GRE 2025: Exam Dates, Registration, Syllabus, Score and Sample Papers

GRE 2025: Exam Dates, Registration, Syllabus, Score, and Sample Papers

Highlights:

  • Acceptance: GRE is accepted for MS and MBA courses in abroad countries like USA, Canada, UK and more.
  • Sections: GRE is divided in 3 sections. The total score is 340 for the quant and verbal section. The analytical writing score ranges on a 0 to 6 scale.
  • Validity: GRE test score validity is for 5 years from the date of the exam.
  • Retaking: You can retake GRE test 5 times a year, with a gap of 21 days in between 2 consecutive exams.
  • Cut Off: The top universities worldwide has a GRE cut off of 300 and above.​
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Updated on, Jul 22, 2025

byCollegedunia Team Content Curator

GRE is designed to evaluate international students for admissions to MS programs in top universities worldwide. GRE exam score is required for pursuing postgraduate degrees in the USA, Canada, and other English-speaking countries. Candidates can get their GRE registration from the comfort of their homes as an alternative to taking the exam at a test center. Some of the Indian top institutes now accept GRE scores for master’s programs.

The GRE syllabus consists of 5 sectionsVerbal Reasoning (2 sections), Quantitative Reasoning (2 sections), and Analytical Writing (1 section) — with a total number of 55 questions. GRE total test timing is 1 hour and 58 minutes. Top universities require a GRE score of 150 to 160 for verbal and quantitative sections. GRE fees for 2025 in India is INR 22,000 for the General Test and INR 14,500 for Subject Tests. GRE online test fee is also INR 22,000. Top business schools worldwide now accept GRE exam scores for MBA programs in addition to GMAT scores. General GRE test dates are available throughout the year.

gre-exam-overview

GRE Highlights

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is designed for candidates who have completed their undergraduate studies, and it may be more challenging than the ACT or SAT. The verbal reasoning section evaluates vocabulary through difficult reading passages, text completion, and sentence equivalence questions. In comparison, the GRE quantitative section is considered easier than other competitive exams. You must check GRE exam eligibility before applying. The purpose of taking GRE is to assess the candidate's level of academic excellence in undergraduate subjects. Before taking the GRE exam, it is important to consider whether the selected course requires GRE scores and whether there are any fellowships or scholarships available for merit-based applicants.

Exam Name GRE
Full Form Graduate Record Examinations
Official Website https://www.ets.org/gre.html
Most Popular for MS courses in the USA
Also Accepted for MBA courses outside India
Conducted By ETS (Educational Testing Service)
Mode of Exam

Computer-delivered test

Paper-delivered test

GRE at Home

GRE Exam Fees

GRE General Test: INR 22,000

GRE Subject Test: INR 14,500

GRE Score Validity 5 years
Score Range

Verbal Reasoning score range: 130–170

Quantitative Reasoning score range: 130–170

Analytical Writing score range: 0–6

GRE Contact

+91-1244517127 or 800-100-4072

Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. IST

Email: GRESupport4India@ets.org

GRE Registration

To register for GRE Online, candidates need to create a MyGRE Account on the official website. GRE exam registration can be done in 3 ways, which include:

  • Online Registration
  • Registration over Phone
  • Registration over Mail

The steps for GRE Registration 2025 are given below:

  1. Create a MyGRE Account on the official GRE website — ets.org/gre
  2. To create a profile, candidates must fill in their data correctly. They need to fill in the following credentials: Name, Date of Birth, Address, Phone Number, Communication Preferences.

Candidates can then log in to the ETS portal with their newly created Username and Password.

  1. Then candidates need to choose the test type: (i) GRE General Test, or (ii) GRE Subject Test.
  2. GRE Exam centers and GRE exam dates can be chosen from the available list of GRE exam dates in 2025.
  3. Lastly, GRE exam fees of INR 22,000 for GRE General Test and INR 14,500 for GRE Subject Test will be paid via credit or debit card.

Note: Candidates can make GRE Registration via phone by calling 1-800-473-2255. All necessary information will be given over a call.

