The GRE is the most important standardized test globally, and a large number of undergraduate students around the world prepare for it. In their 2013 annual report, ETS reported a 13% increase in GRE test takers over the previous year, bringing the number to over 800,000 test takers across all 180 countries where the test is administered. That equates to 800,000 students from around the world looking to study at graduate schools around the world.
How many GRE test takers have there been in the last five years?
An average of 537,157 test takers took the GRE General Test in the last five years. Presented below are the number of examinees who took the GRE test from July 2015 to June 2020:
|
Number of GRE Test Takers from 2015 to 2020 |
|
|---|---|
|
2015 – 2016 |
584,677 |
|
2016 – 2017 |
559,254 |
|
2017 – 2018 |
541,750 |
|
2018 – 2019 |
532,826 |
|
2019 – 2020 |
467,277 |
The number of examinees who took the GRE General Test from 2015 to 2020 are presented above. This analysis only included test takers with valid and reportable scores on all three test sections to achieve a more accurate report.
GRE Test Takers: Gender
The number of men and women test takers who took all three test sections of the GRE General Test in the 2019-2020 testing year is summarized in the table below:
|
GRE Examinee Population by Gender |
|
|---|---|
|
Male |
210,134 |
|
Female |
256,276 |
|
No Response |
867 |
The number of GRE test takers grouped by gender is listed above. 467,277 test takers took all three sections of the GRE General Test in the 2019-2020 testing year. 55% of the examinees were women, and 45% were men.
GRE Test Takers: U.S. Citizenship Status and Racial/Ethnic Group
The number of U.S citizen and non-U.S. citizen test takers who took all three test sections of the GRE General Test in the 2019-2020 testing year is summarized in the table below.
|
GRE Examinee Population by Citizenship |
|
|---|---|
|
U.S. Citizens |
250,274 |
|
American Indian |
1,310 |
|
Asian |
19,411 |
|
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander |
789 |
|
Black |
19,232 |
|
Mexican |
9,848 |
|
Puerto Rican |
2,361 |
|
Other Hispanic |
13,439 |
|
White (Non-Hispanic) |
137,197 |
|
Other |
8,760 |
|
No Response |
37,927 |
|
Non-U.S. Citizens |
216,936 |
|
No Response |
67 |
The number of GRE test takers grouped by citizenship is listed above. There were 467,277 test takers who took all three sections of the GRE General Test in the 2019-2020 testing year. 54% of the examinees were U.S. citizens and 46% were non-U.S. citizens.
GRE Test Takers: Age Group
The number of test takers grouped according to age who took all three test sections of the GRE General Test in the 2019-2020 testing year is summarized in the table below.
|
GRE Examinee Population by Age Group |
|
|---|---|
|
Under 18 |
115 |
|
18 to 22 |
221,321 |
|
23 to 25 |
123,146 |
|
26 to 30 |
74,766 |
|
31 to 35 |
25,261 |
|
36 to 40 |
11,148 |
|
41 to 45 |
5,422 |
|
46 to 50 |
3,134 |
|
51 to 55 |
1,558 |
|
56 to 60 |
730 |
|
Over 60 |
458 |
|
No Response |
218 |
The number of GRE test takers grouped by age is listed above. There were 467,277 test takers who took all three sections of the GRE General Test in the 2019-2020 testing year. 97.5% of the examinees were aged 40 and below, and 2.42% were aged above 40.
GRE Test Takers: Undergraduate Major
The number of test takers grouped according to their undergraduate major who took all three test sections of the GRE General Test in the 2019-2020 testing year is summarized in the table below.
|
GRE Examinee Population by Undergraduate Major |
|
|---|---|
|
Business |
18,256 |
|
Education |
6,907 |
|
Engineering |
57,318 |
|
Humanities and Arts |
23,584 |
|
Law |
655 |
|
Life Sciences |
89,579 |
|
Physical Sciences |
54,105 |
|
Social and Behavioral Sciences |
61,275 |
|
Other Fields |
14,597 |
|
Undecided |
1,583 |
|
No Response |
139,418 |
The number of GRE test takers grouped by undergraduate major is listed above. 467,277 test takers took all three sections of the GRE General Test in the 2019-2020 testing year. 30% of the test takers, the biggest percentage in this group, did not indicate the major taken in undergraduate studies. It is followed by Life Sciences and Physical Sciences with 19% and 12% of examinees, respectively.
