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GRE Psychology Subject Test 2023: How to Prepare for GRE Psychology?

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Are you aspiring to appear in the GRE 2023 test and pursue a graduate program in Psychology at one of the best universities abroad? Well, the first step for you to qualify for the GRE Psychology exam with the highest scores is to start your preparations with proper planning. For that, you must be aware of the syllabus, preparation, subjects and GRE psychology book.

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 Apart from that, there is a lot of content that is covered in the psychology test. The GRE psychology test is typically made up of multiple-choice based questions which are majorly covered in the undergraduate psychology coursework. But do not worry because here we bring you a complete guide on the Psychology test syllabus including the best preparation books with their price range, to get started with your preparation for the GRE Psychology 2023.

Table of Contents:

  1. Overview on GRE Psychology Subject Test
  2. GRE Psychology Syllabus
  3. How to Prepare for the GRE Psychology Subject Test
  4. Best Preparation Books for GRE Psychology Test
  5. Frequently Asked Questions About GRE Psychology Subject Test 

Overview on GRE Psychology Subject Test

The GRE Psychology test is mostly chosen by aspirants who want to enrol into a masters degree program in Psychology at the top universities abroad. The Psychology paper generally has 205 multiple choice questions that are be solved within 2 hours and 50 minutes.

The paper is expected to be structured of six parameters i.e. Cognitive Psychology (17-21%), Biological Psychology (17-21%), Clinical (15-19%), Measurement/Methodology (15-19%), Social (12-14%), Developmental (12-14%). In addition to this, the GRE exam psychology paper also contains some graphical and experimental questions.

The major questions for the Psychology part of the GRE are made up of the core knowledge which you most commonly encountered in the psychology courses at an undergraduate level of study. The questions require you to have factual information, analyse relationships, principles, and writing conclusions from the given data as well as evaluation of the research design.

Apart from it, the subject test edition adheres to the terminology, criteria and classifications that is referred in the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM-5.

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Now that we have got the overview of the GRE psychology exam. Let us now have a close look at the GRE Psychology syllabus:

GRE Psychology Syllabus

The GRE Psychology Test section mainly consists of multiple-choice questions. Every piece of MCQs on the subject offers students five response options from which you have to pick the right one. A few of the stimulus materials such as an experiment description or a graph contain different questions. You must choose the most suitable option. 

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

Biological (17-21%) 

  1. Sensation and Perception (5–7%)
  • Psychophysics, Signal Detection
  • Attention
  • Perceptual Organisation
  • Vision
  • Audition
  • Gustation
  • Olfaction
  • Somatosenses
  • Vestibular and Kinesthetic Senses
  • Theories, Applications and Issues
  1. Physiological/Behavioural Neuroscience (12–14%)
  • Neurons
  • Sensory Structures and Processes
  • Motor Structures and Functions
  • Comparative and Ethology
  • Central Structures and Processes
  • Motivation, Arousal, Emotion
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Neuromodulators and Drugs
  • Hormonal Factors
  • States of Consciousness
  • Theories, Applications and Issues 

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Cognitive  (17–24%)

  1. Learning (3–5%)
  • Classical Conditioning
  • Instrumental Conditioning
  • Theories, Applications and Issues
  • Observational Learning, Modeling
  1. Language (3–4%)
  • Units (phonemes, morphemes, phrases)
  • Syntax
  • Meaning
  • Speech Perception and Processing
  • Reading Processes
  • Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
  • Bilingualism
  • Theories, Applications and Issues
  1. Memory (7–9%)
  • Working Memory
  • Long-term Memory
  • Types of Memory
  • Memory Systems and Processes
  • Theories, Applications and Issues
  1. Thinking (4–6%)
  • Representation (Categorization, Imagery, Schemas, Scripts)
  • Intelligence
  • Theories, Applications and Issues
  • Problem Solving
  • Judgment and Decision-Making Processes
  • Planning, Metacognition

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Social (12–14%)

  1. Social Perception, Cognition, Attribution, Beliefs
  2. Attitudes and Behavior
  3. Social Comparison, Self
  4. Group and Intergroup Processes
  5. Cultural or Gender Influences
  6. Evolutionary Psychology, Altruism, and Aggression
  7. Emotion, Affect, and Motivation
  8. Conformity, Influence, and Persuasion
  9. Interpersonal Attraction and Close Relationships
  10. Theories, Applications and Issues

Developmental (12–14%)

  1. Nature-Nurture
  2. Physical and Motor
  3. Perception and Cognition
  4. Language
  5. Socialization, Family and Cultural
  6. Learning, Intelligence
  7. Social, Personality
  8. Emotion
  9. Theories, Applications and Issues

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Clinical (15–19%)

  1. Personality (3–5%)
  • Theories
  • Structure
  • Personality and Behavior
  • Applications and Issues
  1. Clinical and Abnormal (12–14%)
  • Stress, Conflict, Coping
  • Diagnostic Systems
  • Assessment
  • Health Psychology
  • Cultural or Gender Issues
  • Causes and Development of Disorders
  • Neurophysiological Factors
  • Treatment of Disorders
  • Epidemiology
  • Prevention
  • Theories, Applications and Issues

