GRE Revised General Test: Analytical Writing Question Types

The Analytical Writing section of the GRE revised General Test consists of two separately timed analytical writing tasks:

• An Analyze an Issue task
• An Analyze an Argument task

Analyze An Issue Task

The Analyze an Issue task assesses your ability to think critically about a topic of general interest and to clearly express your thoughts about it in writing. Each issue statement makes a claim that you can discuss from various perspectives and apply to many different situations or conditions. The issue statement is followed by a set of specific instructions. The specific instructions could be one of the following:

1. 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.
2. Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the recommendation and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, describe specific circumstances in which adopting the recommendation would or would not be advantageous and explain how these examples shape your position.
   

Text Completion Questions in GRE Revised General Test

Text Completion questions include a passage composed of one to five sentences with one to three blanks. There are three answer choices per blank, or five answer choices if there is a single blank. There is a single correct answer, consisting of one choice for each blank. The examinee receives no credit for partially correct answers.

Sample Text Completion Questions

Directions: For each blank select one entry from the corresponding column of choices. Fill all blanks in the way that best completes the text.

GRE Revised General Test: Verbal Reasoning Question Types

The GRE Verbal Reasoning section of the GRE revised General Test contains three types of questions:

• Reading Comprehension
• Text Completion
• Sentence Equivalence

Reading Comprehension questions appear in sets; Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions are independent.

Reading Comprehension Questions

There are three types of Reading Comprehension questions:

Multiple-choice Questions—Select One Answer Choice: These are the traditional multiple-choice questions with five answer choices of which you must select one.

About the GRE® revised General Test

In August 2011, the GRE revised General Test replaced the GRE® General Test.

The overall testing time for the computer-based GRE® revised General Test is about three hours and 45 minutes. There are six sections with a 10-minute break following the third section.

According to ETS: Since the GRE revised General Test, which was introduced in August 2011, features a new design and new question types, using test prep for the prior version of the GRE® General Test is not recommended.

Structure of the Computer-based Test

Analytical Writing

1. One section with two separately timed tasks
2. Number of Questions: One "Analyze an Issue" task and one "Analyze an Argument" task
3. Allotted Time: 30 minutes per task

VerbalReasoning

1. Two sections
2. Number of Questions:Approximately 20 questions per section
3. Allotted Time: 30 minutes per section

Quantitative Reasoning

1. Two sections
2. Number of Questions: Approximately 20 questions per section
3. Allotted Time:35 minutes per section

The Number of questions and the  time of Unscored and Research section,varies.

An unidentified unscored section may be included and may appear in any order after the Analytical Writing section. It is not counted as part of your score.

²An identified research section that is not scored may be included, and it is always at the end of the test.

The Analytical Writing section will always be first, while the other five sections may appear in any order.

GRE group; one word difference at the beginning

1. Gre word:  Benison vs. Venison
   Benison (n): blessing
   Venison (n): meat from a deer.
2. Gre word: Bolster vs. Holster
   Bolster (v): support or reinforce
   Holster (n): a holder carrying a handgun, typically worn on a belt or under the arm.
3. Gre word: Callow vs. Fallow
   Callow (adj): (of a young person) inexperienced and immature
   Fallow (adj): plowed but not sowed; uncultivated