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The GRE exam syllabus is made up of three sections – GRE Analytical Writing, GRE Verbal Reasoning, and GRE Quantitative Reasoning. The GRE exam syllabus measures the Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, critical thinking, and Analytical Writing skills of candidates that are necessary for success in higher education. Candidates wanting to pursue graduate studies abroad are required to qualify for their Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) and achieve good scores. In order to do so, candidates must be well-versed with the latest GRE syllabus, to begin with. Recently, ETS updated the syllabus of GRE 2025 and removed a few sections to make the test shorter than before.
Q: What is GRE Syllabus?
GRE Exam Syllabus covers multiple topics to asses Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing skills of students. Written text, English vocabulary, comprehension, basic arithmetic, algebra, geometry, argument analysis, and written communication skills are some popular topics in the exam. All these topics are directly related to English, Mathematics, Physics, and other tradiational subjects.
Q: How to cover syllabus of GRE early?
To cover the GRE exam syllabus efficiently, you need to dedicate a few hours daily. Here are some preparation tips for the Graduate Record Examination:
- Start your preparation early. (Beginning after the second year of your graduation is recommended.)
- Set a realistic goal to achieve within a fixed timeframe. (Three to six months is ideal.)
- Identify your strengths and weaknesses. (Prioritize working on your weaknesses.)
- Build vocabulary and practice regularly.
- Use authentic study materials. (You can use official ETS materials like the ETS PowerPrep software.)
Q: How many hours would require to cover GRE Exam syllabus?
There is no single time frame or specific number of hours to prepare for the GRE Exam. It all depends on your preparation techniques. However, if you are preparing for the GRE exam from scratch, you may need to study for 2 to 3 hours a day for 5 to 6 months.
Q: How to cover GRE Exam Syllabus soon?
To cover the GRE syllabus early, you can follow these preparation tips:
- Identify the most heavily tested topics in each section (Verbal, Quantitative, and Writing section).
- Utilize practice tests and question banks to do self-evaluation.
- Create flashcards, and use ETS GRE preparation materials for effective study.
- Create a study schedule that dedicates focused time to each section.
These are the most popular prep tips for GRE preparation.
GRE Syllabus for General Test in 2025
The GRE 2025 syllabus for General Test has been curated to measure the test takers' verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing skills — skills that have been developed over a period of time and aren’t related to a specific field of study but are important for all. Here is the GRE Syllabus 2025 which is broadly divided into three sections – GRE Analytical Writing, GRE Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning.
Skills Tested in the GRE
The skills tested in the GRE exam are as follows:
- Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) skills
- Quantitative Reasoning skills
- Verbal Reasoning skills
GRE Exam Syllabus 2025: Analytical Writing (AWA) Section
The GRE analytical writing section aims to measure the test taker's ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively, support ideas with relevant reasons and examples, examine claims and accompanying evidence, sustain a well-focused, coherent discussion and control the elements of standard written English. The syllabus for GRE Analytical Writing includes two separately timed analytical writing tasks of thirty minutes each:
- Analyze an Issue: This requires you to present an option on the issue of general interest with specific instructions on how to respond to that issue.
GRE Exam Syllabus 2025: Verbal Reasoning Section
The verbal reasoning section aims to measure the test taker's ability to analyze and draw conclusions from the discourse, reason from incomplete data, identify the author's assumptions and/or perspective, select important points, distinguish major from minor or relevant points, summarize text, understand the structure of a text, understand the meanings of words, sentences and entire texts and understand relationships among words and concepts.
List of Topics in GRE Verbal Syllabus:
- Basic Sentence structure: Nouns, Pronouns, Adjectives
- Verb Tense
- Idioms & Idiomatic Expressions
- Pronoun Agreement
- Subject-Verb Agreement
- Modifiers
- Parallelism
Parts of GRE Verbal Syllabus
- Reading Comprehension: For the Reading Comprehension questions, candidates are required to answer passages based on three different subject areas – humanities, natural science, and social science (Business). The exam contains multiple passages. Candidates are required 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. Remember: All the questions can be answered based on the information provided in the passage. The section tests your ability to understand what you are reading.
- Sentence Equivalence is all about your ability to complete a paragraph based on incomplete information. Candidates are required to choose two ways to complete the sentence that have the same meaning while also being grammatically correct.
- Text Completion is all about your ability to form a complete picture from the text presented. Both Sentence equivalence and text completion assess the candidate's grasp of vocabulary. However, just knowing the words will not help you ace this section. You need to be well aware of the meaning too.
GRE Exam Syllabus 2025: Quantitative Reasoning Section (GRE Math Syllabus)
The quantitative reasoning section aims to measure the test taker's ability to understand quantitative information, interpret and analyze quantitative information, solve problems using mathematical models, and apply basic mathematical skills and elementary mathematical concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, probability, and statistics.
