GRE preparation: Graduate Record Examinations

GRE preparation for graduate school admissions in the US, Canada, UK and Europe

The GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) is the most widely accepted standardised test for graduate school admissions worldwide — required or accepted by most US graduate programmes, plus a growing number of UK, Canadian and European universities. The current GRE General Test was significantly shortened in September 2023 to under 2 hours. Smartious offers structured 40-session GRE preparation covering all three sections — Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing — with focused practice on the computer-adaptive testing format that makes GRE uniquely demanding.

Who it is for

Analytical Writing (1 section, 30 minutes)

One essay task: "Analyse an Issue". You take a position on a given issue and support it with reasoning and examples. Scored 0-6 in half-point increments by a combination of human raters and ETS's e-rater algorithm.

Verbal Reasoning (2 sections, 18 minutes each)

Reading comprehension, text completion, and sentence equivalence questions. Tests ability to analyse written material, evaluate arguments, and understand vocabulary in context. Score 130-170.

Quantitative Reasoning (2 sections, 21 minutes each)

Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. Includes problem-solving and quantitative comparison questions. Designed to test mathematical reasoning at the level of a strong high-school graduate. Score 130-170.

What's included

Score targets

Key facts

Frequently asked questions

GRE or GMAT for MBA admissions?

Most MBA programmes now accept both. GRE has broader application (can be used for non-MBA Master's too), so it's more versatile if you're unsure about programme type. GMAT is specifically business-focused. We help students choose based on their target schools and career direction.

How is the GRE shortened format different?

Since September 2023, the GRE is just under 2 hours instead of the previous 3 hours 45 minutes. There's only one Analytical Writing task (previously two), fewer Verbal and Quant questions per section, and no unscored experimental sections. The scoring scale is unchanged.

What's a competitive GRE score?

Score requirements vary by programme. Strong US graduate programmes typically expect 160+ in your relevant section (Verbal for humanities, Quant for STEM). 320 combined (160+160) is competitive for top 50 US universities. 330+ (165+165) opens doors at Ivy League and top STEM programmes.

How long should I prepare for GRE?

Most students benefit from 3-4 months of focused preparation. Our 40-session programme spans 12-16 weeks at 2-3 sessions per week. Students with weak Quant foundations may benefit from extending Quant-specific preparation by 10-15 hours.

Is the GRE computer-adaptive?

Yes — the GRE General Test is section-level adaptive. Your performance on the first Verbal or Quant section determines the difficulty of the second section. Performing well on the first section gives you access to higher-scoring questions on the second.

Can I take GRE at home?

Yes — GRE Home Edition is available for students who can't access an authorised test centre. Requires a quiet private room, a webcam, a stable internet connection, and ETS-approved monitoring software.

How many times can I take the GRE?

You can take GRE up to 5 times in any rolling 12-month period, with at least 21 days between attempts. Most graduate schools use the highest score from your attempts.

Do you support GRE Subject Tests?

GRE Subject Tests exist for Mathematics, Physics, Psychology and Chemistry. We support GRE Subject Test preparation as a custom 1-on-1 programme — contact us for specific subject availability and pricing.

How is Analytical Writing scored?

AW is scored 0-6 in half-point increments. A combination of one trained human rater and ETS's e-rater algorithm score each essay; if they disagree by more than one point, a second human rater intervenes. Score of 4.5+ is competitive for most programmes; 5.0+ is competitive for top programmes.

Do you guarantee a specific GRE score?

No score guarantees. Outcomes depend on starting level, effort and test-day performance. Students completing the full 40-session programme with consistent attendance typically see 10-15 point combined improvement.

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