Gre Format 2023 Update

# GRE Revised Format — September 2023 Update Exam: GRE General Test (Graduate Record Examination) Format era: Shortened GRE General Test (effective September 22, 2023) Last Updated: June 2026 --- ## Overview ETS (Educational Testing Service) introduced a significantly shorter GRE General Test effective September 22, 2023. The revised test takes approximately 1 hour 58 minutes — less than half the duration of the former test (~3 hours 45 minutes including breaks). This is the most significant structural change to the GRE in over a decade. Understanding the new format is essential for study planning and setting realistic expectations on test day. --- ## The Key Changes at a Glance | Feature | Old Format (pre-Sept 2023) | New Format (Sept 2023+) | |---|---|---| | Total test time | ~3 hours 45 minutes | ~1 hour 58 minutes | | Analytical Writing sections | 2 (Issue + Argument) | 1 (Issue only; see below) | | Verbal Reasoning sections | 2 | 2 | | Quantitative Reasoning sections | 2 | 2 | | Unscored/research section | Present (hidden) | Removed | | Questions per Verbal section 1 | 20 | 12 | | Questions per Verbal section 2 | 20 | 15 | | Questions per Quant section 1 | 20 | 12 | | Questions per Quant section 2 | 20 | 15 | | Time: Verbal section 1 | 30 minutes | 18 minutes | | Time: Verbal section 2 | 30 minutes | 23 minutes | | Time: Quant section 1 | 35 minutes | **21…