GRE Exam Syllabus 2025: Section-Wise, Exam Pattern & Tips to Prepare

GRE Exam (Graduate Record Examination) is a standardised online exam required for most graduate schools abroad when applying for master’s or doctoral degrees. The exam can be attempted 5 times in a year with a minimum of 21 days gap in between. The GRE is created and supervised by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to check the candidates’ aptitude for higher education at the university level. The GRE syllabus includes quantitative reasoning, analytical writing, and verbal reasoning. Approximately 130-170 marks are awarded for the quantitative and verbal sections, with one mark increment for each correct response. The analytical Writing is scored between 0-6 with intervals of 0-5 marks. The new version of the GRE takes about 118 minutes of 1 hour and 58 minutes.

The GRE Exam Syllabus: Latest Changes

One of the most frequently asked questions among aspirants is – What are the changes in the GRE syllabus? ETS has introduced many changes in the GRE exam, which are listed below.

1. The general GRE exam duration is half that of the current test. As per the GRE’s new pattern, the overall test duration is about 1 hour and 58 minutes.
2. In the GRE new format, the number of questions is reduced in the verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning sections.
3. ‘Analyze an Argument’ task is removed from the analytical writing section.
4. The unscored section is removed from the GRE 2025 exam pattern.
5. The GRE subject test is now being administered on the computer and at home. It will be offered in more GRE test centres, and more test dates will be made available.
6. The GRE subject test duration for the Physics and Psychology exam is two hours. The GRE subject test for Chemistry was discontinued in April 2023.
7. Test takers can now receive their official GRE test scores within 8 to 10 days.

GRE Syllabus: Old Pattern

1. The old GRE had three main sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical writing.
2. The Verbal Reasoning section included Antonyms, Analogies, Sentence  Completions, and Reading Comprehension. (20 questions/per section, 30 minutes/per section)
3. The Quantitative Reasoning section assessed mathematical and problem-solving skills. (20 questions/per section, 35 minutes/ per section)
4. The Analytical Writing section comprised two essays: an Issue and an Argument Task. (30 minutes/per task)
5. The scoring scale ranged from 130 to 170 for both Verbal and Quantitative sections, with 1-point increments.

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GRE Syllabus: New Pattern 

1. The new GRE syllabus consists of three main sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing.
2. The Verbal Reasoning section now emphasises reading comprehension, sentence equivalence, and text completion. Two Sections (27 questions/per section, 41 minutes/per section)
3. The Quantitative Reasoning section evaluates quantitative reasoning, data interpretation, and mathematical skills. Two sections (27 questions/ per section, 47 minutes/per section)
4. The Analytical Writing section now features only one essay: Issue Task. (1 essay/ 30 minutes)
5. The scoring scale remains the same as the old pattern, ranging from 130 to 170, with 1-point increments for Verbal and Quantitative sections. The Analytical Writing section is scored on a scale of 0 to 6 in half-point increments.

Major Changes in the GRE Syllabus

The most significant change in the GRE syllabus occurred in the Verbal Reasoning section. The removal of Antonyms and Analogies, known for testing vocabulary memorisation, was a notable shift. Instead, the new pattern focuses on assessing your ability to understand complex texts, sentence structure, and vocabulary in context through reading comprehension, text completion, and sentence equivalence questions.

In the Quantitative Reasoning section, the emphasis on data interpretation and real-world problem-solving has increased. The questions in this section often require you to analyse and interpret data from various sources, making it more practical and relevant to graduate-level studies.

Analytical Writing consists of only one Issue Task assessing your ability to critically analyse and construct well-reasoned arguments.

Below are the three sections of the GRE Syllabus in detail: 

Analytical Writing: 

This section used to have two types of questions, analyze an issue and an argument. According to the new GRE syllabus, the latter has been purged. 

1. Analyze an argument: This question asks the candidate to assess the author’s position, which tests the candidate’s logical thinking ability. 

Quantitative Reasoning: 

This section used to have two sections until 2023. In 2024, ETS decreased the number of sections to just one and increased the number of questions. The candidate is allowed to make use of the on-screen calculator available. 

Below are the topics of the quantitative reasoning section: 

1. Arithmetic: The topics of the arithmetic section are:
   Percent, Ratio, Rate, Sequence, Factorization, Decimal Representations
2. Algebra:  The topics of the algebra section are:
   Intercept, Slopes, Exponents, Algebraic Expressions, Relations and Functions, Quadratic Equations, Inequalities, Coordinate Geometry and Graphs.
3. Geometry: The topics of the geometry section are:
   Triangles, circles, cylinders, types of triangles, polygons, quadrilateral, area, concurrent and similar figures, volume, perimeter, and Pythagoras theorem.
4. Data Analysis: The topics covered in the data analysis section are:
   Mode, mean, median, quartiles and percentiles, standard deviation, bar, line, pie graphs, conditional probability, probability, random variables and permutations and combinations. 

