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• Description of the General Test
• How Does the Computer-Based General Test Work?
• Test Dates
• Test Registration
• Test Fees
• On the Test Day
• Test Preparation
• Test-Taking Strategies
• Test Development Process
• Scoring Process
• Canceling Your Scores
• Reporting Your Scores

Description of the General Test

The General Test measures verbal, quantitative, and analytical skills that have been acquired over a long period of time and that are not related to any specific field of study. The test consists of three scored sections.

Verbal: 30-minute section (30 questions) — The verbal measure 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. Because students have wide-ranging backgrounds, interests, and skills, the verbal sections of the General Test use questions from diverse areas of experience. The areas tested range from the activities of daily life to broad categories of academic interest such as the sciences, social studies, and the humanities.

Quantitative: 45-minute section (28 questions) — The quantitative measure 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. The content areas included in the quantitative sections of the test are arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. These are content areas usually studied in high school.

Analytical: 60-minute section (35 questions) — The analytical measure tests your ability to understand structured sets of relationships, deduce new information from sets of relationships, analyze and evaluate arguments, identify central issues and hypotheses, draw sound inferences, and identify plausible causal explanations. Questions in the analytical section measure reasoning skills developed in virtually all fields of study. No formal training in logic or methods of analysis is needed to do well in these sections.

Modified Versions of Questions

The test you take may include questions that are modified versions of published questions or of questions you have already seen on an earlier section of the test. Some modifications are substantial; others are less apparent. Thus, even if a question appears to be similar to a question you have already seen, it may in fact be a different question and may also have a different correct answer. You can be assured of doing your best on the test you take by paying careful attention to the wording of each question as it appears in your test.

The GRE Program is currently investigating the feasibility of reusing questions that have been published in GRE practice materials. As part of that investigation, you may see questions from these materials on a test you take.

How Does the Computer-Based General Test Work?

At the start of the test, you are presented with test questions of middle difficulty. As you answer each question, the computer scores that question and uses that information, as well as your responses to any preceding questions and information about the test design, to determine which question is presented next. As long as you respond correctly to each question, questions of increased difficulty typically will be presented. When you respond incorrectly, the computer typically will present you with questions of lesser difficulty. Your next question will be the one that best reflects both your previous performance and the requirements of the test design. This means that different test takers will be given different questions.

Because the computer scores each question before selecting the next one, you must answer each question when it is presented. For this reason, once you answer a question and move on to another, you cannot go back and change your answer. The computer has already incorporated both your answer and requirements of the test design into its selection of the next question for you.

Each computer-based test section meets preestablished specifications, including the types of questions asked and the subject matter presented. The statistical characteristics of the questions answered correctly and incorrectly, including the difficulty levels, are taken into account in the calculation of the score. Therefore, it is appropriate to compare scores of different test takers even though they received different questions.

ETS has conducted research studies indicating that computer-based General Test Scores are comparable to scores earned on the paper-based General Test.

Test Registration

Are you registering to test in the U.S., American Samoa, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, or Canada?

Are you registering to test in an international location?

Register to Test (U.S., American Samoa, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, or Canada)

There are two ways you can register for a General Test.

Phone

• Use VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or a voucher number.
• Call the test center directly or the Prometric Candidate Services Call Center at 1-800-GRE-CALL (1-800-473-2255).
• A confirmation number, reporting time, and the test center address will be given to you when you call.
• If you use a Telephone/Teletypewriter (TTY), call 1-800-529-3590.

Mail

• Pay by check or money order.
• Complete the Authorization Voucher Request Form found in the Bulletin.
• Mail the fee and voucher request form in the CBT envelope to the address printed on the voucher.
• Allow 2 to 3 weeks for processing and mail delivery.
• When you receive your voucher, call to schedule an appointment.
• Vouchers are valid for one year from the date of issue.
• If you lose your voucher, contact the GRE Program. Only one replacement will be issued.

Requests for nonstandard testing accommodations must be made through ETS.

To Reschedule or Cancel a Testing Appointment — Contact the appropriate registration center no later than 7 days before your appointment.

Standby Testing — May be available at permanent test centers on a first-come, first-served, space-available basis in the U.S., American Samoa, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Canada only.

Repeating the General Test — You may take the computer-based General Test once per calendar month up to 5 times per year. This is true even if you canceled your scores on test taken previously.

Register to Test (International Locations)

The General Test is not given every day at all test centers. Contact the appropriate Regional Registration Center (RRC), to verify test dates.

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 at least 2 business days before your preferred test date.
• 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 business days before your first-choice test date. If you are scheduling at a center that is not permanent, the RRC must receive the form by the 15th of the month preceding the month in which you plan to test.
• 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. If you are scheduling at a center that is not permanent, the RRC must receive the form by the 15th of the month preceding the month in which you plan to test.
• 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.