List of Topics in GRE Quant Syllabus:
| Topics of GRE Quant Syllabus | Sub-topics of GRE Quant Syllabus |
|---|---|
| Arithmetic |
|
| Geometry |
|
| Data Analysis |
|
| Algebra |
|
Q: What is the syllabus and exam pattern of GRE?
Check the table below to know the about the latest pattern and syllabus of GRE :
| GRE Exam Sections | GRE Exam Pattern | Section-Wise Syllabus |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Writing (One Section) | One "Analyze an Issue" task (30 Minutes) | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (Two Sections) |
|
|
| Verbal Reasoning (Two Sections) |
|
|
| Total | 5 Sections: 55 Questions |
Q: What is GRE exam for?
GRE or Graduate Record Examination is a standardized computer based exam conducted by the by Educational Testing Service (ETS). Many top business schools in the world offer admission in Business programs on the basis of GRE Score. This test access the aptitude of a student for abstract thinking. Score equal to 160 or above is a good enough to get admission in various courses. There are two types of GRE tests.
Also, students can take the GRE exam at home.
Q: How do I prepare for GRE exam in 1 month?
It is possible to cover the GRE syllabus in one month only if you have understood the basics information of Graduate Record Examination. Here is the 1-month GRE preparation plan.
- Join a class. It is really stressful to cover the syllabus in one month without guidance.
- Understand the GRE pattern and syllabus before you start the preparation.
- Create a study plan and dedicate 10 hours daily for the preparation.
- Practice with different sets of GRE sample papers and identify your weakness.
- Create Flashcards to remember the lessons
This one month plan can help you to improve your score and not to become topper.
Q: What are the main differences between GRE General Test and GRE Subject Test?
GRE General Test and the GRE Subject Test are both standardized tests used for graduate school admissions, but there are significant differences between these two exams:
| GRE General Test | GRE Subject Test | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Assesses verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing skills | Assesses knowledge and understanding of a subject. |
| Content | Variety of topics to test different skills | Questions will be relavant to one subject only. |
| Duration | 1 Hour 58 Minutes | 2-2.5 hours (Depending on the subject) |
Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!
GRE Subject Test Syllabus 2025
The GRE exam syllabus 2025 for Subject Test consists of the following subjects:
GRE General Test Syllabus for Maths
According to the GRE General Test syllabus, here is the subject-wise weightage. There are 66 MCQs related to different sections of Maths Subject tests.
- Algebra (25%)
- Calculus (50%)
- Additional Topics (25%)
GRE 2025 Syllabus Physics
The test consists of approximately 100 five-choice questions, some of which are grouped in sets and based on such materials as diagrams, graphs, experimental data, and descriptions of physical situations.
- 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%)
GRE Psychology Syllabus
The test consists of approximately 205 multiple-choice questions. Each question in the test has five options from which the examinee is to select the one option that is the correct or best answer to the question.
- Biological (17-21%)
- Cognitive (17-24%)
- Developmental (12-14%)
- Social (12-14%)
- Clinical (15-19%)
- Measurement/Methodology/Other (15-19%)
Q: What are the sections included in the GRE test syllabus?
The GRE exam portion is divided into three sections: Analytical Writing section, Quantitative Reasoning section, and Verbal Reasoning section. However, these categories are made up of multiple topics which are tested during the entire duration of the Graduate Record Examination. Note that, this syllabus is different from GRE subject test syllabus.
Q: What is the best way to prepare for GRE course outline?
The best way to prepare for GRE would be to start with a plan in mind. Here are some tips to cover the topics of Graduate Record Examination
- Understand the GRE syllabus
- Utilize quality study materials
- Practice questions regularly
- Build a strong vocabulary
- Master quantitative concepts
- Improve analytical writing skills
GRE Test Formats
The GRE exam has two test formats - GRE General Test and GRE Subject Test. The GRE syllabus is different for each.
- GRE General Test: General Test is the standard exam that tests students’ verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing skills.
- GRE Subject Test: For more specific courses a GRE Subject Test might be required by the college, as the GRE Subject Test focuses on judging the candidate’s expertise in specific fields.
GRE General Test Pattern
Even though one is aware of the GRE Syllabus and knows all the answers, failure to manage time can lead to an incomplete exam. This is where the importance of being familiar with the GRE Exam pattern is of utmost importance. The GRE exam syllabus is divided into three main sections, namely, Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning. The total time given to complete the GRE computer-based test is One hours and 58 minutes.