Verbal Reasoning:

Most GRE test takers find the verbal section of the GRE Exam Syllabus challenging. The verbal section has three types of questions: reading comprehension, text completion, and sentence equivalence. Also, much like the Quant section, Verbal, too, has been reduced to just one section with 27 questions to be attempted in 41 minutes.

1. Reading Comprehension: 

The reading comprehension part consists of passages and questions that follow each passage. The difficulty level varies. The passages have a predictive format. As part of reading comprehension, aspirants must use critical reasoning. Based on the information presented in the passage, this provides an argument and a logical question. Critical reasoning tests the aspirant’s understanding and reasoning skills.

2. Text Completion: 

This type of paragraph has one to three blanks. Choose one of the options to fill in the blanks. You will need a good understanding of vocabulary to answer this question. After years of reading and using the language, this comes naturally. 

3. Sentence Equivalence: 

The new format of the question is sentence equivalence. There is one blank in this type of sentence. There are six options available to the candidate. Whenever one chooses a word and uses it in both sentences, the meaning of both sentences should be the same. You also require a good vocabulary. 

Eligibility Criteria for the GRE Examination 

GRE scores are accepted by most renowned MS colleges worldwide, and there are no suitable eligibility criteria for taking the GRE. The GRE General Test is required for students planning to pursue a master’s degree, a specialized master’s degree, or a doctoral degree. 

GRE Exam Syllabus – Paper Pattern 

Analytic Writing

Time: 1 Essay – 30 minutes

Includes: The analytical writing section focuses on the ‘Analyse an Issue’ type of question. Two readers will evaluate the candidates. This section has no wrong answers.

Verbal Reasoning 

Time: 1 Section with 27 questions – 41 minutes

Includes: Verbal reasoning includes reading comprehension passages, sentence completions, and equivalence questions. The questions will have either single or multiple answers. Meanwhile, the text completion question will have up to three blanks. 

Quantitative Reasoning

Time: 1 Section with 27 questions – 47 minutes

Includes: The quantitative section contains about ten quantitative comparison questions, ten problem-solving questions, and seven data interpretation questions.

Read more: GRE New Pattern – All You Need To Know About The GRE Pattern Change

Structure of the GRE exam 

Below is the structure and pattern of the GRE Exam: 

1. Verbal Reasoning: 

This section examines a candidate’s ability to analyze and evaluate written material. It also identifies relationships between words and concepts and explores relationships among sentences.

2. Quantitative Reasoning: 

This section evaluates the aspirant’s problem-solving skills. They also test concepts like basic arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis.

3. Analytical Writing: 

Analytical Writing tests the candidate’s ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and assertively.

Strategies and Tips to Prepare for the GRE Exam Syllabus 

1. Acquaint yourself with the test content: Before attempting the exam, get acquainted with the content of each of the measures, the type of material on which you will be tested, and question types.
2. Answer every question: Your scores are determined by how many questions you answer correctly in verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning. Answer every question to increase your scores in both the quantitative reasoning and verbal reasoning sections.
3. Pay close attention to the time: Keep track of the time: Work quickly, and don’t be careless. Spending time thinking about individual questions you find difficult or unfamiliar is unnecessary.
4. Use the mark and review feature: When attempting the GRE, candidates can skip questions they find difficult to answer. They can use the testing software’s mark and review feature to mark questions they want to revisit during the time allotted for that section.
5. Don’t take unscheduled breaks: Know that you’ll be sitting straight for 118 minutes. There are no breaks between sections in the GRE.

Read more: GRE Preparation 2025 – Tips, Strategy, Practice Test & Books

FAQs on the GRE Syllabus 

1. What are the sections of the GRE Syllabus? 

The GRE Exam is divided into three sections: Analytical Writing, reasoning, and verbal reasoning. Throughout the test, multiple topics in each category are tested.

2. Is the GRE Exam Syllabus similar to the SAT exam? 

It is not. The SAT is for undergrad admissions, while the GRE is for postgraduates.

3. What is included in the Math syllabus for the GRE? 

The Maths GRE syllabus comprises many sub-sections. Refer to the blog above for more details.

4. How should I complete the GRE exam syllabus and pattern?

The candidates planning on appearing for the GRE can check the website for the latest GRE pattern and syllabus.

5. How long does it take to complete the GRE syllabus? 

The duration of the GRE syllabus’s completion depends on the candidate’s retaining capacity. A quick learner will need less time to prepare than a slow learner.

6. Is it possible to prepare for the GRE in a month? 

The usual advice for candidates is to prepare well for the GRE before booking a GRE test slot. So, a month can be enough, but only if you’ve taken the GRE before.

7. Is it possible to prepare for the GRE on my own? 

Yes. The candidates intending to take the GRE independently can achieve qualifying scores or higher by dedicating themselves to their cause and relying on official sources such as GRE websites or preparatory guides.

Read more: The Ultimate Guide To GRE: Registration, Eligibility, Fees, And Test Structure Explained