Free GRE Practice Test
GRE General Test Prep — Verbal, Quant & Analytical Writing
Last updated: September 2026
The GRE General Test is the standardized admissions exam used by graduate, business, and law school programs worldwide to evaluate readiness for advanced study. In September 2023, ETS introduced a significantly shortened test format — cutting total testing time nearly in half to just under two hours while retaining the same 130–170 score scales for Verbal and Quantitative reasoning and 0–6 for Analytical Writing. This free practice test covers the core question types across all three scored measures under the current, streamlined format.
Note on the Shortened GRE Format (Effective September 2023)
ETS shortened the GRE General Test from approximately 3 hours 45 minutes to 1 hour 58 minutes. The key changes: • Analytical Writing: Reduced from 2 tasks (Analyze an Issue + Analyze an Argument) to 1 task (Analyze an Issue only, 30 minutes). The Argument essay has been eliminated. • Quantitative Reasoning: Reduced from 40 questions (2 sections of 20) to 27 questions across 2 sections (Section 1: 12 questions, 21 minutes; Section 2: 15 questions, 26 minutes). Total: 47 minutes. • Verbal Reasoning: Reduced from 40 questions (2 sections of 20) to 27 questions across 2 sections (Section 1: 12 questions, 18 minutes; Section 2: 15 questions, 23 minutes). Total: 41 minutes. • Unscored/Experimental section: Completely removed. • Scheduled 10-minute break: Removed (the test is now continuous). • Score scales remain unchanged: Verbal (130–170), Quant (130–170), Analytical Writing (0–6 in half-point increments). If you're using prep materials published before late 2023, be aware that question types and difficulty are identical, but pacing and test length are substantially different.
Shortened GRE General Test Structure
Administered worldwide by Educational Testing Service (ETS), the GRE General Test evaluates verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills necessary for success in graduate, doctoral, MBA, and law programs.
- Analytical Writing: 1 task ("Analyze an Issue"), 30 minutes. Assesses critical thinking and the ability to construct a coherent, evidence-supported argument on a general topic.
- Quantitative Reasoning (2 sections, 27 total questions, 47 total minutes): Section 1 contains 12 questions (21 minutes); Section 2 contains 15 questions (26 minutes). Covers arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. Question formats include Quantitative Comparison, single-answer Multiple Choice, select-one-or-more Multiple Choice, and Numeric Entry. An on-screen basic calculator is provided.
- Verbal Reasoning (2 sections, 27 total questions, 41 total minutes): Section 1 contains 12 questions (18 minutes); Section 2 contains 15 questions (23 minutes). Covers Reading Comprehension passages, Text Completion (single, double, and triple blank), and Sentence Equivalence (select two synonymous words).
- Adaptive Structure & Timing: Total exam time is 1 hour 58 minutes (54 questions + 1 essay). The test is section-level adaptive — your aggregate performance on Section 1 of Verbal and Quant determines the difficulty level (and scoring ceiling) of Section 2.
- Scoring & Reporting: Verbal (130–170 in 1-point increments), Quantitative (130–170 in 1-point increments), and Analytical Writing (0–6 in 0.5-point increments). Scores are valid for 5 years and include ETS ScoreSelect, allowing you to choose which test date scores are sent to institutions.
Because the shortened GRE has fewer questions per section (12 in Section 1 and 15 in Section 2), each individual question carries more statistical weight in determining section routing and your final scaled score.
The 3 Scored Measures at a Glance
Analytical Writing (1 Task, 30 Minutes)
Single "Analyze an Issue" essay prompt evaluating critical thinking, clear articulation of complex ideas, supporting arguments with relevant evidence, and sustained coherent writing.
Quantitative Reasoning (2 Sections, 27 Questions, 47 Minutes)
Assesses basic mathematical skills, understanding of elementary mathematical concepts (arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis), and ability to reason quantitatively with an on-screen calculator.
Verbal Reasoning (2 Sections, 27 Questions, 41 Minutes)
Evaluates the ability to analyze and evaluate written material, synthesize information, analyze relationships among component parts of sentences, and recognize relationships among words and concepts.
Free GRE Practice Questions (Quantitative & Verbal Reasoning)
Given that x > 1 and y > 1 such that x² + y² = 25 and xy = 12. Quantity A: (x + y)² Quantity B: 49 Which of the following statements is true?
