Graduate Record Examinations

Graduate Record Examinations
source
Name	Graduate Record Examinations
Type	Standardized test
Developer	Educational Testing Service
Knowledge / skills tested	Verbal reasoning, Quantitative reasoning, Analytical writing

Graduate Record Examinations are a crucial part of the admission process for many graduate schools in the United States, such as Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University. The test is designed to assess a student's readiness for graduate-level work in a variety of fields, including engineering, business administration, and the humanities. Students from University of California, Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon University, and University of Michigan often take the test as part of their application process. The test is also taken by students from India, China, and South Korea who wish to pursue higher education in the United States at institutions like California Institute of Technology, University of Chicago, and Johns Hopkins University.

Introduction

The Graduate Record Examinations are a standardized test that measures a student's verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing skills. The test is used by admission committees at graduate schools like University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and ETH Zurich to evaluate applicants from a wide range of academic backgrounds, including physics, biology, chemistry, and mathematics. Students from National University of Singapore, University of Tokyo, and Seoul National University often take the test to demonstrate their proficiency in English language and their ability to succeed in a graduate program at institutions like University of California, Los Angeles, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Georgia Institute of Technology. The test is also used by fellowship programs like the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program and the Fulbright Program to evaluate applicants.

History

The Graduate Record Examinations were first introduced in 1949 by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), a non-profit organization founded by Harvard University, Yale University, and Princeton University. The test was designed to provide a standardized measure of a student's ability to succeed in graduate school at institutions like Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, and Duke University. Over the years, the test has undergone several changes, including the introduction of a computer-based test in 1992 and a revised test format in 2011. The test is now used by over 3,000 graduate programs in the United States and around the world, including University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, and University of Toronto.

Structure

The Graduate Record Examinations consist of three main sections: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. The verbal reasoning section tests a student's ability to analyze and evaluate written material, including passages from literature, history, and social science. The quantitative reasoning section tests a student's ability to solve math problems and interpret data from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The analytical writing section tests a student's ability to write clear and concise essays on a given topic, similar to those required in academic writing courses at University of Edinburgh, University of Manchester, and University of Bristol.

Scoring

The Graduate Record Examinations are scored on a scale of 130 to 170 for the verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning sections, and on a scale of 0 to 6 for the analytical writing section. The test scores are used by admission committees to evaluate applicants and make informed decisions about admission to graduate programs at institutions like Brown University, University of Southern California, and University of Washington. Students can also use their test scores to apply for fellowships and scholarships like the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship and the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans.

Preparation

Students can prepare for the Graduate Record Examinations by using study materials and practice tests provided by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and other test preparation companies like Kaplan, Inc. and The Princeton Review. Many students also take test preparation courses at institutions like New York University, University of Texas at Austin, and University of Wisconsin-Madison to help them prepare for the test. Additionally, students can use online resources like Khan Academy and Magoosh to practice and improve their test-taking skills.

Registration_and_Administration

The Graduate Record Examinations are administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and are offered at test centers around the world, including Prometric test centers in China, India, and South Korea. Students can register for the test online or by mail, and must provide identification and payment information to complete the registration process. The test is typically offered on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year, and students can choose from a variety of test dates and test centers to find a time and location that works for them, including University of California, San Diego, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and University of Florida. Category:Standardized tests