The GRE General Test is the admissions test for most master’s and PhD programmes in the USA, and many business and law schools accept it too. Universities in Canada, the UK, Europe and Asia also ask for it on some courses. It’s run by ETS, the same organisation that runs TOEFL. Booking it costs over US$200, so you should practise properly before test day, and you don’t need to pay for practice to do that: ETS and many independent prep companies give away official practice tests, full mock tests, section tests and thousands of practice questions.
The GRE became much shorter in September 2023, so we’ve favoured free resources that match the current test. We’ve collected 50 of them in one place, with a link to each: official ETS practice, free full mock tests, free section tests, free question and vocabulary practice, free university books for the maths, and free reading and video lessons. Some entries are a set of several tests, so in total there are far more than 50 practice tests here. Every link was checked in October 2026.
First, a quick reminder of the GRE format
- About 1 hour 58 minutes, in 5 sections, taken on a computer at a test centre or at home. There’s no scheduled break.
- Analytical Writing (30 minutes): one “Analyze an Issue” essay. It always comes first.
- Verbal Reasoning (2 sections, 41 minutes): 12 questions in 18 minutes, then 15 questions in 23 minutes. The question types are Reading Comprehension, Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence.
- Quantitative Reasoning (2 sections, 47 minutes): 12 questions in 21 minutes, then 15 questions in 26 minutes. The question types are Quantitative Comparison, multiple choice, Numeric Entry and Data Interpretation. There’s an on-screen calculator.
- Adaptive by section: how well you do in the first Verbal and Quant sections decides how hard the second ones are. Within a section you can skip questions and go back to change answers.
- Scores: Verbal and Quant are each scored from 130 to 170, and Analytical Writing from 0 to 6 in half points. Official scores arrive in about 8 to 10 days and are valid for 5 years.
- What changed in 2023: the “Analyze an Argument” essay and the unscored extra section were removed, and the test went from nearly 4 hours to under 2. Older books and tests still have good questions, but their timing and structure are out of date.
Official GRE practice from ETS
ETS makes the GRE, so its practice is the most accurate. The two POWERPREP tests are free with an ETS account, which you’ll need to book the test anyway. Some of the PDFs below ask for your name and email address before you download them.
1. POWERPREP Online Practice Test 1
A free, full-length official practice test in the current format, built from real GRE questions. It’s untimed, so it’s ideal as a first look at the test, but it doesn’t give Verbal and Quant scores. It includes scored sample essays with rater comments and a performance report. Start here.
2. POWERPREP Online Practice Test 2
The second free official test, fully timed and scored like the real thing. Save it for when you want an accurate score estimate. Start here.
3. GRE Mini Quiz
A short free quiz of real GRE questions from ETS, with no sign-up. A quick way to see what the questions are like. Take the quiz.
4. Official GRE sample questions
A free official guide of real Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning questions, with detailed answer explanations and tips. You get it by email. Get it here.
5. Official Verbal Reasoning overview
ETS’s explanation of every Verbal question type, with sample questions, answers, explanations and tips. Start here.
6. Official Quantitative Reasoning overview
Every Quant question type explained, with sample questions, answers and explanations, plus the maths topics the test covers. Start here.
7. Official Analytical Writing overview
How the essay works, how to plan your 30 minutes, and how it’s scored. Start here.
8. Official guide to the “Analyze an Issue” task
The official explanation of the only GRE essay task, with strategies and what the raters look for. Start here.
9. Analytical Writing Issue topic pool
ETS publishes every essay topic your test could use. Practising with real topics is the best essay preparation there is. Free download. Get it here.
10. Sample Issue task with scored essays
A free official sample essay task, with essays at different score levels and rater commentary explaining each score. Get it here.
11. Official Issue scoring guide
The scoring guide raters use, describing what a 6, 5, 4 and lower essay looks like. Read it here.
12. Math Review (PDF)
ETS’s free review of all the maths on the GRE: arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis, with examples and exercises. Download it here.
13. Mathematical Conventions (PDF)
The assumptions and notation GRE maths questions use, such as how to read figures and graphs. Short, but it avoids silly mistakes. Download it here.
14. Quantitative Reasoning problem-solving strategies
Free official problem-solving steps and strategies for the Quant questions. Get it here.
15. On-screen calculator guidelines (PDF)
How the GRE calculator works and when it’s worth using it. Practise with it before test day. Download it here.
16. Khan Academy videos for GRE maths
ETS’s list of free Khan Academy videos for every topic in the Math Review, from arithmetic to statistics. Watch here.
17. Official GRE test structure
The official sections, question counts and timings, so you can set up your own practice under real conditions. Read it here.
18. Interpreting your GRE scores (PDF)
How GRE scores and percentiles work, so you can understand your practice scores and set a target. Download it here.
Free full GRE mock tests
These independent tests aren’t official, so their scores are only estimates, but they’re written for the shorter GRE. Most ask for an email address or a free account.
19. Magoosh free GRE practice test
A free full-length test of about 2 hours in the current format, with all three sections, an interface like the real one, and detailed explanations. You start it with your email address. Start here.
20. Manhattan Prep free GRE practice test
A free full-length, section-adaptive practice test with a personal assessment report. You can take it timed or untimed. It comes with the free GRE Starter Kit when you create an account. Start here.
21. Experts’ Global free full-length mock
A free adaptive mock that matches the official section lengths and timings, with written and video explanations and detailed analytics. No card details needed. Start here.
22. Galvanize free full-length mock test
A free 1 hour 58 minute mock with the full Analytical Writing section, an instant score report and answer explanations. Start here.
23. MBA Universe free GRE mock tests
Three free full-length mocks in the current pattern, which you can take online or download as PDFs after a free registration. Start here.
