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GRE General vs Subject test: exam pattern, registration, fees, score

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GRE General vs subject test comparison shows that only the general test contains three separate sections. GRE General test continues for 3 hours and 45 minutes, and GRE subject test for 2 hours and 50 minutes. While comparing GRE general vs subject test, it can be seen that study abroad aspirants usually opt for GRE general tests to get admission to graduate schools and opt for GRE subject tests in case they are applying for very competitive course programs.

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GRE General Test and GRE Subject Test

While comparing GRE general vs GRE subject test it is noted that they have different exam formats. GRE General Test has 3 sections: GRE Verbal, GRE Quant, and GRE Analytical Writing. GRE subject tests are the tests on different subjects like Biology, Chemistry, Literature in English, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology. Check the following sections to compare general GRE vs subject GRE:

Parameters GRE General Test GRE Subject Test
Eligibility Nothing specified. Undergraduate program completed preferred. Nothing specified. Undergraduate program completed preferred.
Exam fees $205 - $255 $150
No. of Sections 3 1
No. of questions 40+40+2 66-230
Types of Questions Miscellaneous Only MCQ
Time 3 hours 45 minutes 2 hours 50 minutes
Score Range 260-340; 0-6 200-990
Test Dates All year round April, September, October
Point increment 1 point; 1 point; 0.5 point 10 point increment
Subjects included Miscellaneous Biology, Chemistry, English Literature, Mathematics, Physics, Psycology
Score Validity 5 years 5 years

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GRE General Test Format

Section Number of question Types of Questions Time
Verbal Reasoning - 2 sub-sections 40 questions (20 in each) - MCQ Reading Comprehension Text Completion Sentence Equivalence 1 hour (30 minutes for each section)
Quantitative Reasoning - 2 sub-sections 40 questions (20 in each) - MCQ Problem-solving questions (Algebra, Arithmetic, Geometry) and Data sufficiency/analysis questions 1 hour and 10 minutes (35 minutes for each section)
Analytical Writing - 2 tasks 2 – Descriptive Analyzing an Issue Analyzing an Argument 1 hour (30 minutes for each section)

Also check GRE Vocabulary

GRE Subject test Format

All questions in a GRE subject test are MCQ type whereas GRE general test contains several types of questions. GRE General test has three main sections: analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning. GRE Subject Tests have only one section and the number of questions depends on the subject of the test.

Subjects Number of Questions (MCQ) Sub-sections
Biology 190 Cellular and Molecular Biology
Organismal Biology
Ecology and Evolution
Chemistry 130 Analytical Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
English 230 Literary Analysis
Identification
Cultural and Historical Contexts
History and Theory of Literary Criticism
Mathematics 66 Calculus
Algebra (Linear algebra, abstract algebra, elementary algebra, and number theory)
Discrete Mathematics
Real Analysis
Probability and Statistics
Additional Mathematics
Physics 100 Classical Mechanics
Electromagnetism
Optics and Wave Phenomena
Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
Quantum Mechanics
Atomic Physics
Special Relativity
Laboratory Methods
Specialized Topics like Nuclear and Particle Physics etc.
Psychology 205 Biological
Cognitive
Social
Developmental
Clinical
Measurement and Methodology

GRE General Test vs Subject Test Fees

GRE general test fee ranges from $226 to $255 and GRE subject test fee is $150.

GRE General Test vs Subject Test Score Range

Parameters GRE General Verbal GRE General Quantitative Reasoning GRE General Analytical Writing GRE Subject Test
Score Range 130-170 130-170 0-5 200-990
Maximum Score 170 170 0 990
Minimum Score 130 130 6 200
Increment 1 point increment 1 point increment 0.5 point increment 10 point increment

Apart from these, GRE registration, Score sending, and everything else are same for GRE general test and GRE subject test.

If your target is to get admission in any B-School, GRE General Test will be your best choice. GRE General test is mostly required for higher studies though there are a few exceptions. In case, your choice of universities require GRE Subject Test score or you want a specialized study in any of the subject of GRE Subject Test, you will need to take GRE Subject Test.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.

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