GRE Chemistry Subject Test

• The GRE subject test in chemistry is a standardized test in the United States created by the Educational Testing Service, and is designed to assess a candidate's potential for graduate or post-graduate study in the field of chemistry. It contains questions from many fields of chemistry. 15% of the questions will come from analytical chemistry, 25% will come from inorganic chemistry, 30% will come from organic chemistry and 30% will come from physical chemistry.
• This exam, like all the GRE subject tests, is paper-based, as opposed to the GRE general test which is usually computer-based. It contains 130 questions, which are to be answered within 2 hours and 50 minutes. Scores on this exam are sometimes required for entrance to chemistry Ph.D. programs in the United States.
• Scores are scaled and then reported as a number between 200 and 990; however, in recent versions of the test, the maximum and minimum reported scores have been 940 (corresponding to the 99 percentile) and 460 (1 percentile) respectively. The mean score for all test takers from July, 2009, to July, 2012, was 703 with a standard deviation of 115.

Number of questions:
Approximately 130 multiple-choice questions

Test content distribution:

• Analytical Chemistry – 15%
• Inorganic Chemistry – 25%
• Organic Chemistry – 30%
• Physical Chemistry – 30%

Test content description:

• The test questions are constructed to simplify mathematical manipulations, so calculators or logarithm tables are not needed.
• For problems requiring the use of logarithms, the necessary values are included with the question.
• The International System (SI) of units is used predominantly in the test.The test booklet contains a periodic table and a table with physical constants and conversion factors among SI units.

How hard is the chemistry GRE?

• That being said, the exam is tough. It is going to be one of, if not the, most challenging exams you will take.
• It covers all possible areas of chemistry that one could cover in a receiving a chemistry degree.
• It is extremely hard to study for if you are trying to balance school and research and the GRE.

How to Prepare for the Chemistry GRE Subject Test

• The Chemistry GRE Subject Test is designed for students who majored in or took extensive coursework in chemistry, and therefore have gained knowledge about chemistry over a long period of time. It’s unlikely that studying from scratch for a month or two will yield desirable results on this test.
• The best way to prepare for the Chemistry GRE Subject Test is to review your undergraduate coursework in chemistry. Your notes, assignments, and textbooks should provide you with a substantial review outline. Keep in mind that since the exam covers such a wide range of chemistry topics, it’s expected that you will be stronger in some areas than in others. You are not expected to answer every question correctly.
• Once you’ve reviewed your undergraduate chemistry coursework, take a Chemistry GRE Subject Practice Test, like the one offered by ETS. This will help you become familiar with the test directions and question types, and alleviate some test day stress.