How Many Hours is GRE Exam– Timeline, Exam Pattern and Tips

Effective from 22^nd September 2023, the length of GRE Exam has been reduced from 3 hrs 45 minutes to just 1 hour 58 minutes. The step has been taken by ETS, the governing body, to ensure maintained performance & lack of fatigue among students. 

 Intro: 

Are you one among the crowd who hasn’t cracked GRE Exam in your first go? Are you also curious about the GRE time duration limit, Exam pattern, maximum marks or the strategy to crack GRE? Worry not, you’re certainly at the right destination to explore all your doubts regarding GRE Exam. 

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE exam) is a computer-based test, widely used as a tool for admission into graduate and business schools in USA and Canada. The purpose of this exam is to evaluate your verbal and quantitative reasoning as well as analytical writing skills. Every year, almost 6,00,000 – 7,00,000 students attempt for this exam and the students ranking higher in the exam are placed in the top universities of USA or Canada. 

Among all the factors that students prepare for—syllabus, strategies, practice tests—understanding the GRE exam duration is equally important.

GRE Exam Duration (Section Wise Breakdown) 

Like every competitive exam, GRE Exam Duration can be divided into 3 main sections: Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning. Each section has its own time duration of set marks. Below is the breakdown of GRE Section-wise timing and structure, as per the revised format: 

Section	Sub-Section	No. of Questions	Time Allotted
Analytical Writing		1 Question	30 Minutes
Verbal Reasoning	Section – 1	12 Questions	18 Minutes
	Section – 2	15 Questions	23 Minutes
Quantitative Reasoning	Section – 1	12 Questions	21 Minutes
	Section – 2	15 Questions	26 Minutes

Source: Official ETS Data 

The total time adds up to 118 Minutes or 1 hour 58 Minutes. The newer version of GRE exam is shorter than the previous one from a significant amount. This made it easier for students to attempt the exam without any fatigue. 

GRE Exam Pattern & Syllabus 

The three sections of the exam have their own time limit and required skill set to achieve a maximum score. Every applicant has to mandatorily get through three sections. So, to achieve a good GRE score, you need to know the knowledge required to attempt each section. Following are we going to discuss the topics required to master each section. 

Analytical Writing Section – Skills Needed 

The Analytical Writing Section measures your ability to critically analyse an issue and articulate your thoughts in a clear, well-structured essay. The revised format contains only one task (earlier it had two). You’ll be given a statement or topic and are expected to provide an argument-supported opinion. 

• No. of Tasks: 1 
• Skills Tested: Critical thinking, logical structuring, and clarity in written communication 
• Score Range: 0 – 6 

Read More: How to Register for GRE Exam?  

Verbal Reasoning Section – Skills Needed 

This section evaluates your Reasoning and Verbal skills through a reading comprehension. You’ll be given a passage followed by MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions) and separate questions that require fill in the blanks based on the context. 

• Number of Sections: 2 
• Total Time: 41 Minutes (18 minutes of section 1 and 23 minutes of section 2 combined). 
• Skills Needed: Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, Sentence Equivalence 
• Score Range: 130–170 (1-point increments) 

Quantitative Reasoning Section – Skills Needed 

The Quantitative Reasoning Section evaluates how you comprehend, interpret and analyze quantitative data as well as how you apply basic math, algebra, geometry and interpret data to solve problems. 

• Number of Section: 2 
• Topics Covered: Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Data Analysis 
• Score Range: 130–170 (1-point increments) 

Need a nice GRE Study material for 2025? 

GRE Exam Preparation & Time Management Tips 

Given the compressed timeline of the new GRE, your preparation strategy should closely mimic the exam format and timing. 

• Dedicate 30 minutes to the organization of essays. Plan in 5-minute, Write in 20 minutes and Review in 5 minutes. 
• Train yourself to think fast and come up with ideas. Make a record of the time at every mock essay as a firsthand experience so as to test the condition on test day. 
• Learn techniques for reading long passages fast. This is necessary because the Verbal section has become a time-based one. 
• Approach every question not to spend more than 1-1.5 minutes. Take trial sectional tests that are based on the 12 and 15 questions formats. 
• Solve practice sets in blocks of time - 12 questions in 21 minutes and 15 questions in 26 minutes. 
• Figure out what kind of questions (e.g., data interpretation vs. algebra) takes up the most time or either practice on custom speed drills.  

Take the opportunity to get an access on complete GRE Resources  

GRE Exam Day Flow and Break Policy 

The revised test-day format accompanies the shorter version of the GRE: 

• Check-In Process: You will have to report to the exam venue at least 30 minutes before the actual exam timing. This period can be exploited in the ID verification, biometric information capture, and the seating. 
• No Scheduled Breaks: As opposed to the former version that had the 10-minute break after the third section, the new GRE does not have scheduled pauses. The test is administered as a long sitting and so needs an active mind. 
• Exit Test: All the sections will be completed and the candidates will immediately see the unofficial scores of verbal and quantitative reasoning. Analytical Writing results are disclosed at a separate date together with the official score report. 

Accommodations and Extended Time Options 

Special offices of ETS accommodate differently-abled people and those with health-based requirements. These accommodations are to be used as a means to give every test-taker an equal chance to best perform. 

Among the choices that are possible are: 

• Extra Time: 25, 50 or 100 percent requested according to his / her needs. 
• Additional breaks: prolonged or more numerous breaks. 
• Alternate Forms of Tests: Screen Magnification, Braille, and other assistive aids. 

Any lodging has to be pre-approved by ETS. The candidates are required to make a formal application supported by sufficient documentation to the ETS Disability Services.  

GRE Exam Results Declaration Timeline 

Knowing the exact date of declaration of results helps a lot in timely applying to specific courses for study abroad. Although ETS, the testing agency, doesn’t publish the exact dates after the commencement of exams, but there are some time frame within which the results are mostly likely to be declared. 

Credentials	Expected Time
Unofficial Scores	Displayed immediately for Verbal and Quantitative sections after test submission.
Official Scores	Available in your ETS account within 8-10 business days.
Score Validity	Valid for 5 years

Source: ETS Official Data 

Conclusion 

Learning about GRE Exam duration is the key to smart preparation and competent performance on the day of the test. GRE has been streamlined, less demanding and made more efficient in its new, shorter shape and format that is well-matched to modern norms of testing. With strategies to know what to put where with precision and timing, not only will candidates be able to maximize their scores, they will be able to turn themselves closer to the front of the curve in the competitive admissions environment of graduate students.