GRE 2026 Exam Syllabus: Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical Writing Topics Explained

The GRE General Test measures skills built over time rather than knowledge of a particular subject. The Analytical Writing section tests how you reason and write; Verbal Reasoning tests how you read, interpret and use language; and Quantitative Reasoning tests how you solve problems with basic mathematics. The same syllabus applies whether you take the test at a centre or through the GRE at Home option.

The GRE Verbal Reasoning syllabus is delivered through three question types. Together they test your ability to analyse and draw conclusions from text, reason from incomplete information, identify an author’s assumptions and perspective, and understand the meaning of words, sentences and whole passages.

• Reading Comprehension: passages of one to four paragraphs drawn from the arts, humanities, social sciences and the physical and biological sciences. Questions appear as multiple-choice (select one answer), multiple-choice (select one or more answers) and select-in-passage.

• Text Completion: a passage of one to five sentences with one to three blanks. You choose one option per blank (three choices per blank, or five if there is a single blank), and there is no credit for partially correct answers.

• Sentence Equivalence: a single sentence with one blank and six options. You must select the two words that both complete the sentence coherently and produce sentences with the same meaning — again, with no partial credit.

Because Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence hinge on precise word meaning, GRE vocabulary is central to the Verbal syllabus. Building and revising high-frequency words is one of the highest-return activities in GRE preparation.

Reading Comprehension typically forms the largest share of the Verbal section, so building speed and accuracy on dense passages pays off. Practise identifying the author’s purpose, distinguishing main ideas from supporting detail, and answering strictly from the passage rather than from outside knowledge.

The GRE Quantitative Reasoning syllabus covers four content areas — Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Data Analysis — tested through Quantitative Comparison, Multiple-choice (single and multiple answer), Numeric Entry and Data Interpretation questions. An on-screen calculator is provided. The GRE maths syllabus stays within high-school mathematics, no higher than a second course in algebra, and the ability to construct formal proofs is not tested.

Arithmetic is the foundation: number properties, fractions, percentages, ratios, rates and exponents appear both on their own and inside other questions, so fluency here saves time everywhere else.

Algebra moves from manipulating expressions and solving equations and inequalities to functions and coordinate geometry. Most algebra questions are best handled by translating a word problem into a clean equation before solving.

Geometry covers lines, angles, triangles, circles, polygons and basic solids, with area, perimeter and volume. Figures are not always drawn to scale, so reason from the given information rather than from appearance.

Data Analysis spans descriptive statistics, probability and the interpretation of tables and graphs. For many candidates this is the highest-yield area to drill, as data-interpretation sets bundle several questions around one dataset.

The Analytical Writing measure contains a single “Analyze an Issue” task to be completed in 30 minutes. You are presented with a brief claim on a topic of general interest and asked to take and defend a position. The GRE Analytical Writing syllabus assesses four things: articulating complex ideas clearly and effectively, supporting them with relevant reasons and examples, sustaining a focused and coherent discussion, and controlling standard written English.

Each essay is scored from 0 to 6 in half-point increments by a combination of trained human raters and ETS’s automated scoring engine. Note that the earlier “Analyze an Argument” task is no longer part of the syllabus — only “Analyze an Issue” remains.

A high-scoring essay is not about length or showy vocabulary. Raters reward a clear position, logically ordered paragraphs, specific and relevant examples, and clean, controlled prose. A reliable structure — a crisp introduction stating your stance, two or three body paragraphs that each develop one reason with an example, and a short conclusion — lets you spend your 30 minutes on substance rather than format.

It helps to map the syllabus to the exact question formats you will face, because each format demands a slightly different approach.

• Verbal: Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, Sentence Equivalence.

• Quant: Quantitative Comparison, Multiple-choice (one answer), Multiple-choice (one or more answers), Numeric Entry, and Data Interpretation sets.

• Analytical Writing: one “Analyze an Issue” essay.

The syllabus tells you what to study; the pattern tells you how it is delivered: 27 Verbal and 27 Quantitative questions plus one essay, in about 1 hour 58 minutes, with section-level adaptivity and no negative marking. Learning the GRE exam pattern alongside the syllabus ensures you practise each topic in the exact format and timing you will face. Study the two together: learn each syllabus topic, then practise it under the conditions of the real test. See our GRE 2026 Exam Pattern guide for the full structure, timing and scoring.

A simple, effective sequence works for most aspirants. Begin by diagnosing your baseline with an official practice test. For Verbal, build vocabulary daily and practise active reading on dense passages. For Quant, revise Arithmetic and Algebra first, then Geometry and Data Analysis, focusing on the data-interpretation and statistics topics that carry weight. For Analytical Writing, develop one reusable essay structure and practise it against real prompts. Throughout, use only materials updated for the post-2023 syllabus and finish with full-length, timed mocks.

For a week-by-week plan and recommended resources mapped to this syllabus, see our GRE Preparation guide, and confirm where your score will be accepted on the Colleges Accepting GRE page. Coaching options Indian aspirants consider include IMS, TIME, Career Launcher and Cracku.

Track your accuracy by topic in a simple error log. Patterns emerge quickly — perhaps coordinate geometry or probability trips you up, or long passages eat your time — and that log tells you precisely where the next week’s study should go.

Start with official ETS materials, which mirror the real syllabus most closely: the free POWERPREP practice tests for the full experience, the official Math Review for the Quantitative content, and official sample questions for each Verbal question type. Layer a structured vocabulary list on top for Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence. If you prefer guided study, coaching options Indian aspirants consider include IMS, TIME, Career Launcher and Cracku. Whatever you choose, confirm the material is updated for the post-2023 syllabus before relying on it.

The GRE 2026 Exam Syllabus spans three measures: Verbal Reasoning (Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, Sentence Equivalence), Quantitative Reasoning (Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Data Analysis) and one “Analyze an Issue” Analytical Writing essay. The Quant content stays at high-school level, vocabulary and reading drive Verbal, and the essay rewards clear, well-supported argument. Plan your study around these topics, practise them in the real format, and you cover the GRE syllabus efficiently. For the complete picture, refer to GRE 2026 Exam overview, exam pattern, preparation and registration and fees. If you are preparing for MBA entrance exams in India, read guides to CAT 2026, XAT 2026, NMAT 2026 and SNAP 2026.