GRE Subject Test

Studying abroad is a dream of many, but those who work with perseverance, persistence, and hardship get to change this dream into a reality. Those who plan on pursuing graduate programs from abroad need to sit for the GRE Tests. There are four GRE Subject Tests in addition to the General Test, which assesses knowledge in the fields of chemistry, mathematics, physics, and psychology. This blog will walk you through all of the qualifications and needs for taking a GRE Subject Test. So buckle up because we’re going on a journey to clarify all your doubts!

GRE General vs GRE Subject Test 

The decision of whether to take the GRE general test or the subject test is frequently unclear among test-takers. Here is a list of distinctions between the GRE general and subject tests for the candidates to see:

GRE General Test	GRE Subject Test
Test takers who wish to pursue a PhD or graduate degree abroad take the GRE general exam.	Candidates who want to demonstrate their superiority in those particular disciplines take the GRE subject test.
GRE General Test comprises verbal, quant and analytical writing	GRE subject test can be taken in any of the subjects – Biology, Maths, Chemistry, Literature, Physics and Psychology
GRE general test is accepted by thousands of graduate schools	GRE subject test acts as an addition to the other academic requirements and is sometimes required for graduation in the top colleges
GRE general test can be taken every 21 days with a count of up to 5 times a year	GRE subject test can be taken only thrice in a year
GRE general test is a computer-delivery exam	GRE subject test is a paper-delivered exam

Who Takes the GRE Subject Test?

The Subject Tests are taken by prospective graduate school applicants. The GRE Subject Tests give a common benchmark for comparing individuals’ qualifications, as they come from a variety of educational and cultural backgrounds. Admissions or fellowship panels use the GRE Subject Test scores to supplement undergraduate records, reference letters, and other requirements for graduate-level study. Some Subject Tests generate subscores that can be used to identify strengths and shortcomings in a test taker’s preparation, as well as for counselling and placement. 

The GRE Subject Test is usually taken by applicants who want to stand out in the crowd. Those who are sure of their career area and want to explore further appear for the GRE Subject Test. For instance, the GRE Chemistry paper can be written by students who are interested in pursuing a master’s or PhD in Chemistry, or those who aim to be Chemistry teachers, Geochemists, Water Chemists, and so on. It is a wise choice to write this test to ease the admission process because these tests showcase the student’s knowledge of the topic. Students who choose to write a subject-specific paper can achieve a higher grade and gain easier entrance to the course. 

Who Accepts the GRE Subject Test?

Thousands of graduate schools, as well as individual departments or divisions within these schools, accept GRE Subject Test scores. Even if the results are not required for admission to a certain program, admissions committees are likely to take them into account if they are submitted. It’s advisable to inquire about the criteria of the specific graduate program one is interested in.

Also Read: GRE Test Prep

What are the GRE Subject Test Subjects?

Let’s take a closer look at each of the subjects now that we’ve established the value of the GRE subject examinations. In the sections below, you’ll find everything you need to know about the GRE subject test pattern, syllabus, tips for preparation, and more.

Chemistry

Exam pattern

There are roughly 130 multiple-choice questions in the test to be answered in 2 hours and 50 minutes. The test’s content emphasizes the four domains of chemistry that have generally been separated: analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. 

Syllabus

Analytical Chemistry	Inorganic Chemistry	Physical Chemistry	Organic Chemistry
Weightage:  15%	Weightage: 25%	Weightage: 30%	Weightage: 30%
Topics: Data Acquisition and use of Statistics, Solutions and Standardization, Homogeneous Equilibria, Heterogeneous Equilibria, Instrumental Methods, Environmental Applications, Radiochemical Methods	Topics: General Chemistry, Ionic Substances, Covalent Molecular Substances, Metals, Semiconductors, Concepts of Acids, Concepts of Bases, Chemistry of Main Group Elements, Chemistry of the Transition Elements, and Special Topics	Topics: Thermodynamics, Quantum Chemistry, Applications of Spectroscopy, and Dynamics.	Topics: Structure, Bonding, Nomenclature, Functional Groups, Reaction Mechanisms, Reactive Intermediates, Organometallics, and Special Topics

Mathematics 

Exam Pattern

The test consists of approximately 66 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 2 hours and 50 minutes. The questions are drawn from Calculus, Algebra, and additional topics.

