GRE Physics Test

The GRE Physics test consists of approximately 100 five-choice questions.

The test attempts to determine the extent of the examinees' understanding of fundamental principles of physics and their ability to apply them in problem solution.

The scope of the test is largely that of the first three years of a standard United States undergraduate physics curriculum.

MAJOR CONTENT TOPICS	Percentage
1. Classical mechanics kinematics Newton's laws of motion work and energy rotational motion about a fixed axis dynamics of systems of particles central forces and celestial mechanics three-dimensional particle dynamics Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism noninertial reference frames elementary topics in fluid dynamics	20%
2. Electromagnetism electrostatics currentss and DC circuits magnetic fields in free space Lorentz force electromagnetic induction Maxwell's equations and their applications electromagnetic waves (electromagnetic radiation) AC circuits magnetic and electric fields in matter	18%
3. Optics and wave phenomena wave properties superposition interference diffraction geometrical optics polarization Doppler effect	9%
4. Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics laws of thermodynamics thermodynamic processes equations of state ideal gases kinetic theory ensembles statistical concepts and calculation of thermodynamic quantities thermal expansion and heat transfer	10%
5. Quantum mechanics fundamental concepts solutions of the Schrödinger wave equation square wells (Particle in a box) harmonic oscillators hydrogenic atoms spin angular momentum wave function symmetry elementary perturbation theory	12%
6. Atomic physics properties of electrons Bohr model energy quantization atomic structure atomic spectra selection rules black-body radiation x-rays atoms in electric and magnetic fields	10%
7. Special relativity introductory concepts of special relativity time dilation length contraction simultaneity energy and momentum four-vectors and Lorentz transformation velocity addition	6%
8. Laboratory methods data and error analysis electronics instrumentation radiation detection counting statistics interaction of charged particles with matter lasers and optical interferometers dimensional analysis fundamental applications of probability and statistics	6%
9. Specialized topics nuclear and particle physics nuclear properties radioactive decay fission and fusion reactions fundamental properties of elementary particles condensed matter crystal structure x-ray diffraction thermal properties electron theory of metals semiconductors superconductors Miscellaneous astrophysics mathematical methods computer applications

Also:

Mathematical methods and their applications in physics

• single and multivariate calculus
• coordinate systems (rectangular, cylindrical, spherical)
• vector algebra and vector differential operators
• Fourier series
• partial differential equations
• boundary value problems
• matrices and determinants
• functions of comples variables

Range of Raw Scores Needed to Earn Selected Scaled Scores on Three Physics Test Editions That Differ in Difficulty

Scaled Score	Raw Scores
	Form A	Form B	Form C
900	75	71	60-61
800	61	57	45
700	47	43-44	33
600	33-34	29-30	22
Number of Questions Used to Compute Raw Score
	100	100	98