is gre essay optional

Should I Take the GRE If It’s Optional? Our Answer

If you’re a student facing the big question: “Should I take the GRE if it’s optional?”, or if you’re having a tough time deciding if the test is “optional” optional, or an unwritten requirement, you have come to the right place.

Don’t worry, we’ve got all the answers and solutions! We are here to offer our insight and provide guidance as you navigate this decision-making process. After all, who better to advise on something like this than those who have gone through it before? Let us share with you what we learned so that your path forward is clear and one that serves your future goals!

An ever-expanding number of educational institutions are now shunning the GRE.

With more universities opting out of the traditional standardized testing procedure for graduate school admissions, it’s becoming increasingly clear that there are other means of gauging a student’s aptitude and potential.

Over the last few years, a growing number of people have expressed their opposition to this exam. This is in part because data-backed studies have proven that it does not accurately predict which students will complete doctoral programs successfully. Other factors that have contributed to the abandonment of the GRE as an entry requirement include its hefty fee – a financial burden that can dissuade well-qualified students from applying to graduate programs – and how it is prone to creating disparities in race, ethnicity, gender identity, first-generation college status, and socio-economic background. In other words, if you are asking yourself: “should I take the GRE if it’s optional?”. You are very likely not the only one.

Educational institutions, faculty members, school administrators, and researchers are all calling for a more holistic admissions process that eschews GRE scores. This is a major milestone in the process of furthering equitable access to higher education and broadening opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds.

By removing this barrier, graduate schools can consider candidates on their merits and potential regardless of their ability to take standardized tests or afford expensive prep courses. As a result, a greater range of students can now apply without fear that they won’t be admitted based on test scores alone. Although the GRE may still be beneficial in certain circumstances, making it optional has opened up more possibilities for prospective applicants who want to pursue their educational goals.

When is it a good idea to take the test even if it’s optional?

For those considering graduate school, often taking standardized tests is a must. Yet some schools offer the option of submitting test scores as optional, leaving prospective students in a state of uncertainty about which route to choose: should I take the GRE if it’s optional or not? In such cases, what should be the ideal strategy?

Does foregoing test scores disadvantage prospective students from being considered for admission to “test-optional” schools? Should students submit their test scores even though the school they are applying to is marked as “test-optional”?

While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, we would suggest taking the test and submitting your results if you score well. Especially if other parts of your educational record are below average compared to admitted students. However, bear in mind that many individuals will be carrying out this same strategy. Therefore, generally speaking, submitted scores will very likely be higher than they would have been if everyone was required to include their test scores.

So, when should be the answer “yes” to the “should I take the GRE if it’s optional” question?

You have a low gpa.

Taking GRE is an important step for those applying to graduate school but who have a lower GPA . While your GPA may reflect academic performance in the past, the GRE can demonstrate your current aptitude and potential for success in graduate studies. While preparing for the GRE requires dedication, focus, and hard work , it could be a great way to show that you are committed to succeeding at graduate-level studies despite any challenges you faced in undergraduate education. Use this chance to prove yourself so that you don’t let your past GPA define you.

You have been out of school for a while

The GRE can be a great option for those who have been out of school for some time. If you are returning to higher education after some time spent honing your professional skills, the GRE can provide an opportunity to demonstrate your current skills and knowledge. The GRE often serves as a reliable way to demonstrate a student’s academic ability and potential to succeed in graduate-level studies regardless of the length of their break from formal education.

You’re applying to a quant-heavy program and don’t have relevant experience

The GRE can be a great tool to demonstrate quantitative aptitude and interest in quant-heavy graduate programs. Even if you do not have relevant academic or professional experience with quantitative coursework, the GRE is an excellent way to show schools that you are capable of performing well in these areas. The Quantitative Reasoning sections of the GRE provides an opportunity to prove your mettle in mathematics, data analysis, problem-solving, and other related skill sets. Moreover, many programs also accept scores from specific GRE Subject Tests as evidence of proficiency in certain fields like math, chemistry, or biology. So even if you don’t have background knowledge or experience in the subject area being assessed by the test(s), taking the GRE can demonstrate to schools that you are capable of learning and performing at a high level. It also shows graduate school admissions committees that you are truly passionate about the quant-heavy program you are applying for, which can make all the difference in determining your admittance into the program.

You are not 100% convinced your letters of recommendation will be outstanding

The answer to “should I take the GRE if it’s optional” should definitely a “yes” if you want to stand out from other applicants and make up for any potential shortcomings in your letters of recommendation. A great score can help bolster an application that may have weaker letters of recommendation or transcripts. If you are not certain about how strong or impactful your letters of recommendation will be, consider taking the GRE as a way to further increase your chances of success.

The program is competitive and you want to stand out

Taking the GRE before applying to graduate school is a great way for applicants to stand out from other applicants with similar GPA scores. It demonstrates that the applicant is willing to go above and beyond and invest time and energy into their education, which can make all the difference in admissions decisions.

When should you opt out of taking standardized tests?

As a rule, the affirmative is the best way to answer the “should I take the GRE even if’s optional” question. Why? Simply because it never hurts to find out about your own abilities. Showing that you are capable of academic success is essential, even for average applicants. To make it clear to the school that you can reach your full potential, performing well on one of these tests could be the difference between admittance and rejection.

Candidates with exemplary academic backgrounds and considerable professional experience don’t necessarily need to take the test to demonstrate their potential for success. However, taking it can be beneficial if they are also skilled at testing, as this could help them qualify for merit fellowships and further enhance their application.

Prospective candidates who are not strong test-takers and have lower academic transcripts than they would like often inquire what their best course of action is. A great way to demonstrate your academic capabilities is by completing additional graded courses in relevant topics, especially if you do not have other courses in your field.

Should you consider the GMAT instead?

While many quant-heavy programs now accept the GRE, many also present the GMAT as an option. Should you take the GRE or the GMAT ?

You should take the GMAT if:

One or more of your prospective programs won’t accept the GRE score.
A more thorough look at the wording on your prospective school’s website reveals that, while they may accept GRE scores, it is not necessarily their top preference
Your scores on GMAT practice tests are consistently higher than your performance on GRE practice tests.

You should take the GRE if:

You’re either still in school or just graduated and feel prepared for another test.
You want to save your coins. The GRE is more wallet-friendly than its counterpart, has a wider range of international test centers available, and has an at-home option for those who prefer it.
Your practice GRE test scores are better than your practice GMAT test scores.

Ultimately, deciding which exam to take should depend on your performance in practice tests. If the GMAT has yielded you better scores than the GRE, then it stands as a clear choice. Weigh out all potential options and make an informed decision based on what makes the most sense for you and your academic/career goals.

Exam Prep Tips

Preparation for tests can vary from person to person. For example, some applicants establish a particular amount of prep time to get the best score possible, then use their results to choose the right program for them. Others start by selecting programs and deciding on an expected target score based on the program’s average. With this method, they tailor their studying towards achieving that goal; scheduling exams when practice test results are close enough to hit that specific mark. You can’t go wrong with either of these approaches, so find what works best for your particular situation.

Test prep options

You have numerous options when it comes to studying for standardized tests, and which one is right for you will depend on how you learn best and what areas of the test require more attention. For those who often feel anxious or overwhelmed while taking tests, preparation is essential.

When weighing your options, it is important to consider the type of score increase you are aiming for, how much money you can afford to spend, and what resonates with you best. If you want to see a small but noticeable improvement in your exam scores, self-studying may be enough. But if you’re aiming for a more substantial gain, then it’s best to dedicate plenty of time and look into professional courses or tutoring sessions.

Self-study is the perfect way to learn more, whether it be through classic reading materials or web-based aids like practice questions and exams.
With online courses, the learning process is systematic and comprehensive. Not only do they provide an abundance of self-guided study materials, exams, and quizzes to track progress but also incorporate captivating instructional videos as well as easy-to-follow guides.
If you’ve always been a better learner in an academic setting, then conventional test prep classes might be the best option for your needs.
Tutoring, whether it be in-person or virtual, could be the optimal option if you’re someone who responds best to one-to-one guidance, or if there are specific topics that require attention during your studying.

Regardless of the approach you elect to take, maintaining a consistent and determined study routine will help you achieve your desired objectives!

In conclusion

We hope you have found our insight into the decision-making process helpful and that it has helped you find an answer to the crucial “Should I take the GRE if it’s optional” question. Whether or not you take the GRE is ultimately up to you, as every person’s academic journey will differ.

No matter what, however, never forget to embrace the challenge of reaching your goals and let nothing stop you from being successful.

The best thing to do when trying to make a tough decision is always to reach out for advice and guidance. If you’re still unsure about taking the GRE or need more help with your graduate school applications, don’t be afraid to sign up for a free consultation with us so that we can give our expert opinion on your specific situation.

Now that you know a bit more about what taking (or not taking) the GRE entails, get out there, show them what you’ve got, and crush whatever obstacle might stand between you and achieving success!

With a Master’s from McGill University and a Ph.D. from New York University, Dr. Philippe Barr is the founder of The Admit Lab . As a tenure-track professor, Dr. Barr spent a decade teaching and serving on several graduate admission committees at UNC-Chapel Hill before turning to full-time consulting. With more than seven years of experience as a graduate school admissions consultant, Dr. Barr has stewarded the candidate journey across multiple master’s and Ph.D. programs and helped hundreds of students get admitted to top-tier graduate programs all over the world .

Follow me on Instagram and TikTok for tips and tricks on navigating the grad school application process and weekly live Q&A sessions!

The New GRE AWA: Tips to Approach the GRE Essay

The content in this post applies in 2024 to the new, shorter GRE!

The shorter GRE introduced a faster, more streamlined experience for test-takers. As part of the changes, the shorter GRE AWA section was reduced to one essay (instead of two). Great news! So, how do you prepare for the new GRE essay? Read on to find out.

How does the new GRE AWA work?

The new GRE Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) consists of the Issue essay . You are allotted 30 minutes for your essay. The GRE essay tests your ability to write a cogent thesis statement that you must defend over the course of several paragraphs.

What is the Analyze an Issue essay?

Gre issue essay topics.

It could be argued that the most important technological breakthroughs have happened by chance and through surprise discoveries. However, others argue that deliberate, well-planned research with specific goals is the only way to ensure technological advancement.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position

The Issue essay asks you to respond to and analyze a general statement, like the ones above, that relates to politics, education, or culture. Essentially, you are taking a position on a complex matter.

Where can I find sample GRE AWA topics?

Good news! ETS publishes the entire pools of Issue topics and Argument topics on its site. The topics you see on your test will be drawn from those pools , so this is an essential resource. Learn more about the seven types of topics you might encounter in our GRE Essay Topics post.

How is the GRE AWA scored?

Deep in a dark room far, far away resides a poor soul who must sort through an interminable stack of GRE AWA essays. In a mere thirty seconds, that person must award a score from a 0.0 – 6.0, based on 0.5 increments. The grader is typically a university literature/writing professor who, according to ETS, has undergone rigorous training in order to qualify.

But that’s only half of the story.

This next part sounds a little nefarious — so hold onto your seats. Over the course of the last decade or so, ETS has developed–and it would say refined–the “E-rater”, an automated essay grader.

While it may seem that HAL , the diabolical talking computer from Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey , has been unleashed to wreak grading havoc on your essays, the “E-rater” is only used as a second “grader” to ensure that the human grader isn’t napping at the job. If the “E-rater’s” score differs by 1.5 points or more from the human grader’s score, then a second human grader will look at your essay, the master grader–who, presumably, resides in an even darker room.

Your final score is calculated by taking the two essays, averaging them, and then rounding the result to fit on the half point scale. At least for now, HAL has not completely taken over — the “E-rater” serves only as a check on human error. That is not to say that one day the two human graders will emerge from their dark rooms as anachronisms (as far as GRE AWA grading goes). Let’s hope that such a day never comes, the day in which admission to a top-notch grad school hangs in the precarious balance of a robot grader.

How does the GRE AWA scoring range work?

What exactly does it mean to get a 0.0, or for that matter a 6.0 on GRE Analytical Writing? Well, a 0.0 means you fell asleep, your forehead planted firmly on the keyboard, an endless series of gobbledygook forming on screen. A 6.0 is a consistently insightful and well-crafted essay, running a good 80-plus lines.

