Computer-based GRE® revised General Test Content and Structure

The overall testing time for the computer-based GRE® revised General Test is about three hours and 45 minutes. There are six sections with a 10-minute break following the third section.

Structure of the Computer-based Test

Measure Number of Questions Allotted Time
Analytical Writing
(One section with two separately timed tasks)		 One "Analyze an Issue" task and one "Analyze an Argument" task 30 minutes per task
Verbal Reasoning
(Two sections)		 Approximately 20 questions per section 30 minutes per section
Quantitative Reasoning
(Two sections)		 Approximately 20 questions per section 35 minutes per section
Unscored¹ Varies Varies
Research² Varies Varies

¹An unidentified unscored section may be included and may appear in any order after the Analytical Writing section. It is not counted as part of your score.

²An identified research section that is not scored may be included, and it is always at the end of the test.

The Analytical Writing section will always be first, while the other five sections may appear in any order.

Test Design Features

The GRE revised General Test design features advanced technology that allows you to freely move forward and backward throughout an entire section. Specific features include:

  • Preview and review capabilities within a section
  • A "mark and review" feature to tag questions, so you can skip and return later
  • The ability to change/edit answers within a section
  • An on-screen calculator for the Quantitative Reasoning section
  • New answer formats, including tasks such as numeric entry and highlighting a sentence in a passage to answer a question

To experience the test design features of the computer-based test, download POWERPREP® II software.

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