Plan on 6 to 8 weeks if your undergraduate maths is recent, and 3 to 4 months if it is not. The test has about 66 questions in 2 hours 50 minutes, and ETS puts about half of them on calculus. It runs only in September, October and April, so pick your window first and plan backwards.
If you are looking for the GRE General Test's quantitative section, see how long to study for the GRE. This page is about the Mathematics Subject Test only. For the other subject tests, see the GRE Subject Tests overview.
According to ETS, the test has about 66 multiple choice questions and lasts 2 hours 50 minutes:
| Area | Share of questions | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Calculus | About 50% | Single and multivariable calculus, and their applications |
| Algebra | About 25% | Linear algebra, abstract algebra and number theory |
| Additional topics | About 25% | Real analysis, discrete mathematics, and topics such as topology, complex variables, probability and statistics |
That is about 2.5 minutes a question. As MIT's graduate students put it, "for most, the math GRE is not a leisurely paced test." Guessing is not penalized, so answer everything.
ETS does not publish study hours for the subject tests. The biggest factor is how recently you took the courses:
Take a timed practice test early. The gap between your score and your programs' expectations tells you which group you are in. MIT's page suggests aiming for around the 80th percentile, while noting that a lower score need not stop you from applying.
The calculus questions are usually not hard individually, but there are a lot of them and they have to be fast. Drill derivatives, integrals, series, and multivariable topics such as partial derivatives and multiple integrals until you can do routine ones in a minute. Points lost here are the most avoidable.
Linear algebra (eigenvalues, determinants, rank, linear maps) comes up often and rewards practice. Abstract algebra and number theory questions test definitions and standard results about groups, rings and modular arithmetic. Make a flashcard for every definition and theorem you need, because there is no time to rederive them in the exam.
This quarter of the test is broad and shallow: real analysis, discrete maths, and a spread of other topics. Do not try to master each one. Learn the standard results and the kinds of questions that appear in released tests, and accept that you may guess on one or two.
The subject tests run in three windows a year. For 2026 to 2027, ETS lists September 14 to 27, 2026, October 19 to November 1, 2026, and April 19 to May 2, 2027. You can retake after 14 days. If you are applying in the autumn, the September window leaves room for an October retake before most deadlines. MIT's page suggests April of your third year or September of your final year for the same reason.
For practice, use the released ETS tests and practice book, plus the commercial and free resources that MIT's page lists. Its advice on released tests is to "be judicious about when you take them."
The algebra and additional topics sections reward instant recall of definitions and standard results. Upload your course notes or textbook chapters to StudyCards AI to make flashcards, export them to Anki, and review them on a spaced schedule alongside your timed practice.
Try StudyCards AI FreeIt depends on how recently you took the courses. A math major in their final year can often review in 6 to 8 weeks at 8 to 10 hours a week. If calculus and linear algebra were years ago, plan on 3 to 4 months.
About 66 multiple choice questions in 2 hours 50 minutes. ETS weights them at about 50% calculus, 25% algebra (linear algebra, abstract algebra and number theory) and 25% additional topics such as real analysis, discrete mathematics, topology, complex variables and probability.
No. The GRE General Test's quantitative section covers high school level maths. The Math Subject Test covers undergraduate mathematics, mostly calculus, and is required or recommended mainly by maths PhD programs.
Only in three windows a year. For 2026 to 2027, ETS lists September 14 to 27 and October 19 to November 1, 2026, and April 19 to May 2, 2027. You can retake after 14 days.
No. Guessing is no longer penalized, so answer every question, and use elimination to improve your odds.
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