What are the topics available in the GRE Subject Tests?

The GRE Subject Tests test specialized fields such as Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, and Psychology.

How much total time is available for taking the GRE General Test?

You have a total time of 1 hour and 58 minutes to complete the GRE General Test.

Is there negative marking in the GRE?

No, the GRE does not penalize you for incorrect answers.

How many questions are there in the GRE General Test?

The GRE General Test consists of a total of 55 questions spread over its sections. The verbal and quantitative sections have 27 questions each, whereas the analytical writing section includes one essay task and is scored separately.

How many institutes accept GRE test scores for MBA programs?

More than 1,300 schools around the world accept GRE test scores for business school admissions. High-profile institutions like Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, MIT Sloan, and Yale School of Management now also accept GRE test scores.

What are the important topics in the GRE syllabus?

The important topics in the GRE syllabus are: Verbal Reasoning: Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence Quantitative Reasoning: Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Data Analysis, and Word Problems Analytical Writing: Issue Task

What are the different sections of the GRE test?

The GRE General Test consists of three sections: Verbal Reasoning Quantitative Reasoning Analytical Writing There are also GRE Subject Tests for specific subjects like Psychology, Physics, and Math.

How many times can I take the GRE?

You can take the GRE General Test up to five times per year, with a minimum of 21 days between tests.

GRE Syllabus 2026: Check GRE General & Subject Test Syllabus

Q: What was the GRE exam syllabus in 2024?

The GRE exam syllabus for 2024-25 measures skills in three areas: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing. The test consists of 55 questions and has a total duration of 1 hour and 45 minutes.

More than 1,300 business schools worldwide, including Harvard, Stanford, MIT Sloan, and Yale, now accept GRE scores for MBA admissions. A high GRE score can strengthen your application.

The GRE exam holds three parts: Analytical Writing (one essay), Verbal Reasoning (reading tasks with vocabulary), and Quantitative Reasoning (math problems plus data tasks). Adjust your study plan to use your strong points and 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 2026 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)	Total: 27 Section 1: 12 Section 2: 15	130-170
Verbal Reasoning	2 sections	41 minutes (18 minutes and 23 minutes)	Total: 27 Section 1: 12 Section 2: 15	130-170
Total	5 Sections	1 hour and 58 minutes	55	260-340

let's learn about all three section-wise syllabus in detail now:

1. GRE Verbal Reasoning Syllabus

This GRE verbal section assesses your ability to analyze written English, focusing on your understanding of complex sentences, vocabulary, and paragraph structure. While some may find it a breeze, others may require additional preparation.

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.

2. GRE Analytical Writing Syllabus

The AWA plays a significant role in determining your overall GRE score and is just as important as the other sections.

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?

3. GRE Quantitative Reasoning Syllabus

The Quantitative Reasoning (Quant) section of the GRE assesses your proficiency in two key areas:

Quantitative Ability: This includes your basic mathematical skills, such as arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. You will be tested on your ability to solve problems using these skills, including word problems.
Quantitative Reasoning: This section goes beyond basic skills and assesses your ability to understand and interpret quantitative information. You may be presented with data in various formats, such as graphs, tables, and charts, and will need to analyze and draw conclusions from it.

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	Property and types of integer Powers and roots Statistics Estimation Number properties Percentage Exponents and Roots Ratio and proportions Simple and Compound Interest Arithmetic Operations
Algebra	Exponents Algebraic Expressions - Factoring and Simplifying Equations and inequalities Linear and Quadratic inequalities Linear Equations Quadratic equations Word Problems Speed, Distance, and Time Profit and Loss Coordinate geometry
Geometry	Lines and angles Circles Triangle Quadrilaterals Polygon Three-dimensional figures Area, Perimeter, Volume Angle Measurements
Data Analysis	Descriptive statistics such as Median, Mean, Range, Mode, Percentiles, etc. Interpretation of data based on graphs, circle graphs, scatter plots, etc. Probability Permutation and Combination Venn Diagrams Sets Theory

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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	Classical Mechanics: 20% Electromagnetism: 18% Optics and Wave Phenomena: 8% Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics: 10% Quantum Mechanics: 13% Atomic Physics: 10% Special Relativity: 6% Laboratory Methods: 6% Specialized Topics: 9%	Approximately 70, 5-choice questions	2 hours
GRE Math Syllabus	Calculus: 50% Algebra: 25% Additional Topics: 25%	Approximately 66 MCQs	2 hours and 50 minutes
GRE Psychology Syllabus	Biological (17-21%) Cognitive (17-24%) Developmental (12-14%) Social (12-14%) Clinical (15-19%) Measurement/Methodology/Other (15-19%)	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

Download GRE Syllabus 2026 PDF

Students can directly download our GRE exam syllabus PDF for free to understand the structure and topics covered in each section.

It’s a helpful resource to plan your preparation effectively and stay focused on what matters most.

GRE Syllabus 2026 PDF

Preparation Tips for the GRE Exam 2026

Experts suggest that it takes 4-6 months to thoroughly prepare for the GRE. Platforms like Yocket recommend using this time to focus on each section, attempt full-length GRE sample papers regularly, and work on your weak areas.

Well, here are some preparation tips to help you with 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

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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!