GRE or the graduate record examination is taken by students who aspire to pursue a postgraduate degree from a university abroad. It has two test formats -GRE General and GRE Subject Test. The syllabus for each test is different. The GRE General Test syllabus is composed of three sections – Quantitative reasoning, Verbal reasoning, and Analytical writing. It focuses on measuring your verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing, and critical thinking skills.
On the other hand, the GRE subject test syllabus focuses on evaluating the candidate’s expertise in specific fields such as Mathematics, physics, etc.
In this article, we provide you with information on the GRE syllabus 2024 for the general and subject tests.
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GRE Syllabus for General Test in 2024
The GRE exam syllabus measures verbal reasoning, critical thinking, analytical writing skills, and quantitative reasoning. The syllabus is broadly divided into three sections – Analytical Writing, Quantitative reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning. The GRE General Test is a computer-delivered test. The overall test time is about 1 hour and 58 minute.
| Computer-based | No. of sections | Total duration | No. of questions |
| Verbal Reasoning | 2 | 41 minutes Section 1: 18 min. Section 2: 23 min. | 27 Section 1: 12 ques Section 2: 15 ques |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 2 | 47 minutes Section 1: 21 min. Section 2: 26 min. | 27 Section 1: 12 ques. Section 2: 15 ques. |
| Analytical Writing | 1 | 30 minutes | 1 |
| Total | 5 | 1 hours 58 Minutes | 55 |
The Analytical Writing section will always be first. The Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections may appear in any order after the Analytical Writing section.
Note: The GRE Exam syllabus is broadly divided into three sections Verbal, Quant, and Analytical Writing sections. However, only Quantitative and Verbal reasoning scores add up to your GRE Scores.
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GRE Syllabus for Verbal Reasoning
The GRE Verbal Reasoning section tests your ability to understand the meanings of words, entire texts, and sentences. It’s syllabus measures your understanding of relationships among terms and concepts.
You need to analyze and draw conclusions from the discourse, identify the author’s assumptions/perspective, and understand multiple levels of meaning, such as figurative, literal, and author’s intent.
List of the topics covered in GRE Verbal Reasoning:
- Modifiers and Parallelism
- Idioms and Idiomatic expressions
- Verb tense
- Pronoun Agreement
- Subject-Verb Agreement
- Nouns, Adjectives, Pronouns
The GRE verbal Syllabus is divided into three parts:
- Reading Comprehension
- Sentence Equivalence
- Text Completion
The reading comprehension questions consist of one to four or five paragraphs, and the passages are based on material found in books and periodicals, both academic and nonacademic, and drawn from:
- physical sciences
- biological sciences
- social sciences
- business
- arts and humanities
- everyday topics
The section tests your ability to understand what you are reading.
You need to read and analyze the passage carefully before answering any questions. Also, do not be discouraged if you encounter an unfamiliar passage.
It is about how well you can understand and answer the questions. Besides, you should not rely on outside knowledge and answer each question based on the information provided in the passage.
Remember: All the questions can be answered based on the information provided in the passage.
This section tests your ability to complete a paragraph based on incomplete information. You need to choose two ways to complete the sentence that have the same meaning while also being grammatically correct.
Note: Your answer choice gives you a sentence that is logically, stylistically, and grammatically coherent. The correct answer might not be the words that mean the same thing.
It measures your ability to form a complete picture from the text presented. Both Sentence equivalence and text completion test your grasp of vocabulary. However, just knowing the words will not help you ace this section. You need to understand the meaning too.
Learn about the types of questions asked in GRE verbal reasoning section 2024.
GRE Syllabus for Quantitative Reasoning section
The GRE Quant Reasoning section tests your ability to solve problems using mathematical models. You are required to understand, analyze, and interpret quantitative information. To ace this section, you need to apply basic elementary concepts and skills of arithmetic, geometry, data analysis, and algebra.
You can use an on-screen calculator.
Topics in GRE Quantitative reasoning:
| Arithmetic | Geometry | Data Analysis | Algebra |
| Property and types of integer | Lines and angles | Descriptive statistics such as Median, Mean, Range, Mode, Percentiles, etc. | Exponents |
| Power and roots | Circles | Interpretation of data based on graphs, circle graphs, scatter plots, etc | Algebraic Expressions – Factoring and Simplifying |
| Statistics | Triangle | Probability | Equations and inequalities |
| Estimation | Quadrilaterals | Permutation and Combination | Linear and Quadratic inequalities |
| Number properties | Polygon | Venn Diagrams | Linear Equations |
| Percentage | Three-dimensional figures | Sets Theory | Quadratic equations |
| Exponents and Roots | Area, Perimeter, Volume | Word Problems | |
| Ratio and proportions | Angle Measurements | Speed, distance, and Time | |
| Simple and Compound Interest | Profit and Loss | ||
| Arithmetic Operations | Coordinate geometry |
Learn about the types of questions asked for GRE Quantitative reasoning section 2024.