24. Yocket free GRE mock tests
Free full-length adaptive mock tests with a section-by-section score breakdown, when you sign up for Yocket Prep. Start here.
Free GRE section tests and diagnostics
25. Magoosh shorter diagnostic
If you’re short on time, Magoosh’s free test also has a diagnostic of about 40 minutes, or you can take just one section. Start here.
26. Experts’ Global free sectional mocks
As well as the full mock, you get 3 free sectional tests, so you can work on Verbal or Quant on their own. Start here.
27. Galvanize short practice test
A free 30-minute test of 20 questions, with no essay, for a quick baseline score and percentile. Start here.
28. Varsity Tutors GRE Quant tests
Free Quantitative Reasoning tests of 27 questions in 47 minutes, the same as the real measure, with a results breakdown. You need a free account. Start here.
29. Varsity Tutors GRE Verbal tests
Free Verbal Reasoning tests with real timing and scoring. You can pause and come back later. Start here.
30. Varsity Tutors adaptive GRE diagnostic
A free adaptive diagnostic of about 30 questions in 30 minutes that shows where to focus. Start here.
31. Yocket Verbal question paper (PDF)
A free printable Verbal practice paper, if you’d like to practise away from a screen. Download it here.
32. Yocket Quant question paper (PDF)
A free printable Quant practice paper. More Verbal and Quant papers are on Yocket’s practice test page. Download it here.
Free GRE practice questions and vocabulary
33. Magoosh GRE sample questions
One free example of every GRE question type, with answers and explanations. Practise here.
34. Varsity Tutors GRE quizzes
Over 1,000 free GRE practice questions in short quizzes, sorted by topic. Practise here.
35. Magoosh GRE vocabulary flashcards
1,000 of the most useful GRE words in free flashcards, online or in the iPhone and Android apps. Vocabulary matters for Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence. Study them here.
36. Vocabulary.com GRE high-frequency words
A free list of words that come up often on the GRE, with definitions, examples and practice. Study it here.
Free university books and tools for GRE maths and writing
These aren’t GRE-specific, but they’re free, high quality and cover exactly what the GRE tests. The OpenStax books are free textbooks from Rice University.
37. OpenStax Prealgebra
A free textbook covering fractions, decimals, percentages, ratios and basic geometry, with worked examples. Good if your maths is rusty. Read it here.
38. OpenStax Elementary Algebra
A free textbook for the algebra on the GRE: equations, inequalities, exponents, factoring and graphs. Read it here.
39. OpenStax Introductory Statistics
A free textbook covering the data analysis on the GRE: averages, standard deviation, probability and distributions. Read it here.
40. Purdue OWL: logic in argumentative writing
Purdue University’s free guide to building a logical argument and avoiding fallacies, which is exactly what the Issue essay rewards. Read it here.
41. University of Manchester: Academic Phrasebank
A free bank of academic phrases for introducing ideas, giving examples, contrasting and concluding, to help your essay flow. Start here.
Free reading practice for GRE Verbal
ETS recommends getting used to graduate-level prose by reading feature articles and serious magazines. Some of these limit how many articles you can read free each month.
42. Arts & Letters Daily
A free daily selection of essays and articles on ideas, culture and science from across the web. Great Reading Comprehension practice. Read here.
43. Aeon
Free long essays on philosophy, science, psychology and society, very like the passages on the GRE. Read here.
44. Scientific American
Science articles written for a general audience, one of the magazines ETS suggests for GRE reading. Read here.
45. London Review of Books
Long, closely argued essays and reviews, also suggested by ETS. Some articles are free to read, and the rest need a subscription. Read here.
46. The Guardian Long Read
Free in-depth feature articles from The Guardian, another publication ETS suggests. Read here.
Free GRE video lessons
47. Manhattan Prep GRE (YouTube)
Free GRE strategy lessons and recordings of the Free GRE Prep Hour sessions from Manhattan Prep’s instructors. Watch here.
48. GregMat (YouTube)
One of the most popular free GRE channels, with hundreds of videos on strategy, vocabulary and every question type. Watch here.
49. Magoosh GRE (YouTube)
Free GRE lessons, tips and question walkthroughs from Magoosh. Watch here.
50. Manhattan Prep Free GRE Prep Hour
A free one-hour live GRE lesson twice a month with a 99th-percentile instructor. Recordings go on Manhattan Prep’s GRE YouTube channel. Join here.
How to get the most from free GRE practice tests
- Start with an official test: take POWERPREP Test 1 early to learn the format, and save Test 2 for later, when you want an accurate score.
- Check it’s for the shorter GRE: material from before September 2023 has the Argument essay and longer sections. Use its questions, but not its timing.
- Practise under real conditions: sit full tests in one go, with no break, and use only the on-screen style calculator for Quant.
- Review every mistake: the review afterwards teaches you more than the test. Keep a list of the question types and topics you get wrong.
- Write real essays: pick topics from the official Issue pool and write against a 30-minute timer, then compare your essay with the scored samples.
- Treat unofficial scores as estimates: use them to track your progress, not to predict your exact result.
Which GRE score do you need?
There’s no pass mark. Each programme sets its own expectations, and many publish the average scores of the students they admit. Competitive STEM and economics programmes usually look hardest at your Quant score, while humanities programmes care more about Verbal and Writing. Some programmes have made the GRE optional, and many business schools accept it instead of the GMAT. Always check the exact requirement on your course page. Our country guides for the USA, Canada and the UK explain how studying there works. For help choosing where to apply, take our free study abroad assessment. Taking another test too? See our free GMAT, TOEFL, IELTS and PTE Academic practice test guides.
All links and free offers were checked in October 2026. Websites change what they offer free from time to time, so check the details on each site before you sign up. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with ETS or any of the other providers listed. GRE and POWERPREP are trademarks of ETS.