GRE General Test · Private 1:1 Tutoring · Online Nationwide
ConnectPrep's one-on-one GRE tutoring starts with a free diagnostic, sets Verbal, Quant and Writing targets from your actual program list, and teaches you to simplify and deconstruct every question type on the 1 hour 58 minute exam. Founder-led since 2013, for master's, PhD, MBA and law school applicants.
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Percentiles: ETS, test takers July 2022 to June 2025. The share of test takers who scored lower. Sources
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Quick answer
The GRE General Test is the admissions exam accepted by most graduate programs, nearly every MBA program and a majority of ABA-accredited law schools. Since September 2023 it runs about 1 hour 58 minutes: one 30-minute Analytical Writing essay, then two Verbal Reasoning and two Quantitative Reasoning sections. Verbal and Quant are each scored 130 to 170, for a 260 to 340 total, and Writing is scored 0 to 6.1,2
ConnectPrep tutors the GRE one on one. Every program starts with a free diagnostic, sets section targets from the student's real program list, coaches the section-level adaptive format so the first Verbal and Quant sections unlock the harder second sections, and plans the test date so a retake still fits before deadlines. Most students prepare for 8 to 12 weeks.
| Sections | Analytical Writing (1 essay, 30 min), Verbal Reasoning (12 + 15 questions, 18 + 23 min), Quantitative Reasoning (12 + 15 questions, 21 + 26 min)1 |
|---|---|
| Total time | About 1 hour 58 minutes, with no scheduled break |
| Section order | Writing always comes first; Verbal and Quant follow in any order |
| Adaptive? | Yes, by section. Your first Verbal and Quant sections set the difficulty of the second |
| Score scale | 130 to 170 each for Verbal and Quant (260 to 340 total); Writing 0 to 6 in half points2 |
| Calculator | On-screen calculator in Quant |
| Fee | $249 (outside China), effective August 1, 2026; $55 to reschedule; $40 per extra score report3 |
| Retakes | Once every 21 days, up to 5 times in any rolling 12 months4 |
| Scores | Unofficial Verbal and Quant on test day; official scores in about 8 to 10 days; valid 5 years; ScoreSelect lets you choose which attempts schools see |
Why ConnectPrep
Big prep brands sell group classes and self-paced platforms. ConnectPrep teaches every GRE student one on one, with the curriculum philosophy behind all of our programs: simplify the test, deconstruct each question type, and drill the exact places a score is leaking.
Your diagnostic, your weakest question types, your program list. No group calls and no generic syllabus, so every minute goes to what moves your score.
The GRE adapts by section. Accuracy on your first Verbal and Quant sections unlocks the harder second sections and a higher ceiling, so we train first-section pacing before anything else.
Text Completion, Sentence Equivalence and Reading Comprehension each get their own method, plus vocabulary built from roots and context rather than flashcard lists.
One Issue essay, scored 0 to 6. A 4.5 already beats about 85% of test takers, and humanities, policy and law programs read it closely, so it is part of every program.
We build practice around ETS's POWERPREP tests and official questions, because third-party items rarely match the real difficulty curve of the adaptive sections.
Your target comes from your list, and our graduate, MBA and law school advisors carry that plan into essays, resumes and interviews.
Score targets, sourced
It depends on the program, not on a national average. ETS reports average scores of about 151 Verbal and 158 Quant, so a 309 is roughly typical. Top MBA programs that publish GRE figures for their newest classes report medians and averages between 322 and 329, and highly selective master's and PhD programs usually look for both sections in the 160s, with Quant weighted more heavily in STEM and economics and Verbal and Writing weighted more heavily in the humanities and social sciences.2,5
The red marker follows the total from the score checker at the top of the page. Change it here:
Most recent GRE totals for the Class of 2027 as compiled by Clear Admit from school class profiles (med. = median, avg. = average). Schools set no cutoffs, and section balance matters as much as the total. Full sources
Above the typical test taker. Competitive for many master's and professional programs when the rest of the application is strong.
A strong total for top-50 graduate programs and many MBA programs, especially with a balanced section split.
