IMPORTANT NOTE: Test-taking strategies appropriate for the verbal and quantitative
sections of the paper-based General Test are different from those that are appropriate for
taking the verbal and quantitative sections of the computer-based General Test. Be sure to follow the appropriate strategies for the testing format in
which you will be testing. Paper-based testing
strategies should not be used if you take the
computer-based test.
Verbal and Quantitative Sections
When taking a verbal or quantitative section of the
paper-based General Test, you are free, within any
section, to skip questions that you might have
difficulty answering and to come back to them later
during the time provided to work on that section.
You may also change the answer to any question you
recorded on the answer sheet by erasing it completely
and filling in the oval corresponding to your desired
answer for that question.
Each of your scores will be determined by the
number of questions for which you select the best
answer from the choices given. Questions for which
you mark no answer or more than one answer are not
counted in scoring. Nothing is subtracted from a
score if you answer a question incorrectly. Therefore,
to maximize your scores on the verbal and quantitative
sections of the paper-based test, it is better for
you to answer each and every question and not to
leave any questions unanswered.
Work as rapidly as you can without being careless.
This includes checking frequently to make sure you
are marking your answers in the appropriate rows on
your answer sheet. Since no question carries greater
weight than any other, do not waste time pondering
individual questions you find extremely difficult or
unfamiliar.
You may want to work through a verbal or quantitative
section of the General Test quite rapidly, first
answering only the questions about which you feel
that require more thought, and concluding with he
most difficult questions if there is time.
During the actual administration of the General
Test, you may work only on the section the test
center supervisor designates and only for the time
allowed. You may not go back to an earlier section of
the test after the supervisor announces, “Please stop
work” for that section. The supervisor is authorized to
dismiss you from the center for doing so. All answers
must be recorded on your answer sheet. Answers
recorded in your test booklet will not be counted.
Given the time constraints, you should avoid waiting
until the last five minutes of a test administration to
record answers on your answer sheet.
Some questions on the General Test have only
four response options (A through D). All GRE
answer sheets for the paper-based test contain response
positions for five responses (A through E).
Therefore, if an E response is marked for a fouroption
question, it will be ignored. An E response for
a four-option question is treated the same as no
response (omitted).
Analytical Writing Section
In the paper-based General Test, the topics in the
analytical writing section will be presented in the test
book and you will handwrite your essay responses on
the answer sheets provided. Make sure you use the
correct answer sheet for each task.
It is important to budget your time. Within the
45-minute time limit for the Issue task, you will need
to allow sufficient time to choose one of the two
topics, think about the issue you’ve chosen, plan a
response, and compose your essay. Within the 30-
minute time limit for the Argument task, you will
need to allow sufficient time to analyze the argument,
plan a critique, and compose your response. Although
GRE readers understand the time constraints under
which you write and will consider your response a “first draft,” you still want it to be the best possible
example of your writing that you can produce under
the testing circumstances.
Save a few minutes at the end of each timed task
to check for obvious errors. Although an occasional
spelling or grammatical error will not affect your score, severe and persistent errors will detract from
the overall effectiveness of your writing and thus
lower your score.
During the actual administration of the General
Test, you may work only on the particular writing
task the test center supervisor designates and only for
the time allowed. You may not go back to an earlier
section of the test after the supervisor announces, “Please stop work,” for that task. The supervisor is
authorized to dismiss you from the center for doing so.
Following the analytical writing section, you will
have the opportunity to take a 10-minute break.
There is a one minute break between the other test sections.