GRE Physics Subject Test study guide
GRE Physics Subject Test · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The GRE Physics Subject Test is a paper-based, multiple-choice achievement test offered through the GRE Subject Tests program. It is intended for students who have completed a substantial undergraduate physics preparation and who want to strengthen applications to graduate programs in physics, astronomy, or closely related fields. The GRE Physics Subject Test study guide has 9 sections and about 3,618 words.
01Classical Mechanics
Classical Mechanics is the largest block of the GRE Physics Subject Test, at roughly 20% of the questions. It covers Newtonian particle and rigid-body dynamics, work and energy, momentum and collisions, gravitation and orbital motion, and small oscillations.
445 words, about 2 min02Electromagnetism
Electromagnetism is the second-largest block of the GRE Physics Subject Test. It spans Coulomb's law and superposition, Gauss's law in integral form, potential and potential energy, capacitance and dielectrics, steady-current circuits including RC transients, magnetic fields of currents (Biot–Savart, Ampère's law), forces on moving charges, Faraday and Lenz induction, and Maxwell's equations as a synthesis.
417 words, about 2 min03Optics and Wave Phenomena
Optics and Wave Phenomena is about 9% of the GRE Physics Subject Test. It mixes geometric optics (mirrors, lenses, refraction, total internal reflection) with physical optics (interference, diffraction, polarization) and general wave behavior such as superposition, standing waves, beats, and the Doppler effect.
412 words, about 2 min04Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics is roughly 10% of the GRE Physics Subject Test. It covers the laws of thermodynamics, ideal-gas processes, heat capacities, entropy, engines and refrigerators, kinetic theory, and the statistical description of distinguishable and quantum gases.
425 words, about 2 min05Quantum Mechanics
Quantum Mechanics accounts for roughly 12% of the GRE Physics Subject Test. It tests the postulates, the Schrödinger equation in solvable potentials, hydrogen, angular momentum and spin, and approximation methods - usually one short calculation plus a conceptual check.
373 words, about 2 min06Atomic Physics
Atomic Physics is about 10% of the GRE Physics Subject Test. It covers the Bohr model and its limits, hydrogenic energy levels and spectra, photons and the photoelectric effect, quantum numbers and selection rules, fine and hyperfine structure, the Zeeman effect, multi-electron atoms, and X-ray spectra.
388 words, about 2 min07Special Relativity
Special Relativity is about 6% of the GRE Physics Subject Test. It rewards a small set of formulas applied carefully: the two postulates, Lorentz transformations, time dilation, length contraction, relativistic energy and momentum, and the invariant interval.
390 words, about 2 min08Laboratory Methods
Laboratory Methods is about 6% of the GRE Physics Subject Test. It covers measurement, error analysis, counting statistics, instrument behavior, and experimental design - a small block where points are lost to sloppy uncertainty handling rather than to hard physics.
374 words, about 2 min09Specialized Topics
Specialized Topics make up about 9% of the GRE Physics Subject Test. This block samples condensed matter, nuclear and particle physics, and related applications such as astrophysics and materials science.
394 words, about 2 min