Matches Wharton, Booth and Kellogg Class of 2027 figures, and fits selective master's and PhD lists.
Clears every GRE median or average on our chart. Strong cover for a non-traditional profile or a lower GPA.
ETS percentiles are not symmetric. A 165 Verbal beats 95% of test takers, while a 165 Quant beats only 67%, because Quant scores bunch higher. A perfect 170 Quant is the 89th percentile. That is why STEM, economics and finance programs read the Quant number closely and why ConnectPrep sets a target for each section, not just the total.2
2026 GRE format
The shorter GRE cut the testing time nearly in half. Fewer questions means each one carries more weight. Select a section to see what it tests and how ConnectPrep coaches it.
You respond to a claim with a clear position, reasons and examples, and address the strongest counterpoint. The Argument essay was removed in 2023. Writing is reported on its own scale, separate from the 260 to 340 total, but programs in the humanities, social sciences, policy and law read it closely.
Three question types: Reading Comprehension, Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence. Students expect "just reading" and find the vocabulary and logic demands far harder. Multi-blank Text Completions give credit only when every blank is right.
Four formats: Quantitative Comparison, multiple choice (one or more answers), Numeric Entry and Data Interpretation sets. The math stops at roughly a first-year high school level, so points are lost to setup, traps and time, not to hard content.
| Feature | GRE before Sept 22, 2023 | GRE today |
|---|---|---|
| Testing time | About 3 hours 45 minutes | About 1 hour 58 minutes |
| Writing tasks | Issue and Argument essays | Issue essay only |
| Verbal and Quant | Two 20-question sections each | A 12-question then a 15-question section each |
| Unscored section | Mid-test, could look like a scored section | Removed from the middle; any research section comes at the end |
| Scheduled break | 10 minutes after the third section | None |
| Score scale | 130 to 170, 260 to 340, 0 to 6 | Unchanged, so old and new scores compare directly |
Source: ETS, GRE General Test structure.1
Simplify and deconstruct
Seven question types decide your Verbal and Quant scores. We teach each one separately, then mix them under time. Choose a type to see the method.
Free planning tool
Pick your earliest application deadline and weekly study time. The planner lays out each phase of a ConnectPrep program and shows when your first official attempt should land so a retake and score delivery still fit.
Typical dates only. Use each program's exact deadline.
Planning estimate only, based on ConnectPrep program experience. Your free diagnostic sets the real plan.
GRE, GMAT, LSAT or JD-Next?
One GRE score can cover master's, PhD, MBA and many law programs at once. Choose your path to see what ConnectPrep usually recommends, and why.
| Feature | GRE General Test | GMAT Focus Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Accepted by | Graduate programs in nearly every field, most MBA programs and a majority of ABA law schools | Business school programs |
| Length | About 1 hour 58 minutes | 2 hours 15 minutes |
| Sections | Writing, Verbal, Quant | Quant, Verbal, Data Insights |
| Essay | Yes, one Issue essay | No |
| Calculator | Throughout Quant | Data Insights only |
| Verbal emphasis | Vocabulary in context and reading | Critical reasoning and reading |
| Score scale | 260 to 340, Writing 0 to 6 | 205 to 805 |
Weighing both? See our GMAT tutoring page for the Focus Edition breakdown and M7 score benchmarks.
GRE for law school
The American Bar Association has allowed law schools to admit students with the GRE since 2021, and ETS reports that a majority of ABA-accredited law schools now accept it. ABA Standard 503 still requires a valid and reliable admission test, so most applicants still choose between the LSAT, the GRE and JD-Next, depending on where they apply.6,7
Policies are school by school, and a few law schools still do not accept the GRE. We map every school on your list to its accepted tests before you spend a dollar on prep, then coordinate GRE tutoring with LSAT tutoring or JD-Next prep and our law school admissions team.
| Test | Best fit |
|---|---|
| LSAT | Accepted by every ABA law school; still the default for applicants aiming only at law school |
| GRE | Accepted by a majority of ABA schools; strong for JD/MBA, JD/PhD and dual-degree applicants keeping options open |
| JD-Next | A growing list of law schools accept it; built around a short online legal reading course and exam |
Sources: ETS GRE vs. LSAT for law school (fees as of Aug 2026); ABA Standard 503. Policies change; confirm with each school.
