One of the most popular standardized admission tests globally, the Graduate Record Examination or GRE helps students secure admissions to graduate programs in leading universities. 

After the US, the largest number of GRE test takers between 2016 and 2021 were in India, as per data from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) which conducts the test worldwide. 

While there was a decrease in the number of test takers in India from 2016–17 to 2017–18, this increased from 2017–18 to 2018–19. Between 2018–19 and 2020–21, the number remained stable. The results given in the ETS analysis represent a view of examinees who took the GRE General Test.

What The Numbers Say

• India (60%) and China (80%) had a substantially higher percentage of test takers between the ages of 18 and 22 than the US (49%)
• The US (180,294), India (70,136) and China (60,081) had the highest number of citizens who took the test from July 2020 to June 2021
• Between 2016 and 2021, test takers in India with intended graduate majors in physical sciences and engineering were the largest groups

Prospective students across the globe who wish to pursue a master's, specialized master's in business, MBA or doctoral degree opt for the GRE General Test. GRE scores are taken into account for admissions in addition to a candidate’s undergraduate performance, letters of recommendation and other qualifications for graduate-level study. 

India (60%) and China (80%) had a substantially higher percentage of test takers between the ages of 18 and 22 than the US (49%), which indicates that more and more students are aspiring to study overseas from these countries, despite pandemic-induced restrictions and challenges.

When it comes to mean scores in the sections, Indians had a verbal reasoning mean score of 149.2, a 160.3 quantitative reasoning mean score and 3.0 as the analytical writing mean score. 

The US (180,294), India (70,136) and China (60,081) had the highest number of citizens who took the test from July 2020 to June 2021. From 2016–17 to 2017–18, the percentage of test takers in the US and China slightly increased. However, from 2017–18 to 2020–21, the percentage of test takers in the US decreased, the percentage of test takers in India increased, and the percentage of test takers in China remained stable. The percentage of test takers in Europe remained stable across all testing years.

Between 2016 and 2021, test takers in India with intended graduate majors in physical sciences and engineering were the largest groups. Other areas of study which were opted by Indian test takers included business, life sciences, social and behavioural science. 

Suggested: Indians taking GMAT increased in 2021!

The interest in physical sciences among examinees who tested in India, was the highest in 2020-21 with 25,820 intending to graduate in this field. Nearly 12,477 examinees who tested in India in the same year intended to pursue engineering. 

From testing years 2016–17 to 2020–21, the percentage of test takers in India with an intended graduate major in physical sciences and business increased. The percentage of test takers with an intended graduate major in engineering and life sciences dropped. The percentages of test takers with intended graduate majors in social and behavioural sciences, humanities and arts, and education were largely stable.