GRE Exam Syllabus & Pattern 2025 (Section wise): General & Subject Test

The syllabus for GRE consists of three major sections which are Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning. The GRE exam syllabus 2025 is structured to evaluate student's verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills that are required to secure admission to graduate schools abroad. The GRE exam pattern has 55 questions in three sections. Aspirants who want to pursue masters courses abroad are required to attempt the Graduate Record Examination and achieve required scores. To prepare efficiently, students must be familiar with the GRE Syllabus and pattern.

This Story also Contains

1. GRE Test Format 2025
2. GRE Syllabus 2025
3. GRE Syllabus for General Test in 2025
4. GRE Syllabus for Subject Test (for specialisation courses)
5. GRE Test Formats
6. GRE Exam Syllabus for MS
7. GRE 2025 Preparation Tips
8. GRE Best Books for Preparation
9. GRE Sample Papers

The duration of the GRE exam 2025 is 1 hour 58 minutes. It was previously 3 hours 45 minutes. The GRE syllabus is divided into 3 sections: The first section is Analytical Writing with 2 tasks. There are two sections with the Verbal Reasoning GRE syllabus having 20 questions each and 2 sections for Quantitative Reasoning with 20 questions each. This standardised exam evaluates the individual's expertise in specific fields like Chemistry, Psychology, and Mathematics, among others. Read the article below to learn complete details about the GRE Syllabus and Pattern for 2025, preparation tips, strategies, subject wise section details, and more.

GRE Exam Pattern 2025: Highlights

Candidates preparing for the GRE exam must check the examination pattern before starting their preparation.

• GRE examination pattern consists of three main sections, namely, Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning.
• The total number of questions asked in the GRE general test is 55, out of which, 54 are MCQs and 1 descriptive (essay form). GRE total marks are in the range of 260-340.
• The total duration of GRE exam is 1 hour 58 minutes.
• Subjects covered in GRE test are Physics, Mathematics, and Psychology.

GRE Test Format 2025

As students might be fully familiar with the GRE syllabus 2025, GRE test aspirants must be well aware of the exam format. The test is divided into 3 main sections naming Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Analytical Writing. This computerised test is a 1 hour 58 minutes long for test takers to answer the questions based on the 3 sections. GRE Fomat and Pattern for the year 2025 are mentioned below in the headings:

GRE Exam Pattern for General Test

GRE Syllabus 2025

These are the two GRE exams that students take and their syllabus:

• GRE General Test Syllabus (Popularly known as GRE exam syllabus for MS abroad).

• GRE Subject Test Syllabus

GRE Syllabus for General Test in 2025

The GRE General Test 2025 will assess candidates' skills in three key areas, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing. The syllabus with the GRE General test pattern is mentioned in the table below.

General Test GRE Exam Structure 2025:

GRE Analytical Writing Section Syllabus

This particular section of the exam has two main tasks in 1 section. It assesses a candidate's ability to create engaging and simple content from complex data effectively. This section also measures the aspirant's analysing capability to support their idea with relevant examples, claims, evidence, and reasons. Students need to address the following two points in this section.

• 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.
• Analyze an Argument: This requires you to evaluate a given argument according to specific instructions

GRE Verbal Reasoning Section Syllabus

GRE Quantitative Reasoning Section Syllabus

GRE Quantitative Reasoning Question Types

The test syllabus for GRE 2025 Quantitative reasoning will have four types of questions :

• Quantitative comparison questions: In these types of questions, candidates need to draw a comparison between two quantities and find out which statement best describes the comparison.

• Multiple choice questions (select one answer choice): Candidates need to select one correct answer from the five given choices.

• Multiple choice questions (select one or more answer choices): candidates need to select more than one correct answer from the given choices. No marks will be given for partially correct answers.

• Numeric entry: candidates have to calculate and write the answers. These questions will not have any options given.

Download GRE syllabus 2025 pdf to understand each of these questions types and answer them better in the exam.

GRE Quantitative Components Syllabus

GRE Math syllabus contains topics from school-level mathematics. However, questions will be application-based. Quant in GRE comes across as easy for students with good mathematics hold.

• Arithmetic: The topics in the GRE syllabus 2025 include properties and types of integers, such as divisibility, factorization, prime numbers, remainders, and odd and even integers; arithmetic operations, exponents, and roots; and concepts such as estimation, per cent, and ratio, rate, absolute value, the number line, decimal representation and sequences of numbers.
• Algebra: Topics of the GRE test syllabus 2025 include operations with exponents; factoring and simplifying algebraic expressions; relations, functions, equations, and inequalities; solving linear and quadratic equations and inequalities; solving simultaneous equations and inequalities; setting up equations to solve word problems; and coordinate geometry, including graphs of functions, equations, and inequalities, intercepts and slopes of lines.
• Geometry: In this topic, the ability to construct proofs is not tested in the syllabus of GRE exam of this section.
• Data analysis: The topics that are included in the data analysis section of the syllabus for GRE are typically taught in high school algebra courses or introductory statistics courses. Inferential statistics are not tested. GRE syllabus 2025 topics of Data Analysis include 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, and Sets Theory.

The GRE syllabus 2025 pdf has all these topics explained in detail. Download it and start practising.

GRE Syllabus for Subject Test (for specialisation courses)

The GRE Subject Tests are designed to measure a student's knowledge and skills in a specific field. The GRE syllabus 2025 includes the Maths, Physics, and Psychology subject tests: for

GRE Test Syllabus 2025 Exam Structure

GRE Syllabus for Maths

• The GRE syllabus 2025 for maths covers topics in Calculus (50%), Algebra (25%), and Additional Topics (25%).
• Consists of approximately 66 multiple-choice questions.
• The total test time is 2 hours and 50 minutes.

