News Flash: GRE is Changing!
Just weeks after GMAC unveiled its GMAT Focus Edition – a new version of the GMAT to be launched this fall that will clock in at an hour shorter than the current exam – ETS, the makers of the GRE, have announced a shortened version of the GRE.
Beginning September 22, 2023, the GRE will be cut in half, from its current length of 3 hours, 45 minutes, to just under 2 hours. At that point, the longer version of the exam will be fully retired: any test administered on or after this date will be a shortened exam. And although ETS insists that this change was not made in response to GMAC, this will no doubt help solidify the stronghold GRE has recently claimed within business school admissions testing.
What’s Changing?
All three sections of the exam – Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing – will be significantly shortened.
Analytical Writing – which currently consists of two 30-minute essay tasks – will be pared down with the elimination of the “Analyze an Argument” task, leaving only the “Analyze an Issue” task.
Verbal Reasoning – which currently includes 40 questions – will be reduced to just 27.
Quantitative Reasoning will also be reduced from 40 to 27 questions.
The unscored experimental section is also disappearing, meaning that every question a test taker encounters will now contribute to their score. Moreover, given that the new format is 2 hours shorter, the current 10-minute break is being fully eliminated.
Finally, ETS promises a quicker turnaround for score reports: test takers will receive scores within 8-10 days, slightly faster than the current timeline of 10-15 days.
What’s Staying the Same?
Although each section of the exam is being shortened, test content and question types will remain the same. There will be no changes to the “Analyze an Issue” essay task, and test takers can expect the same kinds of questions in both the Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning sections, just fewer of each.
Likewise, the score range, from 1 to 5 in the Analytical Writing section, and 130 to 170 in the other two sections, will remain unchanged.
Likewise, the cost of the exam and the process for accommodations offered to test takers will remain the same.
Takeaways for Grad Applicants
While the shorter exam may sound unambiguously positive for test takers, especially those who suffer from test fatigue, it may not be the best choice for everyone. The reduced number of questions in all three sections means that you, as a test taker, will have fewer chances to demonstrate your mastery of the material, and that any question that stumps you will be more likely to hurt your overall score.
Moreover, within the Analytical Writing section, many find the “Analyze an Argument” task to be much easier than its counterpart, given that the argument task may be approached more formulaically than the issue task. So anyone whose testing timeline gives them the flexibility to choose a date either before or after September 22nd, 2023 should think carefully about which version to take.
If you need support, don’t hesitate to reach out to our GRE tutors, who can help as you navigate the daunting terrain of graduate and professional admissions tests. Contact us now to discuss our sophisticated approach to GRE prep and make a plan for success in your graduate or professional school applications.
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