Requests for nonstandard testing accommodations must be made through ETS.

To Reschedule or Cancel a Testing Appointment — Contact the appropriate registration center no later than 7 days before your appointment. You cannot reschedule between sites served by different RRC's.

Repeating the General Test — You may take the computer-based General Test once per calendar month up to 5 times per year. This is true even if you canceled your scores on a test taken previously.

On the Test Day

What to take to the test center:

• your authorization voucher (if you requested and received one from ETS)
• acceptable identification
• the names of the schools and/or institutions where you would like to send your scores. See the institution code list.

Test Center Procedures and Regulations

The following procedures and regulations apply during the entire test session, which begins at sign-in, ends at sign-out, and includes breaks.

• The test will be given on the day and at the time scheduled.
• You will be assigned a seat.
• Testing aids are not permitted at the testing center. These include but are not limited to pens, pagers, beepers, calculators, watch calculators, books, pamphlets, notes, rulers, highlighter pens, stereos or radios with headphones, telephones, cell phones, watch alarms (including those with flashing lights or alarm sounds), dictionaries, translators, and any electronic or photographic devices.
• You may not eat, drink, or use tobacco during the test.
• Dress in such a way that you can adapt to any room temperature.
• ID verification at the test center may include thumbprinting, photographing, videotaping, or another form of electronic ID confirmation. This does not replace the photo ID requirements. If you refuse, you will not be permitted to test and you will forfeit your test fee.
• You may not communicate with anyone (other than the test center staff) about the content of the test while the test session is in progress or during breaks.
• You will not be permitted to leave the test center vicinity during the test session or breaks.
• Access to telephones and personal items, such as a cell phone, briefcase, or study materials, will not be permitted during the test session or breaks.
• Under no circumstances may test questions or any part of a test be removed, reproduced, and/or disclosed by any means (e.g., hard copy, verbally, electronically) to any person or entity.
• You will be asked to complete a confidentiality statement at the test center. If you do not sign the statement, you cannot test and your fee will NOT be refunded.
• Other than ID, personal items are not allowed in the testing room. Before the test, you will be assigned a locker where you can deposit such items as telephones, pagers, handbags, study materials, and the like.
• Test centers do not have large waiting areas. Friends or relatives who accompany you to the test center will not be permitted to wait in the test center or contact you while you are taking the test
• You will be required to sign the test center log before and after the test session and any time you leave or enter the testing room.
• The administrator will provide you with 6 sheets of scratch paper that may be replaced as needed during testing. You may not take your own scratch paper to the test, nor may you remove scratch paper from the testing room at any time.
• There will be an optional 10-minute break after section 2 of the testing session. This break time may not be exceeded.
• If you need to leave your seat at any other time, raise your hand; timing of the section will not stop.
• Repeated unscheduled breaks will be documented and reported to ETS.
• If at any time during the test you believe you have a problem with your computer, or need the administrator for any reason, raise your hand to notify the administrator.
• All testing sessions will be videotaped.

Grounds for Dismissal — The test center administrator/supervisor is authorized to dismiss you from a test session or ETS may cancel your scores for any of the following:

• attempting to take the test for someone else
• failing to provide acceptable identification
• obtaining improper access to the test, a part of the test, or information about the test
• using notes or any prohibited aid in connection with the test
• creating a disturbance (disruptive behavior in any form will not be tolerated; the test administrator/supervisor has sole discretion in determing what constitutes disruptive behavior)
• attempting to give or receive assistance — or otherwise communicate in any form with another person about the test during the administration
• attempting to remove scratch paper from the computer-based testing room
• exceeding the time permitted for a scheduled break
• eating or drinking in the testing room
• leaving the testing room or test center vicinity without permission
• removing or attempting to remove a test book, test questions, or portion of a test in any format from the testing room
• attempting to tamper with a computer
• failing to follow any of the test administration regulations contained in the Bulletin, given by the test administrator/supervisor, or specified in any test materials.

ETS reserves the right to take all action including, but not limited to, barring you from future testing and/or canceling your scores for failure to comply with the test administrator/supervisor's directions. If your scores are canceled, they will not be reported, and your fees will not be refunded.

Test Preparation

GRE General Test questions are designed to measure skills and knowledge gained over a long period of time. Although you might increase your scores to some extent by preparing for a few weeks or months before the test, last-minute cramming is unlikely to help. The following information will help guide you if you decide to devote some time to preparing for the test.

