GRE Preparation

The GRE is administered year-round in the computer-based format. Most programs only require an applicant's unofficial results in their application, so in theory you could take the exam on the day your application was due.

However, achieving your best score on the GRE takes time and it's nice to have the test out of the way by the time your graduate program application process is in full swing.

Because applicants may only take the GRE once within any calendar month, we advise students to schedule an exam date at least six weeks before the earliest application submission deadline.

Establishing a baseline is a critical step in the process of studying for the GRE. We highly recommend taking a full-length practice exam as your diagnostic. Take the diagnostic exam under timed conditions and complete it in one sitting.

Give yourself three hours and forty-five minutes to complete the test, including a ten minute break. Your score on this diagnostic exam is not particularly important; your correct and incorrect answers serve as a starting point for building a syllabus customized to your strengths and weaknesses.