Student results
From first-time test takers to applicants retaking for a higher score, these are results from ConnectPrep GRE students in the tri-state region and online across the country.
"Jeremy and Chris increased my GRE score by 17 points and increased my score on the analytical writing section. Chris was an amazing tutor. He helped me relax while answering questions and gave me the tools I needed to tackle any problem. Thanks to their help, I've been accepted to my program."
"I came in with a 308 on my diagnostic and needed 325+ for my target programs. ConnectPrep identified exactly what was pulling my Verbal score down and built every session around it. I walked out with a 327."
"I had self-studied for my first GRE and scored 312. ConnectPrep changed my entire approach to Verbal, especially Text Completion. My second score was 330. The adaptive strategy coaching made all the difference."
"The personalization is what makes the results possible. My tutor had fully gotten to know my patterns, my pacing problems, and where I kept losing points. I wouldn't have hit my score without this approach."
Your GRE team
Every ConnectPrep GRE program is designed and overseen by founder Jeremy Fine, then taught by instructors matched to where your points are. Each one passed our five-step vetting process, including a live teaching demonstration.
Jeremy has spent more than 20 years in education, from test prep and admissions advising to running academic programs as Director of Academic Programs at GradeCaddy, and he founded ConnectPrep in 2013. He designs and oversees every ConnectPrep GRE program around one idea: simplify the test and deconstruct each question type until the patterns are obvious. He also leads ConnectPrep's graduate, MBA and law school advising, so a GRE target is always tied to a real school list. Across all of ConnectPrep's admissions work, 97% of students are admitted to one of their top three choices.
"Jeremy and Chris increased my GRE score by 17 points and increased my score on the analytical writing section."George E., admitted to his graduate program
Chris brings more than ten years of teaching experience across math, economics and graduate admissions tests, with consistently top-rated reviews from students across the tri-state region. He has prepared students for the GRE, GMAT, SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT and HSPT. Working alongside Jeremy, he helped George E. raise his GRE score by 17 points, improve his Analytical Writing score and earn admission to his graduate program.
Marcus built his coaching around one insight: GRE Quant tests reasoning, not computation. With a Columbia M.S. in Applied Mathematics and nine years coaching graduate applicants, he breaks Quantitative Comparison, Data Interpretation and Numeric Entry down to their structural patterns, so students stop calculating and start recognizing.
Elena's Yale Ph.D. in Comparative Literature means she reads and writes at exactly the register GRE Verbal demands. She teaches Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence through the argument logic that produces the right answer, and students targeting a 4.5 or higher in Writing for humanities, social science and law programs seek her out specifically.
Devon's background in cognitive science and linguistics makes him unusually effective at one of GRE prep's hardest problems: why strong readers still lose Verbal points. He coaches students to read for argument structure rather than content, which cuts time per passage and removes the interpretation traps that cost most students three to five points.
Online and in person
Live online sessions reach graduate applicants in every state and abroad, with a shared whiteboard, official ETS practice material and a recording after each session. In-person sessions are available in select markets, depending on instructor availability.
Westport, Greenwich, Darien, New Canaan, Wilton, Stamford, Norwalk
Graduate tutoring in Fairfield County ›Scarsdale, Rye, Bronxville, Larchmont, Chappaqua, Armonk
Graduate tutoring in Westchester ›Manhattan, Brooklyn, Great Neck, Manhasset, Garden City, Syosset
Graduate tutoring in NYC & Long Island ›Hoboken, Jersey City, Summit, Short Hills, Montclair, Ridgewood
Graduate tutoring in Northern NJ ›California, Texas, Illinois, Massachusetts, Colorado and every other state, live online
Online tutoring nationwide ›Book a free consultation. We review your program list and recommend the right test before you commit to prep.