You may think I’m jesting with the 0.0, but really I’m not: those essays are deemed “Ungradeable.” Hence, very few students end up getting a 0.0, or, for that matter, a score below a 2.0. Indeed, the vast majority of students fall between a 3.0 and a 5.0.

So what exactly does it mean to get a 3.0 vs. 4.0, or a 4.5 vs. a 5.0? For me to really answer that it would take at least several pages, including example essays. Instead, have a look at the AWA scoring guidelines from ETS. The links to the sample essays are included below.

Is there anywhere I can get my essays graded?

While there is no better teacher than feedback, having someone give you an honest critique of your essay is difficult. ETS offers a service to grade your GRE AWA essays. But that is all you will get. A simple score. No feedback. People have tried, apparently, but nobody at ETS will provide feedback (apparently, the “E-rater” has not yet evolved to this level of sophistication).

Luckily, things aren’t quite as bleak as that. Over the years, I’ve seen many students asking for feedback on the forums ( urch.com , thegradcafe.com ) and munificent souls (usually GRE test takers with strong writing skills) provide insightful analysis. While that may not sound all that reassuring, remember that this feedback is free of charge and there really isn’t much else out there in terms of essay feedback.

More creative ideas on how to get your essay graded here , plus we have a downloadable GRE essay rubric . Let us know if you have any others, we’d love to hear them! 🙂

What do the graders look for?

The graders look for the three C’s: clarity, coherency, and cogency.

First off, you must express your ideas in a clear manner. If you jumble your words, or simply throw in unnecessary words, doing so compromises clarity. But your essay is not just one sentence with a clearly expressed idea; it is a set of ideas that should logically connect to one another. That is coherency.

Next you want to provide convincing evidence to back up your thesis. You can throw in some vague example, but doing so means your essay will probably lack cogency. Develop an example that cogently reinforces your thesis is key to a high essay score.

There are some other factors that play into the human grader’s assessment. Style is important; an essay with choppy sentences and unsophisticated vocabulary will be awarded a lower score, all other things being equal, than an essay with mature syntactical development and GRE-level vocabulary deployed felicitously.

There is also the issue of grammar. Even though the graders doesn’t set out to nitpick at grammar, as soon as you make the tiniest mistake, he or she will notice. Anything from improper use of pronouns to misspelling common words can negatively impact your score. At the same time, a grammatical flub or two won’t preclude an essay from getting a perfect score, as long as everything else about the essay is top-notch.

I should note that the essay grader takes around 30 seconds to grade an essay. He or she scans to make sure that you have clearly organized your information, and that your paragraphs start with a topic sentence and flow into specific examples that support your analysis. The grader looks to make sure you have a conclusion that articulates what you’ve already stated. He or she gives you a score and they move on to the next essay.

How long do my GRE essays have to be?

Believe it or not, out of two essays that are identical, save for length, the longer will receive the higher score. That doesn’t mean you should frantically scribble away, hoping that a seven-paragraph essay will automatically confer the much coveted ‘6’. Substance matters greatly. But as long as all the parts of your essay are there, you should shoot for a five-paragraph essay: an intro, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

I should also point out that six paragraphs a long essay do not make. Paragraph length matters too. And, of course, don’t forget that each of those paragraphs has to flow logically and clearly from your thesis.

How do I practice for GRE Analytical Writing?

Essay writing is tough. Practicing for the GRE Analytical Writing Assessment–given that it’s difficult to get feedback–makes things even more unpleasant: you write and write without knowing if you are really improving. But do not despair–there are sample essays, friends and family, and the ETS essay grading service, as well as many GRE writing tips you can use.

By simply writing often you will be able to write with greater command and facility. With diligent practice , words will not seem submerged deep in your hippocampus, but will spring to life on the page.

2. Don’t forget to outline/brainstorm

You must think about what you are going to write before you write. I’m sure many amongst you subscribe to the school of thought that if you write, they will come: the words, the compelling examples, and the nuanced logic. When practicing for the GRE, you must avoid this tendency and instead spend a few minutes coming up with a roadmap (either in your head or on the computer screen). At first this step will slow you down and you will want to go back to the old method. Be patient. Once you become adept at outlining, the essay will write itself.

3. Spend lots of time editing your practice essays

Though you won’t get much of an opportunity to edit your essay test day, sedulously editing your practice essays will make you more aware of your mistakes, both grammatical and logical. Correcting these mistakes will not only help you anticipate them in the future, but will also make the writing and logic in your future essays clearer.

4. Constantly read sample essays

By reading other students’ essays, you will develop a sense of what ETS is looking for. You’ll also be able to better judge your own essays. Throughout practice sessions you should keep tweaking your essays, so they get closer and closer to the next score up. So if you started at a ‘3’, then focus on getting to a ‘4.’ Once you think you’ve done so, shoot your essay over to the ETS grading service. Check out this sample essay to see what it takes to achieve your ideal GRE writing score:

5. Improve grammar

ETS explicitly states that it is looking for the quality and clarity of thought, and not grammar per se. Yet the two are closely related. So if you struggle to articulate something–and in doing so break a grammatical rule (or three!)–you will sacrifice clarity. Even minor grammatical errors (faulty pronouns, subject/verb agreement) will mar the overall quality of your writing.

How do I improve my grammar and style?

Between grammar and style, grammar is much easier to improve. Great style is much more elusive. Indeed, many writers have cultivated their prose style over years of assiduous practice. Rest assured though–to score well on the GRE your prose does not have to be fit for The New York Times . You do want to avoid choppy sentences by varying up your sentence structure. You shouldn’t be averse to trading a simple word for a more complex one as long that word is appropriate for the context.

A great book that offers writing advice, from dangling modifiers to how to construct compelling, dynamic sentences, is William Zinsser’s On Writing Well .

For a more stern approach to writing, Strunk and White’s Elements of Style has helped students for over half a century.

The only reason I mention both of these books is they focus not only grammar but also on style. Many grammar books should suffice, as far as grammar goes–but they are short on teaching writing style, which is a great skill to have for the GRE (and beyond!).

Are there any sample essays I can read?

It is one thing to read the guidelines for what constitutes a ‘6’ essay. In essence you are interpreting the information. But by actually reading you learn what the grader (and the robot) are looking for.

While sample essays abound in prep books, some of them appear written and polished over time, and thus don’t reflect the work of someone who is under the constraints for the essay.

The best source for sample essays are the released sample essays (completed with grader comments!) from ETS:

Sample Issue Essays from ETS

Sample Argument Essays from ETS

The essays here are actual student essays. Use these essays to assess your own level of writing. In other words, determine where in the 0.0-6.0 range you fall, based on the scores given to the other essays.

Chris Lele is the Principal Curriculum Manager (and vocabulary wizard ) at Magoosh. Chris graduated from UCLA with a BA in Psychology and has 20 years of experience in the test prep industry. He’s been quoted as a subject expert in many publications, including US News , GMAC , and Business Because . In his time at Magoosh, Chris has taught countless students how to tackle the GRE , GMAT, SAT, ACT, MCAT (CARS), and LSAT exams with confidence. Some of his students have even gone on to get near-perfect scores. You can find Chris on YouTube , LinkedIn , Twitter and Facebook !

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11 responses to “The New GRE AWA: Tips to Approach the GRE Essay”

Hi how much time does it take for the practice AWA to be graded?

Hi Gunjan, I’m not sure if I understand your question. Which practice AWA are you talking about? If you are asking about feedback from forums or other online resources, you’ll have to check with those websites or perhaps post your essay again. Please note that Magoosh does not provide essay grading and feedback at this time.

I got 2.5 score in awa how can i improve

These blog posts might be helpful for you: 12 tips to ace GRE Writing GRE Issue Strategies and practice essays

In order to improve in the AWA section, you should understand what the graders are looking for, have a strategy for writing a strong essay, and practice as MUCH as possible. I think these blog posts will help you to make a good strategy–don’t forget to keep practicing!

Thank you, Really it helps me a lot. but still i have confusion in argument Section, can you please tell me the deference between issue and argument

Hi Prachi! Sure 🙂 The Issue Task requires you to take a position and defend it. Usually it’s for or against some issue. The Argument Tasks asks you to read a short argument and then explain why it’s terrible. Hope that helps!

Hi! I got a poor score in AWA (2) and I did detect my fault that, in my issue task, I didn’t thoroughly agree or disagree, rather I agreed partially to the prompt and another mistake was I couldn’t conclude my essay with clear conclusive stand of mine, neither I finished my last sentence, let alone editing. Could u plz explain weather partially agree or disagree is allowed in issue task in AWA?

It sounds like you have done a good job of reflecting on your performance and identifying areas for improvement! That’s a great first step. In the AWA Issue task, it’s important to have a strong argument and clearly state your side. Your concession point shows that you have thought about the issue from different angles, but it’s important to stick to your argument and show how it is superior. We do not recommend that students take the “partially agree” approach, since it tends to ‘water down’ your argument and weaken your essay. Remember that this is an essay you are writing for a specific assignment–it doesn’t have to reflect your personal beliefs or ideas, as long as you can craft a strong argument. We have a lot of great resources for you to use to improve on the AWA, take a look 🙂

Thank you for this overall guide with lots of quality information for someone who is new to GRE like me. At the moment, this is quite sufficient for me to kick start my preparation for the test, which roughly happens in two weeks. Anyway, Thanks!

You’re welcome! Best of luck, Huy. 😀

i think it give us more idea in gre test.

Overview of the Analytical Writing Measure

Analytical writing measure (beginning september 22, 2023).

The Analytical Writing measure of the GRE General Test administered beginning September 22, 2023, assesses your critical thinking and analytical writing skills by assessing your ability to:

articulate and support complex ideas
construct arguments
sustain a focused and coherent discussion

It doesn’t assess specific content knowledge.

The Analytical Writing measure consists of a 30-minute “Analyze an Issue” task. This task presents an opinion on an issue and instructions on how to respond. You’re required to evaluate the issue, consider its complexities and develop an argument with reasons and examples to support your views.

You’ll use a basic word processor developed by ETS to type your essay responses. The word processor contains the following functionalities: insert text, delete text, cut-and-paste and undo the previous action. Tools such as a spellchecker and grammar checker are not available.

Analytical Writing Measure before September 22, 2023

The Analytical Writing measure of the GRE General Test administered before September 22, 2023, assesses your critical thinking and analytical writing skills by assessing your ability to:

construct and evaluate arguments

The Analytical Writing measure consists of two separately timed analytical writing tasks:

The "Analyze an Issue" task presents an opinion on an issue and instructions on how to respond. You’re required to evaluate the issue, consider its complexities and develop an argument with reasons and examples to support your views.
The "Analyze an Argument" task requires you to evaluate an argument according to specific instructions. You’ll need to consider the logical soundness of the argument rather than agree or disagree with the position it presents.

The two 30-minute tasks are complementary. The Issue task requires you to construct your own argument, while the Argument task requires you to evaluate someone else's argument.

Preparing for the Analytical Writing measure

Everyone — even the most practiced and confident of writers — should spend time preparing for the Analytical Writing measure to understand the skills measured and how the tasks are scored. It may also be useful to review the scoring guides, sample topics, scored sample essay responses and rater commentary for each task.

The tasks in the Analytical Writing measure relate to a broad range of subjects — from the fine arts and humanities to the social and physical sciences — but don’t require specific content knowledge. Each task has been tested by actual GRE test takers to ensure that it possesses several important characteristics, including the following:

GRE test takers, regardless of their field of study or special interests, understood the task and could easily respond to it.
The task elicited the kinds of complex thinking and persuasive writing that university faculty consider important for success in graduate school.
The responses were varied in content and in the way the writers developed their ideas.

Published topic pools for the Analytical Writing measure

To help you prepare for the Analytical Writing measure, the GRE Program has published the entire pool of tasks from which your test tasks will be selected. You might find it helpful to review the Issue and Argument pools:

Issue Topic Pool (PDF)
Argument Topic Pool (PDF) (the Argument task was removed from the General Test beginning September 22, 2023)

Test-taking strategies for the Analytical Writing measure (in the General Test beginning September 22, 2023)

Before taking the GRE General Test, review the strategies, sample topics, sample essay responses with rater commentary, and scoring guide for the task. This will give you a deeper understanding of how raters evaluate essays and the elements they're looking for in an essay.
It is important to budget your time. Within the 30-minute time limit, allow sufficient time to consider the issue and the specific instructions, plan a response, and compose your essay. You want your essay response to be the best possible example of your writing that you can produce under the testing conditions.
Save a few minutes at the end of the timed task to check for obvious errors. An occasional spelling or grammatical error won’t affect your score, but serious and persistent errors detract from the overall effectiveness of your writing and lower your score accordingly.

