While filling up MBA application forms anywhere in the world, chances are that you will be asked to submit the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores. These two are standardized tests to assess your skills and knowledge in terms of language, communication skills, quantitative and critical thinking.
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Here, let us take a close look at GRE, established way back in 1936 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in the United States. The test scores are used to evaluate candidates seeking admission to a wide range of graduate programs including general management education.
The programs that use GRE score for admission include Masters of Science (MS), MBA, MEM and a doctoral degree. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) owns and administers GRE. ETS is a non-profit private testing and assessment organization.
It is a computer-based test that is also administered in a paper-based form in places lacking computer facilities. You will be able to appear for the test at more than 1,000 test centers in over 160 countries. It is available up to three times in a month in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea. In those places where only the paper-delivered test is available, it is held up to two times a year in November and February.
The GRE tests Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing. It comprises the GRE general test and GRE subject test. The duration of the test is about 3 hours and 40 minutes with six sections. You will get a 10-minute break after the third section.
The Verbal Reasoning section seeks to assess your ability to analyze and draw conclusions from the discourse. You should find the reason for incomplete data, understand multiple levels of meaning, such as literal, figurative and the author’s intent. It also assesses your expertise in summarizing text, distinguish between major and minor points besides understanding the meanings of words, sentences and entire texts. You also need to understand relationships among words and concepts.
Quantitative Reasoning tests your ability to understand, interpret and analyze quantitative information. Your capability to solve problems using mathematical models also comes to play. It needs a good understanding of applying the basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis.
Analytical Writing tests your critical thinking and analytical writing skills. These include the ability to articulate and support complex ideas with relevant reasons and examples are evaluated. You will be required to examine the claims and the evidence.
GRE General Test is for those who want to enroll for various masters’ programs at the graduate level including the MBA, a joint degree or the doctorate.
The test provides schools with a common measure for comparing candidates’ qualifications despite their varying educational and cultural backgrounds. It supplements your undergraduate records, recommendation letters and other qualifications for graduate-level study. The scores form only one part of the admission evaluation and different schools may follow different criteria in assigning a due weight to GRE scores.
How does it benefit you? Good scores in the GRE helps not only in increasing your admission chances but also improve the possibilities of getting a scholarship. The GRE subject test is for those with a bachelor’s degree in a particular discipline but having a low GPA score or negligible work experience.
You can appear for GRE test once every 21 days, up to five times in a 12-month period (365 days). This includes even those instances where you had canceled the scores of a test taken previously. You have the option to take the paper-delivered test as often as it is offered.
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