In all cases the Analytical Writing section is the first section of the test, followed
by a 10 minute break. After the break, there are 3 sections, one of which is an
experimental section, which is not scored. The experimental section is used by ETS
to test new questions for use in future tests.
When taking the test, you will have either 1 verbal and 2 math sections, or 2 verbal
and 1 math section. You won’t be able to tell which section is the experimental
section because it will look like the real section, so just be sure to do your best
on all the parts of the test. Because now the ETS is testing its new test format
which will be used starting November 2007, it is in certain cases possible to tell
which section is experimental and which section is not. If you are allowed to use
an on-screen calculator for the math section or there are no antonyms on the verbal
section, then you are definitely taking an experimental section.
Analytical Writing
2 essays, 45 minutes and 30 minutes
The writing section of the GRE is meant to gauge analytical reasoning, organization,
and analysis skills. The two essays include an issue essay and an argument essay.
There are no right or wrong answers to the essay questions, and the essays will
be read and scored by 2 (and possibly 3) readers. For more information about the
essay section, and for writing tips, go to the essay tutorial section.
Break
10 minutes
Verbal
30 questions, 30 minutes
Includes 5-7 sentence completion questions, 8-10 antonym questions, 6-8 analogy
questions, and 6-10 reading comprehension questions based on 2-4 reading passages.
For more information on each of these question types, please see that tutorial chapter.
Math
28 questions, 45 minutes
Approximately 10 of the questions are problem solving questions (the standard word
problem, multiple choice questions), 14 are quantitative comparison questions, and
4 are data interpretation questions. For more information about the quantitative
reasoning questions, please proceed to the appropriate tutorial.
Experimental Section*
You will have a fourth, experimental section that will either be a math or a verbal
section. You will know if you were given a math or verbal experimental section because
you will have two of those sections during the test, but you won’t know which of
two identical sections will be experimental. The experimental section does not count
toward your score and can be the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd section after the break. The experimental
section is used by ETS to test new questions.
*In the above example, the experimental section is the last section, but the order
of the sections can be any of several combinations. For example, your test may be
math-math-verbal, or verbal-math-verbal, or verbal-verbal-math, etc.