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GRE Essay: Why Is the GRE Essay Section So Important?

By Jitta Raghavender Rao • GRE Writing

The GRE Essay section sounds a bit intimidating, right?

Well, a perfect score on the GRE Essay section would need knowledge of obscure vocabulary, impeccable writing skills, and torrents of practice. But hang on for a second; because the GRE essay is more than just a score . It holds a lot more importance than you think. No. I’m not talking about the importance of language or coherence or logic; but the importance of the first ever section that you are going to face on test day.

I want to address some common confusion about the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) portion of the GRE exam. The AWA section involves two essays, and you get 30 minutes for each essay. And if you finish writing your first essay in 20 minutes, you don’t get 40 minutes for the second essay. If you aren’t new to the GRE format, you’d probably know that the GRE begins with the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) or the GRE Essay section . But, many of you underestimate its importance. You probably think that the GRE essay section is not nearly as consequential as the other sections. Yes, the essays are not part of your total GRE score and are instead scored on a separate scale out of 6.0 in increment of 0.5. Agreed; from the admissions point of view, a difference of 0.5 – 1 point on the GRE Essay doesn’t make or break your chances of getting into your dream school. A 5.0 is almost as good as the 6.0, and unless you score below 4.0 and you are applying to the top schools, you won’t be hurting your chances.

The Big Mistake Most Students Make:

Almost half of the GRE test takers every year are Native English speakers. And these students tend to neglect practicing the AWA section at home, because according to them, it’s not worth investing time on something they are very confident about. But, there are a few vital points that they don’t realize.

We’ve observed what students do when they practice for the GRE, how their approaches have affected their scores on test day, and figured out four reasons as to why the AWA section is an extremely important aspect of the GRE exam.

Reasons Why Practicing GRE Essay is Important:

1. inflated scores during practice.

This is the single most important thing to consider when we talk about the importance of the essay section. Students normally tend to skip the essay section when they take practice tests , so they can directly go to the first section of Math/Verbal. Though this might seem like the obvious choice to you, you should consider the aftereffects before jumping into conclusions.

Think about it. The GRE is not a typical test that you encounter at college or elsewhere. It is a marathon. An intense, 3 hour 45 minute journey, which obviously you aren’t accustomed to. Now, if you skip the essay section during practice, you’ll be forfeiting 60 minutes of the total test time, which means you are going to have to sit for 2 hours and 45 minutes only. This translates into an inflated overall score during practice, because you are just that much more active than you will be on test day.

So, you get accustomed to sitting for 2 hours 45 minutes for the test, and your brain is hardwired to concentrate for that much time only. But, on test day, you still have two more sections to finish after you complete 2 hours and 45 minutes. Do you get the point? It’s that extra one hour of concentration that requires sudden attention from your brain, which it sadly isn’t ready for.

This is exactly why thousands of students score very low on their last two to three sections. They simply aren’t ready for the extra time, because their brains feel tired already. So, if you don’t skip the essay during practice, you’ll be writing in the exact test conditions as on test day, thereby training your brain for the big encounter.

2. The Essay Section is a Great Confidence Booster

Since the essay section is the first thing you will see on test day, it is what makes or breaks your confidence. If you ace this section, it will be a confidence booster for the rest of the exam. You will definitely carry the momentum further into the test. But at the same time, if you don’t do well on this section, the momentum won’t be on your side. The added pressure and the worry that you haven’t done well till then, will have a massive effect on your performance thereon.

3. Very Few Get a Perfect Essay Score

According to this ETS Report , only 1 percent of all students writing the GRE, score a perfect 6.0 on the AWA . Which is around 7000 of 700,000 students every year. This statistic alone shows how hard it is to get a perfect essay score. And universities love students who score well in all the sections. They look for students who don’t leave any stone unturned. And it definitely doesn’t make a good impression on you if you have a great GRE score, but a paltry AWA score. So, it goes without saying that you will need lots of practice if you plan to score anywhere close to the perfect figure.

GRE Essay Percentiles

4. sops and essays.

Universities know that most students seek help from consultancies and professional essay writers to help with their Essays and Statements of Purpose. They believe that approaching consultancies makes the entire point behind essays and SOPs moot. Universities know for a fact that if you take help from professional writers, your essays and SOPs don’t sound original, because they all use a basic template that they tweak a little here and there based on your profile, and then send them away. Generally, university admissions committees use your AWA scores to judge whether or not you actually wrote your essays and statements of purpose. If your score is 3.0, for example, but your essays sound brilliant, they would know that you haven’t sent the application on your own. This creates a very negative impression on you, which you don’t want to see happen. Now, it may be true that some admissions committees won’t care as much. But are you willing to take that risk? What if you’re applying to your dream school, that requires you to present every advantage you can? Scoring higher on the GRE but failing to score on the essays doesn’t seem very prudent.

So, make sure you practice thoroughly and score well on the AWA section, so that even if you take help from professional writers, your essays and your AWA score don’t disagree with each other.

All things considered, it’s really not worth taking the risk, and a poor or nonexistent AWA score will not look good to admissions committees.

Now Its Your Turn

So, these are the reasons why you should ditch the idea that GRE Essay section isn’t very important. Start practicing essays right from the beginning, get a perfect 6.0 score, and give yourself some ego boost!

That is what we think about the GRE Essay section. What do you think? Let us know your thoughts about the AWA section in the comments.

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3 Comments to “GRE Essay: Why Is the GRE Essay Section So Important?”

Thank you for sharing this article,this article is veru usefull for me like what is GRE and How Should we prepare For GRE,Why is it Important.Keep on Posting

Yeah, I totally agree with every single word in this article and I’ll start preparing for AWA section from now on!

Having just taken the GRE test, I agree that the essay should not be neglected. It is difficult to adequately prepare for it unless you understand how to construct your answer in format required.

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Is the GRE Essay Important?

by Wadan Khan

In about the gre.

Time and again, students ask us the important question, Are the two GRE Essays Important?

If you are looking for a simple answer then there is none because the GRE’s analytical writing portion may not appear as important as the other sections because it only carries 6 points.

Moreover, these 6 points do not add to your verbal section, which is scored separately on a scale of 130-170. This may make you wonder if you can skip the two essays altogether or maybe do them half-heartedly.

Don’t let that deceive you, though; you will be surprised how crucial a role the two essays play when it comes to your admission to your dream school.

Let’s go over the basics first. The analytical section of the GRE will always be the first section of the test. You will be required to write two essays, 30 minutes for each.

In one of the essays, you will “Analyze an Issue,” and in the other one, you will “Analyze an Argument.”

The analytical section is scored on a scale of 6 in 0.5 increments.

There is something to note here: suppose you finish the first essay in 20 minutes instead of the allotted 30. The 10 minutes that you saved will not carry to the next essay’s 30 minutes. Hence, we recommend that you take the whole time slot and go over your essay to make sure there are no mistakes.

Are you looking for GRE essay examples or tips from expert writers? With several clicks you can buy an essay online from WriteMyPaperHub – it is a safe and legit service.

Let us now look at what makes the GRE essay essential and why you should care.

In this Article

Inaccurate Time Estimation

Setting the attitude for the rest of the test, personal statements and the role of gre essay, overall aesthetics of your gre score report, extra pressure to do well on language tests, the bottom line.

We often find that students who are overconfident in their writing skills skip the analytical section in their GRE mock exams when preparing for the exam.

This is a big mistake because the analytical section is an hour-long section of the GRE. In doing so, students don’t get accustomed to the GRE’s total length, which is 3 hours and 45 minutes. This can be a bit overwhelming on test day and will throw you off your game.

Starting on the right foot is significant for your attitude and confidence for the rest of the test. As you already know, the analytical section is the very first section of the test. If you do well on this section, it will set a festive mood for the rest of your test.

You don’t want to doubt yourself or panic over your grammar, vocabulary use, or sentence structure as you are writing the essays.

It would help you tremendously when you don’t have worries in the back of your mind as you move onto the next section.

As part of your graduate application, universities will require a written personal statement. Your statement generally includes an overview of your strengths, your work experience, your qualifications, and so on. It tells the admissions board what makes you stand out from the competition.

The problem is that Universities know that many students use third-party services to write their statements. This, of course, makes the whole purpose of the personal statement futile from the university’s point of view.

Imagine that you are a student who scored 3.0 on the analytical portion, but your statement is written immaculately. This will be a big red flag for the admissions office as they will suspect you of foul play.

Hence, it is far better that you practice for the analytical section before-hand. In case you choose to hire a professional for your statement, later on, it will not raise any suspicion.

Imagine for a moment that you scored a 168 out of 170 on the Math section. And a 165 out of 170 on the Verbal section. But a mere 2.5 out of 6 on the analytical writing section.

How would your score report now look? Of course, it wouldn’t look as pleasing.

So, while AWA score may not be a significant requirement of the program you are applying to, it makes your score report look ugly.

Moreover, scoring a 5.0+ on the two essays is far easier than scoring a 160+ on the Math or Verbal sections. Therefore, do take the AWA section a tad seriously and try to spend 3-4 days of your valuable prep time on them.

If you are a non-native English speaker, you will most likely have to take one of the two language tests, TOEFL or IELTS .

If you do bad on the GRE writing section, your universities will require you to do much better on TOEFL or IELTS writing. This would add to your woes as you will now feel pressed while taking these relatively easier language tests.

And we all know that needless pressure can make you act in a funny manner on the exam day. So, to avoid that pointless pressure on your language tests, it is better to do well on the GRE AWA section.

In summary, there is no real reason why you shouldn’t practice for the analytical section as you would for verbal and quantitative. It builds up your confidence early on in the test, helps you get acquainted with the test’s duration, and keeps you out of trouble in the admissions process. Plus, it is the easiest part of the GRE to get a great score.

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Home » Free GRE Prep » GRE Essays

Experience (Optional)

The Analytical Writing section of the GRE increases your score by 6.0 and most universities require a cut off range of 4.5 and above in this section. Therefore, it is vital that you obtain a good score to increase your chances of gaining admissions to the university of your preference.

Aspirants for the GRE exam will have to write two GRE essays under the Analytical Writing section. This section mainly focuses on the writing skills and critical thinking abilities of the individual. It evaluates the candidate’s ability to form and assess arguments, express, support any complex ideas and sustain a focused and coherent discussion. The Analytical section does not test the subject knowledge of the candidate. It is merely to check the writing prowess of the individual. This article delves into the following information which will assist you in preparing for the Analytical Writing section –

Categorization
Sample Topics
Basics of Writing
Essay Writing tips

This section is mainly categorized into two divisions :

The Issue essay – You will be provided with a general statement and you would be asked to analyze and respond to the same. The topics could range from culture to education or politics. You would essentially be asked to take a stand on the given topic. The Argument essay – This particular essay, requires you to scrutinize and review the logic behind the author’s position. The same is provided in the paragraph and will therefore require you to do a little bit more reading in comparison to the Issue task. The time allotted is 30 minutes for each essay. The writing is scored on a scale of 0 to 6 with 0.5 increments in the score.

Sample Topics

ETS has exclusively published an entire section of topics for both the Issue essay and the Argument essay . Unlike the essays which appear in books that would be written and perfected over a period of time, the essays on the ETS website are actual student essays. You can make use of these essays to evaluate yourself and your level of writing. There is also an option on the ETS where they offer to grade your essays so you will be able to gauge what score you would eventually end up with on your actual exam. The candidates need to be very well prepared for this particular section of the exam. The topics for this section could be anything and are very diverse. It is recommended that you are more socially informed and aware of current events across the world. This enhances your analytical skills as well.

Get the Basics right

In the actual exam students who take the exam online are given basic software to type in their essays. This does not support spell check or grammar mistakes, therefore it is essential that you are not dependent on the same while writing the essay. This is done to ensure that there is no disadvantage to the candidates who take the offline version of the exam. Your grammatical skills are also equally important and it is recommended that you are well versed with the basic 8 parts of speech (nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections).

