If you have been searching for a comprehensive GRE Literature Test course to help you study for the exam, Varsity Tutors can set you up with a private GRE Subject Test in Literature class. The GRE Subject Tests are required to get into certain graduate school programs, and others may give a little boost to applicants with a relevant test score on their application. The GRE Literature Test covers material written in English from the United States, British Isles, and around the globe. Major works such as the Bible may also appear even though they were not originally written in English. If you would like to learn more about the benefits of taking a GRE Literature Test prep course, you've found the right page!
Many GRE Subject Test in Literature prep courses begin by examining the structure and content of the exam. The test consists of one testing session lasting two hours and 50 minutes. Students have approximately 230 multiple-choice questions to answer, so time management techniques such as knowing when to guess and move on are often emphasized during GRE Subject Tests in Literature classes. The exam is administered through a traditional test booklet, like other standardized tests you may have taken in the past.
The following table breaks down the sections you'll see on the exam:
GRE Subject Test in Literature Content Areas | Percentage of Exam |
Literary Analysis | 40-55 |
Identification | 15-20 |
Cultural and Historical Contexts | 20-25 |
History and Theory of Literary Criticism | 10-15 |
Obviously, Literary Analysis is the single most important subject area as it accounts for roughly half of the total test. Many GRE Literature Test prep classes concentrate heavily for this reason. Yet, what if you feel that you would be better served by studying literary criticism or historical context? A private GRE Literature Test class provides the flexibility to focus on your unique areas of opportunity to improve study efficiency. You also don't need to worry about running out of time, as there are no time restrictions on your independent study.
The bulleted list below highlights some of the topics you might look over during a GRE Subject Test in Literature course:
GRE Subject Test in Literature Topics (non-comprehensive)
- Literary theory
- Criticism
- History of the English language
- Poetry
- Form and structure
- Literary techniques
- Identifying characteristics of literary or critical movements
Again, working with a private instructor allows you to concentrate on any of these concepts. If you're considerably more comfortable with prose than poetry, your instructor may review several poems with you to help you feel more comfortable. You might also practice active reading techniques such as note-taking to help you identify the most important pieces of information in a reading passage. In addition, many students look into how to leverage the exam against itself to deduce the correct answer when they don't know it.
Varsity Tutors also makes taking a GRE Subject Test in Literature prep class as easy as possible. Our Live Learning Platform facilitates digital study sessions, allowing you to meet with your instructor anywhere with a stable internet connection. We also try to match every student with an instructor who suits their schedule, as you shouldn't need to rearrange your whole life just to study for a test.
If you would like to learn more about the GRE Literature Test courses available through Varsity Tutors, please reach out to an Educational Consultant today for more information. We look forward to working with you!

Stephanie: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...the greatest determinant of success in an academic setting. By "confidence" I mean not only confidence in ones mastery of topical material, but, more fundamentally, confidence in ones ability to learn and think independently. As an instructor, I am dedicated to helping students succeed because I know from my own experiences as a student that, at every level of education, from elementary to graduate school, the support and encouragement of a passionate teacher can turn...
Education & Certification
- University of Chicago - Bachelors, Cinema and Media Studies / English Language and Literature
- University of Iowa - Masters, Film Studies
Subject Expertise
- GRE Subject Test in Literature in English
- Art
- MCAT
- Math
- +77 subjects

Alicia: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...teaching and tutoring. I've taught English and rhetoric courses at the University of Iowa and Shandong Institute of Business and Technology in Yantai, China, as well as tutoring in the Business Writing and English Writing Centers at Iowa. In particular, I love tutoring writing in its many forms, from long essays to cover letters, as well as all subjects in the Humanities. I also enjoy tutoring standardized tests like the SAT and GRE because I...
Education & Certification
- Lawrence University - Bachelor in Arts, English, music
- University of Iowa - Master of Arts, Literary Studies
Subject Expertise
- GRE Subject Test in Literature in English
- SAT Reading
- Study Skills
- Reading
- +31 subjects

Anna: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...taught literature courses as well as first-year writing seminars, which have focused on topics including the American Dream, Gender and Sexuality, and Borders and Frontiers. My favorite things about teaching writing are working individually with students to help them brainstorm ideas and articulate their point of view in their clearest, strongest voice, and seeing their work become stronger across each draft they revise. When working with students in my literature classes at UVa and the...
Education & Certification
- Duke University - Bachelor in Arts, Literature and Cultural Theory
- University of Virginia-Main Campus - PHD, English Language and Literature
Subject Expertise
- GRE Subject Test in Literature in English
- SAT Subject Test in Literature
- Test Prep
- PSAT
- +22 subjects

