GRE 2011 - What to Expect

Beginning on August 1, 2011 drastic changes in scoring, design, and test content will be implemented to the GRE.

Scoring Changes

Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning will shift from a 200-800 score scale measured in 10-point increments, to a 130-170 score scale in 1-point increments. Why? Scores will be more accurate to the abilities of the test taker and no longer overstate small differences between examinees.

Test Design and Technology Changes

• New response formats such as increased data entry
• Tag for review option, which allows you to skip a difficult question and return to it later without affecting your score
• Preview and review capacity that enables you may scan ahead in the section you are working on
• Edit features so that you may change an answer after submitting it while working on the same section
• On screen calculator for the math portion of the test

Content Changes

• VERBAL: The verbal section will eliminate all questions on antonyms and analogies.
• QUANTITATIVE: Place greater emphasis on computation and analysis of data based that is likely to relate to real life scenarios
• ANALYTICAL WRITING: While this section will still have two parts, including a question for logical analysis and personal opinion. The questions themselves will be more focused, ultimately allowing the raters to know the answer itself wasn’t memorized, but was actually written in response to the question.