How long per question GRE?

Q: How long per question GRE?

A: There is no single “per question” time limit on the GRE. The test is structured by sections, each with a total time limit and a set number of questions. To manage effectively, you should calculate an average time per question based on the section, with the understanding that different question types (e.g., reading comprehension vs. quantitative comparison) will naturally require different amounts of time.

Q: What is the structure and timing for the Verbal Reasoning sections?

A: Each of the two Verbal Reasoning sections is 30 minutes long and contains 20 questions. This gives you an average of 1 minute and 30 seconds per question. However, Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions should often take less time (45-60 seconds), allowing you to allocate more time (up to 2 minutes) to complex Reading Comprehension passages and questions.

Q: What is the structure and timing for the Quantitative Reasoning sections?

A: Each of the two Quantitative Reasoning sections is 35 minutes long and contains 20 questions. This gives you an average of 1 minute and 45 seconds per question. Quantitative Comparison questions are generally faster to solve, while multiple-choice problem-solving and data interpretation questions may require more time for calculation.

Q: How is the Analytical Writing section timed?

A: The Analytical Writing section consists of two separate tasks, each with its own 30-minute timer.

• “Analyze an Issue” Task: 30 minutes to plan and write an essay.
• “Analyze an Argument” Task: 30 minutes to plan and write an essay.
  There is no per-question pacing here; you must manage the full 30 minutes for each essay.

Q: What is the best time management strategy?

A:

1. Know the Averages: Use the average times (1:30 for Verbal, 1:45 for Quant) as a baseline.
2. Practice with a Timer: Use official ETS practice tests to get a feel for how long different question types take you personally.
3. Develop a Pacing Rhythm: Quickly identify and answer questions you are confident about to bank time for more challenging ones. Do not get stuck on any single question; mark it, guess, and move on.
4. Save Time for Review: Aim to finish each section with a few minutes to spare so you can return to marked questions for a final review.

Q: How does the adaptive nature of the GRE affect timing?

A: The GRE is a section-level adaptive test. Your performance on the first Verbal and Quant sections determines the difficulty of the second sections. While the number of questions and time per section remain fixed, a harder second section may require more time per question. Your pacing strategy should remain consistent regardless of perceived difficulty.

Q: What should I do if I am consistently running out of time?

A: If you run out of time, analyze your practice to find the bottleneck.

• Verbal: Are you spending too long re-reading passages? Practice active reading and summary techniques.
• Quant: Are you doing lengthy calculations by hand? Look for shortcuts, estimations, and practice mental math.
• General: You may need to improve your fundamental content knowledge so you can answer questions more quickly and confidently.

For perspective on how other high-stakes exams, like the NCLEX, handle timing and question counts, you can review our discussion on why exams can be long.