GRE Stands for Graduate Record Examination. If you are applying for graduate school (advanced study after receiving the equivalent of a four-year college degree), you may need to take the GRE. Many US schools place the same importance upon the GRE for acceptance into graduate school study that they place upon the SAT or ACT for undergraduate school studies. GRE is a standardized exam used to measure one's aptitude for abstract thinking in the areas of analytical writing, mathematics and vocabulary. GRE General Test measures the afore-mentioned skills that have been acquired over time and are not related to any specific field of study. GRE Subject Tests measure knowledge of particular subjects, such as Biology, English, Literature in English, or Mathematics. You may have to take both depending on the program for which you are applying. Scores from these GRE tests help predict an individual’s success in studies on the graduate level.
there are 8 GRE Subject Tests:
Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology. There are approximately 175 multiple-choice questions on the test. A number of questions are grouped in sets and based on descriptions of laboratory situations, diagrams and experimental results. There is an emphasis on questions requiring content knowledge and problem-solving skills, including mathematical calculations that don't need the use of a calculator. Questions on methodology and data interpretation are included in all content areas. The test questions cover both eukaryotes and prokaryotes because the 3 disciplines tested are basic to the study of all organisms.
Biology. Content is evenly divided into 3 major areas: cellular and molecular biology, organismal biology and ecology and evolution. There are approximately 200 multiple-choice questions on the test. A number of these are grouped in sets and are based on descriptions of laboratory and field situations, diagrams or experimental results. The distribution of test content is as follows:
- Cellular and Molecular Biology (33–34%)
- Organismal Biology (33–34%)
- Ecology and Evolution (33–34%)
Chemistry. The test measures knowledge of the 4 fields in which chemistry has been traditionally divided (Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry), with some interrelationships among the fields. The test contains about 130 multiple-choice questions — each constructed to simplify mathematical manipulations, so calculators or tables of logarithms aren't needed. For problems that require the use of logarithms, the necessary values are included with the question.
The test booklet has a periodic table and a table of information presenting various physical constants and a few conversion factors among SI units. When necessary, additional values of physical constants appear within test questions. The distribution of test content is as follows:
- Analytical Chemistry – 15%
- Inorganic Chemistry – 25%
- Organic Chemistry – 30%
- Physical Chemistry – 30%
Computer Science. Test content includes: software systems and methodology, computer organization and architecture and other topics such as computer graphics and security. There are approximately 70 multiple-choice questions on the test. Some are grouped in sets and based on diagrams, graphs and program fragments. The distribution of test content is given below.
- Software Systems and Methodology – 40%
- Computer Organization and Architecture – 15%
- Theory and Mathematical Background – 40%
- Other Topics (numerical analysis, artificial intelligence, computer graphics, cryptography) – 5%
Literature in English. The test consists of questions on poetry, drama, biography, the essay, the short story, the novel, criticism, literary theory and the history of the language. There are approximately 230 questions on the test. The test draws on literature in English from the British Isles, the United States and other parts of the world. It also contains a few questions on major works, including the Bible, translated from other languages. The test emphasizes authors, works, genres and movements. The questions may be somewhat arbitrarily classified into two groups: factual and critical.
Here’s a look at the distribution of test content:
- Literary Analysis (40 – 55%). The content focuses on your ability to interpret given passages of prose and poetry. Questions may involve recognition of conventions and genres, allusions and references, meaning and tone, grammatical structures and rhetorical strategies and literary techniques.
- Identification (15 – 20%). These questions test your ability to recognize dates, author or work by style and/or content (for literary theory identifications see IV below).
- Cultural and Historical Contexts (20 – 25%). Material focuses on literary, cultural and intellectual history as well as identification of author or work through a critical statement or biographical information. Also, you're asked to identify details of character, plot or setting of a work.
- History and Theory of Literary Criticism (10 – 15%). Questions will consist of identification and analysis of the characteristics and methods of various critical and theoretical approaches.
Mathematics. The questions consist of calculus and its applications, algebra and other mathematics topics. There are approximately 66 multiple-choice test questions drawn from courses commonly offered at the undergraduate level. The percents below are estimates.
- Calculus – 50%
- Algebra – 25%
- Additional Topics (include introductory real; analysis, sequences, discrete mathematics, general topology, geometry, complex variables and numerical analysis)– 25%
Physics. The test focuses on the fundamental principles of physics and applying these principles in the solution of problems. There are approximately 100 multiple-choice questions, some are grouped in sets and based on diagrams, graphs, experimental data and descriptions of physical situations. Most of the questions are based on topics from the first 3 years of undergraduate physics. The International System (SI) of units is used predominantly in the test. A table of information representing various physical constants and a few conversion factors among SI units is presented in the test book. Here’s a look at the distribution of test content:
- 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%
Psychology. The test measures knowledge of factual information, analyzing relationships, applying principles, evaluating a research design and other basic knowledge. The test contains approximately 205 multiple-choice questions. Some of the stimulus materials, such as a description of an experiment or a graph, may serve as the basis for several questions. A question may require recalling factual information, analyzing relationships, applying principles, drawing conclusions from data and/or evaluating a research design. Here’s a look at the distribution of test content:
- Experimental Sub-score – 20%
- Learning (3 – 5%)
- Language (3 – 4%)
- Memory (7 – 9%)
- Thinking (4 – 6%)
- Sensation and Perception (5 – 7%)
- Physiological/Behavioral Neuroscience (12 – 14%)
- Social Sub-score – 43%
- Clinical and Abnormal (12 – 14%)
- Lifespan Development (12 – 14%)
- Personality (3 – 5%)
- Social (12 – 14%)
- Other Areas – 17%
- General (4 – 6%)
- Measurement and Methodology (11 – 13%)
For preparation it is suggested that you sign up for 4-week GRE® Test Prep Series. It's free, and each week you'll get an email of section tips, test strategies, as well as links to sample questions, all to help you get ready for test day! In addition, when you finish the series, you will kept updated with more helpful tips and information.
AMIDEAST offices worldwide administers a number of standardized tests, which include TOEFL, GRE, GMAT, SAT, SAT Subjects, and CLEP. Kindly check the addresses for AMIDEAST offices under the Training and Testing Centers for TOEFL in this manual.