Some of the books which will assist you to obtain a perfect score in the Analytical Writing section are :

Solutions to the Real Essay Topics – Vibrant Publishers: This book contains over 25 samples for both analyse an issue and analyse an argument topic. There are also pre-writing activities, which would assist you with why the writers opted for a particular point of view and used evidence to support their responses. Expert strategies and scoring guides for both the Issue and Argument tasks, make this a must-buy for any GRE aspirant.
Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis: Your ability to draft an exceptional essay depends a lot on your vocabulary. A good essay is highly dependent on your correct usage of words. This book helps you to learn many new words. It also assists you to understand the etymology of the words. Thus playing with words will become easier and more fun as you would know the parent words.

GRE AWA Essay Tips: Things to Remember

There are several factors that the graders look for while evaluating the GRE AWA essay. Some of them are:

Clarity – This determines your ability to be able to form simple clear sentences to get your point across. You are not expected to use very complicated words or any fancy sentences. You just have to use the words you do know very well to express yourself in the clearest way possible.

The next most important point is: Content – You will need to present your ideas with relevant reasoning, arguments and also give supporting examples. You should be able to elaborate on the given topic and support your point of view with valid logic.

Finally, the structure of your GRE AWA essay is equally important. There needs to be a certain flow to the essay which allows the reader to go from one point to the next and finally to the conclusion without any confusion. It is also necessary to use grammatically correct sentences since the evaluator pays utmost attention to this. Don’t make use of choppy sentences or incorrect vocabulary which may negatively impact your score. Having said that, it is essential that your essays are not too lengthy and that they don’t digress from the actual topic too much. Keep in mind that the content is extremely important. Efficient time management, outlining your essay, editing on practice essays and constantly reading GRE AWA essays examples are some of the strategies that will help you in achieving the coveted 6 scores on your essay.

How is the GRE AWA section scored?

The GRE AWA section is evaluated by a human scorer and an e-rater.

What is the GRE AWA score range?

The GRE AWA scores range between 0 to 6.

What does the AWA section consist of?

The AWA section consists of two writing tasks — Analyse an Issue and Analyse an Argument.

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GRE Timing Tips: How Long is the GRE?

The GRE clocks in at 3 hours, 45 minutes. The GRE consists of six sections with a 10 minute break after the third section. Here’s how you can expect to spend your time on test day.

GRE Test Day Timeline

*If your experimental section is math, your test will be five minutes longer than someone whose experimental section is verbal.

Biographical Information

The first section of the test collects all of your biographical information. If you fill this out, you will start getting mail from programs that have bought your name from ETS . If you don’t want them to sell your name, or you don’t want to spend the time answering their questions, you can click on a box that tells ETS not to share your information.

The scored part of the GRE begins with two back-to-back essays. For the Issue Essay, you’ll make a compelling case for your position on a topic and then analyze the logical soundness of another author’s argument for the Argument Essay. You have 30 minutes for each. Get a preview of what you'll face with these sample GRE essay prompts .

Multiple-Choice Sections

You'll complete five multiple-choice sections, but only four will count. The fifth is an “experimental” section. Keep in mind that the math, verbal, and experimental sections may appear in any order. At the end of the exam, you will know, based on the number of math or verbal sections, if the experimental section was math or verbal, but you will not know which section will not count toward your score.

Research Section

At the end of the test, you may also have an unscored research section that will be used only to help develop and test questions for the GRE. If you want to skip it, you have the option of skipping it.

Cancelling/Accepting Your GRE Scores

Before you see your GRE scores , you will be given the opportunity to cancel. But it usually doesn't make sense to cancel your scores. Most people believe they are doing worse while taking test then they actually are. If you cancel, you will never see your scores and you will have to go through the whole experience again. Plus, you can always make use of GRE ScoreSelect®, which allows you to select which scores get sent to which schools.

GRE Timing Tips

Any timed test will cause at least some level of stress. Try these GRE timing tips to stay confident on test day.

1. Accuracy is better than speed.

Slow down and focus on accumulating as many points as possible. Pushing yourself to work faster results in careless errors and lower scores. Don’t let that clock force you to make silly mistakes!

2. Take it all in.

Correctly answer the questions you know you can get right. This means it’s important to allow yourself to see every question. After all, question 20 could be the easiest one on the test for you.

Read More: GRE Verbal Practice: Questions & Explanations

3. Mark and move on.

If a question is not coming to you immediately, it is not necessarily something that you cannot answer. On the Reading Comprehension questions, for instance, you may struggle on a question that deals with the main idea of the passage. You may even have eliminated some answer choices. Don’t give up yet! If you have invested time and work on a particular question, press the Mark button and move on.

4. Try another question if you're stuck.

When you get stuck on a GRE math question , walk away. Do a few other problems to distract your brain, and then return to the question that was giving you problems

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How Much Do GRE Scores Matter?

Last Updated on April 29, 2023

Over the years, an increasing number of graduate school applicants have asked me, “How much do GRE scores matter?” However, even before the pandemic prompted many graduate programs to temporarily waive their GRE requirements, the question of how much weight GRE scores carry in admissions was somewhat complicated.

In this article, we’ll explore the relevance of GRE scores for grad school admissions, including at top grad schools, business schools, and law schools. We’ll also discuss the importance of earning a good GRE score as it relates to the various GRE sections.

Here are the topics we’ll cover:

The gre is a standardized metric, the gre is a filtering mechanism, gre scores could be the icing on the cake, gre scores may help balance the scales, top grad schools, business schools.

Law Schools

The Perils of Bombing the Writing Section

Key takeaways, what’s next.

First, let’s take a look at the reasons why the GRE gained such widespread use for evaluating grad school applicants.

Why Does a GRE Score Matter?

There are a couple of major reasons why GRE scores are important to graduate school admissions committees:

The GRE provides a standardized metric for comparing applicants.
The GRE provides a filtering mechanism.

Let’s delve a little deeper into each of these reasons.

Graduate school applicants come from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds and have a wide range of experiences. So, in a sense, comparing applicants can be somewhat of an “apples to oranges” situation.

Here is where the GRE comes in. The GRE is a standardized metric with which graduate programs can evaluate applicants. In other words, in comparing GRE scores among various applicants, admissions committees are able to compare “apples to apples.”

It’s difficult to say for sure whether an A in physics at one college is the same as an A in physics at another. However, admissions committees can feel confident that one applicant’s 330 on the GRE is equivalent to another’s.

GRE scores allow admissions committees to compare “apples to apples” when evaluating candidates with a wide array of backgrounds, experiences, and competencies.

As harsh as it may be, because the GRE provides a common metric for evaluating applicants, admissions committees can use it as a “filter” to weed out applicants whose test scores suggest they may not be able to cut it in a particular graduate program.

Although you’d be hard-pressed to find any grad schools that state specific minimum score requirements, low GRE scores can still be a red flag, particularly at schools where the competition is stiff or if your low score suggests a lack of competency in an area of importance for a particular program.

For example, if you’re applying to a master’s program in Economics or Computer Science, a low quantitative score could set off alarm bells with admissions. Likewise, low verbal scores won’t do any favors for applicants to master’s programs in Education or History.

The fact is, admissions committees want some assurance that applicants will be able to handle the rigors of grad school. The GRE is one straightforward way they can get that assurance.

In fact, some studies have shown a correlation between GRE scores and program completion, grade point average, and other important measures of graduate student performance. So, if a graduate program requires GRE scores, you can bet it pays attention to them!

Now, I just introduced quite a big “if,”, which gets at the heart of why the question of how much GRE scores matter is a complicated one. Let’s discuss.

Admissions committees may use the GRE as a “filter” to weed out applicants whose test scores suggest they may not be able to cut it in a particular graduate program.

When considering how much GRE scores matter, the first and probably most important thing to know is that every graduate program has different GRE requirements. Even at the same school, different programs often have different testing requirements.

Take Duke, for example. GRE scores are required for admission to a number of master’s and PhD programs at Duke, optional for a number of other programs, and temporarily optional (because of the pandemic) for many others.

As another example, at MIT, each of the Engineering graduate programs has its own GRE requirements. Furthermore, even within a particular field of Engineering, the GRE requirement may vary depending on what type of degree you’re interested in pursuing in that field.

The point is, it is absolutely essential to research the specific programs and degrees you’re interested in to determine whether they require GRE scores or have test-optional policies. Of course, if your desired programs state that GRE scores are not accepted or will not be considered, then the question of how much GRE scores matter becomes an easy one.

Research the specific programs and degrees you’re interested in to determine whether they require GRE scores or have test-optional policies.

Now, we can’t simply stop at whether GRE scores are required or optional in determining how much they matter. Let’s discuss.

Optional Doesn’t Mean Unimportant

Because admissions committees see GRE scores as a tool for evaluating and comparing applicants, the GRE can be an important tool for applicants themselves. When you use test-optional policies as a “get out of jail free card,” perhaps assuming that “optional” means “unimportant,” you rob yourself of that tool.

Let’s consider a hypothetical (but not unlikely) scenario. Applicant A and Applicant B are in the running for a slot at a competitive graduate program with a test-optional policy. Their GPAs and other markers of academic excellence are comparable. Furthermore, they have similar calibers of extracurriculars, internship experience, and recommendations. The big difference in their applications is that Applicant A submitted an impressive GRE score. Applicant B, on the other hand, did not submit a score. All else equal, which applicant would you rather be?

Even if a program has a test-optional policy, some (or possibly many) applicants will still submit GRE scores. There are two main reasons why:

An impressive GRE score could be “the icing on the cake” for an applicant.
An impressive GRE score may compensate for weaknesses in an application.

Let’s explore each of these ideas a bit further.

When you use test-optional policies as a “get out of jail free card,” you rob yourself of an important tool in your application arsenal.

When applying to grad school, you want to pull every lever possible to make your application look as attractive as possible. For this reason, I always tell students not to immediately discount the GRE just because the programs they’re interested in have test-optional policies.

You want to show off your talents, smarts, and skills in every way you can in your applications. A great GRE score is just another way to do that. If you can show off an impressive GRE score, why not do so? Moreover, if other applicants are showing off impressive GRE scores, you may feel more confident doing so as well.

Even if your academic and professional background already make you a competitive candidate at your desired programs, an impressive GRE score could be “the icing on the cake” that really makes you stand out as special. After all, maybe there are many other equally competitive candidates vying for seats at those programs. If you submit an impressive GRE score and they don’t, you may give yourself a leg up!

Keep in mind that some schools with test-optional policies state outright that they do not give preference to applicants who choose to submit GRE scores. However, even if such statements are true, submitting a great GRE score certainly won’t hurt your application.

Best-case scenario, your impressive score makes you look like a star. After all, if admissions completely disregarded GRE scores, would they even bother giving students the option to submit scores?

Even if you’re already a competitive candidate at your desired programs, an impressive GRE score can be “the icing on the cake” that really makes you stand out.

Undergraduate classes and GPA, internships and work experience, recommendations, application essays — all of these things matter in admissions. And if your application falls a bit short in one of these areas, a great GRE score can be a way to help “balance the scales.”

For instance, perhaps your GPA falls slightly below the class average at some of the programs you’re interested in. An impressive GRE score could help reassure admissions that you have the skills to handle the coursework in their programs.

Or maybe your undergraduate coursework was a little light in some subjects that are relevant to your chosen field of graduate study. In that case, earning a high score in the relevant section of the GRE could help make up for those gaps by showing admissions that you have the skills necessary to succeed in your chosen field.

If your application falls short in one area or another, a great GRE score can be a way to help “balance the scales.”

So, we know that submitting GRE scores can be important regardless of whether programs are test optional. Let’s discuss how these dynamics may play out in the context of particular types of graduate schools.

As we saw in the case of Duke and MIT, even top grad schools can have highly variable GRE requirements. So, again, you have to consider each school individually, researching the specific programs you’re interested in.

That said, if we’re talking about the most competitive schools out there — say, schools that rank in the top 10 — then in many cases, submitting GRE scores may be more of an “icing on the cake” situation than a “balancing the scales” one.

At such highly competitive schools, every applicant is going to be operating at a pretty high level. So, every aspect of your application will need to clear that bar in order for you to have a high chance of admittance. Thus, particularly when we’re talking about the top of the top schools, even a high GRE score may not be enough to make up for shortfalls in other areas of your application.

