Preparation for the GRE English

The "Literature in English" GRE Subject Test demands a wide range of literary knowledge.

Many, though not all, graduate schools require applicants to English or literature programs to sit for the "Literature in English" Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Subject Test. Comprised of over 200 questions, the test covers a broad range of genres, including biography, criticism, drama, the essay, the novel and poetry. The questions are grouped into categories--literary analysis, identification,
cultural and historical contexts and the theory of literary criticism--and span multiple literary eras, including classical, continental and comparative literature, as well as British, American and world literature.

Instructions

1. 

   Brush up on your Shakespeare and other major works before sitting for the exam.

   Download the free practice booklet for the "Literature in English" GRE Subject Test from the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which is available as a .pdf file on their website, ets.org. Review the guidelines for how to study and prepare for taking the test. Get a feel for the full range of questions you'll have to answer by taking the practice test. Score your practice test using the guidelines and evaluate your performance using the criteria listed in the booklet.

2. 

   Perhaps the best way to prepare for the GRE in English is to read, read, read.

   Buy at least one study guide and create a feasible but thorough schedule for working your way through the book. Learn the test-taking strategies offered by the authors and practice what you've learned by taking sample tests, which the best study guides provide either in the back of the book or online.

3. Read, read, read. No amount of test-taking knowledge can make up for the vast amount of literary knowledge you'll need. Scan through the Norton Anthologies, review literary theory, study a literary time line--anything to increase your knowledge of the various genres and time periods covered on the test. Plan ahead: those who have not studied English or are not well-read might have trouble with the subject matter, no matter how adept they are at sitting for standardized tests.

References

• ETS: Literature in English

Resources

• Download the practice booklet