Syllabus

Algebra	Calculus	Additional Topics
Weightage: 25%	Weightage: 50%	Weightage: 25%
Topics: Elementary Algebra, Linear Algebra, Abstract Algebra, and Number Theory.	Topics: Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus, Calculus Application and Connection with Coordinate Geometry, Trigonometry, Differential Equations, and other	Topics: Introductory real analysis, discrete mathematics, other topics including general topology, geometry, probability, statistics, numerical analysis, and complex variables.

Physics

Exam pattern

The test consists of approximately 100 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 2 hours and 50 minutes.

Syllabus

The questions are asked from 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%)  and Specialized Topics (9%). 

Psychology

Exam pattern 

There are around 205 multiple-choice questions in the test to be answered in  2 hours and 50 minutes.

Syllabus 

Biological	Cognitive	Social	Developmental	Clinical	Measurement/Methodology/ Other
Weightage: 17–21%	Weightage: 17- 24%	Weightage:12–14%	Weightage:12–14%	Weightage:15–19%	Weightage:15–19%
Sensation and Perception Physiological/Behavioral Neuroscience	Classical Conditioning, InstrumentalConditioni, Observational Learning, Modeling and Theories, Applications, and Issues	Social Perception, Cognition, Attribution, BeliefsAttitudes and BehaviorSocial Comparison, SelfEmotion and many more.	Nature-NurturePhysical and Motor, Perception and CognitionLanguageLearning, Intelligence and many more.	Stress, Conflict, CopingDiagnostic SystemsAssessmentCauses and Development of Disorders	Psychometrics, Test Construction, Reliability, ValidityResearch DesignsStatistical ProceduresScientific Methods and the Evaluation of evidence and many more.

What are the Eligibility Criteria?

The ETS doesn’t really have any eligibility requirements for taking the GRE. The GRE Exam has no explicit eligibility requirements. Anyone can take the GRE, and there is no minimum age or educational requirement for GRE 2022.

Also Read: How to Ace GRE Verbal Reasoning Section?

How to Register? 

There are two ways of registering for GRE Subject Tests. 

Online Registration

There are so many superfluous features on a single page that sometimes the students may find navigating a website daunting. Here’s the step-by-step process of registering for the GRE Subject Tests. 

• You need to create or have an ETS account to register online.
• Click on the ‘Register Online Now button.
• Pay the Test fee. Payment through credit/debit cards is accepted. After entering your credit card account number and selecting “Process Payment,” you may be given the option to pay in the currency supported by your card issuer or in USD. 
• Once you’ve completed the registration procedure, you’ll receive a confirmation email.

Mail Registration

Fill out the GRE Subject Tests Registration Form (PDF) and mail it together with payment to the address on the form. By the registration deadline, the form must be received by ETS. Processing time is four weeks. Money orders, certified checks, and voucher numbers are all accepted methods of payment. Forms for registration cannot be faxed.

Also Read: GRE Coaching

When and Where to Appear for the Test? 

The GRE Subject Tests are offered at paper-delivered test centres worldwide. Nearly all metropolitan Indian cities conduct the GRE Subject Test, but not all test centres are open on all test dates. If you would like to register to test, you will need to create or sign in to your ETS account or complete the appropriate registration form. 

Also Read: The Ultimate 2022 Guide for GRE

Pointers for Examination

Whether you are undertaking GRE or preparing for any other competitive examinations, these are some of the important tips that might help you ace your exam.

• Read the test instructions attentively and work as quickly as possible without compromising performance. You should select the best answer from the available options for each question.
• All questions are of equal value; do not waste time pondering individual questions you find extremely difficult or unfamiliar.
• If you want to edit an answer, make sure you delete it entirely and fill in the oval with the new answer.
• The number of questions you answer correctly will decide your score. If you answer a question wrong, your score is not affected. As a result, it is preferable to guess an answer rather than not respond at all if you want to maximize your score.
• On your answer sheet, make notes of all your responses. Answers written in your test book will not be taken into account.
• Do not wait until the last five minutes of a testing session to record answers on your answer sheet.

FAQs

GRE subject tests are an excellent technique to gain admission to a university in another country. With this test, your competition is narrowed down to students who specialize in the area. This will help you score higher while also demonstrating your expertise and efficiency. If you are interested in taking the best GRE prep classes available then check out Leverage Live.

It is an online platform where you can get access to GRE prep classes from professionals who have years of experience in this sector. To know more about our Study Abroad services call us anytime at 1800 572 000 for a free consultancy session from our experts.