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GRE Syllabus

Written by  Piyush Bhartiya

Reviewed by  Priyanka Bhargava

Published: Mon, September 30, 2019 9:30 AM IST  Updated: Mon, September 30, 2019 9:30 AM IST  9 mins read

GRE Syllabus

Written by  Piyush Bhartiya

Reviewed by  Priyanka Bhargava

Published: Mon, Sep 30, 2019 9:30 AM IST  Updated: Mon, Sep 30, 2019 9:30 AM IST  9 mins read

GRE Exam Formats

GRE Exam Format has three sections consisting of 82 questions which take 3 hours 45 minutes. The three sections are quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, and analytic writing assessment

However, the GRE Exam Format for GRE General Tests and subject-specific tests differs. GRE General Exam asks questions about various concepts suitable for all the candidates. GRE General Exam has two forms: computer-based and paper-based. Moreover, GRE General Exam Format has 82 questions. On the other hand, GRE subject-specific exam is confined to a subject and assess the candidate's proficiency in subjects like English, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and psychology. Herein, the GRE subject-specific subject test has 66-230 questions which take 2 hours 50 minutes.

GRE Syllabus 2022

The GRE Exam Syllabus 2022 emphasizes quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, and analytical writing assessment. The GRE Exam Syllabus 2022 quantitative reasoning section has algebra, calculus, geometry, data analysis, statistics, and arithmetic. The verbal reasoning section of GRE Exam Syllabus 2022 has questions about reading comprehension, sentence completion and sentence equivalence. Moreover, the third analytical writing assessment section focus on the applicant's ability to understand the complex sentence, break the complex into simpler ideas, analyse arguments and write down the thoughts clearly and reasonably.

GRE Syllabus: Analytical Writing

The Analytic Writing Section of the GRE Syllabus focuses on questions about analysing an argument/issue and presenting thoughts. It has concepts that assess the applicant's ability to understand the text, analyse it with examples and reasons, and coherent discussion. Moreover, the analytic writing section focuses on the analytical skills of the participant and how much they can go in-depth on a topic. In addition, it also assesses the applicant's grammar, conjunction, punctuation and sentence forming skills.

GRE Syllabus: Quantitative Reasoning

The Quantitative reasoning section of GRE Syllabus 2022 emphasizes quantitative information, maths, algebra, calculus, solving mathematical problems with formulas and understanding arithmetic. Moreover, this section in the GRE Syllabus 2022 measures the candidate's ability to interpret the quantitative data, use math models and formulas, apply basic formulas and math skills & understand algebra, calculus, probability, geometry, trigonometry and statistics. 

Some topics covered in the quantitative reasoning section of GRE are below:

  • Statistics
  • Probability
  • Triangles and circles
  • Lines and angles
  • Ratio & proportion
  • Power & roots
  • Geometry 
  • Percentage
  • Volume

GRE Syllabus: Verbal Reasoning

The Verbal reasoning section of the GRE Syllabus 2022 has questions about reasoning, analysis, drawing conclusions, and understanding the author's perspective. The Verbal reasoning Section assesses the candidate's ability to understand the text, summarize it, structure the test and understands the words and their meanings. Moreover, other concepts are analogy, grammar, Venn diagram, direction and adjectives. 

Some topics covered in the verbal reasoning section of GRE are as follow:

  • Adjectives
  • Conjunction
  • Verbs & tenses
  • Pronouns
  • Modifiers
  • Homophones
  • Basic sentence structure
  • Idioms

GRE Test Syllabus 2022

The GRE test Syllabus 2022 covers concepts from math, English, chemistry, physics, biology and Psychology. Moreover, GRE test Syllabus assesses the candidate's analytical thinking, quantitative reasoning and verbal reasoning. The GRE test Syllabus 2022 also focuses on descriptive questions with MCQ.

GRE Math Syllabus

The GRE Math Syllabus consists of questions from topics like calculus, algebra, geometry, arithmetic and probability. Moreover, the GRE Math Syllabus has 66 questions from the undergraduate syllabus. In addition, calculus constitutes (50%), algebra (25%) and additional topics (25%) in the GRE Maths Syllabus 2022.

Some of the major topics for the maths syllabus are:

  • Probability
  • Triangles and Circles
  • Ratio and Proportion
  • Geometry
  • Trigonometry
  • Calculus
  • Algebra
  • Additional topics

GRE Physics Syllabus

The GRE Physics Syllabus has questions about thermodynamics, atomic physics, and quantum physics. Moreover, the GRE Physics Syllabus has questions based on graphs, flow charts, diagrams and experimental data. In addition, the GRE Physics Exam has 100 MCQ which, are categorized in various sets.

Some of the major topics in the GRE Physics Syllabus:

  • Electromagnetism
  •  Optics and wave phenomena
  • Atomic physics
  • Relativity
  • Methods (lab and field)
  • Quantum Physics
  • Classical mechanics
  • Thermodynamics

GRE Literature in English Syllabus

The GRE Literature in English Syllabus includes questions on passages, proses, drama, poetry, short story, essay, biography and understanding of the text. Moreover, the Literature in English Syllabus has factual (title, author, dates) and analytical questions (passage comprehension, meaning, and structure).

