GRE Syllabus 2024: Updated Test Syllabus for GRE Exam

Hafsha Qureshi
Hafsha Qureshi

Updated on - Jan 17, 2024

GRE Syllabus 2024 has three sections namely Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning. GRE exam aims to analysis the analytical thinking, verbal reasoning, writing skills, quantitative reasoning and more for success in persuing in higher education. 

The syllabus of GRE will help candidates learn the entire curriculum and get a better understanding of all subjects/topics. GRE General Test has two tests in both the Computer-Delivered test and the Paper-Delivered test. The tests are the GRE general test and GRE subject test. The details regarding the syllabus for both tests are given below.

Check the GRE Eligibility 2024 to know more information about the general eligibility criteria for taking the test. The GRE 2024 aspirants must know the GRE syllabus 2024 to prepare diligently for the exam. The candidates must also gather all the study materials according to the syllabus.

Table of Contents

GRE Syllabus 2024

There is no specific syllabus for the GRE General test but overseeing the test structure and information are given on the Official Website of ETS-GRE. Therefore, one can always equip themselves with enough study materials to ace the test.

Skills Tested In GRE

  • GRE Syllabus aims at testing the skills that are required for success in today’s demanding graduate programs. These also include business and law.
  • The GRE General test has three papers for the candidates to focus on Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning.
  • To prepare in the best way possible, you need to be knowing the exam pattern, so visit the GRE Exam Pattern section.

GRE General Test Syllabus

GRE general test can be taken by any candidate. The general test takes the test of students' Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytica writing skills. The candidates thinking to take the general test should go through the GRE general syllabus and start their preparation accordingly.

Analytical Writing

This paper evaluates the applicant's ability to articulate and support complex ideas, construct and evaluate arguments, and sustain a focused and coherent discussion but does not assess specific content knowledge.

  • However confident the applicant is about his/her writing skills, he/she must spend some time understanding the skills measured and how the tasks are scored. It is also helpful to review the scoring guides, sample topics, scored sample essay responses and rater's commentary for each task.
  • Of the two tasks, the first one, the issue task, presents an opinion on an issue of general interest followed by specific instructions on how to respond to that issue. The applicant is required to evaluate the problem, consider its complexities and develop an argument with reasons and examples to support one's view.
  • The second one, the argument task, requires the applicant to evaluate a given argument according to specific instructions. The applicant will need to consider the argument's logical soundness rather than agree or disagree with the position it presents.

The very commonly recommended preparation for this section is to go through the editorial sections of any English dailies and magazines for a few months religiously.

Verbal Reasoning

Verbal Reasoning assesses applicants' ability to analyze and evaluate written material, synthesize information obtained from it, analyze relationships among parts of sentences, and recognize relationships among words and concepts.

This section encompasses almost all the grammatical fields of the English language like basic categories like reading comprehension, antonyms, synonyms, use of articles, tenses, figures of speech, idioms and phrases, word and sentence correction etc. In short Verbal Reasoning, the paper contains three types of questions, viz

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Text Completion
  • Sentence Equivalence
Verbal Reasoning Contents Pronoun Agreement
Basic Sentence Structure: Nouns, Pronouns & Adjectives Subject-Verb Agreement
Verb Tense Modifiers
Idioms & Idiomatic Expressions Parallelism
Pronoun Agreement Subject-Verb Agreement

Quantitative Reasoning

This particular paper tests the basic mathematical skills, understanding of elementary mathematical concepts, and ability to reason quantitatively and to model and solve problems with quantitative methods of the candidate.

  • Stronghold of basic mathematics like Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Data Analysis is highly desired. One can improve the score faster for this paper than any other section. Therefore more attention by way of practising is recommended.
  • Some of the topics in Geometry include quadrilaterals, the Pythagorean theorem, perimeter, area, volume etc. And that Arithmetic includes- factorization, sequences of numbers, and properties and types of integers etc.
  • Those of Algebra include factoring and simplifying algebraic expressions, coordinate geometry etc. Data analysis topics include basic descriptive statistics, conditional probability, elementary probability, or subjects typically taught in high school algebra.
Quantitative Reasoning Contents
Ratio and Proportion Profit and Loss
Simple and Compound Interest Speed, Distance and Time
Permutation & Combination Linear Equations
Quadratic Equations Sets Theory
Statistics Powers and Roots
Probability Pipes, Cisterns, Work, Time
Lines and Angles Triangles
Polygon Quadrilateral
Circles Co-ordinate Geometry
Order of Operations Volume and surface area
Percentage Number properties

GRE Subject Test Syllabus

This paper is available offline or paper mode in selected centres up to three times a year during September, October and April. The total time of the test is two hours 50 minutes, and there is neither a break in between nor it is separately timed.

