE Scores.



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