TL;DR — The GRE General Test is a shorter, adaptive exam (about 1 hour 58 minutes) required by many US and Canadian graduate programmes. It tests Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing. Plan 8 to 16 weeks of preparation depending on your baseline.
The GRE is the most widely required standardised test for graduate admissions in the US and Canada, and increasingly accepted for MBA programmes as an alternative to GMAT. This guide sets out the structure and a prep plan.
Test structure
- Total duration: about 1 hour 58 minutes.
- Analytical Writing: one “Analyze an Issue” task (30 minutes).
- Verbal Reasoning: two sections; adaptive across sections.
- Quantitative Reasoning: two sections; adaptive across sections.
- Score scale: Verbal 130 to 170; Quantitative 130 to 170; Analytical Writing 0 to 6.
Delivery
Computer-delivered at Prometric centres or at the GRE at Home (proctored online). Available year-round with flexible scheduling.
Score expectations
- Top MS Engineering / CS programmes: 320+ (Q 165+, V 155+).
- Broad research MS: 305 to 315.
- MBA where GRE accepted: 315 to 325 depending on school.
- Analytical Writing: aim for 4.0 minimum; 4.5+ preferred.
Preparation timeline
- 8 weeks: strong quantitative baseline, comfortable with academic English.
- 12 weeks: standard case.
- 16 weeks: rebuild in vocabulary (Verbal) or in maths fundamentals.
Section strategy
- Verbal: build a vocabulary system (Anki decks are the standard tool); practise reading comprehension and text completion daily.
- Quantitative: cover arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. Focus on efficiency; the maths content itself is not advanced.
- Analytical Writing: practise a structured five-paragraph response to the Issue task; use official prompts.
Official resources
- ETS PowerPrep (free official practice tests).
- ETS Official Guide to the GRE General Test.
- ETS ScoreItNow for Analytical Writing feedback.
Registration
Book at ets.org/gre. In Nepal, test centres are available in Kathmandu; GRE at Home is available for those who meet the equipment requirements.
Key takeaways
- GRE is about 2 hours; three sections plus Analytical Writing.
- Score scale: 130 to 170 per reasoning section.
- Top STEM MS programmes: 320+ target.
- Prep timeline: 8 to 16 weeks depending on baseline.
- Official ETS resources are the primary study material.
Important: This article is for general informational purposes only. Test fees, format details and score requirements change; verify current guidance on the ETS website and speak to The Next Education counsellors before taking any action based on this content.
Related resources
See our SAT preparation and IELTS preparation pages, and our Study in USA hub.