How long is the GRE?
The GRE General Test takes about 1 hour and 58 minutes. It has five sections: one 30-minute Analytical Writing task, two Verbal Reasoning sections (41 minutes in total) and two Quantitative Reasoning sections (47 minutes in total). That is 54 scored questions plus one essay, and the current format has no scheduled break. Before September 22, 2023, the test ran about 3 hours and 45 minutes.
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In more detail
Analytical Writing always comes first: one Analyze an Issue task in 30 minutes. Verbal and Quantitative then follow in any order. Verbal has 12 questions in 18 minutes, then 15 questions in 23 minutes. Quantitative has 12 questions in 21 minutes, then 15 questions in 26 minutes.
Verbal and Quant are adaptive by section. The first section of each measure is of average difficulty, and how you do on it decides how hard the second one is. Inside a section you can skip questions, mark them, come back and change answers. An on-screen calculator is there for Quantitative Reasoning.
Many prep books and older guides still describe the long test, with six sections and a 10-minute break after the third. If your book says the GRE takes close to four hours, it covers the old format. Its practice questions can still help, but take your timing and pacing from the current structure.
GRE General Test sections
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Writing | 1 Issue task | 30 min |
| Verbal Reasoning 1 | 12 | 18 min |
| Verbal Reasoning 2 | 15 | 23 min |
| Quantitative Reasoning 1 | 12 | 21 min |
| Quantitative Reasoning 2 | 15 | 26 min |
| Total | 54 + 1 essay | about 1 h 58 min |
Step by step
- 1
Check that your prep material describes the shorter test: five sections, about 1 hour and 58 minutes.
- 2
Learn the pace: about 1.5 minutes per Verbal question and about 1.75 minutes per Quant question.
- 3
Practice the Issue essay in exactly 30 minutes, since it always comes first.
- 4
Take full timed practice tests with no break, Analytical Writing first, as on test day.
- 5
Review every miss and drill the question types and words that cost you points.
- 6
In the last week, take one more full timed test to settle your pacing.
How StudyPDF helps
Upload your GRE prep book, word lists or class notes, and StudyPDF builds flashcards, quizzes and timed practice exams from them, with results per section. For vocabulary, start with the free GRE vocabulary flashcards. Every answer updates your per-concept mastery, and the Plan tab lays out dated sessions up to your test date, weakest topics first. The free plan covers about 4 materials a week.
Sources
See also
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More questions
How many questions are on the GRE?
54 scored questions: 27 in Verbal Reasoning and 27 in Quantitative Reasoning, split 12 and 15 across the two sections of each measure. Analytical Writing adds one essay task.
Is there a break during the GRE?
The current GRE format has no scheduled break. The old test of about 3 hours and 45 minutes had a 10-minute break after the third section, but that format ended on September 22, 2023.
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