GRE Subject Test aims to test candidates' achievement in specific subject areas and assume that the candidate is an undergraduate major or has extensive knowledge in those disciplines.

The GRE Subject Test is available for the following six topics:

  • Psychology
  • Biology
  • Literature in English
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
Subject-wise Contents
Subject Contents
Biology Cellular and Molecular Biology
Organismal Biology
Ecology and Evolution
Chemistry Analytical Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
Literature in English Literary Analysis
Identification
Cultural and Historical Contexts
History and Theory of Literary Criticism
Mathematics Calculus
Algebra
Discrete Mathematics
Real Analysis
Probability and Statistics
Additional Mathematics
Physics Classical Mechanics
Electromagnetism
Optics and Wave Phenomena
Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
Quantum Mechanics
Atomic Physics
Special Relativity
Laboratory Methods
Specialized Topics like Nuclear and Particle Physics etc.
Psychology Biological
Cognitive
Social
Developmental
Clinical
Measurement/Methodology/Other

GRE Exam Pattern 2024

The candidates are advised to see the GRE exam pattern while preparing for the test as it would help the candidates get an extra edge over other candidates. Being familiar with the exam pattern will also help the candidates to manage their time on the test.

The GRE test is divided into three sections: Quantitative reasoning, Verbal reasoning and Analytical writing. Total three hours thirty minutes ( 3hrs 30 mins, i.e. 210 mins) will be given to complete the test. Three hours forty minutes ( 3hrs 40min, i.e., 220 mins) will be given for a computer-based test.The candidates while preparing for the exam can look for some reference books and online study material to ace their preparation.

Test Pattern for Computer-Delivered General GRE

The GRE computer-based test is divided into various sections, and these sections are further divided into two sub-sections. Quantitative and Verbal reasoning is divided into two subsections with 40 questions in total. Analytical writing has only 1 section with two tasks in it.

There are two other variable sections other than these main sections. A ten min break is given after quantitative reasoning is completed, and then these variable sections are started. These two variable sections' scores are not included in the GRE Final Scores.

Find below the table to understand the pattern of the test.

GRE Section

No. of Sections

Duration

Analytical Writing

1 Section - Two tasks

60 minutes

Vervbal Reasoning

2 Section - 40 Questions

60 minutes

Quantitative Reasoning

2 Section - 40 Questions

70 minutes

Unscored

Varies

Varies

Research

Varies

Varies

Test Pattern for Paper-Delivered General GRE

The GRE paper-delivered test is divided into three sections which are further subdivided into two subsections each. Analytical writing has two subsections which have two tasks. The Verbal and Quantitative reasoning has two subsections with 50 questions in total.

Refer to the below table for more details.

GRE Section

No. of Sections

Duration

Analytical Writing

2 Section - Two tasks

60 minutes

Verbal Reasoning

2 Section - 50 Questions

70 minutes

Quantitative Reasoning

2 Section - 50 Questions

80 minutes

Unscored

NA

NA

Research

NA

NA

FAQs

What are the subjects for the GRE test?

The GRE test is divided into the Analytical Writing section, Quantitative Reasoning section, and Verbal Reasoning section.

Can student prepare for GRE in a month?

For the beginners one month preparation for GRE exam is not sufficient. Students must devote sufficient time to cover all the topics and practice more previous year and mock test papers.

What is the best way to practice for GRE exam?

Studnets must cover all the topics in the syllabus and practice previous year and mock test papers.

Is there any similarities in the GRE syllabus 2024 and GATE syllabus?

GRE syllabus and GATE syllabus is different from each other. GRE is conducted for students who want to study abroad, and the GATE is conducted for admissions to M.E/M.Tech course in Indian Institutes.

How much time does it takes to complete GRE syllabus 2024?

It is entirely depends on the student's capacity. There is no standard set of time. However, a student can complete the syllabus within three months.

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