Field notes
Writing that shows its sources.
Study articles and product notes, written the same way our study pages are: every claim cited inline with a link and an access date, every assumption named. Articles publish only after their sources are checked — no filler in between.
Articles
Sources checked 2026-09-13
How to review a practice test without repeating the same mistakes
A practical review routine: reconstruct your reasoning, find the first wrong step, write a useful correction, and test it on a different problem.
Read the articleStudy skills & worked methods
Practical routines and concrete examples across all five exams.
A useful study session in thirty minutes
A flexible thirty-minute routine for GRE or GMAT preparation, with a shorter fallback and a weekly check on what your practice actually changed.
Read the articleGRE Physics: force, energy or momentum?
Choose a mechanics method from the system, the interval and the quantity being asked for, then practise on an original collision problem.
Read the articleGRE Mathematics: check assumptions before using a shortcut
Three original examples on limits, continuity and eigenvalues show how a correct rule can give a wrong answer when its conditions disappear.
Read the articleNegative reinforcement vs punishment: classify the consequence
Use two separate questions—what changed, and what happened to the behaviour—to distinguish four operant-conditioning cases.
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Choosing your test
Decide which exam to take and what programs actually expect.
GRE vs GMAT: which should you take?
Most US MBA programs now accept either test, so the choice comes down to fit. What the two exams actually test, how they differ, and what the official pages say about acceptance.
Read the articlePhysics GRE requirements by program: an 18-school tracker
Which physics PhD programs require, recommend, or refuse the Physics GRE right now. Every stance verified on the department's own page, with dates and links, and updated as policies change.
Read the articleShould you take the GRE Physics Subject Test in 2026?
Harvard, UC Berkeley, and Caltech have put the Physics GRE back into their published requirements while other top programs stay optional or split. A sourced survey of department policies, the 2026 test format, and what the research actually shows.
Read the articleThe GRE Chemistry and Biology Subject Tests are discontinued — what to submit instead
ETS retired the GRE Chemistry Subject Test after April 2023 and the Biology test after May 2021. What that means for old scores, why some department pages still list dead tests, and what applicants can actually submit now.
Read the articleGRE to GMAT score conversion: what the official tools say
There is no single GRE-to-GMAT number, but ETS and GMAC each publish an official tool. How the ETS comparison tool and the GMAC concordance table work — and why a predicted score isn't a promised one.
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GRE guides
Scores, format, cost, and logistics for the GRE General Test.
What is a good GRE score?
There is no single good GRE score — it depends on the score's percentile and the programs you're targeting. What the official ETS scales and percentiles actually say, in plain terms.
Read the articleWhat's on the GRE? Format, sections, and timing
The GRE General Test now runs about two hours. Here is exactly what the current shorter test contains — five sections across three measures — straight from ETS.
Read the articleOfficial GRE prep resources: what to use, and when
A source-checked route through ETS's current GRE General Test structure, skill overviews, POWERPREP tests, math guides, sample questions, and Analytical Writing materials.
Read the articleHow much does the GRE cost?
The standard GRE General Test fee is US$249 in most of the world, with a fee-reduction voucher for eligible test-takers. The current costs, and where extra charges come from.
Read the articleGRE retake rules: attempts, waiting period, and deadlines
Retake the GRE after 21 days, up to five times in a rolling year. Plan around official-score timing and your application deadline with a worked example.
Read the articleHow long are GRE scores valid?
GRE scores are reportable for five years after your test date. What the five-year window means for when to test and which scores you can still send.
Read the articleHow to send GRE scores with ScoreSelect
ScoreSelect lets you decide which GRE scores schools see. The three options, the four free reports on test day, and what extra reports cost.
Read the articleHow long should you study for the GRE?
There is no official number, but the test's format and retake rules bound a sensible plan. How to size your prep from your target score and timeline.
Read the articleHow is the GRE General Test scored?
The GRE is section-level adaptive: your first section sets the difficulty of your second, and a raw score becomes a scaled 130–170. How scoring actually works, and what a percentile adds.
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GMAT guides
The GMAT Exam, its scoring, and what a good score is.
GMAT percentages: keep track of the denominator
An original set of examples on successive changes, weighted percentages and conditional probability, with a short checking routine.
Read the articleGMAT Focus Edition: what changed
The GMAT Focus Edition replaced the classic GMAT with three sections, a new Data Insights section, and a 205–805 score scale. Everything that changed, from GMAC.
Read the articleWhat is a good GMAT score?
On the GMAT Exam's 205–805 scale, roughly 545–555 is the median and 655 is near the 90th percentile. What the official GMAC percentile data says.
Read the articleHow many times can you take the GMAT?
You can take the GMAT five times in a rolling 12 months, at least 16 days apart, with no lifetime cap. Current rules, exceptions, and examples for planning a retake.
Read the articleHow long are GMAT scores valid?
GMAT scores are valid for five years from your test date, so you can take the exam early and send it when you apply. See an expiry example and the limited reporting option for older results.
Read the articleWhat's on the GMAT Exam? Format and timing
The GMAT Exam runs 2 hours 15 minutes across three 45-minute sections — Quantitative, Verbal, and Data Insights — with 64 questions and no essay. Exactly what the current exam contains.
Read the articleGMAT Exam scoring: what the 205–805 score means
The GMAT Exam Total Score runs 205–805, and — unlike the old exam — Data Insights now counts toward it. How the score is built, and why you can't compare it directly to a classic GMAT number.
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