{"id":1084,"date":"2021-12-23T16:37:07","date_gmt":"2021-12-23T16:37:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onlinembacoach.com\/?p=1084"},"modified":"2022-09-15T17:28:21","modified_gmt":"2022-09-15T17:28:21","slug":"gre-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onlinembacoach.com\/apply\/gre-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide to the GRE"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you looking to apply for business graduate school? If you have already looked into any business school<\/a> requirements for application, you may have come across the GRE score requirement. If so, we have put together this Guide to the GRE for you. In it, you will read about what this exam is all about, why it is essential, different aspects of the test, how to prepare and succeed at it, and some other insights and resources along the way.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is GRE?<\/h2>\n\n\n
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The Graduate Record Examination is administered through the ETS<\/a>. According to ETS, the GRE is the most widely used and accepted exam for graduate admission. Graduate schools and business schools often use it to determine whether to grant acceptance to an applicant. The GRE<\/a> is a multiple-choice standardized test administered on a computer. It helps assess graduate-level readiness to see whether a student will manage a rigorous course load. Higher scores increase the chances of both being accepted and performing well academically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graduate school applicants have different backgrounds and educational experiences, so general test and subject area tests can identify common knowledge amongst applicants. There are GRE subject tests in addition to the General GRE test. The GRE subject tests are chemistry, mathematics, physics, and psychology. The other disciplines, biology and literature in English, were discontinued in May of 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The General GRE Exam, used for graduate business schools, assesses students’ aptitude in math, data analysis, and vocabulary. The GRE has three sections: analytical writing, quantitative reasoning, and verbal reasoning. The verbal reasoning<\/a> section specifically tests whether students have college-level reading comprehension skills and vocabulary. The quantitative reasoning<\/a> section assesses students’ ability to solve problems using their math skills: basic arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. The analytical writing<\/a> skills portion assesses whether students can write an evidence-based essay. The evaluators pay close attention to correct capitalization, grammar, punctuation, and spelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is the GRE Important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the items graduate schools look at for acceptance into their programs is the Graduate Record Exam, GRE. Another use for GRE scores is to help applicants land merit-based fellowships. There are hundreds of fellowship sponsors in and outside of the United States. Merit-based fellowships<\/a> are helpful for students applying to programs that do not guarantee to fund. Several master’s and doctoral programs accept GRE scores, and specifically about 1,200 graduate business programs. These scores provide a way for graduate schools to compare applicants beyond letters of recommendation, personal statements, or grade point averages. GRE scores provide more objectivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking the GRE<\/a> is essential for applicants applying to schools that require the scores, of course. Without the scores, admission is not a probability. But it is also crucial for applicants applying to schools that highly recommend GRE score submission or for students who need to cover up a weakness on their application, like low-grade point averages or subpar letters of recommendation. Providing good scores only adds to the application and makes the applicant more desirable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students that have recently graduated from their undergraduate program or will graduate soon and desire to attend graduate school should consider taking the GRE within five years. For one, GRE scores are valid for five years. Secondly, early completion of the GRE can give students insight on areas of improvement in advance. Thirdly, it creates time to study and retake the exam to increase scores. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it is not suggested to take the GRE if students have no intention of pursuing graduate school. The fees and time for preparation and the examination are costly. Additionally, students applying to schools that do not require the GRE are encouraged to consider whether preparing for and taking the GRE would be the best use of their time or if enhancing other areas of their application would be more helpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the Make-up of the GRE?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to Kaplan<\/a>, the test has 80 questions and two writing parts. The first section involves writing, where students are asked to write an essay on both an argument and an issue. The order continues with the verbal section, followed by the quantitative. Some examinees are given research or experimental questions on their test days. That section adds 20 questions to the student’s assessment; however, it does not affect their overall score. While these scores are relevant and measure a student’s skills, quantitative reasoning and verbal reasoning hold more weight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exam is designed to determine whether students can think critically, effectively analyze and evaluate the content, and problem solve. The writing sections are scored on a scale of zero to six. The average score is four. As for the verbal and quantitative sections, scores range between 130-170. The mean scores are around 150.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Issue Essay<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Students are assessed on whether they can follow the instructions and present a well-articulated argument on the issue essay. Students should include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n