Anticipating the GRE can be somewhat stressful because the test plays a crucial role in admission to most graduate programs throughout the United States and few other countries. One way to minimize this anxiety is to arm with knowledge so that test takers can know what to expect on test day at GRE test center. Learning about the GRE testing process would help to avoid stress and confusion on the test day at the test center.

GRE Testing Process : Computer-Delivered GRE General Test
The overall testing time for the computer-delivered GRE General Test is about three hours and 45 minutes. There are six sections, one of which is an unidentified/unscored section. The Analytical Writing section will always be first. The Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and unidentified/unscored sections may appear in any order; therefore, test takers should treat each section as if it counts toward their score. An identified research section that is not scored may be included in place of the unscored section. The research section will always appear at the end of the test.
✦ GRE Testing Process - Analytical Writing Section
On the Analytical Writing sections, test takers will have two separately timed writing tasks. The two writing tasks are delivered on the computer, and test takers must type their essay responses.
The testing software uses an elementary word processor developed by ETS so that test takers familiar with a specific commercial word-processing software do not have an advantage or disadvantage. The software contains the following functionalities:

• Inserting text


• Deleting text


• Cut and paste


• Undoing the previous action and scrolling.

✦ GRE Testing Process - Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning Sections
The questions in the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning measures have a variety of formats. Some require the test taker to select a single answer choice; others require to select one or more answer choices, and yet others require to enter a numeric answer. Make sure when answering a question after understanding what response is required. The Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning measures are section-level adaptive. The computer selects the second section of a measure based on the performance on the first section. An on-screen calculator will be provided at the test center for use during the Quantitative Reasoning sections.
In the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections, test takers are free to skip questions that they might have difficulty answering. The testing software has "mark" and "review" features that enable test takers to mark questions they would like to revisit during the time provided to work on that section. The testing software also lets test takers view a complete list of all the questions in the section on which they are working, indicates whether test takers have answered each question and identifies the questions they have marked for review.
Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning scores will be determined by the number of questions answered correctly by a test taker. Nothing is subtracted from a score if a test taker answers a question incorrectly. Therefore, to maximize their scores, it is best to answer every question.
GRE Testing Process : Paper-Delivered GRE General Test
The paper-delivered GRE General Test is a linear test with a total testing time of approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes. The test contains six sections. Unlike the previous paper-delivered GRE General Test, which used separate answer sheets, the paper-delivered GRE General Test is self-contained; one should enter all responses for the Analytical Writing tasks, the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections in the test book itself. Test takers will be provided with a basic handheld calculator for use during the Quantitative Reasoning section.
✦ GRE Testing Process - Analytical Writing
On the Analytical Writing sections, the two separately timed writing tasks will be presented in the test book. Test takers will handwrite their essay responses in the test book in the space provided.
✦ GRE Testing Process - Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning Sections
The questions in the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections have a variety of formats. Some require test takers to select a single answer choice; others require to select one or more answer choices, and yet others require to enter a numeric answer. A basic handheld calculator will be provided at the test center for use during the Quantitative Reasoning sections.
In the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections, test takers are free to skip questions that they might have difficulty answering and come back to them later during the time provided to work on that section. Also during that time, one may change the answer to any question in that section by erasing it completely and filling in an alternative answer.
Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning scores will be determined by the number of questions answered correctly by a test taker. Nothing is subtracted from a score if the test taker answers a question incorrectly. Therefore, to maximize the scores, it is best to answer every question.