A Guide to the GRE/Sections

Sections of the Test

The GRE has six sections

Section 1: Analytical Writing

30 minutes 1 essay question Score of 1 to 6 in half point increments (e.g., 4.5, 5, 5.5) 1 essay analyzing an issue

Section 2: Analytical Writing

30 minutes 1 essay question Score of 1 to 6 in half point increments (e.g., 4.5, 5, 5.5) 1 essay analyzing an argument (as opposed to “analyzing an issue" in the first section)

Section 3: Verbal Reasoning

35 minutes 25 questions Combined with second verbal section to create a scaled verbal score of 130-170 12-13 sentence completion questions, testing vocabulary 12-13 reading comprehension questions, based on passages

Section 4: Verbal Reasoning

35 minutes 25 questions Combined with first verbal section to create a scaled verbal score of 130-170 12-13 sentence completion questions, testing vocabulary 12-13 reading comprehension questions, based on passages This section is identical to the previous section (but see “computer adaptivity”)

Section 5: Quantitative Reasoning

35 minutes 25 questions Combined with second math section to create a scaled math score of 130-170 10 quantity comparison questions, asking to compare two values 10-11 standard math questions 4 questions based on reading a data chart

Section 6: Quantitative Reasoning

35 minutes Combined with first math section to create a scaled math score of 130-170 10 quantity comparison questions, asking to compare two values 10-11 standard math questions 4 questions based on reading a data chart This section is identical to the previous section (but see “computer adaptivity”)