GRE Syllabus for Analytical Writing
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This section measures your analytical writing and critical thinking skills.
The GRE Analytical Writing section tests how well you can articulate complex ideas effectively and clearly. Are you able to support them with relevant examples and reasons? It requires you to provide focused responses based on the tasks presented.
The Analytical Writing measure consists of a 30-minute “Analyze an Issue” task. This task presents an opinion on an issue and instructions on how to respond. You’re required to evaluate the issue, consider its complexities and develop an argument with reasons and examples to support your views.
The tasks in the GRE Analytical Writing section is related to a broad range of topics such as fine arts, physical science, humanities, and more. You do not require knowledge on a specific topic. Regardless of your field of study or interests, you will be able to understand the task.
Learn more about the task mentioned above here with sample examples.
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GRE Subject Test Syllabus 2024
GRE Subject Tests is administered in a computer-delivered format. Total testing time is 2 hours and 50 minutes for the Mathematics Test and 2 hours for the Physics and Psychology Tests. There are no separately timed sections. The GRE syllabus for the subject test consists of three disciplines:
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Psychology
The test consists of approx. 66 multiple-choice questions drawn from courses that are offered at the undergraduate level. The topics include:
- Calculus (50%)
- Algebra (25%)
- Additional Topics (25%)
The test consists of approx. 70 five-choice questions, which are grouped in sets and based on materials such as graphs, diagrams, and experimental data. The topics include:
- Classical mechanics (20%)
- Electromagnetism (18%)
- Optics and wave phenomena (9%)
- Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics (10%)
- Quantum mechanics (12%)
- Atomic Physics (10%)
- Special Relativity (6%)
- Laboratory methods (6%)
- Specialized topics (9%)
The test consists of approx. 144 multiple-choice questions. Each question in the test has five options from which the test taker is to select the one option that is the correct or best answer to the question. The topics include:
- Biological (30 questions)
- Cognitive (29 questions)
- Social (19 questions)
- Developmental (18 questions)
- Clinical (23 questions)
- Measurement/Methodology/Other (25 questions)
Take a look at the GRE subject test exam pattern here.
Key Takeaways
- GRE General Test syllabus is broadly divided into three sections: Analytical Writing, Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning
- The GRE General Test is a computer-delivered test.
- The GRE Syllabus for the Verbal Reasoning section is divided into three parts: Reading comprehension, Sentence Equivalence, and Text completion. Some of the topics covered in this section are – Modifiers and Parallelism; Verb tense; Idioms and Idiomatic expressions
- The GRE Syllabus for the quantitative reasoning section tests your ability to solve problems using mathematical models. Topics to cover are arithmetic, geometry, data analysis, and algebra
- Analytical Writing Section contains “Analyze and issue” tasks.
- The GRE Subject test has three disciplines – Physics, mathematics, and psychology
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FAQs – GRE Syllabus
GRE or Graduate Record Examination is a standardized test that provides schools with a standard measure for comparing candidates’ qualifications. GRE is one of the entrance exams that you take to get into a business school. Know all about GRE Exam
he GRE General Test syllabus is composed of three sections – Quantitative reasoning, Verbal reasoning, and Analytical writing. It focuses on measuring your verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing, and critical thinking skills. The overall test time is about 1 hour and 58 minute.
GRE General test is divided into three sections:
1. Quantitative reasoning
2. Verbal reasoning
3. Analytical Writing
Unlike the GRE General Test, the GRE subject test does not have sections. You can take the subject test in three disciplines:
1. Physics
2. Psychology
4. Mathematics
The GRE General Test costs $220 worldwide in 2024. However, it’s different for the China:
China: $231.30
Yes. For computer-delivered testing on-screen calculator can be used.
The GRE Quantitative reasoning section tests your ability to solve problems using mathematical models. It tests your concepts and skills in arithmetic, algebra, data analysis, and geometry.
The GRE Verbal reasoning section tests your grasp of vocabulary and how well you can understand the meaning of the sentences, words, or texts.
