We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Home

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Included on the Physics GRE®?

By C. Mitchell
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 4,515
Share

The physics GRE®, or Graduate Record Examination, is a multiple choice test for graduate school that is comprised of 100 questions roughly divided between nine broad subject areas. Those areas are classical mechanics, electromagnetism, optics and wave phenomena, thermodynamics and statistical methods, quantum mechanics, atom physics, special relativity, laboratory methods, and “specialized topics.” Specialized topics is basically a catch-all section that can contain elements of nuclear and particle physics, electron theory, and mathematical properties, among other things. The exam is designed to broadly test students’ aptitude in physics at both the basic and advanced levels.

On most physics GRE® exams, over a quarter of the questions concern either classical mechanics or electromagnetism. These subjects are standard courses at most universities and are considered core knowledge for nearly all physics majors. Questions often concern fluid dynamics, Newton’s laws, Maxwell’s equations, and the properties of magnetic fields.

The physics GRE® is a core requirement for most graduate-level physics programs in the United States and Canada, as well as some programs in the UK and Europe. It is rarely the only requirement, however. Applicants to master’s and doctorate level physics study must usually first sit for the general physics GRE® test. The GRE® physics subject matter test is a highly specific exam that tests applicants’ ability and aptitude within the physics field.

As far as GRE® subject tests go, the physics GRE® is often regarded as one of the most difficult. Part of this is owing to the range of subjects that can be — and often are — tested. Exam administrators provide students with general guidelines about the types of questions that could be asked but do not make any content guarantees. Examinees must typically be prepared for anything.

The majority of the questions included on the physics GRE® test students’ ability to apply laws, theories, and basic physics principles to discreet facts. These must be recalled from memory. Students cannot bring any notes or materials into the exam, but some constants and basic equations are provided on the test booklet’s front cover.

Graduate school hopefuls typically study for the GRE® physics exam by reviewing core concepts and practicing sample questions under severe time constraints. Examinees are typically allotted 170 minutes — a little bit less than 3 hours — to complete all 100 questions. All exams are graded on a weighted percentile basis that takes all other test takers’ scores into account. In most cases, perfect scores are awarded to students who answer roughly 80% of the questions correctly. It is extremely rare for students to actually answer all questions correctly.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-included-on-the-physics-gre.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.