ETS
GRE
GRE General Test
The most widely accepted graduate-school admissions test, used by master's, PhD, and many business and law programs worldwide. Shortened to under two hours in September 2023.
Full program: 4 decks, 6,737 cards.
What's on the exam
GRE General Test (shortened format, September 2023)
Verbal Reasoning
~41% (by section emphasis)Reading comprehension · Text completion · Sentence equivalence · Vocabulary in context · Argument analysis
Quantitative Reasoning
~41% (by section emphasis)Arithmetic and number properties · Algebra · Geometry · Data analysis and statistics · Quantitative comparison · Word problems
Analytical Writing
~18% (by section emphasis)Analyze an Issue essay · Thesis and argument construction · Evidence and reasoning · Clarity, organization, and style
Frequently asked questions
How much does the GRE cost?
The GRE costs $249. Standard fee effective August 1, 2026 in the US and most countries; US$231.30 in China.
How long is the GRE and how many questions does it have?
54 scored questions (27 Verbal, 27 Quantitative) plus 1 essay task — About 1 hour 58 minutes.
What do you need to pass the GRE?
No pass/fail — Verbal and Quantitative scored 130–170 each, Analytical Writing 0–6.
Can you retake the GRE?
Once every 21 days, up to 5 times in any rolling 12-month period.
What is the best way to study for the GRE?
Start from the official outline and your primary study materials: the exam is weighted by domain (Verbal Reasoning ~41% (by section emphasis), Quantitative Reasoning ~41% (by section emphasis), Analytical Writing ~18% (by section emphasis)). Once you've learned the material, spaced-repetition flashcards organized by those domains are an efficient way to retain it and refresh it before test day.
Ready to prepare?
Our GRE program is organized by this outline's domains and scheduled by spaced repetition, with a path from first card to test day.
Flashcards are a memory tool. Learn the material first, then use NoReread to retain it and refresh what you already know. It doesn't replace studying the subject.