What is the GRE test? A Complete Guide for Nigerians (2025)

What is the GRE EXAM? : The GRE, the Graduate Record Examination, is considered one of the most important standardized tests for Nigerian students wishing to continue their studies in Master’s or business schools abroad. Thousands of Nigerian students take the GRE EXAM every year to get admission into leading branches in the US, Canada, and the United States, as well as in the kingdom and other countries. This article provides a comprehensive guide with all the essential details for students planning to take the GRE in 2025.

Participants’ skills in mathematics, probability, algebra, and geometry are evaluated in this test. Of course, these topics are not among the most challenging issues in mathematics, but because you have to Analyze the questions and, in some cases, analyze your answers in English persuasively and logically, this section is usually considered one of the most challenging sections of the GRE test. We will talk separately.

What is the GRE?

GRE is a standardized examination conducted by ETS (Educational Testing Service). It is mainly required for admission to Master’s, Master’s in Business (MBA), and specific doctoral programs worldwide. The exam assesses the applicant’s verbal and mathematical intelligence, analytical thinking and written analytical abilities.

There are two main types of exams:

GRE General Test – required by almost all master’s and business schools.
GRE Subject Test is for some programs that require basic knowledge in certain areas (e.g. Math, Physics, Psychology).

General Examination is appropriate for most Nigerian students.

Why sit for the GRE exam in Nigeria?

Nigerian students are cracking this exam for several important reasons:

International Admissions – Popular universities like Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and Oxford accept the GRE.
Scholarships and assistance programs – High GRE scores increase the chance of getting a scholarship.
Competitiveness – This exam gives you an advantage over international applicants.
GRE is recognized in more than 1,200 business schools and thousands of universities.

The structure of the examination

The GRE General Exam is mainly computerized. Few centres in Nigeria offer a paper version. The exam lasts about 1 hour 58 minutes, with the new, abbreviated version.

The sections are as follows:

Analytical Writing – 1 task, 30 minutes.
Verbal Reasoning – 2 sections, a total of 27 questions, 41 minutes.
Quantitative Reasoning – 2 sections, total of 27 questions, 47 minutes.
Research or not counted section – May be or may not be, points are not counted.

The total points are from 260 to 340, and the Analytical Department is estimated from 0 to 6.

How do you register for the GRE Exam in Nigeria?

Registration is done online at the ETS website www.ets.org

The steps are:

Create an ETS account.
Choose the exam type and date.
The exam fee is 220 dollars (by international bank card).
Download a copy of your passport (international Nigerian passport).
Print the confirmation page after confirmation.

GRE Examination centres in Nigeria

Several official GRE examination centres are operating in major cities in Nigeria.

Examples:

Pre-registration is encouraged, as seating fills up quickly.

GRE Exam date

GRE is offered almost all year round, especially in a computer version. Registration is possible every month, several times.

Applicants can take the exam every 21 days, a maximum of 5 times in 12 months.
Advice: plan the exam at least 2-3 months before the admission deadline.

How do you prepare for the GRE EXAM in Nigeria?

Here are some ways to prepare effectively:

Use official ETS resources PowerPrep Online.
Գրքեր՝ The Official Guide to the GRE, Manhattan Prep, Kaplan GRE։
Courses: Midek Education (Lagos), Brains Premier (Abuja), Kaplan Nigeria.
Timely expertise: learn to answer questions in a limited time.
Create studio groups, Reddit, and Telegram groups for Nigerian students.

How do you send GRE scores to universities?

You can send your scores to up to 4 universities for free on exam day. After that, each additional submission is $30.

Feel confident that select universities accept the GRE for your major. MBA programs may prefer GMAT.

How long is the GRE score valid?

GRE results are valid for 5 years, which is a good option for those with delayed applications.

Tips for Success

Start preparing early.
Examine the structure of the questions.
Learn vocabulary according to GRE vocabulary.
Practice math regularly.
Analyze your test results.

Most common mistakes in the world

Late registration or late start preparation.
Not knowing the format of the exam.
Ignoring Analytical Writing.
Fake trust without trial exam.
Not bringing a passport on exam day.

