GRE General Test vs GRE Subject Test: The Ultimate Comparison Guide

GRE General Test vs GRE Subject Test

Navigating graduate school admissions requires making smart, informed decisions early in your planning process. One of the most fundamental questions prospective graduate students encounter is deciding between the GRE General Test vs GRE Subject Test.

While both standardized examinations are owned and administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS), they evaluate entirely different skill sets, follow distinct testing formats, and serve distinct roles in the admissions process. Choosing the wrong exam—or underestimating the importance of one over the other—can impact your application timeline and admissions strategy.  

What Is the GRE General Test?

The GRE General Test is a broad-based, multi-disciplinary examination designed to measure general graduate-level readiness. Rather than testing specialized facts or discipline-specific theories, it measures critical thinking, analytical writing, quantitative reasoning, and verbal reasoning skills developed over years of education.  

The GRE General Test is widely accepted across thousands of institutions worldwide. It is utilized for admissions into master's programs, MBA programs, specialized business master's degrees, J.D. law programs, and doctoral (Ph.D.) tracks across almost every academic field.  

Core Sections and Structure

The GRE General Test consists of three main components:  

• Analytical Writing (AWA): Contains one 30-minute task ("Analyze an Issue") that evaluates your ability to articulate complex ideas, construct sound arguments, and support claims with clear evidence.  

• Quantitative Reasoning: Consists of 27 questions split across two sections (lasting 18 and 26 minutes). This section tests basic math concepts—including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis—focusing on logical problem-solving rather than advanced calculus.  

• Verbal Reasoning: Consists of 27 questions split across two sections (lasting 21 and 23 minutes). This evaluates your ability to analyze written material, synthesize information, recognize relationships between words and concepts, and process complex vocabulary in context.  

The modern GRE General Test features a streamlined total duration of 1 hour and 58 minutes with 55 total questions. It operates as a section-level adaptive test, meaning your performance on the first operational section of Verbal or Quantitative reasoning determines the difficulty level of the second section.  

What Is the GRE Subject Test?

The GRE Subject Test is an achievement-based examination designed to evaluate undergraduate-level mastery in a single, specific academic discipline. Unlike the General Test, which focuses on general skills, Subject Tests assess whether you possess the deep, specialized knowledge required for advanced research in a specific field.  

These exams are primarily requested or recommended by competitive Ph.D. programs, research-heavy master's tracks, and specialized fellowship committees.  

Available Disciplines and Exam Details

ETS administers GRE Subject Tests in three primary fields:  

1. Mathematics: Evaluates topics including calculus, linear algebra, abstract algebra, real analysis, differential equations, and discrete mathematics. Contains 66 multiple-choice questions with a total test duration of 2 hours and 50 minutes.  

2. Physics: Assesses fundamental mechanics, electromagnetism, optics and wave phenomena, thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, quantum mechanics, atomic physics, special relativity, and laboratory methods. Contains 70 multiple-choice questions with a total test duration of 2 hours.  

3. Psychology: Covers clinical psychology, developmental psychology, biological psychology, cognitive psychology, social psychology, methodology, and statistics. Contains 144 multiple-choice questions with a total test duration of 2 hours.  

Note on Discontinued Tests: ETS formally discontinued the GRE Chemistry Subject Test along with former subjects like Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, and English Literature. Admissions committees in these disciplines now focus on undergraduate coursework, research experience, and performance on the GRE General Test.  

Key Differences: GRE General Test vs GRE Subject Test

Understanding how these exams diverge across format, scoring, content, and administration helps you build an efficient preparation timeline.

Feature	GRE General Test	GRE Subject Test
Primary Focus	Critical thinking, verbal reasoning, quantitative aptitude, analytical writing	Specialized, comprehensive knowledge within a single discipline
Total Test Length	1 hour 58 minutes	2 hours (Physics, Psychology) to 2 hours 50 minutes (Mathematics)
Total Questions	55 questions + 1 Essay task	66 to 144 multiple-choice questions (varies by subject)
Test Structure	Section-level adaptive (Quant & Verbal)	Linear, non-adaptive multiple-choice examination
Score Scale	130–170 per section (Quant/Verbal); 0–6.0 for AWA	200–990 scale (in 10-point increments)
Subjects Offered	Universal (General Skills)	3 Subjects: Mathematics, Physics, Psychology
Acceptance Scope	MBA, Law, Master's, and Doctoral programs worldwide	Specialized Ph.D. and specialized master's programs
Delivery Mode	Year-round, computer-delivered at test centers or at home	Computer-delivered during specific testing windows

Scoring Systems Explained

Understanding how each test is scored helps you interpret your performance and set realistic goals for competitive programs.

