GRE Subject Tests - Dates, Fees, Syllabus, Eligibility, Score
GRE
There are two types of GRE (Graduate Record Examination): GRE General Test and GRE Subject Test. The purpose of both types of tests is to help you get admission for MS abroad. No matter if you want to get enrolled in management or other PG programs offered by universities around the world, the GRE result is an important eligibility. This article will focus only on the GRE Subject Test.
ETS conducts the GRE Subject Test only three times a year, in the months of April, September, and October. It evaluates your knowledge in Physics, Mathematics, and Psychology. The objective of this exam is to help students gain admission into graduate programs that require in-depth subject knowledge. By the end of this article, you will understand everything about the GRE subject test.
What is GRE Subject Test?
Simply put, GRE Subject Tests are specially written exams that aim to assess the knowledge and skill of the candidate in a particular subject. For instance, a GRE Mathematics test would test the level of knowledge of the student in the said subject.
Unlike the GRE General Tests, GRE Subject Tests are specific and limited to one subject. These often have drawn out a syllabus that tests the students on various aspects of the subject. Again, citing the same example, a GRE Mathematics Test has sections for calculus, algebra and other topics like set theory, etc. Similarly, the GRE Chemistry test would have sections on organic and inorganic chemistry, etc.
Designed to test the skill level in a particular subject area or field, these tests are an excellent way to showcase your understanding of a specific subject, as suited to the career of your choice. Check out some important information about the GRE Subject Test below:
| GRE Subject Test Overview | |
|---|---|
| Test Type | Paper-Based Test |
| Exam Frequency | 3 Times a Year (April, September, and October) |
| GRE Subject Test Subjects |
|
| Purpose | To get admission in PG course |
| GRE Subject Test Fees 2025 | INR 14,500 |
Why Take GRE Subject Test
Now that we understand what these subject tests are, we move to the more important question - Why write them? While these tests are an excellent means to portray your skill level in a particular subject, they are often not “required” or “mandatory” at even top-tier universities. They might, at most recommend a GRE Subject Test but would not insist on it. Hence, while GRE General might be a requirement, GRE Subject Tests are optional. So should a student write them?
The answer is, that it would depend on what you want to showcase. A good GRE Subject Test score is the easiest way to prove your understanding of the subject. This in turn significantly improves your academic credibility and might add to the application as a whole. This is more the case if your academic background requires a bit of a boost or not.
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While many people suggest that taking a GRE Subject Test improves your chances of selection, we recommend otherwise. If you believe that your application, on its own, has enough merit, you need not look for reinforcements. But, at the same time, if you are looking to apply for a rather intensive program which recommends (even though not required) a GRE subject test, it would certainly add to your chances of getting a seat in that program.
So sit back, take an honest look at your candidature, your background and also the University profile and decide whether or not to write it. Remember that you have a choice of not sharing the Subject Test score, so no harm in having a backup. Also, most PhD courses require a GRE Subject Test.
Which GRE Subject Tests to Write?
This is perhaps the toughest question for many students and yet the simplest one to answer. You need to write the Subject Tests that refer to the subjects of choice. For pure sciences students, the answer is simple enough. Chemistry majors would write a Chemistry Test and Molecular Biology students would need a GRE Molecular Biology Test. The worry arises when we look at applied sciences and other such courses. For these students, we recommend a combination of two or more GRE Subject Tests. This combination might be based on the core competencies required for those subjects.
For instance, a masters in mechanical engineering would necessarily require a student to have an excellent understanding of mathematics and physics while a student desirous of pursuing a master's in pharmacy might find a GRE in Molecular Biology and Chemistry to be more relevant.
Important to note:
Since the GRE Subject tests of Computer Science have been discontinued, students can opt for GRE Mathematics instead, since the principle behind both the subjects remains similar.
So, take your pick, decide which is the relevant Subject Test for your chosen field and accordingly prepare. All the best!
According to the ETS, GRE Subject Test registration fee is INR 14,500 for Indian students. Applicants can pay this fee by using online payment methods (Credit/Debit card). Note that, you will have to pay separately to reschedule the test or change the centre. The registration fee amount does not include any other expenses.
Yes, you can cancel or reschedule your GRE subject test date like General test date. Rules are same for both tests. You must reschedule your test at least four days before your original test date. You need to pay rescheduling fee which is INR 5000.
ETS released the schedule every year in the month of July on their official website. Applicants can check official webpage of ETS GRE subject test to get the exam schedule.
Yes, all the graduates receive a British degree irrespective of the campus locations. Programs follow similar patterns and examinations on all campuses. The degree awarded is even recognised by the reputed institutions and also approved by Royal Charter in UK.
According to an unofficial source, NTU has been placed at #1 in the UK for employability. In addition to this, as per the details available on the web, some of the top companies where NTU UK alumni work are Deloitte, Microsoft, Tesco, Turner & Townsend, The Access Group, etc. Some of the industries where the alumni work are Operations, Business Development, Arts and Design, Sales, Marketing, IT, Engineering, Finance, Media & Communication, etc.
The University of Hertfordshire has a 70% acceptance rate, making it easy to get into and having simple admissions requirements. Academic achievement, English language proficiency, references, and many other factors are taken into consideration while making the selection. At Hertfordshire, some programs may require four to five years of experience. To enroll in any programme at Hertfordshire University, students must meet the qualifying requirements. In addition, students with average performance can showcase their relevant experience or extracurricular activities participation to increase their selection probability.
The English language test score required at the Univerisyt of South Wales are mentioned in the table below for the international applicants whose first language is not English
Exam | Minimum Scores |
|---|---|
IELTS | 6.0 with at least 5.5 in each band |
TOEFL | 72 overall and a minimum of 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing |
PTE | a score of 59 overall and 59 in each component. |
Raj Vimal has experience of 7+ years in SEO Content Writing, which includes 5+ years in the Ed-Tech industry. He has written articles about studying abroad, especially in the USA, UK, and other English-speaking coun... Read Full Bio
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3 years ago
Hello Manisha. I am good, thank you. I hope you are doing fine yourself. You can take a look at popular universities in New Zealand, here: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/new-zealand You can also get in touch with our Shiksha Counsellors for assistance with university applications here: https://stu
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4 years ago
Hello Anshu. You can take a look at popular universities in the US here: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/usa The admission requirements would depend on your preferred university. if they require GRE (Subject) scores as part of their admission criteria then you would be required to apply for the sam
ETS conducts GRE Subject Test three times a year: in September, October, and April. These computer based test is available during specific two week windows within those months. You can take a GRE Subject Test once every 14 days. ETS has not announced GRE Subject Test dates 2025 yet, it's advisable to check the official ETS website for exact dates.