You can take the GRE General Test up to 5 times in a 12-month rolling period.
The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is an internationally recognized standardized test required for admission to Master’s, MBA, and PhD programs in universities worldwide. Developed and administered by ETS (Educational Testing Service), the GRE measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing skills and is accepted by 1000+ universities in the USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia, and many other countries.
The GRE — Graduate Record Examinations — is a standardised test used for graduate school admissions worldwide.
Taking the GRE opens doors to top universities and scholarship opportunities.
The current GRE Shorter General Test (introduced September 2023) is significantly shorter than the previous format. It is a computer-adaptive test, where the difficulty of the second section adapts based on your performance in the first section of each type.
| Section | Tasks / Questions | Duration |
| Analytical Writing | 1 task — Analyze an Issue essay | 30 minutes |
| Verbal Reasoning — Section 1 | 12 questions | 18 minutes |
| Verbal Reasoning — Section 2 | 15 questions (adaptive) | 23 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning — Section 1 | 12 questions | 21 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning — Section 2 | 15 questions (adaptive) | 26 minutes |
| Total | 54 questions + 1 essay | ~1 hr 58 mins |
GRE scores are reported for each section separately.
| Section | Score Range |
| Verbal Reasoning | 130–170 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 130–170 |
| Analytical Writing | 0–6 |
| Total (V + Q) | 260–340 |
A competitive score for top universities usually ranges between:
310 – 330+
Subject-Specific Score Priorities:
At Careerline, we provide structured GRE preparation programs designed to help students achieve top scores and secure admissions in leading universities worldwide.
Our GRE Coaching Includes
There are no strict eligibility criteria for the GRE.
However, candidates typically:
| Fee Component | Amount (USD) | Approx. INR** (subject to conversion rate) |
| GRE General Test Registration | USD 220 | Approx. ₹ 20,000–₹22,000 |
| GRE Subject Test Registration | USD 150 | Approx. ₹13,500–₹14,500 |
| Rescheduling Fee (more than 4 days prior) | USD 54 | Approx. ₹5,000 |
| Score Report (beyond 4 free) | USD 32 per report | Approx. ₹2,900 per report |
| Reinstatement of Cancelled Scores | USD 50 | Approx. ₹4,621 |
Always verify the latest fees on the official ETS website (www.ets.org/gre). Fees must be paid in USD.
You can take the GRE General Test up to 5 times in a 12-month rolling period.
Not all MS programs require the GRE. Many universities have made the GRE optional or have permanently waived it. However, competitive programs in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, and research-focused PhDs still strongly prefer or require GRE scores.
Yes! Most top business schools, including Harvard Business School, Wharton, MIT Sloan, Booth, Kellogg, Stanford GSB, and London Business School, accept both the GRE and GMAT equally for MBA admissions. The GRE is increasingly popular among STEM applicants applying for MBA programs.
For MS Computer Science programs at top universities (MIT, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, Georgia Tech), a Quantitative score of 165–170 is expected. Verbal and Analytical Writing scores are secondary but should ideally be 155+ and 4.0+ respectively.
GRE scores are valid for 5 years from the test date. You can use scores from any attempt within the 5-year validity period for university applications.
Yes! Careerline Education Foundation offers structured GRE coaching covering all three sections — Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing. Our expert faculty, vocabulary-building programs, quantitative skill-building workshops, full-length mock tests, and personalised score improvement strategies have helped hundreds of students achieve their target GRE scores. Contact us today to start your GRE preparation!
Students planning to study abroad should ideally take the GRE 8–12 months before university application deadlines.
Recommended Timeline
Intake | Best Time for GRE |
Fall Intake | March – August |
Spring Intake | July – October |
This allows enough time to retake the GRE and improve scores if necessary.