GRE General Test Scoring Breakdown

• Verbal Reasoning: Scored on a 130–170 scale in 1-point increments.  

• Quantitative Reasoning: Scored on a 130–170 scale in 1-point increments.  

• Analytical Writing (AWA): Scored on a 0.0–6.0 scale in half-point increments.  

Your official score report provides individual scaled scores alongside percentile rankings, which compare your performance directly against global test-takers over a three-year rolling period.

GRE Subject Test Scoring Breakdown

• Total Scaled Score: Ranges from 200 to 990 in 10-point increments.

• Subscores: Certain Subject Tests (such as Psychology) may yield secondary subscores on focused content areas (e.g., Clinical, Biological, Social), scaled on a 20–99 range.

Percentile ranks carry significant weight on Subject Tests. Because the test-taker pool consists primarily of students majoring in that specific field, achieving a high percentile demonstrates mastery relative to peers in your discipline.

Which Exam Should You Take? Decision Criteria

To determine whether you should take the General Test, a Subject Test, or both, evaluate your target program's requirements using the criteria below.

1. Program Admissions Requirements

• General Master's & Professional Degrees (MBA, M.S., M.A., M.P.P., J.D.): The GRE General Test is the standard requirement. Subject Tests are almost never requested for non-Ph.D. professional tracks.

• Stem & Pure Science Ph.D. Programs (Math, Physics, Psychology): Programs often require or strongly recommend the corresponding Subject Test alongside the General Test.

2. Non-Traditional Academic Backgrounds

If you are applying to a quantitative or technical graduate program but completed your undergraduate degree in an unrelated discipline, taking a GRE Subject Test can work in your favor. Achieving a top score proves to admissions committees that you possess equivalent subject-matter knowledge despite lacking formal undergraduate major coursework.

3. Offsetting an Undergraduate GPA

If your overall undergraduate GPA falls below a program's preferred threshold, strong performance on a GRE Subject Test demonstrates academic competency and recent subject mastery.

Preparation Strategies for Success

Because the two tests measure different cognitive skills, your study strategy should be tailored to the exam you are taking.

Prep Strategy for the GRE General Test

• Master Section Pacing: With the streamlined 1-hour 58-minute format, time management is essential. Train yourself to maintain speed without sacrificing accuracy across shorter, high-intensity question blocks.  

• Focus on Logical Reasoning: Practice identifying argument structures, logical fallacies, and structural context rather than relying solely on memorized math formulas.  

• Practice with Adaptive Mock Exams: Utilize official ETS practice materials that emulate the section-level adaptive structure to accustom yourself to changing section difficulty.

Prep Strategy for the GRE Subject Test

• Revisit Core Textbooks: Review upper-level undergraduate textbooks and syllabi spanning your major's curriculum.

• Identify Knowledge Gaps: Use ETS subject content outlines to systematically assess your understanding of core subfields (e.g., Quantum Mechanics vs. Thermodynamics in Physics).

• Simulate Long-Form Practice: Subject tests require sustained focus over numerous discipline-specific questions. Complete full-length timed mock exams to build speed and stamina.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is the GRE Subject Test harder than the GRE General Test?

Yes, for most students, the GRE Subject Test is academically more challenging because it tests specialized, advanced undergraduate-level concepts in fields like Mathematics or Physics. By contrast, the GRE General Test assesses general critical thinking, basic high-school level mathematics, and analytical writing skills.  

2. Can I take a GRE Subject Test instead of the GRE General Test?

No. A GRE Subject Test cannot replace the GRE General Test unless a graduate program explicitly states otherwise. Most universities that ask for a Subject Test require it in addition to the GRE General Test, not as a substitute.

3. How long are GRE scores valid?

Scores for both the GRE General Test and GRE Subject Tests are valid for 5 years following your test date.

4. Which GRE Subject Tests are currently active?

ETS currently offers three GRE Subject Tests: Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology. All other previously offered subjects (such as Chemistry, Biology, and English Literature) have been permanently discontinued.  

5. What are the key differences when comparing the GRE General Test vs GRE Subject Test?

When comparing the GRE General Test vs GRE Subject Test, the main differences center on scope, duration, and content:

• The General Test evaluates overall analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative skills over 1 hour and 58 minutes.  

• The Subject Test measures deep, discipline-specific knowledge in Mathematics, Physics, or Psychology over 2 hours to 2 hours and 50 minutes.  

Next Steps & Useful Resources

Ready to begin your test preparation or verify your target university's standardized testing requirements? Use these official resources to organize your application timeline:

• Register for exams, download free prep software, and view testing policies at the Official ETS GRE Website.

• Confirm program-specific exam requirements using the ETS GRE Institution Search Directory.

• Access official practice materials and detailed syllabi directly on the ETS GRE Subject Test Overview Page.