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Measurement/ Methodology (15–19%)

  1. General (4–6%)
  • History
  • Industrial-Organizational
  • Educational
  1. Measurement and Methodology (11–13%)
  • Psychometrics, Test Construction, Reliability, Validity
  • Scientific Method and the Evaluation of Evidence
  • Ethics and Legal Issues
  • Research Designs
  • Statistical Procedures
  • Analysis and Interpretation of Findings

The types of questions on which the subscores are based are distributed throughout the paper. The GRE questions are not set aside and labelled separately however a few of them from a single section may appear on a consecutive basis.

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How to Prepare for the GRE Psychology Subject Test

Preparing for the GRE Psychology is one of the crucial parts in excelling in the exam. An aspirant becomes flawless after regular practice. Some test methods and a knowledge of effective GRE Psychology suggestions will allow you to confront the test with more conviction and get the highest score in the exam. 

Apart from your revision notes and previous undergraduate course tests, there are a number of ways for you to prepare for the GRE Psychology Subject Test. Here are some of the recommendations for you to start your prep:

  • Go through the number of GRE psychology prep books that will help you in preparing for this part.
  • Follow the official booklet provided for the test. This will give you a quick idea on what you can expect throughout the exam.
  • Review the question asked in previous psychology papers. This shows you the types of questions generally asked in the exam and the exam pattern.
  • Search on the internet for different types of study materials as it is a collection of every solution.
  • Appear in the GRE time practice tests to analyse where you stand in the examination. 
  • The GRE authority also provides official practice exams that will assist you in getting a better understanding about the pattern and question types.

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Best Preparation Books for GRE Psychology Test

The following is the list of GRE Psychology Prep book which will help you in facing the GRE Psychology Subject Test:

Book Name

Average Price

Official GRE Super Power Pack, 2nd Edition

41.99 USD

Kaplan's GRE Prep Plus 2023

35.99 USD

Manhattan Prep's 5 lb. Book of GRE Practice Problems

16.99 USD

The Princeton Review's GRE Premium Prep, 2022

34.19 USD

GRE Prep by Magoosh

14.94 USD

Manhattan Prep's GRE Strategy Guides, 4th Edition

79.36 USD

Test Prep Books' GRE Prep 2022-2023 

18.99 USD

Barron's GRE Essential Words, 5th Edition

12.99 USD

The Princeton Review's 1,027 GRE Practice Questions, 5th Edition

20.99 USD 

Mometrix's GRE Prep 2021 and 2022, 5th Edition

26.99 USD

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Now that we have covered some of the best GRE Psychology Prep Books to get a good GRE score and the result. Being a highly competitive examination taken by a large number of students across the world. Because of its high demand, the level of competitiveness is also high to crack the exam. Preparing with the best GRE Psychology Subject Test tips will give you the right guidance to get knowledge and expertise.

Therefore with the right books, strategy, hard work and a strict dedication you may score well in your GRE Psychology exam. You must prepare for the subject test in advance to qualify the test on your very first attempt. In case during your preparation, you want any guidance and assistance do not hesitate to get in with our Yocket Counsellors.

Frequently Asked Questions About GRE Psychology Subject Test 

Ques. What is a good score on the GRE psychology subject test?

Ans. The average score for the test must be around 600, but graduate universities offering psychology programs will generally want to see at least 650 marks in your application to stand out among the crowd.

Ques. What are the requirements for the GRE Psychology Test?

Ans. The main requirement for the application for the GRE exam is that you must have a bachelor degree in a relevant stream from a recognised university. Other than this there are no other specific eligibility criteria.

Ques. How much time will it take to prepare for the GRE Psychology Subject Test?

Ans. The minimum time required to prepare for the GRE Psychology Test will depend on a student's capabilities and hardwork. On average 3 to 4 months is a decent time required to be fully prepared for the GRE Psychology Test.

Ques. What are the subsections contained in the GRE Psychology exam?

Ans. The GRE Psychology Test has six subscores in addition to its total scores. This may include:

  • Biological
  • Cognitive
  • Social
  • Developmental
  • Clinical
  • Measurement/Methodology/Other

Ques. What are the study tips to prepare for the GRE Psychology Test?

Ans. Some tips an individual must keep in mind in their preparation are:

  • Do well in the undergraduate psychology coursework.
  • Have comprehensive, reputable study resources.
  • Appear in practice tests.
  • Use test taking strategies.

Ques. What is the GRE Psychology Test Paper like?

Ans. The paper of GRE Psychology in three categories which are

  • Around 40 percent of the questions asked are experimental or natural science oriented.
  • 43 percent are based on social and social science oriented which will contribute towards social philosophy.
  • The Remaining 17 percent comes from general topics such as the psychology history, psychometrics, statistics, applied psychology, and research design.

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