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The GRE: What To Expect And How to Prepare

October 22, 2021

College graduates can continue their education in their preferred major through master's degree and Ph.D. programs. To get started with a master's or Ph.D. degree program, the graduate must have completed at least a bachelor's degree program and fulfill all prerequisite coursework as required by the graduate school. 

When applying to graduate school, students may need to register and take the GRE examination to provide evidence of their knowledge and skillsets. The scores achieved on the examination can determine if the student is qualified to attend a graduate school program. It is important to note that the GRE may not be required by all institutions so applicants should always verify application requirements when applying to graduate school.

What Is the GRE? 

The Graduate Record Examination is an examination that applicants who want to apply for graduate school may need to take. It is used to test preparedness for the coursework presented during graduate school.

If the applicant doesn't achieve a passing score, they may not be ready for graduate-level coursework. Their scores can indicate how well the applicant will do in courses that are required for the graduate program. Students that are getting prepared to take the exam need to get GRE advice from their preferred college or university. 

What Will You Be Tested On? 

The students will be tested on a variety of subjects from their undergraduate program to test their knowledge at this point in their academic careers. They will receive test questions that test their general education knowledge.

They are tested on math, English, science, and history. The tests may cover some aspects of the graduate's major. The students must have advanced knowledge of their major that they gained when completing their undergraduate degree. Students must review resources that can help them prepare for the tests according to each area of the examination. 

What Is Analytical Writing?

Analytical writing is testing that helps the administrators at the college or university to measure the student's ability to use critical thinking skills to articulate complex ideas. Graduate students must have the ability to construct valid arguments and support their claims with facts.

They must have the ability to evaluate information, present their argument, and provide evidence to support their claims, and they must cite references when necessary. If the student doesn't have these skills, it could present them with major difficulties when completing graduate school coursework. 

What Is Verbal Reasoning?

Verbal reasoning testing measures the student's ability to read and comprehend written materials and make connections between the details. The students must have the ability to interpret complex sentences and understand what it is they are reading. The students will complete a series of tasks in the section including adding the words needed to complete a sentence and/or explaining what the words mean. 

The tests determine if the student has the ability to distinguish between major and minor points in information and summarize passages they have read. Students who want to attend graduate school must have strong reading comprehension skills to complete coursework. 

What Is Quantitative Reasoning?

Quantitative reasoning measures the student's ability to complete basic math problems and concepts. They must understand how to use reason when completing the math problems and explain how they have arrived at their answer. The students must have the ability to complete addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division according to basic skill processes. 

The aptitude testing shows that the student has the ability to complete the problems properly and won't need any remedial math course to regain the basic math skills they should have had since elementary school. They may need to demonstrate more advanced math skills based on their major. 

How Long Will It Take to Take the Exam?

The GRE test is conducted in sections, but the overall test takes about four hours to complete. It has timed intervals for each section that must be monitored by a proctor. Students have two options for taking the GRE examination. They can register to take the examination at a testing facility, and the student will receive a notification that shows them the date and time for their examination.  

They also have the option to take the test online. If they want to take the test online, they will need to register with their college or university of choice to take the examination. The school will provide them with a link and the date when they must take the test and complete it. 

Where to Get Started

The University of California Merced presents exceptional graduate programs for students who are ready to get their master's or Ph.D. degree. The university provides a wealth of degree programs that help students take the next steps in their careers.

When they are getting ready to apply to graduate school, applicants should check the requirements and determine if they must register and complete the GRE examination to get approval for admission. Administrators at the university can help students get started and set up their graduate programs quickly. Students can learn more about the programs by visiting the university now. 

College graduates could advance in their current careers by attending and completing graduate school. To get started, the students must complete an application to their preferred university. They will submit an admissions essay (statement of purpose) to introduce themselves to the administrators. Applicants may also need to set up a date and time to take the GRE examination. By reviewing vital details about the exam, students learn what to expect and how to prepare.