GRE Exam Fees

GRE General Test registration fee in Indian rupees in 2025 is INR. 22,000. Below are GRE exam fees for different exam services given below:

Special Handling Request Fees in INR
Rescheduling Fee 5,000
Changing Test Center 5,000
Additional Score Report 2,900
Score Review 5,900
Score Reinstatement 5,000
Returned Payment 2,900

Note: GRE fee waiver of $100 (INR 8,620) for the GRE General Test and a 50% discount (i.e. INR 7,500) on GRE Subject Tests is offered by ETS. The reduction in the total registration fee is for the candidates facing financial hardship. The form for this fee waiver is available on the ETS website and it is known as GRE Fee Reduction Programme.

GRE Test Dates 2025

Candidates can apply for GRE 5 times a year, with a gap of 21 days between 2 consecutive exams. Both GRE at home and test center facilities are available. For GRE at home registration, candidates can get appointments only after 24 hours of registration. GRE test dates 2025 for the coming months are listed below.

City July 2025 GRE Exam Dates August 2025 GRE Exam Dates September 2025 GRE Exam Dates October 2025 GRE Exam Dates November 2025 GRE Exam Dates December 2025 GRE Exam Dates
New Delhi 22-31 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 13, 14, 15, 19, 21, 22, 24-29 1-5, 8-11, 15-19, 22-25, 29, 30 3, 5-8, 13-16, 20, 22, 23, 26-31 3-6, 10-13, 17-20, 24-26, 28 1-4, 8-11, 15-18, 22-24, 26, 28-31
Kolkata 21-25, 28-31 3-7, 10-14, 18-22, 24-29 1-5, 8-11, 15-19, 22-25 3, 5-8, 13-16, 20-22, 26-31 3-6, 10-13, 17-20, 24-26, 28 1-4, 8-11, 15-18, 22-24, 26, 28-31
Mumbai 21-25, 28-31 3-8, 10-15, 18-22, 24-29 1-5, 8-11, 15-19, 22-25, 29, 30 1, 3, 5-8, 13-16, 20-23, 26-31 3-6, 10-13, 17-20, 24-26, 28 1-4, 8-11, 15-18, 22-24, 26, 28-30
Chennai 21, 22, 25, 28, 30 3, 7, 10, 13, 19, 22, 24, 29 1, 4, 5, 9, 11, 15, 19, 22, 24, 29 3, 5, 8, 13, 16, 22, 23, 26, 28, 31 3, 5, 10, 11, 13, 17, 20, 24, 26, 28 2, 4, 8, 11, 16, 18, 23, 26, 28, 30
Trivandrum 21-26, 28-30 1-3, 5-8, 10-13, 16, 18-22, 24-29 1-3, 8-11, 15-19, 22-25, 29, 30 3, 5-8, 13-16, 20-23, 28, 31 3-6, 10-13, 17-20, 24-26, 28 1-4, 8-11, 15-18, 22-24, 29-31
Pune 21-25, 28-31 3-8, 10-15, 18-22, 24-29 1-5, 8-11, 15-19, 22-25, 29, 30 1, 3, 5-8, 13-16, 20-23, 26-31 3-6, 10-13, 17-20, 24-26, 28 1-4, 8-11, 15-18, 22-24, 26, 28-30
Kochi 21, 22, 25, 28, 30 3, 7, 10, 13, 19, 22, 24, 27, 29 1, 4, 5, 9, 11, 15, 19, 22, 24, 29 3, 5, 8, 13, 16, 20, 22, 23, 26, 28, 31 3, 5, 10, 11, 13, 17, 20, 24, 26, 28 2, 4, 8, 11, 16, 18, 23, 26, 28, 30
Ahmedabad 21-26, 28-31 3-7, 10-15, 18-22, 24-29 1-5, 8-11, 15-19, 22-25, 29 1, 3, 5-8, 13-16, 20, 24, 26-31 3-6, 10-13, 17-20, 24-26, 28 1-4, 8-11, 15-18, 22-24, 26, 28-31
Vijayawada 21, 22, 25, 28, 30 3, 7, 10, 13, 19, 24, 29 1, 4, 5, 9, 11, 15, 19, 22, 24 3, 5, 8, 13, 16, 22, 23, 28, 31 3, 5, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 26, 28 2, 4, 8, 11, 16, 18, 23, 26, 28
Patna 21, 22, 25, 28, 30 3, 7, 10, 13, 19 1, 4, 5, 9, 11, 15, 19 5, 8, 13, 16, 22, 23, 26, 31 3, 5, 10, 11, 13, 17, 20, 24, 26, 28 2, 8, 11, 16, 18, 23, 26, 28, 30
Bengaluru 21-25, 28-31 3-7, 10-13, 15, 18-22, 24-29 1-5, 8-11, 15-19, 22-25, 29 3, 5-8, 13-16, 20-23, 26-31 3-6, 10-13, 17-20, 24-26, 28 1-4, 8-11, 15-18, 22-24, 26, 28-31
Tirupati 21, 22, 25, 28, 30 3, 7, 10, 13, 19, 22, 24, 29 1, 4, 5, 9, 11, 15, 19, 22, 24, 29 3, 5, 8, 13, 16, 22, 23, 26, 28, 31 3, 5, 10, 11, 13, 17, 20, 24, 26, 28 2, 4, 8, 11, 16, 18, 23, 26, 28, 30
Coimbatore 21, 22, 25, 28, 30 3, 7, 10, 13, 15, 19, 22, 24, 27, 29 1, 4, 5, 9, 11, 15, 19, 22, 24, 29 3, 5, 8, 13, 16, 20, 22, 23, 26, 28, 31 3, 5, 10, 11, 13, 17, 20, 24, 26, 28 2, 4, 8, 11, 16, 18, 23, 26, 28, 30
Chandigarh 21, 22, 25, 28, 30 3, 7, 10, 13, 15, 19, 22, 24, 27, 29 1, 4, 5, 9, 11, 15, 19, 22, 24, 29 3, 5, 8, 13, 16, 20, 22, 23, 26, 28, 31 3, 5, 10, 11, 13, 17, 20, 24, 26, 28 2, 4, 8, 11, 16, 18, 23, 26, 28, 30

