GRE · Guides · November 6, 2026 · 7 min read
The GRE format in 2026: sections, timing, order, adaptivity and question types
The GRE General Test has been shorter since September 22, 2023. It now takes about 1 hour and 58 minutes and has five sections: one essay, two Verbal Reasoning sections and two Quantitative Reasoning sections. There is no scheduled break. This guide covers what happens on test day, in order: how long each section is, how the adaptive design works, which question types you will see, and what changes if you test at home. All facts were checked against ETS’s own pages as of November 2026.
The five sections at a glance
| Section | Questions | Time | Time per question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analytical Writing | 1 essay, “Analyze an Issue” | 30 min | — |
| Verbal Reasoning, section 1 | 12 | 18 min | 1.5 min |
| Verbal Reasoning, section 2 | 15 | 23 min | about 1.5 min |
| Quantitative Reasoning, section 1 | 12 | 21 min | 1.75 min |
| Quantitative Reasoning, section 2 | 15 | 26 min | about 1.75 min |
| Total | 54 questions + essay | about 1 h 58 min |
The real constraint is the pace, not the length. In Verbal you have 41 minutes for 27 questions, and some of those questions come with a reading passage. In Quant you have 47 minutes for 27 questions.
The order of sections
Analytical Writing is always first. After that, the two Verbal and two Quant sections can appear in any order, so you may get Verbal–Quant–Verbal–Quant, Quant–Quant–Verbal–Verbal, or another mix. You will not know in advance. Practice tests that always put Verbal second can lull you into a rhythm the real test will not give you. Mix the order in your full-length practice.
ETS’s current test structure lists only these five sections. The older three-hour-and-forty-five-minute format, with its separate Argument essay, unscored section and ten-minute break, no longer applies. Many older books still describe it.
There is no break. If you leave your seat, the section timer keeps running. Eat before you start and plan to sit for two hours straight.
How section-level adaptivity works
The GRE adapts by section, not by question:
- The first Verbal section and the first Quant section are of average difficulty. Everyone starts at the same level.
- The second section of each measure is easier or harder, depending on how well you did on the first section of that measure.
- Your score depends on the number of questions you answer correctly in both sections and on how hard those sections were. ETS converts this raw count into a 130–170 scaled score through a process called equating.
Two practical consequences follow. First, the first section of each measure matters a lot: a strong first section sends you to the harder second section, and the top of the scale is open there. Second, within a section every question counts the same, and ETS describes the raw score as the number of correct answers. A blank earns nothing, so never leave a question unanswered.
Inside a section you can move freely. You can skip a question, use Mark to flag it, open the Review screen to see which questions are answered or marked, and change any answer until the section’s time runs out. You cannot go back to an earlier section.
Question types
Verbal Reasoning
| Type | What you do | Answer format |
|---|---|---|
| Text Completion | Fill 1–3 blanks in a passage of 1–5 sentences | One blank: 5 choices. Two or three blanks: 3 choices per blank. No partial credit. |
| Sentence Equivalence | Fill one blank in a single sentence | 6 choices, pick exactly 2 that produce sentences alike in meaning. No partial credit. |
| Reading Comprehension | Answer 1–6 questions about a passage | Select one of 5; select one or more of 3 (all correct choices, no partial credit); or click a sentence in the passage |
ETS says that about half of the Verbal measure is passage-based. Most passages are one paragraph long, and one or two are several paragraphs. ETS does not publish how many questions of each type a section contains.
Quantitative Reasoning
| Type | What you do | Answer format |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Comparison | Compare Quantity A with Quantity B | The same 4 choices every time: A is greater, B is greater, equal, cannot be determined |
| Multiple-choice, select one | Classic problem | 5 choices |
| Multiple-choice, select one or more | “Indicate all such values…” | Select every correct choice; no credit unless all and only the correct ones are selected |
| Numeric Entry | Type the answer | One box for an integer or decimal, or two boxes for a fraction. Equivalent forms such as 2.5 and 2.50 are accepted, and fractions need not be reduced. |
| Data Interpretation | A set of questions on one table or graph | Any of the formats above |
The math goes no higher than a second course in algebra. It covers arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis, with no trigonometry, calculus or proofs. You get a basic on-screen calculator that follows the order of operations and has a Transfer Display button for Numeric Entry. Graphs in Data Interpretation are drawn to scale; geometry figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.
Analytical Writing
You write one essay in 30 minutes on an issue. The prompt is a claim or a recommendation plus a specific instruction, such as “address the strongest counterarguments”. The word processor is basic: you can insert, delete, cut, paste and undo, but there is no spell-check or grammar check. The Issue essay guide covers the six instruction types and a 30-minute plan.
A quick sample: what one question looks like
Here is an original Quantitative Comparison question in the GRE style:
x is a negative number.
Quantity A: x²
Quantity B: x³
A negative number squared is positive, and cubed it stays negative. Any positive number is greater than any negative number, so Quantity A is greater. The four fixed answers and the traps hidden in them are the subject of our Quantitative Comparison guide.
Testing at home or at a test center
The content, format and on-screen experience are the same in both settings, according to ETS. What differs is the logistics.
At a test center. Arrive at least 30 minutes early for check-in. Staff take your photo and verify your ID, and late arrivals may not be admitted, losing the fee. Personal items go in storage.
At home. ETS’s rules for the at-home test, as of November 2026, include:
- You install the ETS Secure Browser on a Windows or Mac computer and pass its equipment check before test day.
- You complete identity verification in ETS’s app at least 72 hours before the test.
- You must be alone in a quiet, well-lit room with a clear desk. The door must be visible to the online proctor, and your ears and face must stay visible throughout.
- For notes you use a small whiteboard or a plastic transparency sheet that you erase in view of the proctor. Paper is not allowed.
- You need your ID and a phone or hand mirror for the check-in.
If your internet is unstable or your home is never quiet, a test center removes two risks.
Fees, retakes and scores
- Fee: $249 in the US and most countries (from August 1, 2026; China has its own price, India has its own ETS page, and taxes are added in some countries). Rescheduling costs $55.
- Retakes: once every 21 days, up to five times in any rolling 12-month period.
- Scores: at the end of the test you choose whether to report or cancel your scores. If you report them, you see unofficial Verbal and Quant scores on the spot. Official scores, including Analytical Writing, arrive in your ETS account 8–10 days later. The GRE scores guide explains the scales and percentiles.
Fees change, so confirm on ets.org before you book.
How to use the format in your preparation
- Rehearse the exact timing. Practice 12-question Verbal sets in 18 minutes and 15-question sets in 23, not loose “20 questions in 30 minutes” drills from older books.
- Take full-length tests without a break, starting with the essay, so your focus holds for two hours.
- Protect the first section of each measure. Work carefully, flag what you cannot crack, and return to it with the time you save.
- Use the free official tests. ETS’s POWERPREP Online includes two full practice tests at no cost. Save at least one for the final weeks.
Nomto’s GRE practice test follows the same structure: the essay first, then two Verbal and two Quant sections of 12 and 15 questions with the official time limits, in one of the orders the real test uses. The second section of each measure gets harder or easier based on the first. The scores it gives are estimates on the 130–170 and 0–6 scales, not official results. Nomto is an independent prep site, not affiliated with ETS. GRE is a registered trademark of ETS. For a week-by-week schedule built around practice tests, see the GRE preparation plan.
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