• Beginning September 1, 2001, GRE POWERPREP software will be sent free of charge to each individual who registers for the GRE General Test. Use this software to familiarize yourself with questions used on the General Test. Download for free NOW!
• Become familiar with each type of question used in the test, paying special attention to the directions. If you thoroughly understand the directions for each question type before you take the test, you will have more time during the test to focus on the questions themselves.
• Research suggests that practicing unfamiliar question types results in improved performance and decreases the likelihood of inaccurately low scores. You should still read the directions for each group of questions carefully during the actual test administration.
  
• For additional practice, use official GRE test preparation publications and/or the GRE Diagnostic Service.
• Before you go to the test center, carefully review Essential Guidelines for All Test Takers.

Test-Taking Strategies

We strongly urge you to carefully review the following information and the ETS Essential Guidelines for All Test Takers as you prepare for your test and before you arrive at the test center. It could help improve your chances for success.

1. Become familiar with the test before test day.

• Learn about the test. It is always best to know as much as possible about what to expect before you arrive at the test center. Thoroughly read this section of our Web site to learn about the purpose of the test, the content of the questions, test day procedures, and test preparation strategies and materials.
• Once you know what to expect on your test, it's time to practice. Review the free POWERPREP software sent to you upon registration. At a minimum you should do some sample questions from each section of the test to become familiar with them. You may also try the free, interactive sample questions or download the full-length paper-based GRE Practice General Test.
• Try to practice test questions under timed conditions so that you get used to the pace of the test. In other words, if there are 20 questions in a section and you have a total of 40 minutes to complete the section, give yourself an average of 2 minutes to complete each question. When you are practicing, keep your time in mind and remember that if you spend too much time on one question, you will have less time to spend on others.
• Use the computer tutorial to your advantage. The tutorial is included in the GRE POWERPREP software that will be sent to you when you register. This tutorial will let you try out the functions of the computer (e.g., the mouse, the scroll bar) that you will need to use during the test. When you arrive at the test center on the test day, you will have the opportunity to complete an untimed computer tutorial before the actual test begins.You can spend as much time as you need to make yourself familiar and comfortable with the computer before you start the timed sections of the test. Don't start until you are ready! Once the test is under way, you can always click on "Help" to review the directions or a summary of the tutorial again, but be aware that this will count against your allotted time for that section of the test. Some questions, graphs, or passages are too large to appear completely on the computer screen. In these cases a "scroll bar" appears to the right of the material and the word "Beginning" appears on the information line at the top of the screen. These are your cues to scroll for more information.

2. Pace yourself throughout the test - You want to finish!

• Use the resources available for test practicing (test preparation books, software) to become familiar with the test and test instructions before you get to the test center.
• Read the directions carefully before you begin. The directions at the beginning of each test section give you the total number of questions in that section as well as total time alloted for that section.
• Try to budget enough time for each question so that you will be able to complete the test without having to rush at the end of each section. Keep in mind the average amount of time you may want to spend per question.
• Once you start the test, an on-screen clock display will continuously count down the remaining time. You can hide this display if you want, but it is a good idea to check the clock periodically to monitor your progress. The clock will automatically alert you when 5 minutes remain in the allotted time for that section.
• Use your time wisely. Read each question carefully to determine exactly what is being asked. Eliminate the wrong answers and select the best choice. Don't let yourself get stuck on a tough question and lose time. Keep moving through the test and try to finish each section.
• You may want to use the one-minute break between test sections to replenish your supply of scratch paper. After section 2, an on-screen message will tell you a 10-minute break is available. Section timing will not stop if you take an unscheduled break.

3. Know the rules.

• Computer-adaptive tests require that you answer every question in the order it is presented. You can't skip a question and go back. The computer selects the next question you see from a large pool of available questions based upon your previous responses.
• Click on the appropriate answer. Answer each question by clicking on the oval next to your answer choice or by clicking on any part of the text of that answer choice. Complete your answer by clicking on "Next" and then "Answer Confirm." You can change your answer any time before confirming it by clicking on a different answer choice.
• Understand the implications of exiting a section or quitting the test. Once you exit a section, you cannot return to it. Click on the "Test Quit" box at the bottom of your screen only if you decide to end your testing session. If you quit the test, you will not receive a score for any section, even for sections you have already completed. If you click on "Section Exit" or "Test Quit" by mistake, you will be given the opportunity to reverse or confirm your decision. You may take the CBT once per calendar month up to 5 times per year. This is true even if you ended your testing session by clicking on "Test Quit " or canceled your scores after completing the test.

4. Understand how the test is scored.

• Computer-adaptive tests are scored differently than most paper and pencil tests. Your score on the computer-adaptive test depends on a combination of such factors as
  • the number of questions you answered within the allotted time
  • your performance on questions answered throughout the test
  • the statistical characteristics (including difficulty level) of questions answered throughout the test.
    