Stacie: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...on their specific needs and goals. I previously taught high school for several years and also have tutoring experience in a wide variety of subject areas. At this time, I focus almost exclusively on assisting students seeking top scores on graduate admissions exams, including the GRE, GMAT and LSAT. In my free time I enjoy watching all kinds of sports, reading, playing board games, going to concerts, and spending time with my friends, family, and...
Education & Certification
- The University of Texas at Arlington - Bachelors, English
- Texas AM University - Commerce - Current Grad Student, Secondary Education
Subject Expertise
- GRE Subject Test in Literature in English
- Spanish 2
- GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment
- Graduate Test Prep
- +134 subjects

Ashley: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...arena and have worked with varying age groups, skill levels, and course work. I have instructed from the middle school level to the collegiate level. Aside from my formal teaching and tutoring, I have also had the opportunity to be a mother and teach my own children. I have a passion for both literature and writing and enjoy sharing that with others. I desire to help others enhance their learning abilities and educational experience.
Education & Certification
- Oregon State University - Bachelor in Arts, English
- Western Oregon University - Master of Arts, Teaching in Language Arts
- State Certified Teacher
Subject Expertise
- GRE Subject Test in Literature in English
- English
- Writing
- SAT Reading
- +29 subjects

Aakash: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...research, including a US-UK Fulbright Award and a Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship. My areas of competency include English, Art History, Rhetoric, Spanish, and French. I am also proficient in SAT, GRE, and GRE Subject Test in English. My first Master of Arts is in English from the University of Sussex (UK) and my second is in Rhetoric from UC Berkeley. I am happy to work with students at all stages and look forward...
Education & Certification
- Swarthmore College - Bachelors, English Literature
- University of California-Berkeley - Masters, Rhetoric
Subject Expertise
- GRE Subject Test in Literature in English
- English
- College Essays
- GRE Analytical Writing
- +46 subjects

Elizabeth: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...Documentary Film from George Washington University. I have worked as a writer and journalist for the past five years, and my expertise lies in helping students better their vocabulary, reading comprehension, and essay writing skills. My teaching style is to work together with the student to help them arrive at the correct answer on their own, which I find leads students to be far more likely to remember how to do the problem on test...
Education & Certification
- Boston College - Bachelor in Arts, English
- New York University - Master of Arts, Writing
Subject Expertise
- GRE Subject Test in Literature in English
- SAT Subject Test in Literature
- English Grammar and Syntax
- ACT
- +28 subjects

Rachel: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...Suffolk County Community College , and have been tutoring students of all ages in English, math, and history for ten years. I experience joy every time I can help a struggling student understand, or even enjoy a subject. I am very experienced in tailoring lessons to meet an individual's needs, so no matter what your issue is, we can figure out how to solve it together! I look forward to talking to you.... I usually have the student re-write the passage, or a portion of it, in his or her own words. This allows me to see how the student is interpreting the material and correct any errors in comprehension.
Education & Certification
- Stony Brook University - Bachelors, English
- Hofstra University - Masters, English and Creative Writing
Subject Expertise
- GRE Subject Test in Literature in English
- SSAT- Middle Level
- ACCUPLACER ESL - Reading Skills
- CLEP History of the United States I
- +133 subjects

Najia: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...to students' age range and skill level, keeping students encouraged and involved in gameplay, and dealing with conflicts and problems as they arise. I have also worked with students and peers in a one-on-one capacity. My TASC tutoring involves working with a student to create a study plan across a broad variety of subjects, staying attentive to what teaching methods are most compatible with their style of learning, and adapting lessons, explanations, and example sets...
Education & Certification
- University of Rochester - Bachelor in Arts, Linguistics
- University of Oxford - Master of Arts, British Literature
Subject Expertise
- GRE Subject Test in Literature in English
- Pre-Calculus
- Math
- Spelling Bee
- +75 subjects

Emmaline: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...as a literature guide writer for LitCharts, a tutor at Wyzant, and an editor at Cambridge Proofreading & Editing Services. Before that, I was an online tutor through Chegg Tutors for five years, and taught lessons in U.S. history, European history, world history, American literature, writing, philosophy, psychology, environmental science, international relations, sociology, music, and art, in addition to editing academic essays. I am passionate about history, literature, and all humanities and social studies subjects....
Education & Certification
- Columbia University in the City of New York - Bachelor in Arts, American Literature
- Teachers College at Columbia University - Master of Arts, Social Studies Teacher Education
Subject Expertise
- GRE Subject Test in Literature in English
- SAT Subject Test in World History
- British Literature
- SAT Subject Test in United States History
- +30 subjects