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) |
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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.
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