GRE Exam Pattern for Computer-Delivered Test
For the computer-based pattern, each of these sections is further divided into two sub-sections with forty questions in total (Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning). GRE Analytical Writing has only one section that contains two tasks with a time duration of one hour. Apart from these main sections, there are two other variable sections included in the computer-based pattern exam. This section is followed by a ten-minute break after the Quantitative Reasoning part is complete. However, these two variable sections- The Unscored and Research sections- are not included in the final GRE Scores.
| Sections | GRE Exam Pattern | Test Duration |
|---|---|---|
| GRE Analytical Writing (One Section) | One "Analyze an Issue" task |
30 minutes |
| GRE Quantitative Reasoning (Two Sections) | Section 1: 12 questions Section 2: 15 questions |
Section 1: 18 minutes Section 2: 23 minutes |
| GRE Verbal Reasoning (Two Sections) | Section 1: 12 questions Section 2: 15 questions |
Section 1: 21 minutes Section 2: 26 minutes |
| Total GRE Duration | - |
1 hour 58 minutes |
GRE Exam Pattern for Paper-Delivered Test
The paper-based GRE exam syllabus includes two sub-sections of each of the main categories- Analytical Writing, Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning. The analytical writing part contains two tasks with a duration of one hour (30 mins). The duration of Verbal reasoning is 59 mins and Quantitative reasoning duration is 56 mins. The variable sections of Unscored and Research are not included in the paper-based exam.
Q: What is the structure of the GRE General Test?
The GRE General Test consists of five sections:
- Analytical Writing: 1 task (30 minutes)
- Verbal Reasoning: 2 sections (12 questions in the first section, 15 in the second; 18 and 23 minutes respectively)
- Quantitative Reasoning: 2 sections (12 questions in the first section, 15 in the second; 21 and 26 minutes respectively)
The total testing time is approximately 1 hour and 58 minutes.
NOTE: The Analytical Writing section is always first. The Verbal and Quantitative sections can appear in any order afterward.
Q: Do you get penalized for wrong answers in GRE exam?
Your Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning scores are calculated by the number of questions you answer correctly. There is no negative marking for incorrect answer. To maximize your scores on the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning measures, it's best to answer every question. However, random guessing is not recommended, as the GRE is a computer-adaptive test.
Q: What does section-adaptive mean in GRE Exam?
The GRE exam is section-adaptive. This means that the difficulty of the second portion of each subject area (Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning) is decided by the performance in the first section.
For example,
- Scenario 1: If you properly answer several problems in the initial Verbal Reasoning segment, the computer will presume you are an excellent verbal reasoner. As a result, the second Verbal Reasoning portion will most likely be relatively more tough & challenging.
- Scenario 2: If you struggled with the first Quantitative Reasoning section, the computer will make the second Quantitative Reasoning section relatively easier. This is done to ensure that you have an equal opportunity to demonstrate your ability.
In essence, the GRE adapts to your individual performance to provide a more accurate assessment of your skills.
Best Books for GRE Preparation
In order to do well in your GRE General Test, it is important to be updated with the latest GRE Syllabus. The costs of studying and preparing for the GRE exam plus the application costs add up to a lot of expenses. The GRE Exam Fee for Indian students alone stands at INR 22,500. If you are taking coaching classes, even then you will need to purchase an official GRE guide and practice tests. So it doesn’t make a difference whether you will be taking coaching classes or you believe in self-studying; you will need to purchase a few resources to practice GRE sections. So here are the best resources to boost your studies that cover the latest syllabus of the GRE.
- GRE POWERPREP II Software - Preparation for the Computer-based GRE revised General Test – Along with the sample questions, strategies, and tips, this free software includes two full-length practice tests. They have timed tests, which simulate the test-taking experience including user-friendly design features like changing answers within a section, as well as an on-screen calculator.
- The Official Guide to the GRE revised General Test, Second Edition – The second edition of the official test prep book includes a copy of the POWERPREP II, Software CD along with four complete practice tests, hundreds of test questions, explanations for answers, sample essay responses with user commentary, test-taking strategies and more. This guide is available in print and eBook versions.
GRE Sample Paper 2025
For the benefit of our readers, we have also collated a set of GRE question papers with answer keys that are based on past year GRE exam papers for the benefit of our readers. The following GRE exam question paper has been sourced from various authentic websites and ETS - the conducting body of the GRE 2025.
Candidates having doubts can get in touch with us in the comments section below or download the GRE Syllabus PDF attached with the article, which covers the syllabus of GRE along with the latest information on the GRE test offline for you to view at any time.
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Hello Reshmi. If you are looking for assistance with university admissions, do reach out to our team of Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/apply You can know all about the University of Houston, here: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/usa/universities/university-of-hous
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Hello Akshat. Yes, GRE dates for September to December have been updated on our GRE exam dates page: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/exams/gre/important-dates Please feel free to go ahead with your GRE slot booking.