GRE Test Takers: Intended Graduate Major
The number of test takers grouped according to their intended graduate major who took all three test sections of the GRE General Test in the 2019-2020 testing year is summarized in the table below.
|
GRE Examinee Population by Graduate Major |
|
|---|---|
|
Business |
41,399 |
|
Education |
19,815 |
|
Engineering |
57,460 |
|
Humanities and Arts |
15,062 |
|
Law |
1,494 |
|
Life Sciences |
100,541 |
|
Physical Sciences |
73,950 |
|
Social and Behavioral Sciences |
56,039 |
|
Other Fields |
17,484 |
|
Undecided |
30,110 |
|
No Response |
53,923 |
The number of GRE test takers grouped by prospective graduate majors is listed above. There were 467,277 test takers who took all three sections of the GRE General Test in the 2019-2020 testing year. 22% of the test takers, the biggest percentage in this group, intend to major in Life Sciences. It is followed by Physical Sciences and Engineering with 16% and 12% of examinees, respectively.
GRE Test Takers: Graduate Degree Objective
The number of test takers grouped according to their graduate degree objective who took all three test sections of the GRE General Test in the 2019-2020 testing year is summarized in the table below.
|
GRE Examinee Population by Graduate Degree Objective |
|
|---|---|
|
Master’s (M.A., M.S., M. Ed.) |
183,072 |
|
Specialized Business Master’s |
1,894 |
|
Intermediate |
1.489 |
|
MBA |
13,610 |
|
J.D. |
1,840 |
|
Doctorate (Ph. Ed., Ed. D.) |
123,286 |
|
Postdoctoral Study |
3,643 |
|
Non-degree Graduate Study |
678 |
|
Not Currently Planning Graduate Study |
872 |
|
No Response |
136,893 |
The number of GRE test takers grouped by graduate degree objective is listed above. There were 467,277 test takers who took all three sections of the GRE General Test in the 2019-2020 testing year. 65% of the test takers, the biggest percentage in this group, intend to achieve a graduate degree objective of either master’s degree (39 percent) or doctorate (26 percent).
GRE Test Takers: Enrollment Preference
The number of test takers grouped according to their enrollment preference who took all three test sections of the GRE General Test in the 2019-2020 testing year is summarized in the table below.
|
GRE Examinee Population by Enrollment Preference |
|
|---|---|
|
Full Time |
297,096 |
|
Part Time |
15,614 |
|
Undecided |
22,777 |
|
No Response |
131,790 |
The number of GRE test takers grouped by enrollment preference is listed above. There were 467,277 test takers who took all three sections of the GRE General Test in the 2019-2020 testing year. 64% of the test takers, the biggest percentage in this group, plans to enroll in a program full-time.
GRE Test Takers: Full-time Work Experience
The number of test takers grouped according to their experience in working full time who also took all three test sections of the GRE General Test in the 2019-2020 testing year is summarized in the table below.
|
GRE Examinee Population by Work Experience |
|
|---|---|
|
Less than 1 year |
150,185 |
|
1 to 2 years |
66,567 |
|
3 to 4 years |
28,252 |
|
5 to 7 years |
18,277 |
|
8 to 10 years |
8,470 |
|
11 to 14 years |
3,723 |
|
15 to 19 years |
3,070 |
|
20 to 29 years |
2,392 |
|
Over 30 years |
929 |
|
No Response |
185,412 |
The number of GRE test takers grouped by work experience is listed above. There were 467,277 test takers who took all three sections of the GRE General Test in the 2019-2020 testing year. 46% of the test takers, the biggest percentage in this group, had 2 years of full-time work experience or less.
GRE Test Takers: Program Format
The number of test takers grouped according to their program format who also took all three test sections of the GRE General Test in the 2019-2020 testing year is summarized in the table below.
|
GRE Examinee Population by Program Format |
|
|---|---|
|
On Campus |
260,490 |
|
Online |
10,481 |
|
Combination |
33,529 |
|
Undecided |
19,972 |
|
No Response |
142,805 |
The number of GRE test takers grouped by program format is listed above. There were 467,277 test takers who took all three sections of the GRE General Test in the 2019-2020 testing year. 56% of the test takers, the biggest percentage in this group, would like to pursue a graduate degree on campus.
How many GRE test takers took the computer-delivered test?
99% of test takers took the computer-delivered version of the test, while the paper-delivered version was taken by 1 percent.
How often are GRE tests offered?
The computer-delivered version of the GRE General Test is offered all-year long. It is available multiple times in a year, but availability of testing centers must be taken into consideration. The GRE paper-delivered version is offered 3 times a year in February, October, and November.
References:
Introduction To The GRE
https://www.ets.org/s/gre/pdf/snapshot.pdf
