(LifeWire) - GRE Overview:
A tool for graduate-school admission and earning scholarships, the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) gauges dexterity with language, math and persuasive writing. The scores, the weight of which differ by college, including those that offer distance learning, are often used to augment undergraduate classroom performance. The GRE general test, as the non-subject-specific aptitude test is often called, is most often taken by computer, unless a test center lacks the technology. The computer produces near-instant results in the mostly multiple-choice sections of verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning. The essay portion is graded by both a person and computer software. Some graduate programs might also ask for GRE subject tests, which assess students on specific disciplines such as math, physics, psychology, biology, literature and computer science.
When to Take the GRE:
No hard and fast rule here. Conventional wisdom says to wait for the summer before senior year of undergraduate studies or during the fall term. Others recommend taking it earlier, when study skills and English vocabulary might be at their peak. The GRE result is valid for five years. The test is given all year -- and do-overs are permitted within limits.
Registering for the GRE:
Click into the registration portal on the ETS website, pick a site and date (first come, first served), indicate four schools where the scores should be sent, and print the admissions ticket. There's a section for international students as well. The cost for the basic test ranges from $140 in the United States to $195 in China.
Preparing for the GRE:
The Educational Testing Service has free training resources for anyone who registers for the GRE or visits the ETS's GRE website. Other materials and outside prep courses are offered for a fee.
Using Your GRE Test Scores:
While the GRE tally is often used to bolster an undergraduate's case for admission, an acceptable score could be in the range of 550 (on a scale from 200 to 800) for verbal and 700 (scale of 200 to 800) for quantitative. Some master's programs state their GRE minimums. A low score doesn't necessarily jeopardize enrollment.