Particularly if you have a significant shortfall in some area, counting on high test scores to save the day is a risky bet.

On the other hand, at schools where every applicant is a “star student,” knocking the GRE out of the park could be one of the most powerful tools you have to distinguish yourself from the pack.

So, although top grad schools evaluate applicants holistically, at top programs where the GRE is required, I’d say that high GRE scores matter quite a bit. At top programs where the GRE is optional, a high score certainly can’t hurt. Moreover, in such competitive environments, it’s wise to use every tool at your disposal.

At schools where every applicant is a ‘star student,’ knocking the GRE out of the park could be one of the most powerful tools you have to distinguish yourself from the pack.

As you may know, essentially all business schools accept either GRE or GMAT scores from applicants. Furthermore, most business schools state outright that they have no preference for one test over the other.

More to the point, business schools as a group tend to place a bit more emphasis on test scores than graduate schools in general do. Whereas there is a ton of variation in test requirements from program to program at grad schools in general, business schools overall are more likely to require test scores and consider them integral to admissions decisions. (Again, every program has its own standards.)

Additionally, business schools tend to place particular emphasis on quantitative skills. So, if you’re planning to apply to MBA programs, you’ll want to pay particular attention to your GRE Quant score.

Now, we can’t say for sure exactly how much weight various schools place on GPA vs. test scores vs. work experience, etc. However, I do think that test scores are generally important enough in business school admissions that they can help balance the scales when you have weak points in your application and provide some serious icing on the cake when you need to stand out.

Of course, there are always caveats. At less competitive business schools, good GRE scores may go a long way toward making up for a lackluster GPA. However, at top MBA programs, high scores may not be enough to balance the scales.

Plus, GRE scores are likely to trend quite high at very competitive business schools. So, distinguishing yourself may require a truly outstanding score.

In general, business schools are likely to require test scores and consider them integral to admissions decisions.

Law Schools

You may have heard that more and more law schools are accepting either the GRE or the LSAT for admissions. Law schools are hoping to broaden their applicant pools by accepting the GRE — for instance, by attracting students who took the GRE for another type of graduate program but decided to switch to law.

At this point, however, the LSAT remains the far more common admissions test that law school applicants take. However, you may be applying to law school with a GRE score for one of the following common reasons:

you’re switching fields
you’re interested in a dual JD/master’s program
you want to have a variety of graduate program options available to you.

If you plan to apply to law school with a GRE score, I would consider the GRE just as important as the LSAT — which is to say very important! Note that virtually any ABA-accredited law school will require submission of either an LSAT or GRE score. So, in general, test scores matter quite a bit for law school.

Virtually any ABA-accredited law school requires submission of either an LSAT or GRE score.

Since the GRE is a relative newcomer to law schools, they currently evaluate GRE scores by comparing GRE score percentiles to LSAT score percentiles. So, you’ll want your GRE score percentiles to at least match the percentile rankings of the median LSAT scores at the law schools that interest you. In some cases, you may want to match the 75th percentile score associated with a class. (You can read more about what a good GRE score is for law school here .)

Make sure your GRE score percentiles at least match the percentile rankings of the median LSAT scores at the law schools that interest you.

Does the GRE Writing Score Matter?

Students asking whether the Analytical Writing score matters on the GRE tend to be those applying to graduate programs that emphasize quantitative skills. The fact is, the Analytical Writing section is no different from any other GRE section in that it may matter more for some programs than for others.

For instance, if I were applying to NYU’s M.A. in Journalism program, which requires the GRE, I would want to make the most of every opportunity to show off my writing skills and my ability to logically analyze issues. Thus, I’d want to knock the Analytical Writing section out of the park. (NYU reports that, on average, its Journalism grad students score at least 5.0 on Analytical Writing.)

On the other hand, even at top Engineering schools such as Carnegie Mellon or Purdue University–West Lafayette (tied at #4 in U.S. News’ 2023 rankings ), an Analytical Writing score of 3.5 or 4.0 may be perfectly acceptable.

So, in keeping with the theme of this post, research the Analytical Writing average scores at the programs you’re interested in to get a sense of how much the Writing section matters for you.

Research the Analytical Writing average scores at the programs you’re interested in to get a sense of how much the Writing section matters for you.

Even if you’re pursuing a math-focused field, completely bombing the Analytical Writing section could raise some eyebrows with admissions. For instance, scoring 2.0 or 2.5 on Analytical Writing could signal to admissions that you didn’t care enough to even try, particularly if you demonstrate writing ability in your application essays.

Even worse, admissions might wonder whether someone else’s writing ability is on display in your application essays.

So, I wouldn’t make the mistake of assuming that your Analytical Writing score won’t matter for a particular program or field of study. Unless your desired program explicitly states that it does not consider Analytical Writing scores in its admissions decisions, you can’t consider the Writing section a “throwaway.”

Remember also that, for highly competitive programs, all of your GRE section scores, including Writing, may need to be top-notch.

Don’t make the mistake of assuming that your Analytical Writing score won’t matter because you’re pursuing a math-centric program or field of study.

Remember, there are a few questions you should ask yourself when thinking about how much a GRE score matters for you.

Are GRE scores accepted at your desired programs, and if so, are they required or optional?
How competitive are the programs you’re interested in?
Are there any weaknesses in your application that a high GRE score, or high score in a certain section, could help make up for?

Wondering whether you should retake the GRE to earn a higher score for your target schools? This guide can help you determine whether a retake is right for you .

Need some strategies to improve your GRE score? Get expert advice on increasing your score here .

About The Author

Jeffrey Miller is the head GRE instructor for Target Test Prep. Jeff has more than fourteen years of experience in the business of helping students with low GRE scores hurdle the seemingly impossible and achieve the scores they need to get into the top 20 business school programs in the world, including HBS, Stanford, Wharton, and Columbia. Jeff has cultivated many successful business school graduates through his GRE instruction, and will be a pivotal resource for many more to follow.

What Is a Good GRE Score for Graduate School Admissions?

Experts say what qualifies as a good GRE score depends on the grad school you want to attend.

What Is a Good GRE Score?

iStockphoto

Grad school hopefuls wondering how well they need to perform on the Graduate Record Exam should understand that programs have varied expectations for standardized tests, admissions experts say.

Admissions officers suggest prospective students look up the GRE score ranges among admitted students at the schools they are considering and check if these schools have GRE score requirements.

Researching grad program admissions statistics can help you determine which GRE scores are good enough to qualify for acceptance at desired programs.

"A good GRE score is relative to the program you’re applying to," Pierre Huguet, CEO and founder of admissions consulting firm H&C Education, wrote in an email. "The best way to assess the value of your GRE score is to look for the latest average GRE data from the program you’re applying to. If these numbers aren’t available online, feel free to contact the department itself, as they are usually very happy to help prospective students with their applications."

People who complete the GRE receive three scores: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and analytical writing. Here's how the scoring breaks down, according to the Educational Testing Service, the nonprofit organization that designs and administers the GRE:

GRE Score Ranges

GRE test-takers who are unsure what type of graduate program they would like to attend can use the following data from ETS for guidance on what kind of score to aim for. The chart shows approximate percentiles from those who took the test between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2021.

GRE Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning Percentiles

Analytical writing percentiles, guidelines for setting target gre scores.

According to ETS, the mean verbal reasoning score among all GRE test-takers between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2021 was 150.61. Meanwhile, the mean quantitative score was 154.34 and the mean analytical writing score was 3.6.

A score above a 155 on the quantitative section would typically put a test-taker "in pretty decent shape," especially for programs that are less focused on math, says Ryan Starr, an instructor with Manhattan Prep, a Kaplan test-prep company. He adds that a score near or above 160 is generally good enough to get into most programs, though some top programs with a math focus might still want to see higher scores around 165. For verbal scores, anything in the high 150s or above is a good score, Starr says.

Experts say that math-heavy grad programs tend to desire students with high quantitative scores and put less emphasis on verbal scores. In contrast, grad programs in humanities subjects typically want students with high verbal scores.

"So a low math score, for example, won’t necessarily hurt your chances of acceptance to great humanities and social sciences programs, and a low verbal score won’t necessarily hurt your chances of acceptance to a competitive math-based program," Huguet says.

Andrew Selepak, program coordinator of the graduate program in social media at the University of Florida , says GRE scores that are good enough for someone to qualify for one grad program may not allow them to be a competitive candidate elsewhere.

It is "important for the applicant to learn the minimum score for the program they are applying to," Selepak wrote in an email. "But a few points higher or lower can make all the difference when applying for graduate school and it is important for the applicant to not only keep this in mind, but to also know the minimum score required."

Dozens of law schools in the U.S. and abroad accept the GRE in place of scores from the Law School Admissions Test, known as the LSAT. An EST tool converts GRE results into equivalent LST scores, and law schools can differ from each other in how they view GRE scores.

The Importance of Percentiles

Grad school admissions officers sometimes care as much about a candidate's GRE percentiles, meaning the percent of fellow test-takers who the candidate outperformed on each section of the exam, as they do about actual GRE scores.

"Ultimately, they want to know how you do compared to your peers," says Nellie Gaynor, a graduate school admissions counselor at IvyWise, an admissions consulting company. "A score of 160 on one test and 165 on another test can have two very different percentiles. I think it’s important to understand that in the context."

Anything in the 75th percentile or higher in all three tests will generally be good enough to get into most competitive grad programs, Gaynor says. However, some prestigious programs may want to see higher scores.

U.S. News data reveals that there are some grad programs where admitted students tend to have exceptionally high GRE scores, including the doctoral program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's School of Engineering . The average GRE score among MIT engineering Ph.D. students entering in fall 2022 was 161 out of 170 on the verbal section, 4.4 out of 6 on the writing section and 167 out of 170 on the quantitative section.

How Much GRE Scores Matter

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, many grad programs have become test optional. Submitting GRE scores can benefit an application, but it may not always be necessary. Experts suggest weighing the benefits of taking the test alongside the cost and time required for test prep.

For applicants who struggled in their undergraduate programs, strong performance on the GRE can demonstrate academic prowess, Starr says. Further, experts say that grad school applicants with subpar test scores can sometimes compensate by writing compelling admissions essays and submitting a strong resume

"Basically, most schools are considering your GRE score and your academic transcript in the same bucket,” Starr says. “If that bucket’s a little light on the academic transcript, then you top it off with a good GRE score essentially to give the schools some indication that you can handle the rigors of an academic program in a way that the transcript doesn’t show."

Many grad programs offer standardized test waivers for candidates who have high college grades or extensive work experience, so candidates may want to investigate this, experts say.

Grad school applicants who intend to take the GRE and perform well on it should prep for the exam thoroughly. Gaynor says most test-takers typically spend two or three months preparing, though that varies.

However, GRE test-takers who do not perform as well as they hoped should not automatically assume that a low score will prevent them from attending grad school, Huguet says.

"Of course, test takers should try to get the highest score possible on the GRE exam," he says. "However, there’s a misconception among graduate school applications that your GRE score can make or break your application. It is important to understand that the GRE is only one aspect among many others. Things like research or work experience, or published papers, carry much more weight in a grad school application than your GRE score."

Gaynor emphasizes that grad school admissions officers look at applicants' credentials in a holistic way, evaluating GRE scores alongside other information.

"I think you have to understand that it’s one piece of the admissions puzzle," she says. "Ultimately, you can demonstrate your verbal or your quantitative skills in different parts of your application. In a GRE-optional world, there’s lots of different options for applicants to put their best foot forward and still be competitive at top schools."

Searching for a grad school? Access our complete rankings of Best Graduate Schools.

10 Steps to Tackle a Low GRE Score

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Permanent Link: https://blogs.babson.edu/graduate/2012/08/31/the-optional-essay-and-why-you-should-opt-in/

Graduate Blog / Graduate Admissions

The optional essay and why you should opt in.

By Barbara Selmo | August 31, 2012

I have been blogging about how to embark on the MBA application process as a research project. But a recent conversation I had with a colleague (thanks, James) inspired me to jump right to an aspect of the application that many of you may not be ready for: the optional essay .

