GRE Subject Tests: A smart choice for your future

Students today face many important tasks as they prepare for graduation. In addition to earning strong grades, those aiming to advance their education must also take qualifying exams that play a major role in graduate admissions. One crucial exam is the GRE (Graduate Record Examination), which assesses applicants for graduate and business programs worldwide.

The GRE is offered in two primary formats. The most widely required is the GRE General Test, which evaluates skills in verbal reasoning, quantitative (math) reasoning, and analytical writing. Equally important for specific fields of study are the GRE Subject Tests, which help demonstrate expertise and knowledge in a particular discipline. If you plan to pursue a graduate program that requires specialized proficiency, taking a subject-specific examination can give you a significant advantage in your application. This section focuses specifically on the GRE Subject Tests and how they fit into your academic journey.

What are GRE Subject Tests?

According to the ETS, GRE Subject Tests are specialized achievement exams that evaluate your expertise in a specific academic field. Taking a GRE Subject Test in math, physics, or psychology allows you to demonstrate advanced subject knowledge, helping you stand out among other graduate school applicants. Scores from these GRE Subject Tests provide graduate and business schools with an additional measure of your qualifications alongside your undergraduate transcript, recommendation letters, and GRE General Test results.

Unlike the GRE General Test, which is a computer-based exam available year-round, each GRE Subject Test is only administered in a paper-based format three times a year: April, September, and October. The structure also differs: while the General Test features individually timed sections, each GRE Subject Test gives you a total of 2 hours and 50 minutes to complete all questions at your own pace. The GRE percentiles for Subject Tests, while available, are not as widely recognized as those for the General Test but remain crucial for evaluating competitive performance. Setting clear goals before registering for your chosen GRE Subject Test will give you more focus and direction in your overall GRE study plan.

How do you register for the GRE subject test?

GRE Subject Test registration is straightforward, and the fee is comparatively affordable at $150 internationally.

Currently, ETS offers three official GRE Subject Tests:

• Mathematics
• Physics
• Psychology

It’s important to note that other GRE subject tests, such as Biology and English Literature, were phased out as recently as April 2021.

Why should you take a GRE subject test?

Not all graduate schools and institutions require a GRE Subject Test, but many top-tier universities and programs do. The most important factor to consider before taking any of the subject tests is whether the business school or graduate program you are applying to needs or recommends a Subject Test score. In which case, you need to take the exam.

However, if any of the programs you are considering don’t require or mention the GRE Subject Tests at all, or if the subject tests are not related to your target program, then you can skip them.

But what if the program’s policies are not clear? What if they don’t explicitly require Subject Test scores, but will take them into consideration if you submit them? A good rule of thumb is to take the test if a grad school program recommends you do so. Submitting high Subject Test scores can boost your application, especially if your college GPA or other aspects of your student profile are not as strong.

The last reason to sit for a GRE subject test is to fulfill undergraduate course requirements for admission to a graduate program. Most of the time, if you have a bachelor’s degree in a particular program, you will have the credits required. If your graduate program is different than your bachelor’s, however, then you’ll need to make up those credits. If you receive a strong score on a GRE subject test related to your intended field of study, graduate programs may waive bachelor’s requirements. Given that graduate programs are often quite expensive, using a GRE subject test to complete course prerequisites can save you a lot of time and money.

Available GRE Subject Tests

The GRE Subject Tests are designed for students who possess an undergraduate major or substantial background in one of the three specialized areas available through the GRE Subject Test program: Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology. Each GRE Subject Test offers a unique opportunity for students to demonstrate advanced knowledge in their specific field. Strong performance in your area of expertise will bolster your graduate application and improve your chances of admission.

GRE Mathematics

This assessment evaluates your proficiency in core areas of advanced mathematics and is more challenging than the quantitative content on the GRE General Test. Covering topics such as calculus, algebra, and number theory, the GRE Math Subject Test features 66 multiple-choice questions sourced from commonly taught undergraduate mathematics courses.

The following outlines the content distribution for the GRE Math Subject Test:

• Calculus (50%): Assesses your understanding of differential and integral calculus, including related concepts in geometry and trigonometry.
• Algebra (25%): Focuses on fundamental elements of elementary algebra, linear algebra, and abstract algebra.
• Additional Topics (25%): Encompasses introductory real analysis, discrete mathematics, probability, and statistics.

The Math Subject Test is designed to comprehensively measure your knowledge across these core mathematical disciplines, ensuring readiness for advanced study.

GRE Physics

This GRE Subject Test consists of approximately 70 multiple-choice questions that focus on the fundamental principles of physics and their application to problem-solving. Most of the test questions will test your mastery of the first three years of your undergraduate physics.

The following is the test content distribution of the Physics GRE test:

• Classical Mechanics (20%): Includes questions on kinematics, work and energy, Newton’s laws, oscillatory motion, etc.
• Electromagnetism (18%): Covers questions about electrostatics, currents and DC circuits, Lorentz force, magnetic fields in free space, and more.
• Optics and Wave Phenomena (9%): Includes questions on wave properties, interference, superposition, geometrical optics, diffraction, polarization, and the Doppler effect.
• Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (10%): Includes questions on thermodynamic processes, equations of state, ideal gases, and kinetic theory.
• Quantum Mechanics (13%): Covers questions about solutions of the Schrödinger equation, spin, angular momentum, and wave function symmetry.
• Atomic Physics (10%): Includes questions on properties of electrons, the Bohr model, energy quantization, and atomic structure.
• Special Relativity (6%): Covers questions about time dilation, length contraction, simultaneity, energy and momentum, and related concepts.
• Laboratory Methods (6%): Includes topics on electronics, instrumentation, radiation detection, counting statistics, etc.
• Specialized Topics (9%): Covers questions about nuclear and particle physics, and condensed matter.

GRE Psychology

This Subject Test covers six areas in Psychology and consists of 144 multiple-choice questions. The questions are taken from the fundamentals of psychology most commonly encountered in undergraduate courses. The test requires recalling factual information, applying principles, analyzing relationships, drawing conclusions from data, and/or evaluating a research design.

The following is the test content distribution of the Psychology GRE test:

• Biological (21%): covers questions about sensation and perception as well as physiological/ behavioral neuroscience
• Cognitive (20%): covers questions about learning, language, memory, and thinking
• Social (13%): covers topics on social perception, attitudes and behavior, emotions, and cultural or gender influences
• Developmental (13%): covers topics on nature-nurture, physical and motor skills, language, learning, and socialization
• Clinical (16%): covers questions about personality and behavior, causes and development of disorders, and health psychology
• Measurement/Methodology/Other (17%): covers topics on general history, psychometrics, research designs, and ethics
  
  

Wrapping up

While requirements around submitting GRE Subject Test scores vary by institution, taking these complementary assessments can enhance your graduate school application. Subject Tests are a relatively small part of your portfolio, but they provide an additional element for admissions teams to consider. They may carry greater weight if you are applying for a program outside of your undergraduate major, or if other parts of your application are not as strong. If you do plan on taking a GRE Subject Test in your chosen area of study, aim for a score in the 80th percentile to showcase your abilities.

As you make your study plans for the GRE and related assessments, consider Achievable’s GRE General Test course, which has everything you need to meet your score goals. Explore our library of practice tests, exam questions, and other resources today.