GRE Exam Syllabus 2025: General and Subject Tests Section-wise Syllabus
More than 1300 business schools worldwide - among them Harvard, Stanford, MIT Sloan, with Yale - now accept GRE scores for MBA entry. A high GRE score may lift your application. The exam holds three parts: Analytical Writing (one essay); Verbal Reasoning (reading tasks with vocabulary); Quantitative Reasoning (math problems plus data tasks). Adjust your study plan to use your strong points, boost your results.
But what's the GRE syllabus? Should you focus on the GRE quant syllabus, or verbal? Which one takes more time?
We'll answer all these questions! This blog by Yocket will tell you exactly what and how you need to prepare for the GRE test.
Key Highlights:
- The syllabus for the GRE General Test includes Analytical Writing, Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning.
- The duration of the GRE General Test is 1 hour 58 minutes.
- The topics covered in the GRE Syllabus 2025 include Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology.
GRE Exam Syllabus for General Test
The revised GRE syllabus now has three sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing, with a total of 55 questions completed in approximately 1 hour and 58 minutes.
In 2023, ETS introduced these major changes to improve efficiency, making the test less tiring while still effectively assessing preparedness for graduate study. Before 2023, the GRE layout remained largely unchanged from 2021 and 2022.
Here is an overall breakdown of the GRE general test syllabus and pattern:
Computer-based |
Section |
Time Allotted |
Questions |
Score Range |
---|---|---|---|---|
Analytical Writing |
1 section |
30 minutes |
1 |
0-6 |
Quantitative Reasoning |
2 sections |
47 minutes (21 minutes and 26 minutes) |
27 Section 1: 12 Section 2: 15 |
130-170 |
Verbal Reasoning |
2 sections |
41 minutes (18 minutes and 23 minutes) |
27 Section 1: 12 Section 2: 15 |
130-170 |
Total |
5 Sections |
1 hour and 58 minutes |
55 |
260-340 |
GRE Verbal Reasoning Syllabus
The GRE syllabus for verbal reasoning includes vocabulary, sentence formation, grammar, and paragraph structures. The total score range for the GRE verbal reasoning section is 130-170 with a 1-point increment.
List of topics covered in the GRE verbal syllabus:
- Basic Sentence Structure: Nouns, Pronouns, Adjectives, Adverbs
- Verb Tenses and Forms
- Idioms & Idiomatic Expressions
- Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
- Subject-Verb Agreement
- Modifiers (Misplaced & Dangling Modifiers)
- Parallelism (including lists and comparisons)
- Sentence Clarity & Conciseness
- Prepositions & Prepositional Phrases
Here is an overview of the Verbal reasoning section for the GRE test:
Subject |
Overview |
---|---|
Reading Comprehension |
Analyze and interpret passages. |
Text Completion |
Completing sentences. |
Sentence Equivalence |
Choose two words to make a new sentence with the same meaning as the original sentence. |
GRE Analytical Writing Syllabus
The GRE syllabus for analytical writing includes essay writing skills. This section has only 1 question, and you get 30 minutes to “analyse the issue.” You need to present a clear and detailed argument, explaining your topic. Here is a list of the skills for the GRE AWA section:
Skill |
Overview |
---|---|
Analyze an Issue |
It presents an opinion on an issue, and you need to evaluate it according to the instructions provided. |
This section assesses your ability to think critically and analyze situations effectively. It evaluates your capacity to:
- Articulate and support complex ideas: Can you clearly express your thoughts and provide strong evidence to back them up?
- Construct and evaluate arguments: Can you build a logical argument and identify potential weaknesses in others' arguments?
- Sustain a focused and coherent discussion: Can you write in a well-organized and clear manner, staying on topic throughout the essay?
GRE Quantitative Reasoning Syllabus
The GRE syllabus for quantitative reasoning consists of two different sections, both of which are intended to assess your math and problem-solving abilities rigorously. Here's the factual outline based on the guidelines in effect at present:
- Section 1: 12 questions to be answered in 21 minutes.
- Section 2: 15 questions with a time limit of 26 minutes.
The GRE quant syllabus consists of the following topics:
Topics of GRE Quant Syllabus |
Overview |
---|---|
Arithmetic |
|
Algebra |
|
Geometry |
|
Data Analysis |
|
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GRE Syllabus for Subject Test
GRE subject tests will be administered solely in a computer-delivered format. This change applies to all three tests: Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology.
Besides the GRE general test, which checks your verbal, quantitative, and analytical skills, you may select the GRE Subject Tests. These tests let you display your knowledge in one field such as Physics, Mathematics, or Psychology without separate parts.
GRE Subject Test |
GRE Test Syllabus |
No. of Questions |
Time Allotted |
---|---|---|---|
GRE Physics Syllabus |
|
Approximately 70 5-choice questions |
2 hours |
GRE Math Syllabus |
|
Approximately 66 MCQs |
2 hours and 50 minutes |
GRE Psychology Syllabus |
|
Approximately 144 MCQs |
2 hours |
GRE Test Formats
GRE format includes two versions: the general test and the subject tests.
The computer-based general test, sometimes available on paper, assesses your readiness for graduate school. It includes analytical writing tasks, verbal reasoning questions, and quantitative reasoning challenges, all completed in about 1 hour and 58 minutes.
In contrast, the paper-based subject tests evaluate knowledge in specific subjects like mathematics, chemistry, physics, or psychology. Each test follows a fixed format with set time limits.
Here is an overview of the test formats to give you a better idea:
GRE Test |
Subjects Included |
Total Questions |
Time Allotted |
---|---|---|---|
General Test |
Verbal Reasoning |
27 |
41 minutes |
Quantitative Reasoning |
27 |
47 minutes |
|
Analytical Writing Skills |
1 |
30 minutes |
|
Subject Test |
Physics |
70 |
2 hours |
Mathematics |
66 |
2 hours 50 minutes |
|
Psychology |
144 |
2 hours |
Preparation Tips for the GRE Exam Syllabus
Specialists claim you need 4-6 months to learn the GRE materials completely. Leaders such as Yocket and Magoosh state this period lets candidates work on each section, take full-length tests repeatedly, or target weak points.
Well, here are some preparation tips to help you for your GRE exam syllabus:
- Split-up the syllabus: Divide your syllabus between difficult and easy topics so that you can give them time accordingly.
- Regular short quizzes: Take small GRE test quizzes regularly to check your accuracy.
- Be regular: Do not leave your preparation for even one day, study some part of it regularly.
- Daily revision: Even after you have completed all of the syllabus, make sure you revise all the topics properly.
- Mock test analysis: Analyze your mock test results to pinpoint your weak points and work on them.
Suggested: GRE Exam Books & Resources
From the Desk of Yocket
Preparing for your GRE can be very challenging and confusing if done without proper guidance. Did you know that more than 1 lakh students in India appear for the GRE test? But you don't have to worry about anything, with Yocket Prep you can rest assured.
With our professional team, you can not only complete your syllabus on time but also score more than 320 on your GRE test. So, what are you waiting for? Start your GRE prep today!