GRE Prep: What You Need to Know About the Graduate Record Examination

When you’re planning to go to grad school in the U.S. or other countries, you’ll likely run into the GRE, a standardized test used by graduate programs to assess readiness for advanced study. Also known as the Graduate Record Examination, it’s not just a formality—it’s a gatekeeper that shapes who gets into top programs. Unlike some exams that test memorization, the GRE looks at how you think: your ability to analyze, reason, and communicate under pressure. It’s used by business schools, engineering departments, psychology programs, and more.

The test breaks down into three main parts: Verbal Reasoning, how well you understand written material and draw conclusions from it, Quantitative Reasoning, your ability to solve problems using math concepts up to high school level, and Analytical Writing, your skill in building and supporting an argument in clear, structured essays. There’s no passing or failing score—schools set their own minimums. But if you’re aiming for competitive programs, a score above 320 (out of 340) puts you in the top 20%.

Many students think cramming for weeks is enough, but the real key is consistency. The best performers don’t just study—they track their mistakes, time themselves, and learn how the test tricks you. For example, the Verbal section doesn’t test vocabulary for the sake of it—it tests how you infer meaning from context. The Quant section hides easy problems behind confusing wording. And the Writing section? It’s not about fancy words. It’s about structure, logic, and clarity.

You’ll find posts here that cut through the noise. Some break down what top scorers actually did differently. Others show how to turn a weak area into a strength without spending hours on flashcards. You’ll see real data on what scores get you into which schools, how often people retake the test, and why some prep courses deliver results while others just take your money. There’s no magic formula, but there are proven patterns—and we’ve gathered them here.