How Many Questions Are on the GRE Exam?

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a crucial standardized test for graduate and business school admissions. The GRE examination evaluates a candidate’s abilities across different areas, including verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. Knowing the test structure, question numbers, and questions for each section of the GRE is critical for high scoring.

The guide here takes a comprehensive approach to the GRE general test, examining the analytical writing, the verbal, and the quantitative section. We shall also examine the GRE examination structure, its test pattern for the general test, and effective study techniques for success in the test.

GRE Test Structure Overview

The GRE test has three primary sections, which deal with verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning, and the assignment in the GRE analytical writing section. Though questions in each section differ in form, they are meant to measure various skills examined on the GRE. Knowledge of these sections is important for test preparation, as they are different from the GRE subject test and respond to frequent inquiries regarding the GRE.

The format of the GRE examination is divided into three primary sections:

• Analytical Writing Section
• Verbal Reasoning Section
• Quantitative Reasoning Section

The test has a well-established format with fixed questions per section and strict time limits. There can also be an unscored research section added, which does not affect the final GRE score but is utilized for research purposes.

1. GRE Analytical Writing Section

The writing section is the initial section of the test and contains a single task:

Analyze an Issue: Test-takers need to provide their opinion on a specified topic, backing it up with soundly argued reasons.

• Test time: 30 minutes
• Total questions: 1

The writing section is intended to evaluate critical thinking, clarity, and argument development.

2. GRE Verbal Reasoning Section

The verbal reasoning component assesses the candidate’s capability to read and understand written texts and use reasoning capabilities. There are two components:

• First part: 12 questions, 18 minutes
• Second part: 15 questions, 23 minutes

27 questions in all

The GRE verbal consists of three major types of questions:

• Reading Comprehension Questions – Test-takers are required to read the passages and provide answers based on the given text.
• Text Completion Questions – Candidates must fill in blanks in a passage by selecting the correct words.
• Sentence Equivalence Questions – A sentence with a missing word requires selecting two correct options that provide the same meaning.

Breakdown of questions:

• 4 text completion questions
• 7 or 8 TC questions
• 4 sentence equivalence questions
• 7 or 8 SE questions

3. GRE Quantitative Reasoning Section

The quantitative section assesses problem-solving skills and fundamental mathematical concepts. Like the verbal, it consists of two parts:

• First quantitative reasoning section: 12 questions, 21 minutes
• Second quant section: 15 questions, 26 minutes

Total questions: 27

Types of Questions in the Quantitative Section:

• Quantitative Comparison Questions
• Multiple-choice Questions (Single and Multiple Answers)
• Numeric Entry Questions
• Data Interpretation Questions

These sections include:

• Math questions covering algebra, geometry, and data analysis.
• Reasoning questions that examine logic and problem-solving skills.

Detailed Breakdown of the GRE Test Format

The format of the GRE test is designed to evaluate critical thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills. Every section contains a set number of questions and time limits, so time management is critical. Understanding how questions are written in each section and the questions of each kind that appear is helpful in strategic preparation.

Since GRE can ask different skill sets, it would be helpful to understand what can be asked on the test. Whether you appear for one test of GRE or several attempts, working through standard questions can help eliminate doubt and improve performance.

Section	Number of Questions	Time Allotted
Analytical Writing	1	30 minutes
Verbal Reasoning	27	41 minutes
Quantitative Reasoning	27	47 minutes
Total	55	118 minutes

Understanding the GRE Exam Pattern 2025

The exam pattern for the general test has remained largely stable, but the GRE examination length may vary slightly as questions consist of different formats. To score well on the GRE, understanding roughly how many questions in each verbal part is crucial. The verbal questions on the GRE contribute significantly to the GRE number of questions, and each section’s questions require specific analytical and reasoning skills. Additionally, there are many questions of each type, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of a test-taker’s abilities.

Some key aspects of the GRE examination pattern 2025 include:

• Three primary sections: verbal reasoning, quant, and analytical writing.
• The verbal and quant sections contain relatively few questions, making accuracy crucial.
• Many test-takers find the reasoning and quant sections challenging.
• The test duration breaks provide short rest intervals between sections.

GRE Number of Questions Types and Difficulty Levels

The GRE examination is designed to assess a candidate’s critical thinking, analytical writing, and problem-solving abilities through a variety of question formats. The exam includes multiple sections with distinct questions, ranging from verbal challenges to quant problems.

Each section presents questions of varying difficulty, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of a test-taker’s ability to analyze information, interpret data, and apply logical reasoning. Understanding the structure and difficulty levels of these questions is crucial for effective preparation and achieving a good score.

The GRE is made up of different sections, including two quant sections, each containing 27 quantitative questions. These sections require problem-solving skills and analytical reasoning, often presenting many answer choices to select from. To succeed in both the test and the GRE as a whole, test-takers must develop effective strategies to tackle each question type efficiently.

