General Information

The Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) is a standardized test administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). It is used as an admissions factor or requirement at many graduate level business schools in the United States. It consists of three sections: Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning.

• The structure and content of the GMAT changed in June 2012.
• A 30-minute section, Integrated Reasoning, was added where students will have to evaluate outcomes and interpret data presented graphically from multiple sources.
• The Integrated Reasoning section receives a separate score that will not impact the Verbal, Quantitative, Total, or Analytical Writing scores at all.
• The Analytical Writing section was shortened to 30 minutes and only includes one writing task.
• Thus, the total administration time for the GMAT remains the same at 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Format and Content

The GMAT is a computer-based exam with three sections: Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning.

The multiple-choice sections (Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning) are computer adaptive. This means that each section starts with a question of moderate difficulty. If the question is answered correctly, it moves on to a more difficult question. If the question is answered incorrectly, it moves to a less difficult question. This process continues throughout each section. Because of the nature of a computer-adaptive test, answers to questions cannot be changed once submitted and test-takers cannot skip a question and then return to it later.

¹Calculators are NOT permitted
² Data-Sufficiency questions contain initial information and two statements, labeled (1) and (2). Students must decide whether the statements given offer enough data to allow them to answer the question.

Students must choose one of the following answers:

• Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) is not sufficient.
• Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) is not sufficient.
• BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.
• EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.
• Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.

Total Time

3 hours 30 minutes.

Scoring

Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning

Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning sections each receive a scaled score between 0 and 60. These scores are then combined and converted into a total GMAT scaled score between 200 and 800. The Analytical Writing Assessment does not affect the total score at all. Scores are determined based on an algorithm not released by the GMAT, but this algorithm does take into account:

• the numbers of questions answered
• the number of questions answered correctly and incorrectly
• the level of difficulty and other statistical properties of each question

Analytical Writing Assessment

For the Analytical Writing Assessment, each writing task receives a grade between 0 and 6 from two different graders. These two grades are averaged for each task. The averaged grades for each task are then averaged together to produce a final Analytical Writing score between 0 and 6 (in half point increments).

Reports

Score reports sent to schools will include a student’s scores from all GMAT tests taken over the last five years.

On the report, each score (Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Total, and Analytical Writing) will receive a percentile ranking which represents the percentage of test-takers from the most recent three-year period that scored below that score. Therefore, while a scaled score never changes, a percentile ranking may vary from year to year.

Testing Schedule

The GMAT is a computer-based test that is administered year round at certified testing centers. See available testing dates.

A student can take the GMAT only once every 31 days, and no more than five times within any rolling 12-month period.

Cost

Registration Fee: $250

Registration/Additional Information

Visit the official GMAT website to register and learn more

General Information

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized test administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).  It is an admissions requirement at many graduate and business schools in the United States.  It consists of three sections: Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning.

*The structure and content of the GRE underwent significant changes in August 2011.  All changes are reflected here.

Format and Content

In the United States, the GRE is a computer-based test.

The GRE is a computer-adaptive test.  Performance on the first section of both Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning determines the difficulty level of the questions in the second corresponding section.

The GRE follows this basic format:

• Section 1 is always the Analytical Writing section
• Sections 2-5 comprise two Verbal Reasoning sections, two Quantitative Reasoning sections, and one Experimental section in varied order.
• Section 6 is always a Research section

¹ Multiple choice

² An online calculator is provided and permitted for the Quantitative Reasoning Sections ONLY.  Students are NOT allowed to bring their own calculator.

³ The Experimental section is NOT scored. It is used by the ETS to try out new questions and could be an Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, or Quantitative Reasoning section.

⁴ The Research section is also NOT scored and is also used by the ETS to try out new questions.  In contrast to the Experimental section, however, it is identifiable since it is always the last section.

TOTAL TIME: 3 hours and 45 minutes

Scoring

Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning

Raw scores for the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections are calculated by adding one point for every correct answer. There is no wrong answer penalty on the GRE, so students should never leave a question blank.

Raw scores are converted into scaled scores based on a formula that the ETS does not release. Students receive a scaled score between 130 and 170  (in one point increments) for Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning.

Analytical Writing

For the Analytical Writing section, each writing task receives a grade between 0 and 6 from two different graders.  The two grades are averaged for each task.  Then the grades for each task are averaged together to produce a final Analytical Writing score between 0 and 6 (in half point increments).

