The Ultimate Guide to the New GRE Format: Timing, Structure, and Preparation
- GRE Black Book
- Nov 3
- 3 min read
For decades, the GRE General Test was an endurance marathon, clocking in at nearly four hours. But if you’re planning your graduate school journey now, you have a huge advantage. ETS (Educational Testing Service) has implemented a major overhaul, introducing the significantly shorter new GRE format.
This change is the most drastic update to the test in years. It cuts the testing time by nearly 50%, transforming the experience from an exhausting 3 hours and 45 minutes into a much more manageable 1 hour and 58 minutes.
Understanding this streamlined structure is the first step to successful preparation. Here is everything you need to know about the updated GRE format.
3 Core Changes Defining the New GRE
The reduction in total testing time was achieved primarily by eliminating content that was deemed redundant or unnecessary for graduate admissions offices. Here are the three key items removed:
The "Analyze an Argument" Essay: The Analytical Writing section (AWA) is now shorter, featuring only the "Analyze an Issue" task. This removes a crucial 30 minutes of writing time.
The Unscored/Experimental Section: Previously, test-takers would encounter an unidentified section (either Verbal or Quant) used for research purposes. This section is completely gone, removing 30-35 minutes of pressure-filled, unscored work.
The Scheduled Break: Due to the test’s significantly reduced length, the 10-minute scheduled break has been removed.
GRE Section Timing Breakdown: The 1 Hour 58 Minute Test
The Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections still measure the same core skills, but the number of questions and the time allotted for each section have been condensed.
Measure | Sections | Total Questions | Total GRE Section Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
Analytical Writing | 1 (Analyze an Issue) | 1 Essay | 30 minutes |
Verbal Reasoning | 2 | 27 questions (total) | 41 minutes (total) |
Quantitative Reasoning | 2 | 27 questions (total) | 47 minutes (total) |
Total Test Time | 5 Sections | 55 Questions + 1 Essay | 1 Hour 58 Minutes |
Detailed Timing Per Section
Section | Number of Questions | Time Allotted | Pacing Implication |
|---|---|---|---|
AW (Issue Task) | 1 | 30 min | Focus on strong structure and clarity. |
VR 1 | 12 | 18 min | 1.5 minutes per question. |
VR 2 | 15 | 23 min | 1.5 minutes per question. |
QR 1 | 12 | 21 min | 1.75 minutes per question. |
QR 2 | 15 | 26 min | 1.75 minutes per question. |
Notice that the time-per-question ratio remains largely the same. The test is simply less repetitive and much more concentrated.
What Stays the Same? Content, Scoring, and Strategy
The good news is that if you have existing prep materials, they are still highly relevant!
Content: The underlying math concepts (Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Data Analysis) and verbal question types (Text Completion, Sentence Equivalence, Reading Comprehension) are unchanged. You are still being tested on the same foundational skills.
Scoring Scale: The score scale for Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning remains 130–170, and the AWA is scored from 0–6. This means the scores are comparable to those earned on the longer version of the exam.
Section-Level Adaptation: The test remains section-level adaptive. Your performance on the first Verbal section determines the difficulty of the second Verbal section, and the same goes for the Quantitative sections.
Key Takeaway for Test Prep Strategy
Because the new GRE has fewer questions overall, each correct (or incorrect) answer carries greater weight. This makes accuracy more critical than ever before.
Your prep should focus heavily on:
Precision: Minimize careless errors, especially in the first adaptive section of each measure, as it sets the difficulty level for the second section.
Pacing: While the GRE section timing gives you the same time per question, the lack of a break means you must practice staying focused for the full two-hour period.
AW Structure: Practice mastering the single "Analyze an Issue" essay format.
The changes make the new GRE a more efficient and less taxing experience. By understanding the updated GRE formatand adjusting your strategy to the compact GRE section timing, you can approach test day with confidence.
Ready to start planning your test dates? Scores are also delivered faster now—in 8-10 days, instead of the previous 10-15 days!
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