GRE General Test
GRE General Test
Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing, with original lessons and practice.
AI-drafted · awaiting expert reviewThe shorter GRE General Test, computer-delivered, as given since September 22, 2023: one 30-minute Analyze an Issue task, two Verbal Reasoning sections (12 questions in 18 minutes, 15 in 23) and two Quantitative Reasoning sections (12 in 21 minutes, 15 in 26), about 1 hour 58 minutes in all. Facts checked on ets.org and in ETS's 2026–27 GRE Information Bulletin (policies in effect July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027) on November 9, 2026.
A complete course for the shorter GRE General Test. Twenty original lessons cover every question type and content area ETS describes: reading comprehension, text completion, sentence equivalence and vocabulary in context; arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis in all four Quantitative formats (quantitative comparison, select one, select one or more, numeric entry); and the Analyze an Issue essay, with a rubric paraphrasing ETS's published criteria and model essays written for this course. Each lesson has worked examples, common traps and a practice set with full explanations, and the course ends with a full-length practice test timed like the real one. Use it alongside ETS's free POWERPREP practice tests.
About the exam
- Since September 22, 2023 the GRE General Test has five sections and takes about 1 hour and 58 minutes: one Analytical Writing section, two Verbal Reasoning sections and two Quantitative Reasoning sections.GRE General Test Structure · GRE Information Bulletin 2026–27
- Analytical Writing is one 30-minute "Analyze an Issue" task, and it is always the first section. The Verbal and Quantitative sections can come in any order after it.GRE General Test Structure
- Verbal Reasoning: Section 1 has 12 questions in 18 minutes; Section 2 has 15 questions in 23 minutes.GRE General Test Structure · GRE Information Bulletin 2026–27
- Quantitative Reasoning: Section 1 has 12 questions in 21 minutes; Section 2 has 15 questions in 26 minutes. An on-screen calculator is provided.GRE General Test Structure · GRE Information Bulletin 2026–27
- Verbal and Quantitative are section-level adaptive: the first section of each measure is of average difficulty, and the difficulty of the second depends on overall performance on the first. Scoring takes into account both the number of correct answers and the difficulty of the sections.GRE General Test Structure · Understanding Your GRE General Test Scores
- Within a section you can skip questions, mark them for review, go back and change answers.GRE General Test Structure · Strategies and Tips for the GRE General Test
- Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning are each reported on a 130–170 scale in 1-point increments; Analytical Writing on a 0–6 scale in half-point increments. A measure in which no question is answered is reported as NS (No Score).GRE General Test Scoring & Reporting (for score users) · GRE Information Bulletin 2026–27
- The raw score on each of Verbal and Quantitative is the number of questions answered correctly, converted to the scale by equating. Nothing is subtracted for incorrect answers, so ETS advises answering every question.Understanding Your GRE General Test Scores · Strategies and Tips for the GRE General Test
- The essay is scored holistically on a 6-point scale, and the process includes a score from ETS's e-rater scoring engine.Understanding Your GRE General Test Scores · GRE Guide to the Use of Scores 2026–27
- Verbal Reasoning has three question types: Reading Comprehension, Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence. About half of the measure is based on reading passages.Overview of the Verbal Reasoning Measure
- Quantitative Reasoning has four question types (Quantitative Comparison, multiple choice with one answer, multiple choice with one or more answers, Numeric Entry) and covers arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis at a level no higher than a second course in algebra; no trigonometry or calculus.Overview of the Quantitative Reasoning Measure
- The September 2023 changes removed the "Analyze an Argument" essay and the unscored section and reduced the number of Verbal and Quantitative questions; the score scales stayed the same.Shorter GRE Test Coming September 2023 (press release, May 31, 2023) · GRE Guide to the Use of Scores 2026–27
- You may take the GRE General Test once every 21 days, up to five times in any continuous rolling 12-month period (2026–27 Bulletin).GRE Information Bulletin 2026–27
- Official scores are available about 8–10 days after the test and are reportable for five years; ScoreSelect lets you choose which test dates' scores to send.GRE Information Bulletin 2026–27 · GRE General Test Scoring & Reporting (for score users)
Syllabus
20 lessons, 206 practice questions and 10 timed practice exams.
Start here
The test and how it is scored
The shorter GRE General Test section by section: timing, section-level adaptation, scoring, the testing tools, pacing and a study plan.
- The shorter GRE General Test, section by sectionFree sample30 min
Verbal Reasoning
Reading Comprehension
Reading academic passages actively; main idea, detail and structure questions; inference, function and word-in-context questions; and short argument passages.