GRE Eligibility Criteria 2025

According to ETS, there is no particular GRE exam eligibility criteria. Anyone, regardless of age or education, can apply for this GRE exam. Candidates must take the GRE, nevertheless, if they are applying for master's programs outside India. The only other consideration for a candidate is that they will need to present their original passport as an identification (ID) document at the testing facility, thus they must have a current passport to register for the GRE exam.

GRE General Test Pattern 2025

GRE Exam Patterns for both computer-based and paper-based are different. The GRE exam pattern for the computer-based exam is adaptive. The GRE General Test format has 5 sections for 3 measures namely, GRE Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) (1 section), GRE Verbal Reasoning (2 sections), and GRE Quantitative Reasoning (2 sections). The total time span for the GRE General Test is 1 hour and 58 minutes. The 3 main measures of the GRE General Test and their corresponding sections are as follows:

Measure Number of Questions Allotted Time
Analytical Writing (1 section) One "Analyze an Issue" task 30 minutes
Verbal Reasoning (2 sections)

Section 1: 12 questions

Section 2: 15 questions

Section 1: 18 minutes

Section 2: 23 minutes

Quantitative Reasoning (2 sections)

Section 1: 12 questions

Section 2: 15 questions

Section 1: 21 minutes

Section 2: 26 minutes

GRE Analytical Writing Section

GRE Analytical Writing is always the first section of the test which comprises 2 types of questions, namely, Analyze an Issue and Analyze an Argument. Candidates get 30 minutes to attempt the GRE Analytical Writing section in which they are required to analyze the logical soundness of the argument. You can go through GRE AWA practice papers for further practice. GRE vocabulary practice is very important for this section.

