The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is a *Computer Adaptive test and is a pre-requisite for admission into different Master's and Doctorate programs in the U.S. It is a competitive examination and requires extensive preparation. It has three sections:
Verbal: 30-minute section (30 questions) — The verbal measure tests your ability to analyze and evaluate written material and synthesize information obtained from it, analyze relationships among component parts of sentences, and recognize relationships between words and concepts.
Quantitative: 45-minute section (28 questions) — The quantitative measure tests your basic mathematical skills and your understanding of elementary mathematical concepts, as well as your ability to reason quantitatively and solve problems in a quantitative setting. The content areas included in the quantitative sections of the test are arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. These are content areas usually studied in high school.
Analytical: 75-minute section — The analytical section consists of two writing tasks: a 45-minute "Present Your Perspective on an Issue" task and a 30-minute "Analyze an Argument" task. The "Issue" task states an opinion on an issue of general interest and asks test takers to address the issue from any perspective they wish, as long as they provide relevant reasons and examples to explain and support their views. The "Argument" task presents a different challenge: it requires test takers to critique an argument by discussing how well reasoned they find it.
Different schools have different GRE score requirements. Your scores better your chances of getting admission into a particular U.S. university.
*Computer Adaptive Test - In this test format, the computer adapts to the students intellectual ability. The initial questions are of average difficulty. On the basis of your answer you will be given a question of a higher or lower difficulty level. You cannot move on to the next question until you have answered the one displayed on your screen.