What is GRE? What you need to know about GRE

GRE, which stands for "Graduate Record Examination", is an international standardized test administered by ETS (Educational Testing Service). This is a test used to assess the candidate's learning and research ability and consider admission conditions in natural sciences and social sciences (except Medicine, Pharmacy, and Law) in the US.

The GRE consists of 2 types of tests:

• GRE General Test: a general test for students applying to graduate programs

• GRE Subject Test: specialized tests in 8 fields including Math, Physics, Psychology, Chemistry, Computer Science, etc.

The GRE certificate is valid for 5 years. Every year, about half a million people in the world take the General GRE test, more than students take the specialized GRE test.

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The GRE has two types of tests: the GRE General Test for the majority of test takers and the GRE Subject Test for specific areas. The General Test is a much more common test. The Subject Test is only required when the program you are applying for.

GRE General Test Structure

The GRE General Test currently lasts about 1 hour and 58 minutes with 5 sections, applicable from September 22, 2023 . Before this time, the test was about 3 hours and 45 minutes long, so many old documents still contain the data of the previous version.

A few characteristics to know:

• The Essay Writing section is always done first. Verbal and Quant can appear in any order after that.

• The test is section-level adaptive: the difficulty of part 2 depends on the results of part 1 of the same content (Verbal or Quant).

• You can skip questions, mark them to review and correct answers in the same part of the test.

• The Quant section has a built-in computer on the screen, you don't use a handheld computer.

GRE Subject Tests

GRE Subject Test is a multiple-choice test that assesses in-depth undergraduate knowledge in a specific field, currently consisting of 3 subjects: Mathematics, Physics and Psychology. The test time is 2 hours and 50 minutes for Mathematics and 2 hours for Physics and Psychology.

The test is for candidates with a respective major background and is only required when the program you are applying to requires it. If your major does not have a Subject Test, take the GRE General Test.

Candidates can register for the GRE online through the official ETS system. This is a convenient way to select your test, check the exam schedule, and complete the registration process.
Steps for online GRE registration:

• Access the website: Visit the official GRE registration page to create an account or log in to an existing one.

• Select the test: Choose either the GRE General Test or a GRE Subject Test, depending on the requirements of the graduate program to which you are applying.

• Choose a test date: Check for available test dates, formats, and locations that suit your needs.

• Enter personal information: Ensure that the information provided matches the identification documents accepted under the official guidelines.

• Pay the registration fee: Complete the payment as instructed by the system.
  Verify your registration: Monitor your account and email for confirmation of your registration details.
  
  It is advisable to register early to have a wider range of test dates to choose from and to ensure that your scores are received before your graduate program application deadlines.

As of October 15, 2026, the GRE exam fee in Vietnam according to the official website of ETS is as follows:

Note: According to ETS, the fee applies from August 1, 2026. In Vietnam, applicable taxes (if any) will be added to the order at checkout, so the final amount may be higher than the listed fee in USD.

Source: ets.org

When you want to register for the GRE test, you can register in 1 of the three forms below:

• Register by phone: Register by contacting the Regional Registration Center (RRC) number. Remember that you must call at least 2 days before the exam.

• Register online: You will need to create an ETS account through the website, then register for the GRE by filling in information such as your country, GRE reason, GPA, and qualifications. Once you have completed the exam fee payment, you have completed the registration process.

• Register by mail: Download the form, fill it out, and send it by mail. The form will take quite a bit of your time. Candidates are required to receive their applications at least 3 weeks prior to the GRE exam.

Test Fee: General GRE is $205, Specialized GRE is $150.More and more schools around the world accept GRE and GMAT scores. However, there are still many international students who still wonder about the difference between these two tests and whether they will be suitable for which test. Let's explore the comparison factors below:

See also: What is GMAT? The secret to conquering the GMAT testNote:

• The General GRE test is held 5 times per year, and each test is held 21 days apart. Each candidate can only take the exam a maximum of 5 times in a 12-month period, even if you cancel the score of the previous test.

• When you are present on the exam day, you need to enter your full name exactly as in your ID card/ID card/passport and make sure all the information you provide matches. Try to register early to choose the exam schedule and location that suits your timetable.

• GRE test results will be announced 10-15 days after the test date. Your exam results will be sent to the 4 universities on the registration list. You will have to pay an additional fee if you want to send your results to more schools.