GRE Preparation Guide for Indian Students Abroad
Complete GRE preparation guide for Indian students targeting MS abroad. AbroBot covers GRE structure, scoring, preparation strategy and target scores by country — with 0% commission guidance.
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The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is a standardised test required by most US universities and some international programmes for MS, PhD and MBA admissions. It tests Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing. The new GRE (2023 onwards) takes approximately 1 hour 58 minutes and is scored out of 340 (Verbal: 130–170, Quant: 130–170).
GRE Target Scores by Programme and Country
MS Computer Science — USA (Top 20)
Target: 325–335 total, Quant 167–170. MIT, Stanford, CMU expect 330+. Strong Quant score (168–170) is critical.
MS Electrical Engineering — USA
Target: 318–325 total, Quant 165–168. UIUC, Purdue, Michigan are achievable with 318+.
MS Civil / Mechanical Engineering — USA
Target: 312–320 total, Quant 160–165. Less competitive than CS/EE — focus on SOP and research.
MS Data Science / Statistics
Target: 320–330. High Quant (166+) required. Verbal 155+ helps for quantitative-heavy social science stats programmes.
MS Finance — USA
Target: 318–325. Some finance programmes prefer GMAT over GRE — check each school.
GRE Preparation Strategy
Timeline: Allow 8–12 weeks of dedicated preparation. Start with a diagnostic test to benchmark your current level.
Quant: Indian students typically score well in Quant. Focus on Data Interpretation, Geometry and Word Problems. Target 165+ with consistent practice using official ETS materials and Manhattan Prep.
Verbal: The hardest section for most Indian students. Focus on Text Completion, Sentence Equivalence and Reading Comprehension. Build vocabulary through Magoosh GRE word lists.
AWA: Practice 4–6 essays. Target 4.0+ (most schools consider 4.0 acceptable; 4.5+ is strong).
Frequently Asked Questions
No — many universities have made GRE optional or waived it permanently post-COVID. Canada rarely requires GRE. Germany, UK and Australia generally do not require GRE. Always check the specific programme's current requirements.
You can take the GRE up to 5 times per year, with at least 21 days between attempts. ETS allows ScoreSelect — you choose which scores to send to universities.
320+ is a strong score that keeps most top-50 US programmes accessible. 315–319 is competitive for many programmes. Below 310 may limit options at top schools but is acceptable for many solid mid-tier programmes.
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