The GRE question types include:

• Text completion questions
• Sentence equivalence questions
• Reading comprehension questions
• Data interpretation questions
• Quantitative comparison questions
• Multiple-choice questions
• Numeric entry questions

Each section is designed to test different skills essential for graduate-level coursework.

The total questions on the GRE includes:

• Verbal and quantitative: 54 questions
• Analytical writing: 1 task

Since the test questions are adaptive, the difficulty of the first quant section determines the complexity of the second quantitative section.

What are the Best Ways for a Good GRE Preparation?

The GRE examination test prep requires a strategic approach, as it evaluates multiple skills across GRE verbal and quant sections, along with the writing section. A well-planned study schedule, familiarity with the main question types in GRE, and regular practice with questions can significantly boost your performance.

Understanding questions in each GRE verbal section, including how half of the verbal questions are split among different formats, helps in managing time effectively. Since the GRE may introduce slight variations in question difficulty, focusing on diverse question types ensures comprehensive preparation. Knowing the total on your exam and refining test-taking strategies with official GRE prep books and mock exams can enhance confidence and maximize your score.

A strong GRE study strategy is necessary to achieve a good score. Here are some tips for preparing for the GRE effectively:

1. Familiarize yourself with the GRE examination format and types of GRE questions.
2. Many prep books offer sample questions and practice tests.
3. Solve verbal and quant problems regularly to build confidence.
4. Since time per question will vary, work on pacing strategies.
5. Access expert strategies and insights from sources like the TTP GRE blog for better GRE preparation.

If you prefer taking the GRE at home, ensure that you meet the test requirements and technical setup guidelines before test day.

Top 25 Foreign Universities With their Required GRE Scores

Selecting the right university is a pivotal decision for prospective graduate students, especially when considering factors such as required GRE scores, tuition fees, potential post-graduation salaries, and available courses.

Below is a table highlighting 25 top universities, their average GRE scores, tuition fees, average starting salaries, and notable courses offered.

University	Average GRE Score	Tuition Fee (USD)	Average Starting Salary (USD)	Notable Courses
Stanford University	330	$150,000	$220,000	MBA, Executive Education
Harvard University	325	$146,880	$210,000	MBA, Doctoral Programs
Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania)	324	$162,756	$211,000	MBA, Finance, Marketing
INSEAD	320	$115,000	$180,000	MBA, Global Executive MBA
London Business School	320	$120,000	$190,000	MBA, Masters in Finance
MIT	330	$148,400	$200,000	MBA, Business Analytics
Columbia University	326	$158,000	$208,000	MBA, Executive MBA
HEC Paris	320	$115,000	$175,000	MBA, Masters in Management
University of Chicago	328	$144,000	$190,000	MBA, PhD Programs
IE Business School	320	$85,000	$160,000	International MBA, Tech MBA
Northwestern University (Kellogg)	327	$150,000	$180,000	MBA, Executive MBA
University of Cambridge (Judge)	320	$74,000	$160,000	MBA, Masters in Entrepreneurship
NYU	324	$150,000	$195,000	MBA, FinTech, Data Analytics
IESE Business School	320	$100,000	$175,000	MBA, Executive MBA
University of Oxford (Saïd)	320	$82,000	$165,000	MBA, Masters in Financial Economics
ESADE Business School	320	$72,000	$150,000	MBA, MSc in International Management
University of California, Berkeley (Haas)	330	$119,000	$185,000	MBA, Masters in Financial Engineering
Yale University	325	$142,000	$180,000	MBA, Executive MBA
Duke University (Fuqua)	320	$140,000	$175,000	MBA, Health Sector Management
Indian School of Business	320	$55,000	$145,000	Post Graduate Program in Management, Executive Education
University of Michigan (Ross)	325	$144,000	$170,000	MBA, Masters in Supply Chain Management
University of Toronto (Rotman)	320	$100,000	$160,000	MBA, Masters of Finance
California Institute of Technology	331	$89,062	Data Not Available	Engineering, Applied Science
University of Alabama – Huntsville	305	$20,774	Data Not Available	Engineering, Business
University of Louisiana – Lafayette	300	$14,104	Data Not Available	Engineering, Sciences

Note: The above data is compiled from various sources and may vary based on the latest available information.

When evaluating these institutions, it’s essential to consider how each aligns with your academic goals, financial situation, and career aspirations. While higher tuition fees often correlate with higher starting salaries, it’s crucial to assess the return on investment and how well a program fits your individual needs.

Conclusion

Understanding the GRE test length and the total questions in each verbal section is crucial for test success. The reasoning and quantitative reasoning sections assess different abilities, while the verbal and quantitative reasoning parts measure critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The many questions in each section require focused preparation to maximize performance.

In the first section, test-takers must carefully answer questions to set the right momentum for the rest of the exam. Since applicants typically take one GRE exam, thorough preparation using structured study plans is essential for achieving a competitive score.

Now that you have an in-depth guide on questions are on the GRE, begin your structured preparation today! Schedule a call with our experts at Ambitio now! Join Ambitio Pro to take your dream study abroad journey to the next level!

FAQs