GRE Duration: How Many Hours is GRE Exam

Updated on 21 April, 2022

Mrinal Mandal

Study Abroad Expert

How many hours is GRE exam? The duration of GRE exam is usually 3 hours and 45 minutes (GRE General). There are a total of 6 sections with a break of ten minutes after the third section. It is applicable for the computer-based GRE examination while the paper-based GRE examination requires 3 hours and 40 minutes (inclusive of breaks). The length of the unscored section on the GRE computer-based test will vary and hence the exact duration may sometimes differ.

Section-Wise Time Requirements in GRE Examination

Here is a table that will help you get the entire picture for the computer-based GRE examination:

Name of the Section	Total Number of Questions	Total Time Required
Analytical Writing: Analyze an Issue Essay	1	30 minutes
Analytical Writing: Analyze An Argument Essay	1	30 minutes
Verbal Reasoning Section	20	30 minutes
Break	None	10 minutes
Quantitative Reasoning Section	20	35 minutes
Unscored Portion	May Vary	May vary (usually between 30-35 minutes)
Quantitative Reasoning Section	20	35 minutes
Verbal Reasoning Section	20	30 minutes

Based on this time schedule, you should make sure that you are spending a maximum of 90 seconds for each Verbal Reasoning question and a maximum of 84 seconds for each Quantitative Reasoning question. Computer-based GRE means that you should finish three sections (usually about 1 ½ hours) prior to the break of ten minutes. However, remember that the order of the sections will vary since there is no hard and fast rule.

Recommended Read: How to Prepare for Verbal in GRE

Here Are the details of the Paper-Based GRE Test:

Name of the Section	Total Number of Questions	Total Duration (Minutes)
Analytical Writing: Analyze An Issue	1	30
Analytical Writing: Analyze An Argument	1	30
Break	None	10
Quantitative Reasoning	25	40
Verbal Reasoning	25	35
Quantitative Reasoning	25	40
Verbal Reasoning	25	35

The total time in this version works out to 3 hours and 40 minutes.

Recommended Read: How to Score 170 in GRE Quant

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Tips on Using time Effectively While Writing Your GRE Examination

You should have taken a full-length GRE practice examination beforehand for getting familiar with the format and time-based limitations.
Be strategic with your break. Consume a snack and stay hydrated while stretching to get the muscles relaxed.
Slow down and make sure that you get more points. Do not keep pushing for quicker results since it will only lead to poorer scores and silly mistakes.
Answer those questions you are sure of.
If you cannot find the answer to something instantly, keep moving on to next questions. If you want to come back to something, press mark and move on.
Whenever you get stuck on any mathematics question in GRE, do not stay in limbo. Do some other questions and then come back to the same.

Follow these tips for managing time smartly throughout the GRE examination.