The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized test conducted by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).
GRE exam is taken by candidates who wish to get into graduate or business schools. Aspirants interested in pursuing a Master’s degree – MS, MBA, MEM, or a doctoral degree can sit for the GRE.
The GRE Test is available at over 1000 test centres in more than 160 countries.
The GRE test date is cyclic i.e. most GRE test takers tend to take the test during the September to December time-frame.
For this reason, during that time of the year, you will find most of the test dates filled up very quickly.
So, if you decide to take the take the test between September and December, make sure you register well in advance.
Otherwise, to get a desired GRE test date you will need to choose a test center far away from your city. Not a good idea to travel so much before your GRE test.
GRE Test Eligibility and Criteria
There is no specific eligibility criteria. The only major requirement for the GRE is a document to prove your identity. In India, you will need to carry your original passport – not photocopies.
No other documentation (like birth certificate, international driving license, Aadhaar etc) can be used as an alternate identity proof.
The test centres are very strict about the ‘only passport’ rule.
If you want to get into a good school, your GRE score will have to match the requirements set by that university.
Apart from your identity proof, ETS does not set an age bar or qualification prerequisite to taking the exam.
GRE Test Structure
GRE is a computer-based test and is offered throughout the year by ETS, the body that governs the GRE. There are still some countries where the GRE paper-based test is offered but India is certainly not on this list.
The computer-based GRE is a simpler way of taking the exam. The big advantage is that you get your Verbal and Quantitative section scores at the test center itself.
However, with the paper-based exam, you might have to wait for up to six weeks for the scores.
Also, the GRE is primarily a computer-based adaptive exam offered throughout the year while on the other hand, GRE paper-based exams are available only thrice a year!
Both Verbal and Quant have two sections each on the exam. Your performance on the first section determines the difficulty level of the second section.
It offers a better assessment of your capabilities as a test taker and helps you stand out more uniquely. The total duration of the test is 3 hours 40 minutes, with a 10-minute break in between.
ETS has made the entire registration process online. This way you can get a real-time view of the available test date in the various centers across India.
The GRE General test is divided into 3 sections:
Verbal Reasoning — Measures your ability to analyze and evaluate written material.
Quantitative Reasoning — Measures problem-solving ability using basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis.
Analytical Writing — Measures critical thinking and analytical writing skills, specifically your ability to articulate and support complex ideas clearly and effectively.
Colleges that accept GRE scores in India
- Aegis School of Business
- Aryans Business School
- Amrita School of Business Amritapuri
- Amrita School of Business Bangalore
- Amrita School of Business Coimbatore
- Amrita School of Business Kochi
- Asia Graduate School of Business
- Global School of Management
- IIKM Business School
- Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad
- Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (EPGP)
- Indian Institute of Management Raipur
- Indian School of Business
- Institute of Management Technology
- International School of Management Excellence
- JECRC University
- Lovely Professional University & MBA
- Myra School of Business
- Peoples Education Society
- S.P. Jain School of Global Management
- Universal Business School
- Varanasi College of Management Science
- Woxen School of Business
GRE Application Deadlines
There is no specific deadline to taking the GRE test. You need to plan on which schools you will be applying to and take the GRE a few months before. And to be on the safer side, if you are looking at a particular score range – give yourself buffer time incase you want to retake the test.
GRE Test centres in India
In India, there are no specific exam dates. You can take it anytime you wish.
But here’s the catch – GRE exam peak season is generally from August to December. So you need to be sure of the colleges you wish to apply for, and thus plan your dates well in advance.
If you are booking your slot last minute, the harder it will be to find a centre near you.
Prometric Networks are the primary GRE test conductors in India. They conduct the tests in the following regions :
Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Allahabad, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Cochin, Mumbai, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Indore, Pune, Patna, New Delhi, Nashik, Nizamabad, Gandhinagar, Kolkata, Kerala, and Trivandrum.
List of centres:
| Ahmedabad (8902) Allahabad (8903) | Allahabad (8903) |
| Prometric Testing (P) Ltd. 301-302, Abhijeet-II, Mitha Kali, 6 Road, Ellisbridge, Ahmedabad | Prometric Testing (P) Ltd. 119/25A, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Civil Lines, Allahabad – 211001 |
| Bangalore (8904) | Calcutta (8906) |
| Prometric Testing (P) Ltd. Maini Sadan, 1st Floor, No 38 Lavelle Road, 7th Cross, Bangalore – 560001 | Prometric Testing (P) Ltd. Flat 1/C, 1st Floor, Sukh Sagar Bldg, Sarat Bose Road,Calcutta – 700020 |
| Chennai (8909) | Hyderabad (8908) |
| Prometric Testing (P) Ltd. No 15, 2nd Floor, Romar House, Jagannathan Road, Nugambakkam, Chennai – 600034 | Prometric Testing (P) Ltd. Avenue 1, Street 20, Plot 1672, Road 12, Banjara Hills Hyderabad – 500034 |
| Mumbai (8921) | Trivandrum (8912) |
| Prometric Testing (P) Ltd. Marwah House, Saki Vihar Road, Saki Naka, Andheri (E) Mumbai – 400072 | Prometric Testing (P) Ltd. PTC Towers, 2nd Floor, SS Coil Road, Thampanoor, Trivandrum – 695001 |
GRE Exam Fee
The registration fee to take the GRE is $195.
ETS will be flexible with the price provided you can prove you are struggling with your finances.
There are extra charges ($50) if you want to change your center or reschedule the test.
The GRE exam fees in Indian currency (Rupees) is INR 12,636. This test pricing is based on an exchange rate of 64.8 Rupees/Dollar.
GRE Preparation
ETS GRE study material:
Free GRE Preparation material: PowerPrep Software
In the paid preparation section, the top on the list is The Official Guide to the GRE® revised General Test, Second Edition
CrackVerbal Study Material
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