Like a lot of other business schools, Babson offers you the opportunity to submit an optional essay, that is, an essay in addition to the three required. Like other schools, we let you decide your topic. What is constantly surprising to me, though, is how few applicants really use this essay to their full advantage. Here are five ways in which you can successfully use this option, plus: a stylistic tip and a few examples of how misusing the optional essay can diminish your prospects as well as potentially alienate a very busy Admissions Committee.

1. Explain your undergraduate performance.

Don’t use this essay just to explain your low GPA, or why you did poorly in your major, or why in one semester you earned 3 D’s, an F, and a Withdrawal. Use it to explain what happened, how you overcame your performance. You can – and should – take time to address the bigger picture. The Committee would really like to read your answers, because they had these very questions after reviewing your transcript.

2. Explain your scores.

Being a bad test taker may be your reason for low scores, but if you chose to use your optional essay to explain a GMAT or GRE score, I recommend you set some context for your poor test taking skills/ability and provide some hard evidence. For TOEFL/IELTS takers, this essay is a great place for giving examples of why your English skills are far better than your scores (case in point—the essay itself is an example of your English skills).

3. Explaining your work history.

Serial temp? Travelled the world a little too long? Or, conversely, have some stupendous successes on the job? All these points can be masterfully addressed in a pithy, example-laden essay.

4. Special circumstances

College, test taking, work settings—your performance in all of these settings can easily be affected by a major life crisis or personal challenge. If you experienced a crisis, use this essay to explain, in a succinct and sensitive way, what we should know about it and its effects on you.

5. Successes, awards, special recognition

Although Babson, like many schools, has a section in the application in which you can enter awards and honors, you may like to describe in detail the honors and accolades you have received or the successes you have achieved. Please do.

STYLISTIC TIPS for the Optional Essay

Stick to the word limit, if given one. If not, 250 words suffice.
Write an essay (lots of on-line and old school reference material on the structure of an essay are available). Three short sentences do not make an optional essay.

And finally, how NOT to use the Optional Essay:

For excuses
For complaints
For repeating the contents of our website in an effort to convince the Admissions Committee that you really, really love us.

Good luck. Think big.

More From Babson Blogs

Posted in Graduate Admissions

Tagged Optional College Essay , Optional Essay , Optional Essay Example , Optional Graduate School Essay , Optional MBA Essay

MBA Resources

How to tackle optional essays in your MBA Application?

MBA & Beyond Team

17/12/2023 | 3:05 pm

When assessing a candidate’s profile for admission to a business school, adcoms evaluates an individual on different parameters. They take your GMAT/GRE scores, undergraduate GPA, professional experience, MBA application essays, and many other aspects of your profile into consideration. Each of these aspects has a role to play in presenting your applications; essays present your personality, resume exhibit your professional achievements and career progression, LORs provide a viewpoint on who you are, and scores help understand your academic rigor.

In all the profile evaluations we did, there is one aspect that baffles almost all the applicants with low GPA/GMAT- how to compensate for/defend it and present a strong narrative. Assuming you pay for it well, defending is where the MBA optional essay comes in and plays a critical role; writing an MBA optional essay helps an applicant give more information or clarity on the areas of the application that you couldn’t defend anywhere. The MBA optional essay aims to address your profile gaps and make a strong case for your candidature.

Learn how you can compensate for a low GPA/GMAT

The purpose of MBA optional essays is to offer you (the applicant) the benefit of the doubt rather than leaving questions totally up to the interpretation of an admissions officer. The MBA optional essay allows you to clarify any flaws in your application. Be it your low GPA in undergraduate, low GMAT, second MBA, education, job experience gaps, also if you have had any academic or legal misbehavior in the pastor or any other gap in your story such as why would you quit your current startup when your long term goal is to start a venture of your own. This article will help you understand how to defend your gaps in your MBA optional essays, thus presenting you as a strong applicant.

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MBA OPTIONAL ESSAYS?

MBA Optional essays are another opportunity for applicants who have gaps in their application that could not be clarified in other parts of your MBA application; this MBA optional essay allows you to address those gaps and increase your chances of admission to the B-school.

Along with managing the reasons for gaps in your profile, in this MBA optional essay, you can discuss what makes you a strong prospect in further detail. You can showcase your preferred talents, experiences, or background components by answering MBA optional questions. This will provide the admissions committee with a complete picture of who you are as a candidate and how you will contribute to the incoming class.

You don’t always need to write optional Essays. As the name suggests, they are optional, and hence write them only if you have apparent gaps in your profile that you would like to explain or you want to exhibit some strong aspects of your profile that you could not talk about in other parts of your application.

TYPES OF MBA OPTIONAL ESSAYS.

There are two forms of MBA optional essays that a school’s admissions committee may commonly request.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR MBA OPTIONAL ESSAY STRONGER?

USE THE OPTIONAL ESSAY TO DISCUSS RECOMMENDER CHOICE – It’s very common for employees to be hesitant to tell their present bosses about their plans to quit the company to pursue an MBA. Furthermore, many businesses oppose their employees’ decision to continue their education. In this circumstance, candidates seek recommendations from other sources, such as their clients, acquaintances in other firms, or mentors in different industries, which might backfire and negatively impact the situation.

LOW SCORE, GMAT/GRE – If your score falls below the school’s average or does not accurately reflect your ability, the optional essay is the chance to remedy it. You can also write an extra essay to explain why your verbal or quantitative score is so low. You might also emphasize how you have succeeded in other areas. Multiple promotions, leadership, innovations, and performance at work, substantial community service, or brilliance in extracurricular activities are just a few examples of how you might make up for a poor GMAT score.

EMPLOYMENT GAP – It’s possible that being fired isn’t the sole cause of a career history gap. You’re young and carefree, and it’s conceivable that you’ve been bitten by the travel bug and decided to take some time off to see more of the world and do new things. There can be many different reasons for gaps in your work experience but if it’s considerable, do not leave them unexplained.

LOW GPA – You don’t want to leave anything to guesswork or make your argument for a low GPA weaker.

Avoid putting things under the rug or being evasive. Assume you had a low GPA in your first two years because you suffered from over-committing and poor time management. In such a scenario, it’s fine to confess that mastering your time management abilities and learning to prioritize successfully takes some time. However, it indicates a great level of maturity and self-reflection.

Explain why a drop in grades is due to considerable hardship: you should not be embarrassed to mention if your grades are poor owing to exceptional circumstances, such as working part-time because a parent lost a job.

TIPS TO REMEMBER WHEN WRITING AN MBA OPTIONAL ESSAY

Stay as succinct as possible, if you can express your message in 50 words don’t drag your optional essay further. Come straight to the point.

Do adhere to the word limit (if none exists, it should not exceed the length of your statement). Usually, 250 words will be enough.

If you want the admissions committee to spend more time reading it, you should attempt to present your case thoroughly.

Use the optional essay to convey information not conveyed in your primary essay or application, giving you an edge.

Share no information that appears (or may appear) elsewhere in your application (data forms, short answers, etc.). You will just bore the hell out of the adcoms!

EXAMPLE OF A LOW GMAT OPTIONAL ESSAY SAMPLE OF A SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT

In the Essay given below, the applicant has clearly explained how he has a strong academic rigor and given the pieces of evidence for the same.

There is no particular format to be followed in the MBA Optional essays. You can simply talk about the particular gap and explain it and present evidence that irrespective of the gap, how you still have the respective quality in your profile which makes you a strong applicant for the targeted B-school.

Hope this article helped you understand better how you can tackle MBA Optional essays (if you should). MBA applications can be very confusing and sometimes, scary too. But with the right people and strategy, you can ace them with beautiful colors

If you’d like, we are happy to get on a one-on-one Profile evaluation call with you and help you understand your strengths, and weaknesses and create a roadmap for you to tackle MBA applications!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

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Standardized Testing Requirements
PhD/Master's Application Process

Please review the standardized testing requirements for your program of study and register for any required examination(s) as soon as possible. Testing centers and available testing dates fill quickly.

Use your legal name as it appears on your passport when registering for any standardized test (and also on your application for admission).

For more information, please review our FAQs on Standardized Tests .

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

The GRE is required for some degree programs at the Graduate School. Please check the table below to see if your program requires it.

Required = You must submit GRE General Test results.
Optional = You may submit GRE General Test results if you wish. If you choose to submit scores, you must follow any self-reported scores with official test results.
Not Accepted = Do not submit GRE General Test results. GRE General Test scores will not be considered when applications are reviewed. If you submit scores, they will not be reviewed.

Test requirements below are for the 2023-2024 application cycle.

Last updated July 7, 2023. Subject to change.

*Applicants to a combined degree program should consult both programs' admissions requirements and submit scores if either of the two programs require the GRE General Test and/or Subject Tests.

Submitting Official GRE Scores

Official GRE scores must be sent to Yale University, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, directly from ETS.

Use Institution Code 3987.
You do not need to enter an individual department code when sending your official scores. Institution Code 3987 is sufficient.
Paper score reports are not accepted.
Scores released to other schools at Yale University cannot be transferred to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
If you are applying to a PhD program associated with one of the professional schools at Yale, send your official scores directly to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Institution Code 3987) and not to the professional schools, which may have a separate code for applicants applying to other degree programs.
You should also self-report scores and any future test dates in your application.

The Educational Testing Service administers the GRE in the United States and abroad. For details and registration forms, visit their site at www.ets.org .

English Language Tests - TOEFL iBT / IELTS Academic

TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic is required of most applicants whose native language is not English.

You may be exempt from this requirement if you have received (or will receive) an undergraduate degree from a college or university where English is the primary language of instruction, and if you have studied in residence at that institution for at least three years. See "Exemptions" for more information.

Official TOEFL iBT scores may be used to fulfill the English Language Test requirement.

Scores must be sent to Yale University, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, directly from ETS.
Use Institution Code 3987.
You do not need to enter an individual department code when sending your official scores. Institution Code 3987 is sufficient.
Paper score reports are not acceptable and scores released to other schools at Yale University cannot be transferred to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
If you are applying to a PhD program associated with one of the professional schools at Yale, send your official scores directly to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Institution Code 3987) and not to the individual professional schools, which may have separate codes for applicants applying to other degree programs.

The Educational Testing Service administers the TOEFL in the United States and abroad. For details and registration forms, visit their site at https://www.ets.org/ .

Official IELTS Academic scores may be used to fulfill the English Language Test requirement.

We will only accept official scores submitted electronically by the IELTS test center via the E-Delivery service.
When you take this test, please specify Yale University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (also known as the Office of Graduate Admissions) as a score recipient. To identify us in the IELTS system, our address is Warner House, 1 Hillhouse Avenue, room 302, New Haven, CT 06511. Please do not send paper score reports to this address.
We do not accept paper Test Report Forms, nor do we verify Test Report Forms (TRFs).
We accept only IELTS Academic test scores. The IELTS General Training module is not accepted.

For more information and to register for the test, please visit https://ielts.org/

If you have received (or will receive) an undergraduate degree from a college or university where English is the primary language of instruction, and if you have studied in residence at that institution for at least three years, you are exempt from the English Language Test requirement and are not required to submit the TOEFL or IELTS.

No exemptions are made on the basis of an advanced degree (e.g., MA/MS or PhD) from any institution.

When you complete your application, you will answer questions about your native language and the primary language of instruction at your baccalaureate institution. If either was English, you will not be required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores when you submit your application. No separate documentation is necessary.

General Management Admission Test (GMAT) - For Applicants to Management (PhD)

The General Management Admission Test (GMAT) is acceptable in lieu of the GRE for applicants to the PhD program in Management.

To send official GMAT results, select Code 3TJ-30-78 for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Paper score reports are not accepted and scores released to other schools of Yale University cannot be transferred or used.

Please note, the GMAT Focus Edition is not accepted.

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The GRE Test Is Cut in Half: Two Hours and Done

By Stephanie Saul

The GRE, the nearly four-hour marathon of a test that has been the bane of many aspiring graduate students, is being cut in half. It will now take less than two hours.

The Educational Testing Service, the nonprofit organization that owns and administers the test, announced the changes Wednesday, tacitly acknowledging the test’s declining importance in graduate school admissions.

Changes to the test, the organization said, will include the removal of an analytical writing task, 46 fewer questions on the test’s quantitative and verbal reasoning sections and the elimination of an unscored section.

“These changes are intended to provide test takers with a better experience that values their time and reduces anxiety and fatigue,” said the organization, which is planning to implement the changes beginning with tests administered in September.

