In my last discussion or article, I tried to make a fruitful effort (though the concept of fruitfulness is very much subjective from person to person) to make everyone comprehend an effective process to grow functional vocabulary. We shed a light on how to change our English language for better. We also learned several strategic and step-by-step process regarding how exactly can we develop functional vocabulary and thus upgrade our English through reading habit.

In this article, we will be strategically discuss the contents of GRE. We all know about GRE and its contents. However, strategic analysis of the contents and simple description of them has a huge difference. When we just simply discuss something, we only mention them along with short or long description of those mentioned contents. Strategic analysis, however, not only mentions and describes the contents, it also strategically describes the point of its existence. However, in this article, as we are all eager to score high marks in GRE, my strategic point of view is very lightly explain some materials that would ensure a high score in GRE.

GRE course contents basically divided into three parts: Verbal (English Language), Quantitative (Mathematical Reasoning) and AWA (Analytical Writing Assessment).

For Verbal part, the contents mainly consists of:

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Sentence Equivalence
  • Text Completion

By this three parts, the test takers mainly judge two capabilities of any candidate namely:

Vocabulary: Test takers are expected to possess an extensive repertoire of words. Sentence Equivalence and Text Completions questions require students to choose the best word or words for the blank or blanks in a given sentence or paragraph. Learning an entire dictionary is definitely not recommended, students need access to a reliable list of frequently tested words on the GRE, and at the same time work on strategies required for these vocabulary based questions.


Reading ability: There are no prescribed books that a student can read to prepare for this test. While passages from different genres are given in this section, what matters is how carefully you read the passages, and answer the questions based on what you have read. Consistent timed practice using reliable material and taking full-length tests are ways in which you can improve your scores. Just reading and comprehending do not get you points. Thus, the section actually turns out to be a test of your ability to answer the questions rather than just your ability to read and comprehend.


Now let us focus a bit about Quantitative part:

The Quantitative Reasoning measure of the GRE or the Quant section of the GRE assesses High school mathematics and statistics; it does not include trigonometry, calculus or other higher-level mathematics. The GRE allows use of a calculator in the Math section, however not all questions require you to use the calculator. Topics that are tested on the GRE Quant section are:

 Arithmetic: Topics include properties and types of integers, arithmetic operations, exponents and roots; and concepts such as estimation, percent, ratio, rate, absolute value, the number line, decimal representation and sequences of numbers.


Algebra: Topics include operations with exponents; factoring and simplifying algebraic expressions; relations, functions, equations and inequalities; solving linear and quadratic equations and inequalities; solving simultaneous equations and inequalities; and coordinate geometry.


Geometry: Topics include parallel and perpendicular lines, circles, triangles, quadrilaterals, other polygons, congruent and similar figures, three-dimensional figures, area, and perimeter, volume, the Pythagorean Theorem and angle measurement in degrees.


Data Analysis: Topics include basic descriptive statistics, such as mean, median, mode, range, standard deviation, interquartile range, quartiles and percentiles; interpretation of data in tables and graphs, elementary probability, permutations and Venn diagrams.


Now, the above were some mere descriptions of contents, they were not the strategic sense or analysis of the contents in discussion. They can be found anywhere. However, if we want to make a strategic analysis to do well in GRE, we may have to even change our lifestyle altogether.

In our next article, I am going to discuss “GRE as a life-style” approach, along with how to take a smart preparation for GRE. There is a saying regarding GRE that, “Smart preparation is preferable to hard preparation”. As the GRE test-takers seek for those who are really smart, we need to see this whole GRE thing in a new and strategic light. Please read the next article carefully to know all about it.

Till then, happy reading.