GRE Subject Tests Explained: When You Need Them and How They're Scored

What the GRE Subject Tests are

The GRE Subject Tests, offered by ETS, measure undergraduate-level achievement in a specific field of study. They are meant for applicants who majored in — or have an extensive background in — that field, and are used by some graduate programs to compare candidates on a common, subject-specific yardstick.

They are distinct from the GRE General Test. The General Test measures broad verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing skills that apply across disciplines. A Subject Test, by contrast, is deep knowledge of one field, tested through many questions drawn from a typical undergraduate curriculum in that subject.

Importantly, the lineup has shrunk. Several Subject Tests were discontinued, and today only three remain active. If you have read older advice mentioning a Biology, Chemistry, or Literature Subject Test, that information is out of date — this guide covers what is currently offered.

The three tests still offered

As of now, ETS offers three GRE Subject Tests: Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology. Each is a single-subject, multiple-choice test intended for applicants with a strong undergraduate background in that area.

The others have been retired. ETS discontinued the Biology and Literature in English Subject Tests in 2021, and the Chemistry Subject Test in 2023. There is no current GRE Subject Test in those fields, so a program in one of them will rely on the General Test, coursework, and other materials instead.

The three remaining tests are now computer-delivered and offered on set dates during the year at test centers and, in most countries, at home. Because availability and testing windows are updated, check the official ETS GRE Subject Tests pages for current dates and delivery options before you plan.

• Currently offered: Mathematics, Physics, Psychology.
• Discontinued: Biology and Literature in English (2021); Chemistry (2023).
• Now computer-delivered on scheduled dates — confirm current windows on ets.org.

How GRE Subject Tests are scored: the 200–990 scale

Each GRE Subject Test reports one total score on a 200–990 scale, in 10-point increments. In practice, a given test uses only part of that full range, and scores are placed on that scale so they can be compared across different editions of the test.

Since September 2023, the Physics and Psychology tests also report a percent-correct subscore on a 0–100 scale, in 1-point increments, giving programs an additional view of performance. (Before that date, those tests used older subscore scales; the current reporting is the 0–100 percent-correct format.)

Because the exact score-scale details and any percentile information are published and periodically updated by ETS, read the current ETS scoring pages when interpreting a score or setting a target — do not rely on a remembered cutoff, since programs and scales change.

How Subject Tests differ from the GRE General Test

The two serve different purposes, and many applicants take the General Test but not a Subject Test. The General Test is a broad skills test — verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing — that most graduate programs across fields consider (where they still require testing at all). A Subject Test is narrow and deep: it certifies mastery of one undergraduate field.

Use this distinction to decide what you need. If a program asks for "the GRE," it almost always means the General Test unless it specifically names a Subject Test. A Subject Test is an extra, field-specific credential — required by only some programs, and only in the three fields still offered.

Do not assume you need a Subject Test just because you are applying in mathematics, physics, or psychology. Many programs in those fields do not require one, some accept it optionally, and a few still expect it. The only reliable way to know is to check each program's official requirements.

Which programs still use them — and how to check

Requirements vary widely by program and change quietly, so the department's official page is the authority. Historically, the Physics Subject Test was the most commonly requested, because physics doctoral programs valued a common measure of preparation; the Mathematics test is used by some math, applied-math, statistics, and quantitatively demanding programs; and the Psychology test appears in some psychology admissions.

Over time, many programs have shifted a required Subject Test to "recommended," "optional but considered," or "not required" — while still reading the score if you submit one. Because these policies move, the most common mistake is trusting an old forum post or a cached page.

To check correctly: open the graduate admissions page for each specific program and department you are targeting, find the standardized-testing section, and read whether a Subject Test is required, recommended, optional, or not accepted. If it is unclear, contact the department. Then confirm the current test format, dates, and scoring on the official ETS pages before you register.

• Check the exact program/department page for whether a Subject Test is required, recommended, optional, or not used.
• Do not rely on forums, old FAQs, or another applicant's cycle — policies change quietly.
• Confirm current dates, delivery, and scoring on the official ETS GRE Subject Tests pages.