GRE New Pattern 2025: Changes, Section Wise Exam Format

ETS, the exam conducting body of the GRE has made major changes in the exam. The GRE new pattern is implemented from September 22, 2023. The new GRE exam is shorter and more efficient for the test takers. One of the significant changes in the new GRE exam is in the exam duration and total number of questions.

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As per the new GRE format, the total exam duration is now reduced from 4 hours to just 1 hour 58 minutes. The total number of questions in the GRE exam has also been reduced from 100 to 55. Some test features like mark and review and an on-screen calculator have also been added to the latest GRE test design. Read the complete article to know more about the GRE new pattern 2025.

Latest Changes in the New GRE Format

One of the most frequently asked questions among aspirants is - What are the changes in the GRE 2025? ETS has introduced many changes in the GRE exam 2025, which are listed below.

1. GRE exam duration for the general test is reduced to half the time of the current test. As per the GRE new pattern, the overall test duration is about 1 hour and 58 minutes.

2. In the GRE new format, the number of questions is reduced in the verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning sections.

3. ‘Analyze an Argument’ task is removed from the analytical writing section.

4. The unscored section is removed from the GRE 2025 exam pattern.

5. The GRE subject test is now being administered on the computer and at home. The GRE subject tests will be offered in more GRE test centres and more test dates will be made available.

6. GRE subject test duration for the Physics and Psychology exam is two hours. The GRE subject test for Chemistry was discontinued in April 2023.

7. Test takers can now receive their official GRE test scores within 8 to 10 days.

Latest GRE Test Features

ETS has implemented the following changes in the GRE new format. These changes in the GRE test format 2025 ensures a smooth and hassle-free test experience for the test takers.

• Option of ‘Preview and Review’ in each section.

• Test takers can now ‘Mark’ and ‘Review’ their questions. This feature enables test takers to skip a question and return later if they have some remaining time in the section.

• The option to change/edit answers within a section is now available for test takers.

• Test takers can now use an on-screen calculator in the quantitative reasoning section.

What is The GRE 2025 Format?

As per the GRE new pattern, there are a total of 5 sections in 3 measures namely analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning. Below are the major highlights of the new GRE format 2025.

• The GRE general test is a computer-delivered test, the test takers will now have the flexibility to choose which question with a section they want to attempt first.

• Test takers can skip questions within a section and can change answers as well.

• The Analytical Writing measure will appear first in the new GRE exam and the Verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning sections may appear in any order.

Section-level Adaptation in GRE New Pattern 2025

In the GRE new format 2025, ETS has introduced section-level adaptation in the verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning measures. The difficulty level of the first section of each measure will be average. For the second section of each measure, the difficulty level will depend on the overall performance of the test taker in the first section. If the overall performance of the test taker in the first section is good, the second section will be of a higher difficulty level.

The GRE scores will be calculated considering the number of correct answers in both sections and the difficulty level of the second section in each measure.

GRE New Pattern 2025

Section-wise New GRE Format 2025

Through the GRE Test, the exam conducting authority examines the mindset and readiness of the test takers in today's demanding business environment. Candidates preparing for the GRE exam must check the detailed GRE test syllabus to have an in-depth knowledge of the topics to be covered during preparation. Below is the outline of the new GRE format for general test.

GRE New Pattern 2025 for Analytical Writing

Earlier the analytical writing measure in the GRE syllabus comprised two writing tasks ‘Analyze an issue’, and ‘Analyze an argument’. Now, as per the GRE 2025 pattern, there is only one writing task ‘Analyze an Issue’. The task can be from a range of topics from fine arts, and humanities to social and physical sciences. Test takers must note that they are not required to have any subject-specific knowledge. Rather, the task will evaluate the following points -

- If the test takers understood the task, they responded clearly and effectively.

- Test taker is supporting their answer with proper examples.

- Focused response and standard English writing.

To download the pool of issue topics - Click here

New GRE Format for Quantitative Reasoning Measure

This section of the GRE new pattern evaluates the basic mathematics skills and elementary mathematical concepts. There are two sections in the quantitative reasoning measure in which one section comprises 12 questions to be solved in 21 minutes, while the other section comprises 15 questions to be solved in 26 minutes. Test takers will also get an on-screen calculator. The following types of questions will be asked in the GRE quantitative section -

• Quantitative comparison questions

• Multiple-choice questions (Test takers have to select one answer choice)

• Multiple-choice Questions — (Test takers have to select one or more answer choices)

• Numeric entry questions

Major topics covered in the GRE quantitative reasoning measure are -

• Arithmetic

• Algebra

• Geometry

• Data analysis

GRE New Pattern for Verbal Reasoning

This measure comprises two sections which assess the reading ability of the test takers. There are 12 questions in section 1 and 15 questions in section 2, for which test takers will get 18 minutes and 23 minutes respectively. The questions will be MCQ bases or select-in-passage type. The verbal reasoning section majorly complies with three types of questions-

• Reading comprehension

• Text completion

• Sentence equivalence

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