GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) — Test Preparation Guide | ConsultancyCheck

Why GRE is important

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Graduate Admissions

GRE is accepted for masters and doctoral programmes across virtually all fields in the US, Canada, Australia, and globally.

Accepted by programmes in arts, science, engineering, and business
Many business schools now accept GRE in lieu of GMAT
Required by most US PhD programmes

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Scholarships & Fellowships

Strong GRE scores are often required for prestigious fellowships and funded PhD positions.

NSF, Fulbright, and other major fellowships consider GRE
Many PhD programmes use GRE to allocate funding offers
High Quant scores particularly valued in STEM fields

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Flexibility

GRE is accepted by both academic and business programmes, giving you flexibility to pivot between career paths.

Accepted by MBA programmes as alternative to GMAT
Usable across multiple disciplines and application cycles
Score Select lets you choose which scores to send

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Global Recognition

GRE scores are recognised by institutions in 160+ countries, making it one of the most internationally portable credentials.

Accepted in over 160 countries
Score reports valid for 5 years
Send up to 4 free score reports on test day

GRE test format

Section

Duration

Questions

Verbal Reasoning

41 min

27 questions

Text completion, sentence equivalence, and reading comprehension

Quantitative Reasoning

47 min

27 questions

Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis — up to high school level

Analytical Writing

30 min

1 essay

Analyse an Argument essay — assess logical soundness of a given argument

GRE scoring

165–170

Top 10%

Required for highly competitive PhD programmes and fellowships

155–164

Strong

Competitive for most graduate programmes

145–154

Average

Meets minimum requirements for many programmes

Below 145

Below Average

May limit programme options; retaking is worth considering

Exam fees

USD $220 (approx. AUD $340)

Check the official ETS GRE website for current pricing in your country. Rescheduling and score report fees apply separately.

How to prepare for GRE

Build your vocabulary systematically

GRE Verbal is heavily vocabulary-dependent. Use flashcard apps and study the most frequently tested GRE words daily.

Review high school maths

GRE Quant does not go beyond high school maths, but the questions are strategically tricky. Focus on strategy, not advanced content.

Use the Score Select feature

You can choose which test date's scores to send to institutions. This reduces the risk of a bad day affecting your application.

Take the official ETS practice tests

ETS provides 2 free full-length practice tests (PowerPrep). These are the most accurate representation of the real test.

Focus on the Analytical Writing rubric

The AWA essay is scored 0–6 in 0.5 increments. Study the scoring rubric and practise writing to it specifically.

Frequently asked questions

Is GRE accepted in Australia?

Yes, GRE is accepted by Australian universities for graduate programmes. However, English proficiency tests like IELTS or PTE are still required separately to demonstrate English language ability.

Can I take GRE at home?

Yes — the GRE General Test at Home is available in most countries and identical to the test centre version.

GRE vs GMAT — which should I take for an MBA?

Both are widely accepted. If your target school accepts both equally, take whichever plays to your strengths. Take a practice test for each before deciding.

How long is a GRE score valid?

GRE scores are valid for 5 years from the test date.