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The Ultimate Guide to Crack GRE in 2025
Are you planning to pursue a master’s degree in the USA? If yes, then there is a complete list of things that you must keep handy. From academic transcripts of your entire educational journey to financial proof and the proof of your academic excellence, you will require a lot of documents to attach with your admission application and every process from there. So, as you prepare for everything else, today, in this blog we will cover all you need to know about the great GRE exam. In this step-by-step guide we will share the GRE exam dates 2025, how to apply for GRE exam, the registration fees, GRE exam patterns, and most importantly how to prepare for the GRE exam. So, without sparing another minute, let’s give you the best tips to crack GRE exam in 2025.
GRE Exam: In a Quick Glance
As the purpose of a GRE exam is to assess the readiness of students for graduate school or business programs, it is crucial for you to know what the exam is before you start preparing for the same. So, here’s all you need to know about the GRE exam in the easiest manner possible.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Graduate Record Examination |
| Test Format | 1. GRE General Test (most common, for general grad programs) 2. GRE Subject Tests (for specific disciplines, e.g., Psychology, Chemistry) |
| Sections (GRE General Test) | 1. Verbal Reasoning (40 questions, 2 sections) 2. Quantitative Reasoning (40 questions, 2 sections) 3. Analytical Writing (2 tasks, 1 section) |
| Test Duration | 3 hours 30 minutes |
| Scoring | – Verbal & Quantitative: 130–170 points each (1-point increments) – Analytical Writing: 0–6 points (half-point increments) |
| Test Mode | – Computer-Based (most common) – Paper-Based (only in areas where computer testing is unavailable) |
| Registration Fee | Around $220 USD (subject to change, check the official ETS site) |
| Test Dates | April 21, 2025, through May 4, 2025 |
| Valid Score Duration | GRE scores are valid for 5 years |
| Eligibility Requirements | There are no specific eligibility requirements, but most test-takers are college graduates or students nearing graduation. |
NOTE: Do note that this information is not for term 2024-2025 but only for 2025. For more information, clarification, and recent updates, students are advised to visit the official website of ETS, the conducting body.
How to Prepare for GRE Exam in 2025?
The GRE Exam is for students who are either in their final year of undergraduate or who have completed their under-graduation degree and now wish to pursue higher education abroad. If you also land in this category, then to get admission in a US university, you will require to crack the GRE exam in 2025.
Now, before we shed light on how to prepare for GRE exam, let’s understand in a crux about what is GRE.
About GRE
The GRE stands for Graduate Record Examination, which is taken by students who want to pursue a master’s degree in business courses. This exam evaluates the readiness of students for the university level academic challenge. This exam is majorly taken by international students who want to study in a US business school. The 3 hours and 30 minutes long exam is one of the crucial milestones that study abroad aspirants must achieve to accomplish their dream.
As you are also one of those students who wants to know more about the GRE exam, then let’s get to the point. You must know that the GRE exam requires careful planning, consistent effort, and structured study strategy. So, for your assistance, below are the tips that will help you crack GRE exam in 2025 with ease.
1. Understand the Exam Format
To prepare for your GRE exam, it is crucial for you to know the GRE exam pattern. Make sure before you start with your preparations or panic about the lengthy test, you know your exam. As people say, before studying for the exam, one must study the exam; hence, make yourself familiar with the GRE exam pattern and understand the format.
The most commonly taken exam to study abroad for a master’s degree is GRE, and in this there are two further types. As you must have checked above, there is GRE General Test and GRE Subject Test, you must know which one you are taking. Majorly students go for the General Test which consists of three sections; verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. These sections analyse your ability to evaluate the written material, basic math skills, and the to articulate complex ideas.
2. Set Realistic Target
Once you have gathered the necessary knowledge about the GRE exam, it is time for you to set a target. Whenever it comes to a competitive exam, the pressure always makes students to set the best of the goals. This pressure become the reason of overburden and poor performance. To ensure you take no such risks, it is better you set realistic goals. Now, how would you do that? To set and achieve the realistic score in your GRE exam, you must research well. Research the universities you want to apply in. Check the eligibility requirements and what the acceptable GRE exam score is.
