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GRE Chemistry Subject Test

What is the structure of the GRE chemistry exam?

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

The test contains 136 multiple-choice questions with 5 answer options each. Unlike the general GRE, subject tests are only available in paper-and-pencil format, so bring sharpened Number 2 pencils with you. You will have 170 minutes to complete the test.

The exams are administered once a month in October, November, and April.

What Information Is Covered?

The test encompasses chemistry’s four traditional fields:

• Analytical Chemistry – statistics, instrumental methods, radiochemical methods, data acquisition
• Inorganic Chemistry - general chemistry, ironic substances, covalent molecular substances, acids and bases
• Organic Chemistry - structure, bonding and nomenclature, functional groups, reaction mechanisms
• Physical Chemistry - thermodynamics, quantum chemistry, spectroscopy

The GRE Chemistry test emphasizes specificity and exact knowledge, meaning that abstractions and interpretive skill are not as fundamental. Additionally, some of the pressures of memorization are relieved since both the periodic table and a list of key conversion factors are printed in front of the test booklet.

Understanding Your Score

The GRE chemistry test has 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 somewhere between 200 and 990, with the latter being a perfect score. Average scores for the chemistry test fall between 490 and 910.

You also will be issued a percentile ranking. This number states the percentage of students who scored lower than you. A ranking of 83, for example, means that 83% of test-takers scored lower. This data offers universities a glance into your abilities and how they compare with other applicants.

The GRE chemistry test is rigorous and detailed, but focused standardized test preparation can pay off in a higher score and acceptance to your favorite university.