If you’re planning to further your studies and get into a graduate or business school program, the first thing you need to do is to pass the Graduate Record Examination, or the GRE exam. This standardized test is used by graduate and business schools to gauge your qualifications via verbal and quantitative reasoning and analytical writing skills. A high GRE score plus a good academic record can help your application immensely.
Educational Testing Service (ETS), the maker of the GRE, has revealed dramatic changes to the exam that will go live in a few short months. We outline the key changes below.
On September 22, 2023, the ETS will introduce a shorter version of the GRE General Test, reducing the duration from a bit 4 hours to just under 2 hours. This change aims to evaluate the same skills as the longer test in a more efficient manner by leveraging its adaptive nature. ETS made these changes to combat test fatigue and enhance focus for test-takers.
Here’s a breakdown of the key changes in the revised GRE:
Below is a table of the sections and time allotted for each:
| Section | Structure | Estimated Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Writing | 1 section, 1 essay | 30 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 2 sections, 27 questions total | 47 minutes total |
| Verbal Reasoning | 2 sections, 27 questions total | 41 minutes total |
| Total | 5 sections | 1 hour, 58 minutes |
The shorter GRE only affects test-takers planning to take the exam after September 22, 2023. The new exam may be easier or harder than the old exam – we do not know. When considering whether to take the current, longer GRE or wait for the new, shorter GRE, consider these factors:
Making the GRE test shorter is meant to make it easier for students taking the test. According to ETS CEO Amit Sevak, “As we continue to introduce product innovations, we’re committed to balancing two things — maintaining rigor and validity, while improving the test-taker experience.” A shorter test that has the same validity would satisfy both of those goals.
Despite the transition to a shorter GRE General Test, several important elements will remain consistent. Here are the key aspects that will not change:
Test Structure: The GRE will still have the same fundamental structure, with sections focusing on Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning.
Scoring and Score Report: The scoring process for all three sections will remain the same, as well as the format of the Official Score Report.
Adaptive Nature: The shorter GRE will still be section-level adaptive, meaning the difficulty of the second operational section for each scored measure depends on performance in the first section of that measure.
Accommodations: The accommodations available for the shorter GRE test will be the same as those provided in the current version.
Test Fees: The costs associated with the GRE will stay the same, even with the reduced test duration.
Delivery Mode: The shorter GRE will continue to be available both at test centers and for at-home testing, similar to the current GRE.
Use of Scores: Graduate and professional programs will continue to utilize GRE General Test scores as they always have, regardless of the test length.
Retake Policy: The policy allowing test-takers to retake the GRE General Test once every 21 days and up to five times within a continuous rolling 12-month period remains unchanged.
Score Validity: GRE scores will remain reportable for five years from the test date.
With the shorter GRE, test takers will have a much shorter test to tackle. This and the smaller number of questions overall means that the new GRE will reward test takers that are more prepared and make fewer mistakes.
In summary, the shorter GRE is a positive change. It is a more efficient test that rewards strong test-takers and produces the same evaluation in roughly half the time.