GRE Verbal Reasoning Section

The GRE Verbal Reasoning section evaluates a candidate's ability to analyze and interpret written material, as well as apply the acquired data effectively. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

Question Types

  • Reading Comprehension:

Focuses on understanding and analyzing passages.

  • Text Completion:

Tests the ability to select the most appropriate words to complete sentences meaningfully.

  • Sentence Equivalence:

Assesses the ability to conclude how a sentence should be completed with limited information.

Key Topics in the Syllabus

  • Verb Tense
  • Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
  • Pronoun Agreement
  • Subject-Verb Agreement

Exam Details

  • Number of Questions: 27
  • Time Allotted: 41 minutes

Candidates often find this section challenging due to its tricky question types and nuanced language usage.

Specific Features of the Section

  • GRE Text Completion:

Requires the selection of words that maintain coherence and logic in passages.

  • GRE Sentence Equivalence:

Tests the ability to deduce how a sentence can have two similar but distinct completions based on limited information.

  • GRE Reading Comprehension:

Involves analyzing long passages and answering related questions to test critical reading skills.

Preparation Recommendations

  • Practice Papers:

Regularly attempt GRE Verbal Reasoning practice tests to strengthen understanding.

  • Mindful Strategies:

Utilize tricks and techniques to approach complex sentence equivalence and text completion questions.

  • Focus Areas:

Concentrate on weak areas like idiomatic expressions or agreement rules through targeted practice.

  • Sample Papers:

Solve sample questions to improve analytical thinking and comprehension skills.

Also check: GRE Verbal Reasoning Syllabus

GRE Quantitative Reasoning Section

With a little practice, GRE Quantitative Reasoning can significantly impact a candidate's score. Here's a breakdown of its components:

Topics Covered

  • Quantitative Comparison:

Focuses on evaluating relationships between two quantities.

  • Problem-Solving:

Involves numerical reasoning and mathematical problem-solving.

  • Data Interpretation:

Questions are presented in tables, graphs, or other data formats for analysis.

Key Exam Details

  • Number of Questions: 27
  • Time Allotted: 47 minutes

GRE Quantitative Reasoning contains questions modeled on real-life scenarios or pure mathematical contexts. These questions often require candidates to interpret and analyze data displays.

Excluded Topics

  • Geometry: No longer assessed in the quant section.
  • GRE Data analysis: Now considered a separate section.

Comparison with PowerPrep Practice Tests

  • The first part of the GRE quantitative section is tougher than PowerPrep's initial section.
  • The final part of PowerPrep's quantitative section is more challenging than the corresponding part in the actual test.
  • Test-takers report the experimental quantitative section is the most difficult.

Key Arithmetic Concepts

  • Divisibility, factorization, and prime numbers
  • Remainders, odd/even integers
  • Arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division)
  • Exponents and radicals

Practice Recommendations

To excel in this section, candidates are encouraged to practice extensively using GRE Quantitative Reasoning practice papers to familiarize themselves with the question patterns and improve time management.

GRE Subject Test Pattern 2025

Apart from the General test, GRE has another test — GRE Subject Test. This test is designed to check the knowledge of the candidates in any of the three 3 subjects included in the GRE Subject Test - Physics, Mathematics, and Psychology. Aspirants take GRE subject tests to make their applications outstanding by showing deep knowledge about a specific subject. ETS provides GRE practice books for each subject as study material. GRE subject tests are available only in paper-based format of GRE and these tests are available 3 times a year – in September, October, and April. Scores are measured on a scale of 200-990 with 10-point increments. GRE Subject Test timing is 2 hours and 50 minutes for the Mathematics Test and 2 hours for the Physics and Psychology Tests.. Most candidates who aim to pursue higher studies at the postgraduate level take the GRE Subject Test.

