The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) syllabus is highly detailed and structured, covering three core sections: Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning. While the test does not follow a rigid "syllabus" like school exams, ETS (the test maker) provides precise skill areas, question types, and cognitive levels, making preparation predictable and systematic.
1. Analytical Writing (1 task, 30 minutes)
Assesses critical thinking and argumentative writing.
- Task: "Analyze an Issue" – evaluate a claim, present a clear position, support with reasons/examples.
- Skills tested: Articulating complex ideas, logical coherence, grammar, vocabulary in context. No specific content knowledge required; focus is on structure and reasoning.
2. Verbal Reasoning (2 sections, 41 questions total)
Tests reading comprehension, vocabulary, and text analysis.
- Question types:
- Reading Comprehension (50%): Main idea, inference, author’s tone, weaken/strengthen arguments.
- Text Completion: 1–3 blank sentences requiring context-based word choice.
- Sentence Equivalence: Select two words that fit a sentence and produce similar meanings.
- Vocabulary level: Advanced (graduate-level), but context-driven.
- Passages: From humanities, social sciences, natural sciences; 1–5 paragraphs.
3. Quantitative Reasoning (2 sections, 40 questions total)
Focuses on problem-solving using high school-level math.
- Topics:
- Arithmetic: Ratios, percentages, number properties.
- Algebra: Equations, inequalities, functions, quadratics.
- Geometry: Lines, triangles, circles, coordinate geometry.
- Data Analysis: Statistics (mean/median), probability, graphs, distributions.
- Question formats: Multiple-choice, numeric entry, quantitative comparison.
- On-screen calculator provided; emphasis on reasoning, not computation.
Total test time: ~1 hour 58 minutes (shorter than old GRE). Scoring: Verbal & Quant: 130–170 (1-point increments); Writing: 0–6 (0.5 increments).
The syllabus is not content-heavy but skill-intensive. Success depends on strategy (e.g., time management, process of elimination) and practice with official ETS materials. Unlike SAT/ACT, GRE rewards analytical depth over rote recall