GRE Syllabus: Section-Wise Exam Syllabus

The GRE syllabus consists of three major sections: GRE Verbal Reasoning, GRE Quantitative Reasoning and GRE Analytical Writing sections. The GRE exam syllabus measures reasoning, critical thinking, vocabulary and writing skills. Students who want to pursue their studies abroad need to qualify for the GRE exam and score well enough to secure a seat in a well-known college.

So, check out this space to learn about the GRE syllabus, including different formats and preparation tips.

The GRE syllabus for general tests measures a student’s verbal, quantitative and writing skills that have been developed with time. These skills are not related to any particular field but are standard tests that help officials measure your capabilities.

The GRE verbal syllabus mainly analyses your English skills in sentence structuring, grammar, vocabulary, and paragraphs. Look at the GRE syllabus to prepare well for the verbal section.

The GRE verbal syllabus is divided into three parts:

1. Reading Comprehension: For reading comprehension, you need to answer the questions based on a passage in three different subjects, i.e., social science, natural science and humanities. It tests your reading ability, and you must answer a question based on your understanding of the passage. 

2. Text Completion: It is all about the ability to form a picture from the given text. It accesses your vocabulary, so you need to be aware of the words and their exact meaning. 

3. Sentence Equivalence: In this section, you have to complete a paragraph based on incomplete data. You have to be well-versed with the meanings without making grammatical errors.

The GRE Quant syllabus is designed to analyse your numeric and aptitude abilities. This section is all about applying basic mathematics. Let us now discuss the GRE syllabus for the quant section.

The GRE analytical writing section aims to understand your ability to simplify complex ideas with the help of examples and check the standard written English. Look at the table below for the GRE writing section syllabus.

The GRE syllabus for the analytical writing section is divided into two parts with separate time durations:

• Analyze an issue: It requires you to give an opinion on a general problem and how to respond. 

• Analyze an argument: You need to access an argument as per the given instructions and come to a conclusion.

Also, Read: GRE Exam Pattern: Computer vs Paper Based Format

We have discussed the GRE general test syllabus and its three major sections. Let us now talk about the GRE syllabus for the subject test. The GRE syllabus for the subject test has four subject fields; you can pick one from them. The four subjects are

• Physics

• Chemistry

• Mathematics

• Psychology

The table given below indicates the syllabus of the subject test.

Two test formats are introduced by the ETS - the GRE General Test and the GRE Subject Test. The GRE syllabus and formats are different from the others.

• GRE General Test: The general test is a common exam that tests students’ quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning and analytical writing skills.

• GRE Subject Test: It is based on specific subjects and focuses on judging your abilities in a specific area.

It is essential to understand the GRE syllabus before appearing for the GRE exam. Once you know the pattern, you can prepare and manage time well for every section. The GRE syllabus consists of three sections: Analytical writing, quantitative reasoning and verbal reasoning.

The GRE syllabus for computer tests is divided into three sections: verbal, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing, which contain 40 questions. The unscored and research section scores do not affect the final GRE score.

The paper-based GRE test includes two sub-sections in every main category in verbal, quantitative reasoning and analytical writing. The verbal and quantitative reasoning sections contain 50 questions for 60-70 minutes. The unscored and research sections are not included in the paper-based exam.

GRE preparation tips help students prepare well and improve time management. Following a study plan and practising with the resources available to get the desired results. Here are some tips available to prepare for the exam.

• Practice well and work on vocabulary

• Structure the sentences well and error-free

• Make a GRE study plan

• Practice typing or writing as per the time duration

• Practice with past question papers

• Critical and analytical thinking is required

1. What is the GRE syllabus for the general test?

The GRE syllabus for the general test is given below:

2. How many subject options are available in the GRE subject test?

The GRE subject test has four subject options to choose from

• Mathematics

• Physics

• Psychology

• Chemistry

3. For many years, have GRE scores been valid?

GRE scores are valid for 5 years from the test date.

4. What is the time duration of the GRE General test?

The time duration of the GRE general test is 3 hours and 10 minutes.