- Reading passages: structure, main idea and detail(included with the course)40 min
- Reading: inference, function and words in context(included with the course)40 min
- Argument passages: assumptions, strengthening and weakening(included with the course)40 min
Text Completion, Sentence Equivalence and vocabulary
Completing passages from their logic, choosing two answers that give sentences the same meaning, and building the vocabulary both question types reward.
- Text Completion(included with the course)40 min
- Sentence Equivalence(included with the course)35 min
- Vocabulary in context(included with the course)35 min
Quantitative Reasoning
The four question formats
Quantitative Comparison, multiple choice with one or with several answers, Numeric Entry, Data Interpretation sets and the on-screen calculator.
- Quantitative ComparisonFree sample40 min
- Multiple choice, Numeric Entry, data sets and the calculator(included with the course)40 min
Arithmetic
Integers, divisibility, primes and remainders; exponents and roots; fractions, decimals, percents, ratios, rates, absolute value and sequences.
- Integers, divisibility, exponents and roots(included with the course)45 min
- Fractions, percents, ratios, rates and sequences(included with the course)45 min
Algebra
Expressions, exponents, factoring, linear and quadratic equations, inequalities, systems, word problems, functions and coordinate geometry.
- Expressions, equations and inequalities(included with the course)45 min
- Word problems(included with the course)45 min
- Functions and coordinate geometry(included with the course)45 min
Geometry
Lines and angles, triangles (including special right triangles, similarity and the Pythagorean theorem), quadrilaterals, polygons, circles and three-dimensional figures.
- Lines, angles and triangles(included with the course)45 min
- Quadrilaterals, polygons, circles and solids(included with the course)45 min
Data analysis
Descriptive statistics, reading tables and graphs, counting methods, probability, distributions and the normal curve.
- Descriptive statistics and data displays(included with the course)45 min
- Counting, probability and distributions(included with the course)45 min
Analytical Writing
The Analyze an Issue task
What the Issue task asks, how ETS describes each score level, and how to plan and write a strong essay in 30 minutes, with original prompts and model essays.
- The Analyze an Issue task and how it is scored(included with the course)35 min
- Writing the Issue essay: a 30-minute method and model essays(included with the course)50 min
Practice exams
- Full-length practice test 155 questions · 118 minutesIncluded with the course
- Full-length practice test 1055 questions · 118 minutesIncluded with the course
- Full-length practice test 255 questions · 118 minutesIncluded with the course
- Full-length practice test 355 questions · 118 minutesIncluded with the course
- Full-length practice test 455 questions · 118 minutesIncluded with the course
- Full-length practice test 555 questions · 118 minutesIncluded with the course
- Full-length practice test 655 questions · 118 minutesIncluded with the course
- Full-length practice test 755 questions · 118 minutesIncluded with the course
- Full-length practice test 855 questions · 118 minutesIncluded with the course
- Full-length practice test 955 questions · 118 minutesIncluded with the course
Free official resources
Use these alongside the course. They are free, and they are the final word.
- POWERPREP Online practice tests (free)Two free full-length practice tests from ETS in the real testing software, one untimed and one timed. Take the timed test under real conditions near the end of your preparation.
- GRE Math Review (PDF)ETS's free review of the arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis the Quantitative measure draws on, with exercises and answers.
- Math Conventions for the GRE General Test (PDF)The assumptions the test makes about numbers, figures, graphs and wording. Read it once early and again the week before the test.
- Verbal Reasoning overview and sample questionsETS's description of each Verbal question type, with a link to its free sample questions and explanations.
- Quantitative Reasoning overview and sample questionsContent areas, conventions, the four question types and ETS's free sample questions.
- Analyze an Issue task, published topic pool and scored samplesETS publishes the whole pool from which your Issue topic is chosen, plus a sample task with scored responses and rater commentary. Practise on real pool topics.
- Analytical Writing scoring guideThe official score level descriptions and the Issue scoring guide. Compare your practice essays with it.
- On-screen calculator guidelines (PDF)How the test's calculator handles order of operations, memory and the Transfer Display button.
- GRE Information Bulletin 2026–27 (PDF)Registration, identification, test-day rules, retakes and score reporting. Read it before you book.
GRE is a registered trademark of ETS, which is not affiliated with and does not endorse Lumenary Prep. Every lesson and question here is original; use ETS's free official practice tests alongside it. Every source this course cites.