🇺🇸 United States · Admissions
GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) Syllabus
Standardized test required for admission to many graduate and some business schools in the U.S.. The complete GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) outline — 6 subjects, 24 chapters and 97 topics — laid out so you can see exactly what has to be covered and tick each item off as you go.
GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) subjects
Each subject below has its own page with the full chapter → topic → sub-topic tree and a set of real exam-style flashcards.
4 chapters · 20 topics · 37 sub-topics
Quantitative Reasoning5 chapters · 27 topics · 48 sub-topics
Analytical Writing4 chapters · 14 topics · 24 sub-topics
Test Structure and Logistics3 chapters · 11 topics · 18 sub-topics
Test-Taking Strategy and Preparation4 chapters · 12 topics · 16 sub-topics
GRE Subject Tests Overview4 chapters · 13 topics · 24 sub-topics
GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) flashcard decks
307 question-and-answer cards across 6 decks, written against this syllabus. Preview any deck free.
How to work through the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) syllabus
The outline on this page is arranged the way the syllabus itself is: subject, then chapter, then topic, then sub-topic. That last level is what most study plans skip, and it is where coverage actually goes wrong — a chapter marked "done" often has three sub-topics inside it that were never touched.
Weight your plan accordingly: Quantitative Reasoning carries 27 topics while Test Structure and Logistics carries 11. Giving both the same number of weeks is the most common planning mistake for GRE (Graduate Record Examinations).
The ~105 hour estimate above is a first pass only: roughly 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic. Revision cycles, past papers and mocks sit on top of that number.
GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) syllabus FAQ
What subjects are in the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) syllabus?
GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) covers 6 subjects: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Analytical Writing, Test Structure and Logistics, Test-Taking Strategy and Preparation and GRE Subject Tests Overview. Together they contain 24 chapters and 97 named topics.
How much do you have to study for GRE (Graduate Record Examinations)?
The full GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) outline breaks down into 24 chapters, 97 topics and 167 sub-topics. Quantitative Reasoning is the largest single subject with 27 topics across 5 chapters.
How long does it take to cover the whole GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) syllabus?
Roughly 105 hours for one full pass. That estimate allows about 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic, so it is first-pass coverage — revision, past papers and mock tests sit on top of it. At 3 hours a day that is about 5 weeks.
Are there GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) flashcards?
Yes — 307 question-and-answer flashcards across 6 decks, one per subject, written against this syllabus. A sample of every deck is readable on this site for free, and the complete decks are in the Examius app.
Is this GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) syllabus free to use?
Yes. Every page here is free to read, and importing the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) syllabus into the Examius app to tick off topics as you finish them is free too, in United States and everywhere else. No account is needed to start.
Related Admissions syllabuses
National college admissions test covering English, math, reading, and science, used for undergraduate admissions.
CLT (Classic Learning Test) syllabusAlternative college-admissions standardized test accepted by a number of U.S. colleges.
Duolingo English Test (DET) syllabusOnline English proficiency test accepted by many U.S. colleges for international applicants.
GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) syllabusStandardized exam used for admission to MBA and graduate business programs.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) syllabusEnglish-language proficiency test accepted by U.S. universities for international admissions.
SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) syllabusCollege Board's standardized test widely used for U.S. undergraduate college admissions.
Service Academy Admissions (USMA/USNA/USAFA) syllabusCongressionally-nominated admissions process plus Candidate Fitness Assessment for West Point, the Naval Academy, and the Air Force Academy.
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) syllabusEnglish proficiency test used by U.S. universities to assess international applicants.
Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT) syllabusAptitude test that must be passed before enrolling on a Bar training course to become a barrister.
Browse all 21 Admissions syllabuses → · All United States exams →