GRE Examination Updates
What is GRE?
The full form of GRE is Graduate Record Examinations. It is a standardized test conducted by ETS (Educational Testing Services). ETS GRE scores are accepted by most of the top graduate-level schools for masters degree programs (like the popular Master of Science degree – MS in the USA).
It’s gone through a lot of changes over the years. In its newest avatar, it is called the GRE revised General Test.
GRE Exam Eligibility Updates
The only eligibility requirement for GRE is the document required to prove your identity. In India, you’ll need a valid passport. You’ll have to get your original passport (not photocopies) which clearly shows your full name, photograph, and signature.
No other documentation (like birth certificate, international driving license etc) can be used as an alternate identity proof. They are very strict about this.
Apart from this eligibility requirement, ETS does not set any age, qualification, timing-related pre-requisites. However, there will be a range of eligibility criteria set by universities that accept GRE scores. For each of their programs, they may have a minimum age, experience, and qualification related filters.
GRE Exam dates Updates in 2019 – 2020
Unlike the other entrance exam dates in India, there are no specific GRE Exam dates in India. You can take it any time of the year by taking an appointment with the closest GRE exam centre. But with this flexibility, there’s another issue.
During the peak application season (generally around August to December), it may be difficult for you to get an appointment in your preferred exam centre. You’d be forced to book a day and time at another centre that may not be close to where you live.
This makes it important to plan your GRE preparation schedule and test dates well in advance. You can take the GRE General Test once every 21 days up to five times in a continuous rolling 12 month period.
GRE Centers in India Updates
In India the GRE test is conducted (primarily by Prometric and also by other independent teams outside the Prometric network) in the following cities:
Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Gandhinagar, Gurgaon, Gwalior, Hyderabad, Indore, Kolkata, Mumbai, Nashik, New Delhi, Nizamabad, Patna, Pune, Trivandrum, Vadodara, and Vijayawada.
Not all of them might offer the computerized test. Some may offer the Paper-delivered test.
This is the list in 2019. In subsequent years (2020 – 2021), as ETS expands its footprint in India, there may be additional GRE exam centres in newer Indian cities.
You’ll find the exact address and seat availability on the ETS website after you select the country (India) and city from the dropdown list.
GRE Exam fee | Test price
The registration fee to take the GRE is $205. This is cheaper than the $250 fee that you have to pay for GMAT. ETS is also willing to be flexible on the GRE test fee for test-takers who can prove their financial hardship.
There are extra charges ($50) if you want to change your centre or reschedule the test.
The GRE exam fees in Indian currency (Rupees) as INR 13,500. This test pricing is based on an exchange rate of 66 Rupees/Dollar. Use the prevailing rate to find the latest registration cost of the GRE test in rupees.
GRE Pattern Updates
The GRE is a generalized test that isn’t related to any particular discipline or field. It has been designing to evaluate skills that you’ve already picked up over the years. This allows a wide range of universities to use it to benchmark applicants from diverse backgrounds applying to a big mix of degrees.
If you were to look at the overall GRE exam pattern, it has 3 sections: Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning.
Analytical Writing
This section tests your ability to analyze facts, dissect arguments, judge the presented evidence and put forth your views in the most convincing and structured manner.
Verbal Reasoning
This section checks your capacity to understand the content author’s perspectives and intentions, prioritize the points made, and connect the dots across various ideas presented, even if they may not necessarily be documented in a coherent manner. This is the tricky section for non-native English speakers.
Quantitative Reasoning
This is where your comfort level with numbers and quantitative data is tested. You’ll have to understand the problem and use models and mathematical formulas (from geometry, algebra, arithmetic) to solve them. The good news is that you will have access to a calculator. So no complex mental arithmetic to be done.
GRE Preparation Updates
The ETS GRE website offers plenty of free and paid GRE preparation material.
There are also independent test prep companies that provide GRE prep help. Books and courses offered by Barrons, Kaplan, GREedge, Magoosh and other companies provide an overview of the concepts covered in the GRE syllabus, plenty of practice questions, sample GRE exams (i.e. mock practice tests) too.
