Big changes are coming to the GRE, effective September 22, 2023.

The first and most important change is that the testing time of the exam will be cut in half, from nearly four hours to just under two. That's being accomplished by reducing the number of questions on the Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning sections and eliminating the experimental section.

The "Analyze an Argument" essay is also going away.

The second big change is that official score turnaround time will reduce from 10-15 days to 8-10 days.

Pretty good stuff from the test-taker standpoint!

The reason for these changes are explained by ETS as follows:

"These changes are intended to provide test takers with a better experience that values their time and reduces anxiety and fatigue, ultimately helping them to complete and submit their applications more quickly."

Here's what's NOT going to change:

• Score scales will remain the same so that admissions officers can easily compare performance across individuals who test before and after September 2023.
• The shorter GRE will still have the same three measures: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Analytical Writing (but with only one essay instead of two).
• The question types in the Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning sections will be the same, so you can use currently available materials — including our comprehensive GRE Prep Course — to prepare.

So while it's a big deal that the GRE is being shortened considerably, substantively, the exam itself isn't really changing all that much. 

Indeed, you'll want to continue studying all the same content and test-taking strategies as you currently are... just prepare to be at the test center for a lot less time!

Registration for the shorter GRE is open now, and appointments can be secured by choosing a test date on or after September 22, 2023.

Answers to FAQs about the shorter GRE can be found here.

Whichever version of the GRE you take, we're here to help you dominate it so don't hesitate to reach out.