A graduate school cohort consists of 120 students across three disciplines: 50 in Engineering, 40 in Life Sciences, and 30 in Humanities. On a standardized qualifying exam: • The Engineering students achieved an average (arithmetic mean) score of 84. • The Life Sciences students achieved an average score of 78. • The Humanities students achieved an average score of 90. What was the overall average score for the entire 120-student cohort?
In the xy-coordinate plane, a triangle has vertices at P(0, 0), Q(8, 0), and R(2, 6). A line segment is drawn parallel to the x-axis from point S(1, 3) on segment PR to point T on segment QR, dividing triangle PQR into an upper smaller triangle STR and a lower trapezoid PQTS. What is the area of trapezoid PQTS?
Select the entry for each blank from the corresponding column of choices. Fill all blanks in the way that best completes the text. Although the initial findings of the archaeological expedition were widely celebrated as a groundbreaking revelation, subsequent carbon dating and rigorous stratigraphical scrutiny revealed the artifacts to be remarkably [Blank 1], leading historians to lament that the original excavators had been blinded by their own [Blank 2] expectations.
Select the two answer choices that, when used to complete the sentence, fit the meaning of the sentence as a whole and produce completed sentences that are alike in meaning. The CEO was known for her ________ leadership style; far from consulting her executive team on strategic initiatives, she issued unilateral directives and expected immediate, unquestioning compliance.
Read the passage and answer the question that follows: "For decades, paleoclimatologists posited that the Younger Dryas—an abrupt period of severe cooling approximately 12,900 years ago—was triggered exclusively by a massive breach of North American glacial lakes, which flooded the North Atlantic with low-density freshwater and disrupted the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). However, recent high-resolution ocean sediment cores from the subpolar gyre reveal that significant AMOC weakening preceded the freshwater outburst by several centuries. This chronological discrepancy suggests that while meltwater discharge undoubtedly exacerbated and prolonged the cooling episode, it cannot be considered the singular catalyst that initiated the climatic shift." According to the passage, the author mentions the "chronological discrepancy" primarily in order to:
GRE Analytical Writing Preparation — Analyze an Issue Prompts
Issue Task 1: Technology & Human Critical Thinking
Prompt: "As technology and automated tools become increasingly sophisticated, human critical thinking and problem-solving abilities will inevitably deteriorate." Directions: Plan and compose a 30-minute essay that takes a clear, nuanced position on this issue, substantiated by specific historical, scientific, or contemporary examples and addressing plausible counterarguments.
Issue Task 2: Government Funding of Fundamental vs. Applied Science
Prompt: "Governments should place few, if any, restrictions on scientific research and should prioritize funding for research projects whose consequences and applications cannot be predicted in advance, rather than funding only research with immediate practical utility." Directions: Plan and compose a 30-minute essay evaluating the balance between fundamental theoretical inquiry and immediate applied research, supporting your argument with persuasive real-world evidence.
How to Prepare for the Shortened GRE
Prioritize Section 1 Performance
The shortened GRE is section-level adaptive with fewer questions per section (12 in Section 1), meaning each individual question carries greater statistical weight in routing you to an easier, medium, or harder second section. Achieving high accuracy on Section 1 is essential for unlocking higher scoring ceilings on Section 2.
Master Quantitative Comparison Strategies
Quantitative Comparison (QC) questions represent a substantial portion of the Quant sections. Train yourself to simplify both quantities algebraically before calculating, test numbers strategically (positives, negatives, fractions, zero, and extremes), and avoid performing unnecessary full computations when a comparison is already evident.
Build Vocabulary Through Context, Not Isolated Lists
Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence test vocabulary in nuanced academic contexts. Rather than memorizing flashcard definitions in isolation, study words in semantic clusters and pay close attention to structural transition words (e.g., however, moreover, notwithstanding, paradoxically, anomaly) that signal tone shifts and semantic polarity.
Practice 30-Minute Issue Essay Outlines
With only one essay task and no Argument task to balance your writing score, practice quickly generating balanced arguments within the 30-minute limit. Spend the first 3–4 minutes outlining a qualified thesis, selecting 2–3 concrete examples (historical, scientific, or contemporary), and planning a counterargument rebuttal.
Practice Under Continuous, Full-Length Timed Conditions
Without the old 10-minute break, the shortened GRE is a continuous two-hour sprint. Build the mental stamina required to transition immediately from Analytical Writing into Quant and Verbal sections by taking full-length mock exams without unscheduled pauses.
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