Percentage of Candidates Pursuing GRE at Post Graduate Level

In the graph shown above, it is observed that students from life sciences backgrounds appear for this subject test comparatively higher. Students prefer to study science subjects abroad due to the huge scholarships available for specific subjects.

candidates-pursuing-gre-exam-at-pg-level

GRE Score

GRE Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning are scored in the GRE score range of 130-170 with 1-point increment. The average GRE score for Analytical Reasoning is measured on a scale of 0-6 with a half-point increment. If any question remains unattempted, no Score (NS) will be stated. As per the data collected from ETS between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2024, the mean scores for GRE General Test are as follows:

Sections Mean
Verbal Reasoning 151.21
Quantitative Reasoning 157.58
Analytical Writing 3.44

In the GRE Subject Test, all 3 subject tests are scored on a scale of 200-990 with 10-point increments. The subscore range for any particular subject is 20-99 with 1-point increment. As per the data collected from ETS between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2024, GRE mean scores for the Subject Test are as follows:

Subject Test Mean
Mathematics 680
Physics 724
Psychology 589

GRE Scaled Score Percentiles for General Test

The below-mentioned table explains the score v/s percentile scale for GRE Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning as follows:

gre-percentile-verbal-quant

Similarly for GRE Analytical Writing, the score percentile is measured in the following table:

gre-analytical-score-in-percentile

GRE Score Report

The official GRE General test results will be available 8-10 days following your exam date in your ETS account. Unofficial GRE scores can be visible right after completing the test but they are not a part of the score report. Candidates can check their GRE Score Report which contains the following information:

  • Contact details like phone number, name, email ID
  • Date of birth
  • Gender
  • Preferred graduate major (Master’s program)
  • GRE Exam dates
  • GRE test score and the percentile score
  • Authorized score recipients
  • A record of all test scores that have been officially reported in the last 5 years

GRE Score Sending

After receiving the score, applicants will get the ScoreSelect option to send GRE test scores to the graduate schools where they want to pursue any course. This ScoreSelect option is available in both GRE General and GRE Subject Tests. Candidates can send up to 4 GRE test scores for free to the universities of their choice, if they want to send the GRE score on the test day. After the test day, a fee needs to be paid to send GRE scores and candidates can choose from the following options:

  • Most Recent: Send your scores from your most recent test.
  • All: Send your scores of all tests in the last 5 years.
  • Any: Send your scores of one OR as many tests as you like from the last 5 years.

GRE Cut-Off Score for Top Universities

GRE cutoff score ranges from 150 to 165 in top universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and the University of California – Berkeley. GRE cutoff score depends on the college and program course that candidates’ are choosing. It is very important to understand the GRE cutoff scores and the scoring method before you start preparing for the exam. GRE consists of 3 sections:

  • GRE verbal (130-170 score scale)
  • GRE quantitative reasoning (130-170 score scale)
  • GRE Analytical Writing (0-6 score scale)

To get admitted to the top universities in the US to study MS or Ph.D. an overall score of 320+ in Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning and 4.5 in GRE AWA is required. GRE cutoff for some of the top universities are:

Best GRE Preparation Books

GRE prep books are extremely beneficial for test-takers worldwide, especially for those studying from home. Here is a list of the best GRE preparation books that will provide with the necessary details:

GRE Preparation Tips

Candidates pursue different kinds of classroom or in-person courses for GRE preparation. Usually, the candidates take a preparation time of 2-4 months before the scheduled date. To perform the best, candidates must target the score first. Here are a few GRE preparation tips to help you during your GRE preparations:

  • Always keep calm and come back to questions you couldn't solve in the end.
  • GRE Prep Books, and Free GRE practice papers.
  • Get your hands on authentic GRE study materials and GRE practice papers.
  • Taking GRE crash courses online will help to acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses.
  • Hire a personal tutor to get regular feedback on the status of your GRE preparation.
  • Know details about the syllabus and exam pattern of GRE.
  • Candidates can mix and match their preparation materials like GRE Prep Books, CDs, videos, sample questions, and webinars.
  • Taking regular mock tests will help in effective preparation. It will evaluate the readiness of your preparation.
  • Making a proper study plan will help in monitoring the growth status.
  • Understand the contextual meaning of GRE words
  • GRE study plan will help you to prepare for the exam in a structured way.
  • Reading different types of analytical non-fiction works will help candidates
  • While solving sentence equivalence and text completion questions, read the passage thoroughly
  • Enroll yourself in top GRE coaching centers like Manya, Jamboree, IMS, and more