Once you know how much you have to achieve you get admission in your preferred university, you won’t be taking much pressure. As your goal will be set clearly, you can study accordingly. Most competitive programs require scores between 160-170 in verbal and quantitative, and 4.0-6.0 in the analytical writing section, so you can plan your studies as per the requirements.
3. Create a Study Plan
By now you will have a clear understanding of how much you have to score to secure a place in your preferred university. After setting the realistic goal comes the point of creating a study plan. As mentioned earlier that GRE exam is taken by students who are either in their final year of graduation or are graduate students. If you are one of these, then you must by juggling your GRE exam preparations.
Ideally, to clear your GRE exam, you need 3-6 months of preparation. 3 months of preparation is you are studying full-time without managing any other responsibilities like college or work. For this, you can study 3-4 hours rigorously in a day and you can crack the GRE exam in 2025 easily.
However, if you have other responsibilities too so may require 6 months or so. In this situation, giving 2 hours of daily practice for 6 months will get you accomplish your ultimate goal. The best way to study successfully and with complete concentration is through the Pomodoro technique, where you study for 30 minutes and take 5-minute break.
4. Gather Study Material
As your study plan is also ready, it is time to gather your study materials. One of the most common mistakes students make while preparing for any exam is directly trying to solve the sample paper. Where a few right or wrong answers can make or break the confidence, it is always better to start with preparations first than go for practice tests.
When it comes to start with the preparations, there are many study materials available. From YouTube videos to online applications, you can find study material anywhere. But what’s the most important thing here is to ensure your chosen study material is authentic and correct. So, instead of enrolling into any course and paying huge amount of money or before buying costly books, you better do your research. The required assistance, in terms of personalised guidance and study notes, you can also get here at MetaApply, with our TestPrep service. So, enrol wisely.
5. Take Practice Tests
Now, to check your how well you can perform in your GRE exam, it is time for you to check where do you stand. After months of preparation and learning, finally comes the step of taking practice test. A practice test makes you understand your worth. Before taking the final exam, make sure you at least take 4-5 practice tests or previous exams to check your knowledge. This will help you understand what your weaknesses are.
As there are three sections in the General Test, it is crucial for you to excel in each section or at least score the minimum number to get accepted in your dream university. So, to analyse your strengths and weaknesses and to get the knowledge of how much time it will take you to finish the exam, it is crucial you take the practice tests. The original exam is 3 hours and 30 minutes long and to ensure you complete it within the given timeline, you better check your speed through practice tests.
The preparation tips may end here, but to keep you prepared for your exam day, below are some crucial things you must keep in mind.
Additional Tip- The D-Day Strategy!
How to Apply for GRE Exam in 2025?
To simplify the process and make it clear, below is the process with which you can know how to apply for GRE exam in 2025.
- Create an ETS Account
- Choose Your GRE Test Type
- Select Your Preferred Test Date and Location
- Register for the GRE Exam
- Confirmation and Admission Ticket
- Prepare for the Exam
Prepare for GRE with Expert Guidance
As the blog comes to an end, we have tried to cover all the crucial information there is for study abroad aspirants to know about. With these tips, we believe you can easily crack your GRE exam in 2025 without hassling much. However, if you still need a concrete plan to go study abroad or to go study in USA, you have MetaApply as your trusted guide. We understand the value of study abroad dream of students and how crucial it is in transforming and growth. So, if you need guidance in finding the best course and college, along with needing help with the standardise exams to study abroad, then we are just the place for you. Here, you get guidance at every step and our team of experts ensure you pass all the study abroad hurdles without much hassle.
So, what are you waiting for? Connect with our experts today.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cost of the GRE General Test is $220. Additional fees apply for score reports, rescheduling, and changing test centers. You must stay updated with the current information and for that keep checking the official website of ETS.
To apply for the GRE exam in 2025, all you have to do is create an account on the ETS website, select your test date and location, pay the GRE registration fee, and download your admission ticket. Do ensure you register at least 3 weeks before your test date.
You can take the GRE once every 21 days, but no more than 5 times within a 12-month period. You can retake the exam as many times as needed. Furthermore, the GRE score is valid for up to 5 years so if you plan to go abroad later but want to take the test today, you can.
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