Understanding the GRE Exam Pattern and Syllabus

GRE is an admission prerequisite at most universities in countries such as the USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Singapore. You should have a detailed understanding of the GRE syllabus and its exam pattern before you commit your time, effort, and resources to prepare.

GRE® Syllabus 2022

The GRE Syllabus for 2022 can be broadly divided into General Test Syllabus and GRE Subject Test Syllabus. The General Test Syllabus covers three areas of testing: Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning. These are individually scored, and the universities then consider the average final GRE score.

The test is standard for every student aspiring to pursue their post-graduate programs abroad. Now, some universities demand that the applicants appear for the GRE Subject Test, which examines the applicants on their knowledge about the specific subject they wish to specialize in. The test covers a wide range of subjects in the streams of language, analytics, and science.

GRE Exam Pattern

There are two ways a candidate can take the GRE®:

1. Computer-Delivered Test — GRE® is generally a computer-based test that one can take five times a year while maintaining a gap of 21 days between two attempts.

2. Paper-Delivered Test — In cases where a computer is unavailable, the GRE can also be taken as a paper-delivered test.

Section-Wise Syllabus for GRE® General Test

1. Analytical Writing

The analytical writing section challenges a student to articulate clearly complex ideas. The test measures the taker’s ability to fluently communicate ideas, support them with relevant reasoning, hold up an engaging discussion, and prove command over written English. The syllabus for the GRE Analytical Writing comprises two individually timed tasks allowing thirty minutes for each of them:

a) Issue Analysis

b) Argument Analysis

2. Verbal Reasoning

The GRE® verbal syllabus is structured to test the taker’s reasoning proficiency from incomplete data, interpret perspectives, and draw conclusions from presented communication. The test taker should be able to highlight major and minor points of relevance from the given body of text, summarize it, and establish relationships between words and ideas. Following are the topics covered under the verbal syllabus:

a) Verb Tense

b) Modifiers

c) Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions

d) Pronoun Agreement

e) Parallelism

f) Subject-Verb Agreement

3. GRE Quantitative Reasoning

The GRE® quant syllabus measures the student’s strength in comprehending quantitative information, analysis & interpretation of those using mathematical theories in problem-solving, and applying fundamental mathematical concepts of arithmetic, geometry, statistics, algebra, and probability.

Syllabus for GRE® Subject Test

Listed below is the syllabus covered in the GRE Subject Test:

Biology 

The test approximately has 190 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) related to Biology, including topics like:

1. Cellular and Molecular Biology

2. Organism Biology

3. Ecology and Evolution

Chemistry

You will find 130 MCQs related to the four conventional fields of Chemistry. The questions will be based on the following topics: 

1. Analytical Chemistry

2. Inorganic Chemistry

3. Organic Chemistry

4. Physical Chemistry

English Literature

The subject test presents around 230 questions on poetry, biography, essays, short stories, drama, novels, criticism, literary theory, and the language’s history. Students must pay attention to the following to prepare for the subject well: 

1. Literary Analysis

2. Identification

3. Cultural and Historical Contexts

4. History and Theory of Literary Criticism

Mathematics

The math subject test has around 66 MCQs based on the curriculum commonly taught in undergraduate programs. GRE® maths syllabus includes the following: 

1. Algebra

2. Calculus

3. Discrete Mathematics

4. Geometry

5. Statistics

Physics

The GRE® Subject test for Physics comprises approximately 100 MCQs. You will find some of the questions grouped in sets based on different physics concepts. Following are some of the topics you need to prepare:

1. Classical Mechanics

2. Electromagnetism

3. Optics and Wave Phenomena

4. Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

5. Quantum Mechanics

6. Atomic Physics

7. Special Relativity

8. Laboratory Methods

9. Specialized Topics (Nuclear and Particle physics, crystal structure, astrophysics, etc.)

Psychology

The psychology subject test has around 205 MCQs based on the various branches of the subject like:

1. Biological

2. Cognitive

3. Developmental

4. Social

5. Clinical

6. Measurement/Methodology, etc.

How to prepare for GRE® General Test

The last thing that will get you through your GRE® is cramming. It is an intense and extensive examination format that requires candidates to invest a reasonable amount of time and sincere effort. The suggested timeline for preparing for your GRE® is at least four to twelve weeks, depending on your speed and your daily commitment to studies. You can follow the tips below and plan your preparations accordingly:

1. Know Your Base Score: Before beginning, take a full-length practice test available online and see where you stand if you were to take the actual test soon. It will help you determine the topics you need to rework.

2. Set Your Target Score: Shortlist your prospective universities and note the score you need to aim for with them. This way, you will know your goal and be able to work towards it. 

3. Plan Your Ascend: It will take some research to arrive at the perfect plan to help you rise from your base score to the target score. Look at online testimonials of successful students and follow what suits you best.

4. Focus on Technique: Besides having a result-oriented approach, you should pay attention to how you approach each question. Find out the techniques to solve particular problems and work on bettering them.

5. Review Your Performance: Always analyze how you did in the practice tests, search for the patterns in your mistake and the questions you consistently have problems with. You will eventually see how useful that is.

6. Build Your Vocabulary: One way to enrich your vocabulary is by reading academic journals and publications. The internet will help you do this easily. Having a strong vocabulary takes you a long way in your GRE journey.