GRE Sample Papers

GRE sample papers are helpful as candidates get to practice from the previous years’ papers. Here are the PDFs of of GRE sample papers all the 3 sections for candidates to practice from:

GRE Verbal Reasoning Practice Papers

To improve your verbal skills, you shall solve GRE verbal sample papers.

GRE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Papers

You must solve GRE quant practice papers to improve your critical and logical reasoning skills.

GRE AWA Practice Papers

In order to enhance your argumentative skills, practicing GRE AWA papers can be the best hack.

GRE General Test format has 3 sections namely, GRE analytical writing assessment, GRE verbal reasoning, and GRE quantitative reasoning. The total period for the GRE General Test is 1 hour and 58 minutes. There are no specific GRE eligibility criteria provided by ETS, anyone can register for the exam. GRE is designed to evaluate candidates for master's programs, so candidates must have a graduation degree.

FAQs

Ques. Is GRE considered for MBA?

Ans. Some of the top business schools in India, like ISB, IIMs (Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Bangalore) accept GRE instead of GMAT scores, or in addition to CAT. To be eligible to study Master’s abroad in countries like the USA, GRE is accepted as a general eligibility criteria, or for some program requirements like MBA.

Ques. Is there negative marking for GRE?

Ans. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers in GRE. Candidates are advised to attempt all the questions in the GRE exam.

Ques. Is Aadhar card accepted as an ID in the GRE exam in India?

Ans. No. The only valid identification (ID) document valid for Indian candidates is a valid and current passport that must display your full name and a recent photograph.

Ques. What if I do not have a passport to provide for the GRE exam?

Ans. If a candidate is unable to meet the identification requirements, he/she must contact the ETS Office of Testing Integrity (OTI) at least 7 days prior to registering for the exam. Candidates must receive an approval from the ETS OTI and submit any other documents as requested by the ETS.

Ques. How much is the fee for additional score reports of GRE that I may want to send to universities?

Ans. The fees charged for Additional Score Reports (ASRs) for sending the scores to universities after the test day is INR 2,900 per score report.

Ques. How many GRE score reports can I send on the test day?

Ans. Candidates have the option to send the current score, or all test scores received in the last 5 years. Candidates also have the option to not send any score on the test day.

Ques. Does Harvard accept GRE for its MBA program?

Ans. Yes, Harvard now accepts both GMAT and GRE for admission to MBA. GRE score for Harvard MBA admission ranges on a scale of 295-340.

Ques. Does 12th marks matter in GRE?

Ans. No, Class 12 marks do not matter to apply for the GRE exam. GRE is taken by students to get admission to a Master's program, therefore candidates need to have a graduation degree to apply for the GRE exam.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.

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Comments


Found 2 Comments

P
puja sao
Jun 2, 2022 17:29
How can we pay GRE exam fees?
R
rubab
Jun 11, 2022 13:54

You can pay the GRE registration fee using a Credit/ Debit Card (American Express, Diners Club International, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, Rupay Global, UnionPay, and Visa), PayPal, E-Check Service, Money Order/ Certified Check/ Voucher, etc. Any credit/ debit card branded with one of the seven accepted credit card logos can be processed.

Note: For registration, cash payments will not be accepted.

K
kashish tomar
Jun 2, 2022 17:29
Is GRE conducted in PBT mode?
R
rubab
Jun 11, 2022 13:48

Yes, GRE is conducted in PBT mode. The paper-based exam includes two sub-sections of each of the main categories- Analytical Writing, Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning. The analytical Writing part contains two tasks with a duration of one hour (60 minutes). Verbal and Quantitative reasoning each contains two sections and 50 questions with a maximum time limit of 60 and 70 minutes, consequently.


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