5. Don't panic if you don't know an answer.

• Don't spend too much time on any one question. The last thing you want to do is waste a lot of valuable time on any one question. If, after you've given it a reasonable amount of thought, you don't know the answer, eliminate as many answer choices as possible and then select and confirm the answer you think is best. Keep going and aim to complete the test.
• If you are running out of time at the end of a section, make every effort to complete the test. Data indicate that most test takers get higher scores if they finish the test. In fact, based on analyses of test takers, a majority of test takers will score higher if they finish the test than if they do not attempt to answer all of the questions. There is a chance that guessing at the end of the test can seriously lower your score. The best strategy is to pace yourself so that you have time to consider each test question, and won't have to guess.

The Test Development Process

The General Test is composed of questions formulated by specialists in various fields. Each question is reviewed by several independent critics and revised if necessary. New questions are pretested in actual tests under standard testing conditions.

Questions appearing in a test for the first time are analyzed for usefulness and potential weaknesses; they are not used in computing scores. Questions that perform satisfactorily become part of a pool from which new editions of the General Test are assembled at a future date.

After questions for a new edition of a General Test have been assembled, they are reviewed by other subject matter experts and test specialists from inside and outside ETS. Individual test questions and the test as a whole are reviewed to eliminate material considered to be potentially offensive, inappropriate for major subgroups of the test-taking population, or serving to perpetuate any negative attitude concerning these subgroups.

The extensive procedure described above has been developed to ensure that every question in the General Test is appropriate and useful and that the combination of questions is satisfactory. Even so, the appraisal continues until after the new edition has been administered and subjected to a rigorous statistical analysis, before scores are reported, to see whether each question yields the expected statistical results.

This analysis could provide information that suggests that a particular question is ambiguous, requires knowledge beyond the scope of the test, or is inappropriate for the total group or for a particular subgroup of test takers. Answers to questions found to have such flaws are not used in computing scores.

Scoring Process for the Computer-based General Test

Scores will be based on one section each of verbal, quantitative, and analytical questions.

You will receive a test score on every section (except unidentified pretest sections and/or research sections), regardless of the number of questions answered, even if time expires before you answer all the questions. However, if you answer no questions at all in a section, that section will be reported as a No Score (NS).

Your score on each section of the test will depend on the number of questions answered in the time allotted, as well as on your performance on the questions given. The questions given are selected because they best reflect both your performance on previous questions and the test design. The test design factors that influence which questions will be presented to you include:

• the statistical characteristics of those questions already answered (including the difficulty level)
• question types
• appropriate coverage of content

Score Verification Process

In October 2000, the GRE Program implemented a review process of individual test performance for the computer-based General Test. The purpose of the process is to analyze each test taker's performance data to determine if the score the individual received may not be an accurate reflection of the test taker's level of ability. In a very small number of cases, the GRE scoring model generates a score that may not reflect the test taker's ability level. This can happen when there are a combination of factors such as the test question selection process, the test design, and an examinee's time management strategy. It can also happen when an examinee answers correctly very difficult questions in some skill areas and answers incorrectly very easy questions in other skill areas. Because the test measures a variety of skills, such a pattern of answers may make it difficult to accurately measure an examinee's ability.

Each examinee record will be analyzed upon its return to ETS from the test center. In cases where ETS determines that a test taker may not have had a good opportunity to demonstrate his or her true ability, the test taker will be offered an optional free replacement test. (Note that a low score on one of the General Test measures is not necessarily indicative of the need to take a free replacement test.) If you are affected, you will be sent a letter telling you how to make an appointment for a free replacement test.

In considering whether to take the replacement test, it is important to note that the score you earn on the replacement test could be lower or higher than the score you originally received. Regardless of the outcome, the new score will replace the exisiting score for the affected measure for that particular administration. For more information, test takers can see Frequently Asked Questions About the Free Retest Policy and score users can see Frequently Asked Questions About Retest Scores.

Canceling Your Scores

At the end of the test, you may either view your scores or cancel them before viewing them. If you choose to cancel your scores, they cannot be reinstated, and no refund will be made.

Reporting Your Scores

If you choose to view your scores after completing the test, you may request that they be sent to as many as 4 graduate institutions or fellowship sponsors at no additional charge. An official paper score report will be mailed from ETS to you and to your score recipients 10-15 days following the test. Iinstitutions also have the option of receiving scores in alternate formats which are sent out approximately twice a month. They may also receive scores via the Internet, which is updated twice a week.

If an institution is not listed, ask the test center administrator for the appropriate form to indicate unlisted institutions. Complete the form and turn it in before you leave the test center. The form will not be accepted after you leave the test center. If you do not select institutions on the test day, you will be required to pay US$13 per recipient to have the scores sent at a later date.

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