The GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) is a standardized test used for grad school admissions, assessing critical thinking, writing, verbal & quantitative reasoning skills. The exam consists of three sections: Analytical Writing, with one "Analyze an Issue" task in 30 minutes; Verbal Reasoning, with two sections (12 questions in 18 minutes and 15 questions in 23 minutes); and Quantitative Reasoning, with two sections (12 questions in 21 minutes and 15 questions in 26 minutes).

GRE Syllabus
GRE Exam Syllabus For the two GREs—the GRE General Test and GRE Subject Test—the GRE syllabus is different. The standard exam that gauges a student's verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing abilities is the GRE General Test syllabus. Students who are interested in pursuing specialized courses should take the Subject Test, which may be required by the institution or university to which they are applying. The purpose of the Subject Test is to evaluate a candidate's technical proficiency in a particular field.
GRE Section Focus and Specific Topics
Section | Focus Areas | Specific Topics |
Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) |
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Verbal Reasoning |
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Quantitative Reasoning |
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General Knowledge |
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GRE Analytical Writing Syllabus requires you to
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articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively
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support ideas with relevant reasons and examples
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examine claims and accompanying evidence
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sustain a well-focused, coherent discussion
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control the elements of standard written English
GRE Verbal Reasoning Syllabus requires you to
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analyze and draw conclusions from discourse; reason from incomplete data; identify the author's assumptions and/or perspective; understand multiple levels of meaning, such as literal, figurative, and author's intent
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select important points; distinguish major from minor or irrelevant points; summarize text; understand the structure of a text
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understand the meaning of individual words, sentences, and entire texts; understand relationships among words and concepts
GRE Quantitative Reasoning Syllabus requires you to
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understand, interpret, and analyze quantitative information
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solve problems using mathematical models
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apply basic skills and elementary concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis