The GRE—a globally accepted standardized test—is one of the most important exams for students planning to pursue Master’s, MBA, or PhD programs abroad. Top universities in the USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Singapore, and Australia accept GRE scores for admissions, making it a crucial part of your study-abroad journey.
In this complete guide, you will learn the GRE full form, exam eligibility, section-wise pattern, scores, fees, registration process, and ID requirements.
This article follows the Google EEAT framework—providing expert, trustworthy, and verified information from ETS (official GRE website), Kaplan, and MetaApply.
The GRE Full Form is:
It is conducted by ETS (Educational Testing Service) and is widely used to assess a student's readiness for graduate-level academics. The GRE evaluates skills in:
Analytical writing
Quantitative reasoning
Verbal reasoning
The GRE is open to any student or working professional who wants to apply for:
MS programs
MBA programs
PhD programs
Graduate diplomas
Professional programs in top international universities
There is no bar on age, nationality, degree background, or work experience. Students from any academic stream can appear for the GRE.
ETS does not specify strict eligibility conditions, but the generally accepted requirements are:
You should have completed or be in the final year of an undergraduate degree (BA, BSc, BCom, BTech, etc.).
There is no minimum or maximum age limit.
A valid passport is mandatory for candidates testing in India.
No English test like IELTS/TOEFL is required to appear for GRE.
(Universities may require them during admission—GRE itself does NOT.)
According to the latest pattern, the GRE is a shorter 1 hour 58 minutes exam with 55 questions across 5 sections.
| Section | Question Breakdown | Duration |
| Analytical Writing (One Section) | One “Analyse an Issue” task | 30 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning (Two Sections) | Section 1: 12 questions Section 2: 15 questions | 18 minutes (S1) 26 minutes (S2) |
| Verbal Reasoning (Two Sections) | Section 1: 12 questions Section 2: 15 questions | 21 minutes (S1) 23 minutes (S2) |
| Total | 5 Sections – 55 Questions | 1 hour 58 minutes |
You will receive three official scores:
Analytical Writing (0–6 score scale)
Verbal Reasoning (130–170 score scale)
Quantitative Reasoning (130–170 score scale)
✔ 1 Analytical Writing section
✔ 2 Verbal Reasoning sections
✔ 2 Quantitative Reasoning sections
Unscored Section (Verbal or Quant)
Research Section (used internally by ETS)
Verbal Reasoning: 152
Quantitative Reasoning: 156
Analytical Writing: 4.0
Below are the latest official fees for India:
| GRE Test | Price (INR) |
| GRE General Test | ₹22,000 |
| GRE Subject Test | ₹14,500 |
| Service | Price (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 |
ETS provides a simple, online registration process.
ETS has announced the official test windows for the GRE Subject Tests for the 2025–26 testing year. These exams are conducted worldwide during specific date ranges.
September 8, 2025 – September 21, 2025
October 13, 2025 – October 26, 2025
April 20, 2026 – May 3, 2026
These windows allow candidates to choose a suitable date based on university deadlines and preparation time.
ETS has strict ID rules. For India:
Primary Acceptable ID
Passport (mandatory)
Your passport must include:
Name
Photograph
Signature
Passport is the only acceptable ID.
Again, only a valid passport is accepted.
No exceptions.
The GRE is one of the most important exams for students planning for a global career. With the updated 1 hour 58 minutes shorter format, reduced number of questions, and flexible scheduling, the test has become more student-friendly than ever.
Whether your goal is an MS at a top US university, an MBA abroad, or a PhD at a world-class institution, a strong GRE score can open doors to incredible opportunities.
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