Registration

• Students must register for the exam (paper-based or computer-based) through the ETS web page. You can take the exam up to five times within a 12-month period, though only one time per month, and there are limited dates on which it can be taken. The GRE is not a pass-or-fail exam, and the score is based on complex algorithms that factor in the number of question answered correctly, the level of difficulty of those questions, and the range of cognitive abilities.
  
  

General GRE

• The general GRE exam consists of three main areas: verbal reasoning, which tests your ability to recognize correct or incorrect use of the English language, vocabulary, analogies, antonyms, reading comprehension and more; quantitative reasoning, which consists of 28 questions of basic math skills, aspects of arithmetic, percentages, statistics, algebra, geometry and problem solving; analytical writing, which consists of two essays where you must analyze an argument and present your perspective on an issue. The cost for the GRE general test for U.S. territories is $160 for Americans and $190 for foreign students.
  
  

Subject Tests

• The subject tests consist of eight areas a student can choose from. The test correspond to the graduate degree you pursue. The subjects include biology, biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, chemistry, computer science, literature in English, mathematics, physics and psychology. The GRE subject tests for U.S. territories costs $140 and cost $160 for all other locations.
  
  

Preparing

• The Education Testing Service, as well as many other schools, offers a variety of resources to prepare students for the GRE exam. Know what to expect on each section and practice testing the exam prior to the official date. For example, in the analytical writing area, you will be scored based on your ability to reason critically, analytically, the way in which you present the ideas, how you support them and your ability to use the language efficiently.
  
  

Taking the Exam

• The GRE consists of multiple-choice sections as well as essay composition for the analytical writing section. It lasts about three-and-a-half hours with time limits for each of the sections. The quantitative and verbal reasoning sections are scored based on a scale from 200 to 800, with increments of 10 points. The analytical writing section is scored based on a 0 to6 section and is evaluated by people, not by computer systems.