Book a free consultation ›GRE questions, answered
The GRE General Test runs about 1 hour 58 minutes. It opens with one 30-minute Analyze an Issue essay, followed by two Verbal Reasoning sections (12 questions in 18 minutes, then 15 in 23) and two Quantitative Reasoning sections (12 questions in 21 minutes, then 15 in 26), with Verbal and Quant in either order. There is no scheduled break. Verbal and Quant are each scored 130 to 170, for a 260 to 340 total, and Writing is scored 0 to 6 in half-point steps.
A good score is one at or above the typical admit for your programs. ETS reports average scores of about 151 Verbal and 158 Quant. Top MBA programs that publish GRE figures report Class of 2027 medians and averages from 322 to 329, and selective master's and PhD programs usually look for both sections in the 160s. A 160 Verbal is the 82nd percentile, while a 160 Quant is the 50th, so section targets matter as much as the total.
The GRE adapts by section. The first Verbal and first Quant sections are of average difficulty, and your performance on each sets the difficulty of the second section in that measure. Your score reflects how many questions you answer correctly across both sections and how hard they were, so accuracy on the first section is what unlocks the higher scoring range. You can skip, mark and return to questions within a section.
The GRE General Test costs $249 everywhere outside China, effective August 1, 2026. Rescheduling or changing a test center costs $55, each additional score report beyond the four free ones you choose on test day costs $40, and a Writing score review costs $60. Fees can change, so confirm on the ETS website before you register.
You can take the GRE once every 21 days, up to five times in any rolling 12-month period. With ScoreSelect you choose which attempts each school receives, and scores stay valid for five years. Official scores usually post 8 to 10 days after the test, so leave at least a month before your deadline for a possible retake.
Most ConnectPrep students prepare for 8 to 12 weeks at 8 to 12 hours a week. Larger score gaps or fewer weekly hours need longer, and a 4 to 6 week intensive can work when the gap is small and a deadline is close. Our planner above maps the phases backward from your earliest deadline, and the free diagnostic sets the real plan.
Most MBA programs accept both. The GRE is the better fit if your list also includes non-business programs, if you are applying to a JD/MBA or other dual degree, or if your diagnostic is stronger on GRE Verbal than on GMAT Critical Reasoning. If you are applying only to business school, take a diagnostic of each and choose the test where you start stronger. See GMAT tutoring.
Yes, at many schools. The ABA has allowed GRE-based admission since 2021, and ETS reports that a majority of ABA-accredited law schools accept the GRE. A few schools still do not, so check every school on your list. Applicants aiming only at law school often still take the LSAT, and JD-Next is a third option at a growing number of schools. See our law school admissions and JD-Next prep pages.
It depends on the field. Humanities, social science, policy and law programs read it closely, and a score below 4.0 can raise questions about writing. STEM programs weigh it less. A 4.5 beats about 85% of test takers and a 5.0 about 93%, and it takes modest, targeted preparation, so ConnectPrep includes Writing coaching in every GRE program.
ETS currently offers three Subject Tests: Mathematics, Physics and Psychology. Each is scored 200 to 990 and is given in September, October and April. Only some programs require or recommend them, mostly PhD programs in those fields, so check each department's admissions page before you plan a test date.
Yes. Live online sessions are available in every state and abroad, and in-person sessions are available in select markets, including Fairfield County, Westchester, New York City, Long Island and Northern New Jersey, depending on instructor availability. Every session is one on one, with evenings and weekends for working professionals.
Book a free consultation and take a free GRE diagnostic. We review your section scores and program list, set realistic Verbal, Quant and Writing targets, and map a study plan and test date around your schedule before you commit to anything. Start here.
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Every exam fact and benchmark on this page comes from ETS, the ABA or a published school class profile, checked November 2026. Percentiles show the share of test takers who scored lower. Student results come from verified reviews and ConnectPrep student records.
We map your Verbal, Quant and Writing scores, set targets from your program list, and build a plan around your schedule and your deadlines.
Online nationwide · In person in select markets · Founded 2013 in Westport, Connecticut
Jeremy M. Fine, Founder of ConnectPrep · BA, Washington University in St. Louis · MPA, University of Pittsburgh
Jeremy founded ConnectPrep in 2013 and has 20+ years in test prep, tutoring and admissions. He designs and oversees every ConnectPrep program. Last updated .