GRE Test syllabus for Physics

• The GRE syllabus 2025 for physics covers topics in Classical Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Optics, Thermodynamics, Quantum Mechanics, and more.
• Consists of approximately 70 five-choice questions.
• The total test time is 2 hours.

GRE Syllabus for Psychology

• The GRE syllabus 2025 for psychology covers topics in Biological, Cognitive, Social, Developmental, Clinical, and Measurement/Methodology.
• Consists of approximately 144 multiple-choice questions.
• The total test time is 2 hours.

GRE Subject Test Syllabus PDF Download

Candidates can download the GRE syllabus 2025 pdf of these subject tests to get the entire information required for the exam.

Points to Remember for GRE 2025 Subject Test

• Students planning to appear for the GRE Subject test are advised to do so during November.

• The student should register six weeks before the exam date.

• It takes another six weeks before the Subject test results are available to the test takers.

• The advantage of appearing for the GRE Subject test in November is that the scores will be available to the student before the deadline for admission to most foreign institutes.

GRE Test Formats

There are two GRE test formats- general and subject tests. The general test is a Computer-Based Test (CBT). It has analytical writing tasks, verbal reasoning questions, and quantitative reasoning challenges that 1 hour and 58 minutes. The GRE subject test is paper-based test that assess the knowledge of candidates in some speciifc subjects like mathematics, chemistry, physics, or psychology.

Here is an overview of the test formats to give you a better idea:

GRE Exam Syllabus for MS

The General Test syllabus for GRE 2025 is the primary focus for students applying to Master's (MS) programs abroad. Many universities require GRE scores to offer admission to their master's courses. This GRE pattern and syllabus are the same for any master, law and business courses. The General version of the GRE test assesses a candidate's skills in three key areas:

GRE Verbal Reasoning for MS

• This section tests your ability to analyze written material, evaluate arguments, and demonstrate your understanding of vocabulary and sentence structure.
• It includes Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence questions.
• The Verbal Reasoning section has two 30-minute sections with a total of 40 questions.

GRE Quantitative Reasoning for MS

• The Quantitative Reasoning section has two 35-minute sections with a total of 40 questions.
• This section measures your problem-solving skills and ability to interpret and analyze quantitative information.
• It includes questions on Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, and Data Analysis.

GRE Analytical Writing for MS

• This section evaluates your critical thinking and analytical writing skills.
• You will be required to write an essay - Analyse an Issue Task
• The essay has a 30-minute time limit.
• The Analytical Writing section is scored on a scale of 0 to 6, in half-point increments.

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GRE 2025 Preparation Tips

Candidates can start the preparation for the GRE exam after analysing the GRE syllabus 2025. The candidate can start working on the GRE syllabus efficiently in less time. A few of the GRE preparation tips are mentioned below.

• Get familiar with the GRE syllabus ETS and format and start preparing for the GRE.

• Fix a targeted score for the GRE exam and prepare accordingly.

• Try to start well before covering the entire GRE exam syllabus 2025 by assigning priority to individual sections.

• Check the GRE cutoff score of the universities shortlisted and then choose the target score.

• Practice the GRE mock tests to understand the exam format and learn about time management during the examination.

• Attempt every question in the test as there is no negative marking.

• Use the test features like mark and review, instead of wasting more time on a single question.

With the help of the following tips and strategies, candidates can easily prepare for the GRE test and achieve the desired score. Download the GRE Preparation Tips PDF for more details.

Tips for Verbal Reasoning

• Enhance the vocabulary by reading newspapers and practising new words.
• Practice the reading section of the GRE syllabus; it will improve comprehension skills through various texts, articles, newspapers, and literature.
• Understanding the sentence structure and tone of the paragraph will help in analysing the meaning and formation of sentences easily for the applicants.

Tips for Quantitative Reasoning

• Practice and understand basic math concepts, including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. Evaluate formulas, properties, and problem-solving techniques for each topic.
• Enhancing problem-solving skills by practising numerous queries will eventually help the candidates stay focused and increase speed and accuracy.

Tips for Analytical Writing

To enhance this section of the GRE syllabus ETS, candidates should understand the essay writing task and analyse the issue and aim of the topic. After practising this section of the GRE exam syllabus, candidates can upgrade their thought skills and learn to manage their time.

GRE Best Books for Preparation

GRE preparation requires some special study materials and proper resources. Embarking GRE preparation within the vast landscape of GRE resources and finding out the best and most effective study strategies and materials is a great deal for students. Here we have included some best books for GRE to help the applicants accelerate their preparation including:

GRE 2025 Best Books

1. The Official GRE Guide: This ETS-published book contains the most up-to-date information about the test format, question types, and scoring system.

2. Prep books: Popular options include Manhattan Prep, Kaplan, and Magoosh.

3. Online Courses: Popular online courses like Veritas Prep and Princeton Review provide structured learning paths with video lectures, live sessions, and personalised feedback.

4. Practice Websites and Apps: Free and paid resources like Khan Academy, GRE Prep Genius, and Magoosh Flashcards offer bite-sized practice and skill-specific drills.

GRE Sample Papers

We have compiled the sample papers for GRE. Students planning to take GRE in some time can practise and prepare for the test by solving these GRE mock tests.

GRE Practice Test 2025