Alternatives to GRE

Some universities may waive the GRE requirement; the GMAT is preferred for an MBA, while European schools have other requirements.

What is the GRE test? – types of GRE test

The GRE exam has two types: GRE General and GRE Subject. These two tests differ in their format and content, and now we will compare these differences.

You can also check on another international test you should have before migrating abroad

GRE General exam

What is the GRE General test? The GRE exam is conducted in two forms: paper-based and computer-based.

The general type of GRE paper exam consists of three parts:

* Quantitative (mathematics)

* Verbal (words)

* Analytical Writing (writing part)

The computer-based GRE test evaluates your skills in three different sections:

Analytical Writing Assessment:

In this section, the test participant must answer two questions within sixty minutes (one hour). This section comprises six grades, which are increased or decreased by half a grade.

Verbal Reasoning section:

In this part of the GRE, the participants must answer 40 questions, which consist of two sets of 20, in 30 minutes. You can get between 130 and 170 marks from this section, and these marks change by one mark.

Quantitative Reasoning section:

In the mathematical reasoning section, perhaps the most specific part of the GRE exam, participants are required to answer forty questions consisting of two sets of 20 questions in 70 minutes.

The score of this section is measured the same as the vocabulary knowledge section so that you can score between 130 and 170 in this section, and the scores will change by one score. Remember that according to the explanations provided, you have one hour to write the two parts of your Writing, and you will have another hour for the forty questions from the vocabulary section.

In addition, you have to answer 40 questions in the remaining 70 minutes of your time. Be. Remember that you will get a score equal to 260 to 340 for the vocabulary and math sections, and most of the world’s prestigious universities have set a minimum score for these two sections, which is 300 to 310.

How do you report the GRE subject test score?

One of the advantages of the GRE for this exam applicants is that you can participate without any restrictions and submit your score according to your desired score to get admission to international universities. It is essential for those who plan to take the GRE exam to gain admission to universities. It is necessary to know that before taking the test, you will have the right to submit four scores for free and two for each submission.

You have a choice, which can vary between sending the last grade or all grades. If you decide to send your score after participating in the test, you must pay the sending fee and enjoy three choices for each submission, which include sending the last score, sending all scores, or sending any score you want.

GRE Registration fees

Another difference between the GRE subject and the general exam is the time of these exams. The GRE general exam is held in all months of the year, and you can plan to take it, but the subject test is held only in September, October, and April. The cost of participating in these tests does not differ much from each other, and according to the latest reviews, the price of the GRE test is approximately $150.

Also, remember that if you decide to change the exam time after registering, you must pay $50 to change the location. If you choose to cancel this exam for any reason after registration, you will only be able to get back half of the paid amount, i.e. $75, which will be refunded to your ETS account.

If one of the institutes registered and paid for the GRE test, the desired amount will be refunded to that institute’s account.

Certificate and validity of the GRE exam

ETS considers GRE scores valid for up to five years and sends them to universities upon request. Of course, in many cases, universities have different rules than ETS and may consider the degree valid for less than 5 years. A GRE score is required for admission to many US universities. Unlike most standardized tests, the value and utility of the GRE test score differ significantly among universities, majors, and even courses of study.

For example, admission to introductory science courses is more dependent on the vocabulary or verbal section score. In contrast, more importance is given to the mathematical or quantitative section in mathematics and science courses. Since the acceptable score on the GRE test varies depending on the circumstances, the best way to ensure the required score is to email the person in charge of admissions in the desired course and ask him.

Does the GRE test have a negative score?

Another critical difference between subject and general tests that can be mentioned is the way of calculating the negative score in these two tests. Unlike the general test, which does not include a negative mark, the subject test is evaluated and scored so that for every four wrong answers, a negative mark is recorded for the participant.

Of course, this grading process has been done until July 2017, and after that date, according to ETS’s announcement, the negative grade will be removed from the subject test, and your grade will be measured only according to your correct answers.