Video summary
The video provides a comprehensive overview of the significant updates to the GRE exam that took effect in September 2023, emphasizing that these changes were implemented to improve the testing experience. The host clarifies that despite the structural modifications, the scoring system remains unchanged; the test still yields a total score out of 340, with verbal and quantitative sections ranging from 130 to 170. These specific sections are particularly critical for Physician Assistant (PA) school admissions, while the analytical writing portion is less weighted in their decision-making process. The primary goal of the revamp was to reduce the overall duration of the exam from nearly four hours to just under two hours and forty-eight minutes, thereby alleviating the physical and mental fatigue associated with sitting through such a lengthy assessment.
To achieve this reduction in time, ETS made several key adjustments to the test structure, most notably by cutting the number of questions in each section from 40 down to 27 for both verbal and quantitative parts. Additionally, the analytical writing section was streamlined from two tasks into a single argument task that lasts approximately thirty minutes. The host also notes the removal of the unscored research section, which previously added unnecessary length to the test without contributing to the final score. While the exam is shorter, the registration fee remains at $220 for most locations, with slightly higher costs in China, though fee waivers and reductions are still available for those who qualify or take subject tests.
Prospective test-takers are reminded that they must still register through an ETS-approved proctoring site and bring their own headphones to the testing center, as these logistical requirements remain consistent with previous years. The video concludes by directing viewers to the official website, ets.org, for the most current information regarding registration, accommodations for disabilities, and study resources. Ultimately, the presenter encourages students preparing for graduate programs to utilize this updated format to their advantage, noting that the shorter duration allows them to focus more effectively on answering questions without succumbing to hunger or thirst during the exam.
Read the full video transcript
What's up you guys? So I wanted to talk
to you guys today about the GRE test.
Now I know that everybody has a lot of
questions about this exam. It is one of
the major exams for PA school, but there
has been some changes in the recent
year,
little over a year, and some of you are
asking questions about it even though
it's now like a year later. So I wanted
to address that and just kind of do a
revamp to the video that I did a few
years back talking about everything that
you need to know about the GRE in 8
minutes. So let's get to it right now.
What's up you guys? It's Adanna. Welcome
back to my channel. So I wanted to talk
to you guys today about the GRE and
specifically everything that you need to
know about the GRE. And obviously it's
not everything that you need to know
about the GRE, but it's most of the
important things that you need to know
about the GRE.
Firstly, I just want to address the fact
that yes, the GRE test did change
September of 2023
and I feel like it was changes for the
better.
So I'm going to list out those changes
for you so that you are mindful of them
and then kind of just give you a little
bit of tidbit of information that you
probably would want to know about like
taking the GRE exam. So the major
question that most people have been
asking is is it still scored the same?
And the answer is yes. Yes, it is still
scored the same. It's still out of like
the 340.
Each section is still worth up to 170
from 130 to 170 is what you can get on
the verbal and the quantitative section.
And those are really the sections that
are like important for PA school. Though
like that large number is the number
that they look for. Not specifically
talking about like the analytical
section. So the GRE is still broken down
into your analytical like writing, you
know, argument section, your
quantitative section, which is more of
like your mathy type like physics-y
section, and then your verbal reasoning
section, which talks about like all of
like your antonyms, synonyms, and like
reading of passages and understanding
that. Okay?
Now,
uh the test itself used to be almost 4
hours long. I know.
Freaking crazy. Almost 4 hours long. Um
that is uh pretty much almost the the
same length as my board exam to become a
PA. It was over 3 hours, and so it was
like you're in there for a long time
just kind of going through the gauntlet
of studying. Now, they have changed it
to less than 2 hours, and just like a
few minutes less than 2 hours, but it is
an hour and 48 minutes now, which is
great because you're not like sitting
there like just
I don't know, dying of thirst and hunger
while you're taking this exam because
that also plays on like how well you
perform. And I think this is one of the
reasons why they also made the
adjustments and changes to this exam.
Another change is the unscored section
is no longer there, and then to make the
exam um shorter,
they made some changes to the actual
sections of the exam. So, let's go
through those changes. All right? So,
when it comes to your analytical
section, there used to be two of like
analytical
writing sections that you had to
essentially do. All right? Now, it's
only one, so you only have one like
argument that you have to kind of
defend, um and it's about 30 minutes
long. Okay, you get 30 minutes for that
section. With respect to your
quantitative and your verbal reasoning
section, um still two sections. The
sections used to be broken up um where
you had like 40 questions in the
section, and then
uh you had to, you know, do those two
sections. Now, you only have 27
questions in the sections, uh so less
for you to be uh actually doing.
And again, another way they shortened
the exam, okay? So, although the exam
has been shortened, it still costs $220.
So, that is something for you to keep in
mind if you are in like China, that's
the only place where it's a little bit
more, it's over it's a little over $230.
I think it's like 231, 35 or 235, 31.
Something like that. Those numbers are
are there, but that is what it is.
Apart from that, you still can get
kind of like assistance, like a
not truly a fee waiver, but you get a
reduced fee if you apply for it and are
accepted. So, your fee instead of paying
$220, it will be $100 for the general
exam. And then if you're doing subject
test,
it's no longer like $150. You pay 50% of
what the cost of the exam is. So, maybe
like a like instead of $150, you would
pay $75, okay?
And then still if you need
accommodations,
if you have a disability,
or if you know, there are any
accommodations that you may need, you
can again apply for that. You still go
in to
like an ETS approved site to actually
take the proctored exam. You still get
your little headphones and all of that
stuff, but the major major difference is
that it is shorter, and that is a
beauty, okay? So, if you want more
information about the GRE exam and how
it pertains to you and where you can
take it if you're studying for it or
if you're going to start studying for it
because you need it for whatever
graduate level education that you are
trying to obtain, go to ets.com.
Let me just make sure that that's it,
okay? I I don't want to like
give you guys the wrong website. So,
yeah, ets.org, not ets.com. So, it's
ets.org for more information on the GRE
exam. Um of course, you can go hit up my
old video to see everything that I
talked about in that video and how it
compares to this video with respect to
the changes, but I listed out the major
changes for you guys. Um and then the
major similarities, which is that it is
still scored the same, okay? All right,
so hopefully this video was beneficial
for you guys. It answered the questions
that you've been asking me. Um if you
have any other questions for me, leave
them in the comment section below.
Again, just hit up ets.org for questions
pertaining to the GRE. Um don't forget
to like and subscribe. Follow me on
Instagram at Down to PA and on Instagram
at Get That Bread University. Um check
out my stores and, you know, thank you
guys so much for watching. I will talk
to you guys next time. Bye.