Testing Schedule

In the United States, the GRE is a computer-based test that is administered year round at certified testing centers.  See available testing dates.

A student can take the GRE only once every 60 days, and no more than five times within any rolling 12-month period.

Cost

The fee schedule for the GRE is available here.

Registration/Additional Information

Visit the official ETS GRE website to register and learn more

General Information

The NY Testing Program includes standardized testing in ELA (English Language Arts), Math, and Science. ELA and Math tests are administered annually in all New York State public schools to students in grades 3 through 8. There is also a New York State Science Test administered annually in all New York State schools to students in grades 5 and 8.

The New York state tests were developed by Questar and align with Next Generation Learning Standards. There are different versions of both tests at each grade level.  These tests are used to evaluate and compare schools across the state.  Score reports also serve to inform teachers and parents about a student’s weaknesses and strengths. Moreover, score data is carefully considered for admissions to selective public schools and independent schools. This year, all 5th and 8th graders will take  these assessments online (CBT) and other grades will continue taking them using paper and pencil (PBT). By Spring 2026, all tests will be administered online (CBT).

Test Dates

• The schedule for the NY Testing Program in grades 3-8 for Spring 2024 is available on this page.
• Districts may administer the NY Testing Program at any time within each window.
• Parents continue to have the right to refuse their child to participate in standardized tests. Should you wish to do so, please speak with your child’s principal and follow up with a written request.

Format and Content

ELA

The ELA exams within the NY Testing Program align with Next Generation Learning Standards to test reading, writing, language, speaking and listening. They measure students’ attainment of skills such as understanding story events, drawing conclusions, making predictions, identifying the main idea, using vocabulary strategies, identifying supporting details, identifying point of view, evaluating ideas, understanding features that distinguish genres, and using figurative language to interpret text. The test also presents a wide range of genres and informational texts, which are presented in the chart below.

Question types include multiple-choice and long and short constructed responses. The test is administered over 2 days and testing is untimed.

Mathematics

The Mathematics exams within the NY Testing Program align with Next Generation Learning  Standards. The content varies depending on grade level and includes the following topics: number sense and operations, measurement, statistics, probability, algebra, and geometry.

Question types include multiple-choice, short and long constructed -response. The test is administered over 2 successive days with testing comprised of two books. The testing is untimed.

• Fourth graders need to have a ruler and a protractor, which is provided by the school during testing.
• Calculators are not permitted for grade 3-5.
• Sixth graders must have the exclusive use of a 4-function calculator with a square root key or a scientific calculator for books 2 and 3.
• Seventh and Eighth graders must have the exclusive use of a scientific calculator for books 2 and 3.

The Grades 3-8 Mathematics Tests will be available in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Haitian Creole, Russian, and Spanish in PBT format. Mathematics Tests in CBT format are available in Chinese (Simplified), Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, and Spanish. These language versions are only available for qualifying students who are English Language Learners.

Science

The Science exams within the NY Testing Program align with Next Generation Learning Standards.  For grade 5, the test consists of 36-43 questions. For grade 8, the test has 56-62 questions. Both tests have 60% multiple choice and 40% constructed responses. The tests are taken online and students have unlimited time to complete the questions. The content varies depending on grade level and includes the following topics: living vs. non-living things, plants, animals, genetics, ecology, matter, energy, forces, astronomy, meteorology, water, erosion, process skills, geology, chemistry, physics, measurement, classification/sorting, magnetism, electricity, and inclined planes.

Science tests in the Spring of 2024 for Grades 5 and 8 will be available in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, and Spanish. These language versions are only available for qualifying students who are English Language Learners.

Scoring

After the test, and often not for several months, parents receive a Parent Report that summarizes their child’s performance. This report includes a scaled score, a performance level, and an overall state percentile rank. The scaled score is determined by the number of points your child earned on the test. A performance level is then assigned based on the scaled score. There are 4 performance levels, which include NYS Level 1, NYS Level 2, NYS Level 3, and NYS Level 4. The overall state percentile rank compares your child’s score to the rest of the students who took the same subject area test that particular school year. Percentile ranks are reported on a scale of 1-99.

Additional Information

Visit the official NYSED Office of State Assessment website to learn more about New York State Testing.