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GRE Biology Subject Test

How is the biology exam formatted?

If you plan to study biology at a US graduate school, you may be required to take the GRE subject test in biology. This subject test assesses your knowledge of biology’s fundamentals: its vocabulary, concepts, history and applications.

The test contains 200 multiple-choice questions with 5 answer options each. Unlike the general GRE, subject tests are available only in paper-and-pencil format. You will have 170 minutes to complete the exam.

Note that test dates occur once a month in October, November, and April.

What You Should Know

The GRE biology test covers three broad categories:

• Cellular Structure and Function – genetics, chromosomal structure, membrane dynamics, experimental methodology, immunity
• Organismal Biology – gas exchange, internal transport, fluid regulation, behavioral traits, metabolism, reproductive structures, bodily systems of plants and animals
• Ecology and Evolution – environmental influences, population structures, genetic variability, evolutionary processes, history of life

You also will need to know biological vocabulary, how to analyze diagrams and how to interpret research data.

How The Biology Subject Test Is Scored

The GRE biology test receives two scores: a raw and a scaled. The raw score is the total number of questions you answered correctly minus 1/4 of the number answered incorrectly. This figure is then converted to a scaled score between 200 and 990, with the latter being a perfect result. Average scores for the biology test fall between 490 and 790.

In addition, the GRE biology test carries three subscores: one for each exam category. These scores are offered for your convenience, as indicators of particular strengths and weaknesses.

Finally, you will be issued a percentile ranking. This number states the percentage of students who scored lower than you. A ranking of 77, for example, means that 77% of test-takers scored lower. This data offers universities quick insight into your abilities and how they compare with those of other applicants.

The GRE biology test is intensive and fact-heavy, but careful standardized test preparation can pay off in a higher score and acceptance to a great university.