GRE Biology Test: How to Prepare for GRE Biology in 2024?

• GRE subject test Biology is opted by students to pursue a master's degree in Biology at the best universities abroad. 
• The Biology paper for GRE generally has around 180 multiple choice questions that will take up to 2 hours and 50 minutes to solve.

• The GRE subject test biology is structured of three parameters i.e. Cellular and Molecular Biology (33-34%), Organismal Biology (33-34%) and Ecology & Evolution (33-34%). 
• Some of the questions are based on laboratory results, experiments, diagrams or experimental results that are grouped together at the end of every text. 
• The number of questions you answer correctly in the exam gets converted into a number of 200 to 990 point scale as an overall along with a sub score in each of the three parameters. The subscores are reported as 20 to 99 point scale in the paper.

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Now that we have an overview of the GRE Biology exam, let us now have a close look at its syllabus:

The GRE Biology test consists of multiple-choice questions. For every question, you will have five response options from which you have to pick the right one. 

As per ETS, the test yields three subscores with the total score. The detailed syllabus of the Biology paper is given below:

Cellular and Molecular Biology (33-34%)

1. Cellular Structure and Function (16-17%)

• Biological compounds
• Enzyme activity, receptor binding, and regulation
• Cytoskeleton: motility and shape
• Cell cycle: the growth, division, and the regulation including the signal transduction.
• Major metabolic pathways and regulation
• Membrane dynamics and cell surfaces
• Organelles: structure, function, synthesis, and targeting
• Microscopy, separation, and immunological methods

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1. Genetics and Molecular Biology (16-17%)

• Genetic foundations
• Genome maintenance
• Genome sequence organisation
• Chromatin and chromosomes
• Gene expression and regulation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes
• Recombinant DNA methodology
• Gene expression and regulation: effects
• Immunobiology
• Bacteriophages, animal viruses, and plant viruses

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Organismal Biology (33-34%)

1. Animal Structure, Function, and Organisation (10%)

• An integration and the control mechanisms of nervous and endocrine systems.
• Metabolic rates (temperature, body size, and activity)
• Behaviour (communication, orientation, learning, and instinct)
• Exchange of the nutrients or salt or water, gas, and energy with the environment.
• Internal transport and exchange.
• Support and movement systems.

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1. Animal Reproduction and Development (6%)

• Reproductive Structures
• Meiosis, gametogenesis, and fertilisation
• Early development (e.g., polarity, cleavage, and gastrulation.
• Developmental processes for example induction, differentiation, determination, morphogenesis, and metamorphosis.
• External control mechanisms (e.g., photoperiod)

1. Plant Structure, Function, and the Organisation, with an Emphasis on Flowering Plants (7%)

• Organs, tissue systems, and tissues
• Water transport, including absorption and transpiration
• Plant energetics (e.g., respiration and photosynthesis.
• Phloem transport and storage
• Mineral nutrition

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1. Plant Reproduction, Growth, and its Development, with an Emphasis on Flowering Plants (5%)

• Meiosis and sporogenesis
• Gametogenesis and fertilisation
• Meristems, growth, morphogenesis, and differentiation
• Reproductive structures
• Embryogeny and seed development
• Control mechanisms (e.g., hormones, photoperiod, and tropisms)

1. Diversity of Life (6%)

• Protista
• Archaea
• Bacteria
• Fungi
• Animalia with emphasis on major phyla
• Plantae with emphasis on major phyla

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Ecology and Evolution (33-34%)

1. Ecology (16-17%)

• Environment/organism interaction
• Population ecology
• Community ecology
• Behavioural ecology
• Ecosystems

1. Evolution (16-17%)

• Genetic variability
• Macroevolutionary and microevolutionary processes
• Evolutionary consequences
• History of life

The various types of questions which have been asked from the subscores are distributed in the paper. The GRE Biology questions are not set aside and are labelled separately in the test.

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To prepare for the GRE Biology is the crucial aspect in excelling in the test. A student becomes flawless after practising regularly for the exam. Some test methods and a good knowledge of an effective GRE Subject Test biology suggestions will help you in confronting the paper with more convictions and get the highest scores.

Considering your revision notes and some previous year's GRE biology prep, there are a number of ways that will prepare you for the GRE Biology test. Here are some of the recommendations that you must keep in mind while preparing:

• Follow the official GRE booklet provided for the test. This will get you an idea of what you can expect through the exam.
• Go through some GRE biology prep books, it will help you in preparing for the exam.
• Practice the previous year's GRE Biology papers. This shows you which type of questions are generally asked in the exam.
• Search for various types of study material and GRE biology book as it is a collection of your every question.
• You can also appear in some online GRE tests to know where you stand. 

The following is the list of some best GRE biology prep book that will help you in facing the GRE Biology Subject Test:

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