Other changes will include the faster release of scores.

The campus of Cornell University, with students sitting, scattered across the grounds.

Why it matters: Admissions tests are ebbing in popularity.

The changes reflect a general decline in the use of standardized tests, partly because of concerns among university administrators that the tests fail to predict success and that they may deter applicants from underrepresented groups.

Some studies have found that the tests handicap low-income and minority students, partly because wealthy students can improve their scores by taking expensive test prep courses. What’s more, the GRE test itself is expensive — $220 in most locations.

Boston University’s School of Public Health said that after it removed its GRE requirement in 2019, the number of Black and Hispanic applicants had increased, with no decline in student performance.

Background: They call it a GRExit.

A growing number of graduate programs have moved to make the GRE optional or to eliminate it altogether as part of their admission requirements.

Duke University, a prestigious private institution in North Carolina, announced last year that it would not require the GRE for most of its graduate programs, extending a test-optional policy that began during the pandemic.

Calling the phenomenon the GRExit, the academic journal Science conducted a survey of 50 top-ranked graduate programs in 2019 and found that 44 percent of molecular biology Ph.D. programs had stopped requiring the scores.

At the same time, some law schools now accept GRE scores in place of the standard Law School Admission Test, or LSAT.

Even so, the number of GRE tests taken declined to 341,574 in 2021 from 541,750 in 2017.

The decline mirrors similar declines in the use of the SAT and the ACT after hundreds of colleges moved to test-optional admissions for undergraduates.

The College Board, which controls the SAT, will also move to a shorter, online test, beginning in 2024 in the United States, following its introduction in other countries in 2023. The new SAT will take two hours rather than three and will feature shorter reading passages with one or two questions, requiring fewer responses.

What’s Next?

In a decision to be announced by the end of its term, the Supreme Court is widely expected to eliminate or limit the consideration of race in college admissions, meaning that undergraduate and graduate programs will no longer be permitted to give preferential treatment to underserved minority students in an effort to increase the diversity of their classes.

The decision is likely to place additional pressure on universities to limit or eliminate the use of standardized admissions exams as they move to more holistic admissions policies.

Stephanie Saul is a national education reporter based in New York. More about Stephanie Saul

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GRE vs SAT: sounds like an epic action movie, right? If you’ve taken the SAT and are currently preparing to take the GRE, you might be wondering how different (and how alike) these two exams really are. After all, both exams contain separate concentrations on reading, writing, and math. But does this mean the GRE is just a regurgitation of what’s on the SAT? Or is the GRE harder than the SAT?

Follow along in our GRE vs SAT guide as we take a look at the 13 key differences (and a few similarities!) between two of the most famous standardized tests. We’ll also investigate how difficult the GRE and SAT really are compared to each other, as well as whether or not your SAT scores can ultimately predict your GRE performance.

GRE vs SAT: 13 Differences

Let’s not waste any time! Below are the 13 major differences between the GRE and SAT, with explanations for each.

#1: Purpose

One of the most obvious differences between the GRE and SAT is their purposes.

In short, the GRE is used for grad admissions, while the SAT is used for undergrad admissions . Because high school juniors and seniors take the SAT and aspiring grad students (i.e., those wishing to pursue a master’s degree or a doctorate) take the GRE, most GRE takers are college graduates or college seniors .

The GRE is the most common standardized test required for grad school admissions . Whether you must take the GRE depends primarily on the programs you’re applying to. Many grad programs in the math and sciences, arts and humanities, and social sciences require or strongly recommend GRE scores.

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By contrast, specialized programs in medicine, business, law, and other fields usually require alternate exams such as the MCAT, GMAT, etc.

#2: Computer vs Paper

Don’t bother sharpening too many pencils this time around. The GRE is predominantly available as a computer-delivered test , whereas the SAT is only available as a paper-delivered test . (In countries where the computer version is unavailable, the GRE can be taken as a paper-delivered test .)

However, the SAT likely won’t remain a paper-delivered test forever. It has been said the College Board is considering offering the SAT as a computer-delivered test sometime in the near future, but nothing is set in stone yet.

Start saving money because you’re going to be spending a lot more on the GRE than you did the SAT! At $205, the GRE is significantly more expensive than the SAT , which is only $46 or $60 (depending on whether you complete the essay portion or not).

Moreover, additional GRE score reports cost more to send than additional SAT score reports. GRE score reports are $27 per score recipient , whereas SAT score reports are $12 per score recipient .

#4: Availability

The computer-delivered GRE is available year-round at numerous test centers around the world , making it an extremely convenient and ubiquitous test. As a result, you can also retake the GRE fairly often: every 21 days, up to five times in any continuous 365-day period.

As a paper-delivered test, the SAT is less flexible than the GRE and is administered only seven times a year: once a month from October to December and in March, May, June, and August.

#5: Sections

Although both the GRE and SAT test the same overarching topics of reading, writing, and math, their individual sections (and the number of questions in each) differ greatly.

The GRE is composed of four section types , two of which appear twice on the exam:

Analytical Writing (two questions, 60 minutes)
Verbal Reasoning x2 (20 questions and 30 minutes per section)
Quantitative Reasoning x2 (20 questions and 35 minutes per section)
Unscored experimental or research section (either an extra Verbal or Quant section; 20 questions, 30 or 35 minutes)

Because of the unscored section, in total you’ll get either three Verbal and two Quant sections or three Quant and two Verbal sections. The experimental section can come anytime and is not marked or indicated in any way, whereas the research section always comes at the end of the test and contains an indication that it is an unscored section.

On the SAT, there are five sections , all of which appear only once:

Reading (52 questions, 65 minutes)
Writing and Language (44 questions, 35 minutes)
Math No Calculator (20 questions, 25 minutes)
Math Calculator (38 questions, 55 minutes)
Essay (optional; one question, 50 minutes)

#6: Structure

The GRE and SAT differ significantly in terms of organization .

On the GRE, the Analytical Writing section always comes first. Afterward, the Verbal and Quant sections are completely random! So you could have two Verbal sections followed by two Quant sections or one Verbal, two Quant, and another Verbal (and so on). As mentioned previously, the experimental section is also random (whereas the research section comes at the end).

Meanwhile, the order of the SAT is always the same:

Writing and Language
Math No Calculator
Math Calculator
Essay (optional)

Prior to 2016, the SAT was a lot more random. It also used to include an experimental section as the GRE does currently. But since undergoing a heavy facelift last year , the SAT is now (thankfully!) much more predictable. Unfortunately, this means that the GRE is fairly unpredictable (and therefore possibly harder — but we’ll explore this idea more later).

#7: Adaptive Testing

As a computer-delivered test, the GRE uses adaptive testing to alter the difficulty of sections for test takers as they progress through the test. The SAT, however, is a paper-delivered test and therefore doesn’t (and can’t) use adaptive testing.

But what exactly is adaptive testing? On the GRE, each Verbal and Quant section “adapts” to your skills, automatically shifting in difficulty depending on the number of questions you’ve guessed correctly. For example, if you begin with medium-difficulty questions on Verbal and perform extremely well on the section, your next Verbal section will be of a slightly higher difficulty.

#8: Grammar

Unlike the SAT, which tests grammar knowledge via its Writing and Language section , the GRE doesn’t have a section focusing on the mechanics of writing .

On the GRE, Verbal tests your reading comprehension skills and vocab knowledge, while Analytical Writing tests your ability to lay out a cogent analysis or argument. So when you’re given a sentence or passage to analyze on the GRE, you’re being tested on your ability to understand what’s written rather than your ability to improve what’s written.

By contrast, on the SAT’s Writing and Language section, test takers must edit specific passages to improve for grammar, clarity, and overall flow.

Sure, you’ve got to write essays for both the GRE and SAT, but they’re not actually as similar as they sound.

Here is a table showcasing some of the major differences between the GRE Analytical Writing section and the SAT Essay :

#10: On-Screen Calculator vs Physical Calculator

Although you can solve math problems using a calculator on both the GRE and SAT, the GRE (a computer-delivered test) uses an on-screen calculator, while the SAT (a paper-delivered test) uses a physical calculator.

Your on-screen calculator will look like this on the GRE:

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As you can see, you’ll have access to all basic math functions (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) in addition to parentheses and a square root function. You can also click the “Transfer Display” button to transfer your calculator’s display directly to the answer box of a Numeric Entry question. To learn more about how to use the GRE calculator, check out our in-depth guide .

On the SAT, you must bring your own calculator for the math section. In addition, your calculator must be one of the brands and models approved by the College Board . Permissible calculators include a majority of graphing calculators and all scientific calculators.

#11: Calculator vs No Calculator

Again, calculators! On the GRE, you are permitted to use your on-screen calculator for help with any math question on Quant . But the truth is you might not even need the calculator at all because most GRE math questions can be solved without one. If you find the calculator distracting or don’t feel it’s helping you, you may choose to hide it.

The SAT, however, only lets you use a calculator on the Math Calculator section specifically. On the Math No Calculator section, which comes before the Math Calculator section and is significantly shorter , you must solve all math problems by hand. Concepts usually tested in this section include arithmetic, algebra, and geometry.

In contrast to the SAT, the GRE dedicates a large portion of its Verbal sections to testing difficult vocab via its Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions. Text Completion requires you to understand how a vocab word affects the overall meaning of a sentence, while Sentence Equivalence requires you to select two synonymous vocab words and fill in a sentence.

GRE vocab is typically considered one of the most challenging parts of Verbal. Many GRE prep books offer robust lists of potential vocab words, with some running as high as 3,000 words !

But the SAT doesn’t focus as much on vocab as it once did . Since 2016, the SAT has completely done away with Sentence Completion questions and now only sporadically tests vocab knowledge in the context of entire passages.

#13: Scoring

Finally, the GRE and SAT are scored using entirely different scales .

Let’s start with the GRE. Both Verbal and Quant use the same scale of 130-170 in 1-point increments (on which 130 is the lowest possible score and 170 is the highest). Sectional scores for Verbal and Quant are more commonly presented as separate scores rather than as a single combined score.

On the SAT, the two Math sections are scored together on a scale of 200-800 to get an overall Math score, while the Reading and Writing and Language sections are combined to get an overall Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) score (using the same scale of 200-800). Altogether, the Math and EBRW scores combine to produce a total SAT score on a scale of 400-1600 in 10-point increments .

As for the essay sections, both the GRE and SAT give separate writing scores on scales different from the ones they use for reading and math . On the GRE, Analytical Writing uses a scale of 0-6 in half-point increments as an overall score for both essays combined. On the SAT, test takers get three separate scores for their essay , each between 2 and 8 points (so a perfect score would be three 8s).

Side note: the GRE once used a scale similar to what the SAT uses now. Each Verbal and Quant section was scored on a scale of 200-800 in 10-point increments. In 2011, however, the GRE underwent significant revision and established the 130-170 scoring range in use today.

GRE vs SAT: 4 Similarities

So far, our analysis of the SAT vs GRE has provided us with a detailed look at the 13 key differences between the two exams. But are there any similarities, too?

The answer is yes! Below are four ways the GRE and SAT are a lot more alike than you might’ve thought.

#1: Multiple Choice

As is the case with most standardized tests, both the GRE and SAT are predominantly multiple choice . The only non-multiple-choice questions on the exams are the essay portions (for which you have to write entire essays) and a handful of write-in math questions (called Numeric Entry on the GRE and grid-ins on the SAT).

Really, you’re not dealing with anything new on the GRE. It’s still your basic choose-the-best-answer-choice formula!

#2: Reading Comprehension

Similar to the SAT, the GRE has a big focus on reading comprehension . On both tests, you’re given passages of various lengths for which you must answer questions or groups of questions centering on concepts such as theme, tone, vocab, etc.

Therefore, any tricks you used for solving these questions on the SAT can likely be applied to the GRE, too!

#3: Math Topics

For the most part, the math tested on the GRE and SAT is roughly the same.

Interestingly, although the GRE is geared toward college graduates, the GRE only tests middle school and high school math — no mind-boggling college-level concepts. In other words, you won’t have to learn any new math from scratch for the GRE (phew!). Just review your SAT math concepts and you’re good to go!

