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Thursday, July 7, 2011

Grad School and the New GRE

I can't help thinking that before I know it, the summer is going to be over and the time for taking the GRE and sending out graduate school applications will be upon me. As those of you who are taking the GRE this summer know (or should know), the format of the test will be changing beginning August 1st. Turns out, I scheduled myself on the first, so I will be one of many who will be taking the GRE in its new format. Woo! So the big question is - what are the differences between the new and old versions? Well, thanks to an article from redbus2us.com, I've got the answer:


GRE Verbal Section Old vs New Pattern

New GRE Pattern 2011
Current/Old GRE Pattern
Scores Range130  —170200  — 800
Types of Questions
  • Text completion Questions
  • Sentence Equivalence Questions
  • Reading Comprehension Questions.
  • NO Antonyms
  • NO Analogies
  • Analogies
  • Antonyms
  • Sentence Completions
  • Reading Comprehension
Sample questionsGRE Verbal New Pattern 2011GRE Verbal Old/Current Pattern
Score Increments1 Point increments10 point increments
Sections2 Sections1 section
Question per sectionApproximately 20Exactly 30
Time Allocated30 Minute Per section, total will be 60 Minutes30 Minutes

GRE Quantitative Reasoning Section Old vs New Pattern

New GRE Pattern 2011
Current/Old GRE Pattern
Scores Range130  —170200  — 800
Types of Questions
  • Multiple Choice questions
    - Select One answer Choice
    -Select One or more answer choices
  • Numeric Entry questions
  • Quantitative comparison Questions
  • Quantitative Comparison
  • Problem Solving
  • Data Interpretation
Sample questionsGRE Quant Reasoning 2011GRE Quant Old/Current Pattern
Score Increments1 Point increments10 point increments
Sections2 Sections1 section
Question per sectionApproximately 20Exactly 28
Time Allocated35 Minute Per section, total will be 70  Minutes45 Minutes

GRE Analytical Writing Section Old vs New Pattern


 New GRE Pattern 2011
Current/Old GRE Pattern
Scores Range0—60—6
Types of Questions2 Questions2 Questions
Score Increments0.50.5
SectionsOne SectionNo Section Concept
Question2 Questions or Tasks
- One Analyze and issue task
-One Analyze an Argument Task
2 Questions or Tasks
-One Issue task – Choose from two
-1 Argument task- No choice.
Sample QuestionsAnalytical Writing GRE 2011Analytical Writing GRE Old/Current
Time Allocated
  • 30 Minutes per task
  • Total 60 minutes for two tasks or questions
  • 45 minutes for Issue task
  • 30 minutes for Argument task
  • An unidentified Unscored section is same in both old or current and the new GRE pattern. This section may be included or may not be, it depends…if included, it will not counted towards part of your score
  • An identified Research section is also the same case, it will be at the end of the test in both new and old/current GRE.


Hope this helps for those of you studying!

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