Some of the major points of the GRE Literature in English Syllabus are:

  • Literary analysis
  • identification
  • Grammar
  • theory of literary criticisms
  • understanding cultural and historical contexts
  • Verb & tenses

GRE Chemistry Syllabus

The GRE Chemistry Syllabus comprises physical, analytical, organic and inorganic chemistry. The questions in the GRE Chemistry syllabus are based on these four dimensions and their interrelations. Moreover, physical chemistry has a weightage of (30%), organic chemistry (30%), inorganic chemistry (25%), and analytical chemistry (15%) in the GRE Chemistry syllabus.

Some of the major points in the GRE Chemistry syllabus are:

  • Classical experiments
  • Atomic & molecular structure
  • Thermodynamics
  • Gibbs & Helmholtz energy
  • solution dynamics
  • environmental applications

GRE Biology Syllabus

The GRE Biology Syllabus comprises topics cellular molecular, organismal biology, environment, evolution and ecology. Moreover, the GRE Biology Syllabus has 188 multiple choice questions and has equally divided weightage for three branches.

Some of the major points of the GRE Biology Syllabus are:

  • Cellular structure and function
  • Receptor binding and enzyme activity
  • fermentation
  • photosynthesis
  • cell cycle
  • biological compounds
  • genetics
  • DNA repair and mutation
  • plant structure

GRE Psychology Syllabus

The GRE Psychology Syllabus revolves around biological, cognitive, social, developmental, clinical psychology. Moreover, the GRE Psychology syllabus includes research methodology, data processing and statistics.

Some of the major points of the GRE Psychology Syllabus are:

  • Attention
  • Memory
  • visual and speech perception
  • Learning
  • Decision-making
  • Life span development
  • attitude
  • violence & aggression
  • social facilitation & social loafing
  • understanding psychological disorders

GRE Preparation

GRE Preparation should start 5-6 months before the exam date and be completed 90 days before the examination. The GRE Preparation must include gathering all the previous year question papers, making notes, and compiling all the resources. Moreover, the candidates can take practice tests and solve sample papers daily after the completion of the syllabus for the GRE Preparation. The best tip for GRE Preparation is to manage the time as per the syllabus. And, choose the centre and fill the form beforehand to avoid any discrepancy later.

GRE Test Pattern for Computer- delivered Test

The pattern for GRE Computer-delivered test has three sections of quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning and analytical writing. Moreover, the quantitative section has further two sections of 40 questions, verbal reasoning has two sections of 40 questions and, analytical writing has 1 section with two tasks.

In addition, timings for all the sections of GRE Computer-delivered test range from 60-70 minutes.

GRE Sections

No. of sections

Duration 

Quantitative Reasoning

2 sections

70 minutes 

Verbal Reasoning

2 sections

60 minutes 

Analytical Writing Assessment

1 section

60 minutes 

GRE Test Pattern for Paper-Delivered Test

The pattern for GRE Paper-based test has three sections similar to the computer-based test. However, in the paper-based exam, the analytical writing section has two sections with two tasks, verbal reasoning has two sections with 50 questions, and quantitative reasoning has two sections with 50 questions.

In addition, the timings for all the sections of the GRE Paper-delivered test range from 60-80 minutes.

GRE Section

No. of sections

Duration 

Quantitative Reasoning

2 sections

80 minutes 

Verbal Reasoning

2 sections

70 minutes 

Analytical Writing Assessment

2 sections

60 minutes 

FAQs

✅ What type of questions is asked in the GRE Exam?

Ans: The GRE Exam has multiple choice questions and two descriptive questions related to quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning critical and analytical thinking & writing. 

✅ What are the timings of the GRE Exam?

Ans: The timings for GRE General Exam and subject-specific exam differ. The GRE general exam takes 3 hours 45 minutes to complete and, the GRE subject-specific exam takes 2 hours 50 minutes. 

✅ How much time is allotted for all the sections of the GRE Exam?

Ans: The ETS allotted different timings for various sections in the GRE Exam to the candidates. The applicants have 60 minutes for analytical writing, 60 minutes for verbal reasoning and 70 minutes for quantitative reasoning. 

✅ What are the major topics covered in GRE Chemistry Syllabus?

Ans: GRE Chemistry Syllabus includes topics from the organic, inorganic, analytical and physical fields of chemistry. Moreover, physical chemistry has a weightage of (30%), organic chemistry (30%), inorganic chemistry (25%), and analytical chemistry (15%) in the GRE Chemistry syllabus. Other topics in GRE Chemistry Syllabus are thermodynamics, solution dynamics and atoms. 

✅ What are the major topics covered in GRE Math Syllabus?

Ans: GRE Maths Syllabus constitutes topics like precalculus, geometry, trigonometry, algebra, statistics and probability. Moreover, calculus constitutes (50%), algebra (25%) and additional topics (25%) in the GRE Maths Syllabus 2022. Other topics in the GRE Math Syllabus are ratio & proportion, volume, surface area, distance, triangles, circles and lines. 

About the Author & Expert

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Piyush Bhartiya

author • MBA • 2 years

Piyush values education and has studied from the top institutes of IIT Roorkee, IIM Bangalore, KTH Sweden and Tsinghua University in China. Post completing his MBA, he has worked with the world's # 1 consulting firm, The Boston Consulting Group and focused on building sales and marketing vertical for top MNCs and Indian business houses.