Here are the four topics tested on GRE Quant :

Data analysis

And here are the four topics tested on SAT Math :

Heart of Algebra (inequalities, functions, linear equations, etc.)
Passport to Advanced Math (nonlinear expressions)
Problem Solving and Data Analysis (percentages, ratios, graphs, etc.)
Additional Topics (geometry, trigonometry, etc.)

The only major difference between GRE and SAT math is that the GRE has a much larger focus on geometry , while the SAT has more problems dealing with nonlinear expressions. In addition, the SAT dedicates a small percentage of its questions to trigonometry and logarithms, which are entirely absent on the GRE. (Luckily for everyone, neither exam tests calculus!)

#4: Subject Tests

Both the GRE and SAT offer various subject tests for those who’d like to focus on more specific topics. GRE and SAT subject tests are usually only taken by test takers if required or recommended by a specific school or program (either undergrad or grad). These tests focus on a variety of individual topics, such as English literature, math, history, etc.

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The only major difference? GRE subject tests focus on college-level concepts and are therefore a lot harder than SAT subject tests. Also, the GRE offers predominantly STEM-related tests, while the SAT offers more language and humanities ones. At present, there are six GRE subject tests and 20 SAT subject tests .

So far, in this GRE vs SAT recap, we’ve covered a total of 17 differences and similarities. Now, let’s shift gears for a moment and try to answer some of our other burning questions: is the GRE harder than the SAT? And can your SAT scores predict your GRE scores?

Is the GRE Harder Than the SAT?

In truth, how difficult the SAT vs GRE is depends on a multitude of factors, including how much time you commit to studying, what kinds of topics you excel at, what your approach to standardized tests is, etc. That said, many claim GRE Verbal is harder than SAT Reading, while SAT Math is harder than GRE Quant .

Let’s start with the reading sections. GRE Verbal tends to test more academic and obscure vocab words than SAT Reading. On the GRE, vocab words must be analyzed using minimal context (i.e., in isolated sentences or paragraphs). On top of that, there are hundreds of potential GRE vocab words !

But math is the opposite. Although the GRE and SAT both test a similar pool of math topics, GRE Quant has a much bigger emphasis on arithmetic, basic algebra, and basic geometry, making it slightly easier than SAT Math . Unlike the SAT, the GRE doesn’t test any trigonometry, logarithms, or other upper-level concepts. Often, all you’ll need is a law or formula in order to solve a problem on Quant.

But the GRE can still be considered a more challenging test overall if you take into account its less predictable nature. These days, the SAT follows a rigid structure with 100 percent predictability. But the GRE is a randomized test; you never know which section you’re going to get next or whether your unscored section will be Verbal or Quant. Not knowing the exact order of sections ultimately makes the GRE more difficult to prepare for.

Can Your SAT Performance Predict Your GRE Performance?

Another common SAT vs GRE concern is whether there’s any correlation between SAT scores and GRE scores. And the answer? Not really.

In reality, most people taking the GRE haven’t taken the SAT in at least four or more years. (I didn’t take the GRE until eight years after I took the SAT!) Remember, the GRE expects you to have mastery of obscure vocab and basic math concepts , all of which you might’ve been great at in high school but possibly haven’t studied in several years! In this case, there’s no point in assuming you’ll perform well on the GRE, especially if you haven’t put in any active effort to studying for it.

Moreover, the two tests, albeit similar, have several big differences in structure and format . The GRE is less predictable than the SAT and it’s also entirely computerized. For example, if you’re great at taking paper tests and scored highly on the SAT, you might not do nearly as well on the GRE because you’re not used to taking computerized tests and working with an on-screen calculator.

All of this being said, sometimes standardized tests in general can pose a difficult challenge for people. If you struggled a lot on the SAT — whether it was due to the content, the time constraints, or other factors — it’s possible you’ll face similar struggles on the GRE.

The best way to combat any GRE fears or test-taking anxieties is to study all major GRE topics as often as you can and familiarize yourself with what the GRE specifically tests . This way, you’ll be 100 percent prepared and know exactly what to expect on test day!

What’s Next?

Want GRE study tips? Take a look at our guide to the best GRE prep books of 2016 and get tips on how to craft an ideal GRE study plan just for you!

Do you really need the GRE for grad school ? What kinds of applicants are grad schools looking for anyway ? Learn everything you need to know about grad school and admissions so you can get into the program of your dreams!

Curious how other exams compare? Check out GRE vs GMAT and ACT vs SAT analyses!

Ready to improve your GRE score by 7 points?

Author: Hannah Muniz

Hannah graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in English and East Asian languages and cultures. After graduation, she taught English in Japan for two years via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel. View all posts by Hannah Muniz

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COMMENTS

Should I Take the GRE If It's Optional? Our Answer
The answer to "should I take the GRE if it's optional" should definitely a "yes" if you want to stand out from other applicants and make up for any potential shortcomings in your letters of recommendation. A great score can help bolster an application that may have weaker letters of recommendation or transcripts.
The New GRE AWA: Tips to Approach the GRE Essay
Once you become adept at outlining, the essay will write itself. 3. Spend lots of time editing your practice essays. Though you won't get much of an opportunity to edit your essay test day, sedulously editing your practice essays will make you more aware of your mistakes, both grammatical and logical.
GRE General Test Analytical Writing Overview
The Analytical Writing measure of the GRE General Test administered before September 22, 2023, assesses your critical thinking and analytical writing skills by assessing your ability to: articulate and support complex ideas. construct and evaluate arguments. sustain a focused and coherent discussion. It doesn't assess specific content knowledge.
Is 'optional' really 'optional' for submitting GRE scores?
Admissions committees may question your judgement if you add weaker scores. You don't want to stand out in a negative way. In summary, optional really does mean optional, at least at Vanderbilt. Add scores if they are strong and improve your application, but don't add scores that will not stand out in a positive way.
GRE Essay: Why Is the GRE Essay Section So Important?
2. The Essay Section is a Great Confidence Booster. Since the essay section is the first thing you will see on test day, it is what makes or breaks your confidence. If you ace this section, it will be a confidence booster for the rest of the exam. You will definitely carry the momentum further into the test.
The 15 Best GRE Essay Tips to Improve Your Score
Argument Tip 2: Only Write About Major Points. Because you only have 30 minutes for the GRE argument essay, you don't have to analyze every single facet of the argument. It's more important to analyze major features that contribute to the argument's efficacy (or lack thereof).
GRE Essays: Should I Care?
For the essays, you receive a separate score. This score is on a scale of 0-6 and given in half-point increments. Most people get between a 3 and a 4. Second, the GRE is a test required for a broad range of programs at a broad range of schools. Expectations and requirements when it comes to GRE scores vary tremendously, and it isn't uncommon ...
When to Submit an Optional MBA Essay
Commonly, applicants will write an optional MBA essay to explain or reveal one of the following kinds of issues: Poor academic performance in a specific class, semester, or overall; differences in universities' grading systems. Low Verbal, Quant, or overall GMAT/GRE score. Lack of a professional reference/recommender.
How Is the GRE Essay Scored? • PrepScholar GRE
After both of your essays have been scored by e-rater and human grader (s), your overall GRE Writing score is then calculated. To get this number, your scores on the Issue and Argument task are averaged together to give you a final Analytical Writing score on a scale of 0-6 (with 0.5 increments). For instance, if you got a 4/6 on the Issues ...
Is the GRE Essay Important?
The analytical section of the GRE will always be the first section of the test. You will be required to write two essays, 30 minutes for each. In one of the essays, you will "Analyze an Issue," and in the other one, you will "Analyze an Argument.". The analytical section is scored on a scale of 6 in 0.5 increments.
GRE Argument Essay: How to Get a Perfect 6 Score
This is the chart that the human GRE essay graders use for scoring the Argument essay on the real test, so it's the best standard against which to hold your own practice essays. Below, I've done a side-by-side comparison of the different criteria needed to get a 4.0 vs. a 6.0 on the Argument essay GRE question.
GRE Essays
Aspirants for the GRE exam will have to write two GRE essays under the Analytical Writing section. This section mainly focuses on the writing skills and critical thinking abilities of the individual. It evaluates the candidate's ability to form and assess arguments, express, support any complex ideas and sustain a focused and coherent discussion.
GRE Timing Tips: How Long is the GRE?
Optional: Depends: Select Schools/Programs: ... The Essays . The scored part of the GRE begins with two back-to-back essays. For the Issue Essay, you'll make a compelling case for your position on a topic and then analyze the logical soundness of another author's argument for the Argument Essay. You have 30 minutes for each.
The GRE is Changing—What You Need to Know
The most notable change is that the GRE General Test will be condensed to about two hours, significantly shorter than the four-hour duration of the legacy test. Each section, including analytical writing, quantitative reasoning, and verbal reasoning, will be shorter. The unscored experimental section and mid-test break will be eliminated as well.
How Much Do GRE Scores Matter?
Undergraduate classes and GPA, internships and work experience, recommendations, application essays — all of these things matter in admissions. And if your application falls a bit short in one of these areas, a great GRE score can be a way to help "balance the scales." ... At top programs where the GRE is optional, a high score certainly ...
What Is a Good GRE Score for Graduate School Admissions?
Guidelines for Setting Target GRE Scores. According to ETS, the mean verbal reasoning score among all GRE test-takers between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2021 was 150.61. Meanwhile, the mean ...
4 Top-Scoring GRE Sample Essays, Analyzed (Issue
Issue Essay 1: Technology and Human Ingenuity. The first of the GRE sample essays we'll be looking at is written in response to the following "Analyze an Issue" prompt: As people rely more and more on technology to solve problems, the ability of humans to think for themselves will surely deteriorate.
Optional Essay Example
2. Explain your scores. Being a bad test taker may be your reason for low scores, but if you chose to use your optional essay to explain a GMAT or GRE score, I recommend you set some context for your poor test taking skills/ability and provide some hard evidence. For TOEFL/IELTS takers, this essay is a great place for giving examples of why ...
How to tackle optional essays in your MBA Application?
LOW SCORE, GMAT/GRE - If your score falls below the school's average or does not accurately reflect your ability, the optional essay is the chance to remedy it. You can also write an extra essay to explain why your verbal or quantitative score is so low. You might also emphasize how you have succeeded in other areas.
Standardized Testing Requirements
Optional = You may submit GRE General Test results if you wish. If you choose to submit scores, you must follow any self-reported scores with official test results. Not Accepted = Do not submit GRE General Test results. GRE General Test scores will not be considered when applications are reviewed. If you submit scores, they will not be reviewed.
328 Official GRE Essay Topics to Practice With
PrepScholar GRE is entirely online, and it customizes your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses. We also feature 2,000 practice questions, official practice tests, 150 hours of interactive lessons, and 1-on-1 scoring and feedback on your AWA essays. Check out our 5-day free trial now:
The GRE Test Is Cut in Half: Two Hours and Done
The GRE, the nearly four-hour marathon of a test that has been the bane of many aspiring graduate students, is being cut in half. It will now take less than two hours. The Educational Testing ...
GRE vs SAT: 13 Key Differences • PrepScholar GRE
Essay (optional) Prior to 2016, the SAT was a lot more random. It also used to include an experimental section as the GRE does currently. ... As for the essay sections, both the GRE and SAT give separate writing scores on scales different from the ones they use for reading and math.

Should I Take the GRE If It’s Optional? Our Answer

An ever-expanding number of educational institutions are now shunning the GRE.

When is it a good idea to take the test even if it’s optional?

So, when should be the answer “yes” to the “should I take the GRE if it’s optional” question?

You have been out of school for a while

You’re applying to a quant-heavy program and don’t have relevant experience

You are not 100% convinced your letters of recommendation will be outstanding

The program is competitive and you want to stand out

When should you opt out of taking standardized tests?

Should you consider the GMAT instead?

You should take the GMAT if:

You should take the GRE if:

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The New GRE AWA: Tips to Approach the GRE Essay

How does the new GRE AWA work?

What is the Analyze an Issue essay?

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How is the GRE AWA scored?

How does the GRE AWA scoring range work?

Is there anywhere I can get my essays graded?

What do the graders look for?

How long do my GRE essays have to be?

How do I practice for GRE Analytical Writing?

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Overview of the Analytical Writing Measure

Analytical Writing Measure before September 22, 2023

Preparing for the Analytical Writing measure

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Test-taking strategies for the Analytical Writing measure (in the General Test beginning September 22, 2023)

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