Why do you need to take the GRE for graduate or business school, and what kinds of subjects does it test? Watch this lesson for an overview of the basics.
About the GRE
Remember finally being done with the SAT? The freedom was beautiful - No more bubble sheets. No more strategically trying to game the scoring system by skipping or guessing. No more desperate efforts to read the CollegeBoard's mind on the reading section…well, at least not until you hit the GRE.
The GRE revised General Test is a standardized test of verbal, math, and writing skills for students who are entering graduate or business school. It's like a scaled-up version of the standardized tests you took to apply to college. In this lesson, you'll learn what the GRE tests, who takes it, and other basic background information about the test.
GRE: The Basics
The GRE is to grad school as the SAT and ACT are to college: it's a standardized test that admissions officers look at as one part of your application. Most graduate schools in the United States require applicants to take the GRE, and it might also be required for some scholarships or fellowships, depending on your school. The GRE isn't the only thing that graduate schools consider, but it is an important part of your application package.
To take the GRE, you'll have to make an account on the GRE website and sign up for a test date - this is also how you'll get your scores and send them to schools. Because the test is taken on a computer, GRE test dates are actually very flexible, and you have a lot of leeways to pick a date that works for you. You'll pick a test center near you and take your pick from a list of times available - which specific times are open depends on your test center.
Now, let's look at what you'll get once you get to test day.