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!

Stacie: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...the same. I take great pride in developing individualized tutoring programs for my students based 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,...
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
- GRE Subject Test in Mathematics
- Spanish 2
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Alexandra: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...role of mentor to many of the incoming freshmen. I have spent most of my free time in college as a nanny and tutor to families around the DFW area. I have experience with all age groups and there is nothing that intimidates me! While I tutor a broad range of subjects, I am most passionate about English, Literature, History, Spanish, and Government/Social Studies. Through my experiences helping struggling students and peers, I have realized...
Education & Certification
- University of North Texas - Bachelor in Arts, Creative Writing
Subject Expertise
- GRE Subject Test in Literature in English
- CLEP Precalculus
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- ISEE-Upper Level Reading Comprehension
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Stephanie: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...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 a diffident or apathetic underachieving student into a classroom star. My favorite subject to tutor is standardized test prep (SAT, ACT, GRE, etc.) because such tests cover a finite body of material that can...
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
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Alicia: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...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 can teach my students tips and tricks that can give them some peace of mind in high-pressure situations. My primary teaching philosophy is to look at each student as an individual. Rather than seeing...
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 Writing and Language
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- English
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Aakash: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...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 to...
Education & Certification
- Swarthmore College - Bachelors, English Literature
- University of California-Berkeley - Masters, Rhetoric
Subject Expertise
- GRE Subject Test in Literature in English
- French 3
- GRE Subject Tests
- Conversational Spanish
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Eilish: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
I graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts in Extension Studies. I focused in biology, and minored in mathematics and government. I am currently a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University School of Education.
Education & Certification
- Harvard University - Bachelor in Arts, Biology, General
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Subject Expertise
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Education & Certification
- Morehead State - Bachelor of Science, English
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John: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...of an English class. Because I am a writer—specifically, a poet—many of my interests and hobbies revolve around language and literature. I am an avid reader of everything from Greco-Roman mythology to Contemporary American Poetry to Tolkein’s The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. Other interests include foreign languages in general and the Spanish language in particular, the American Southwest, classical music and music in general (I sing and play the clarinet, oboe, recorder,...
Education & Certification
- Davidson College - Bachelor in Arts, English
- Texas State University-San Marcos - Master of Fine Arts, Creative Writing (Poetry)
Subject Expertise
- GRE Subject Test in Literature in English
- British Literature
- Ancient and Medieval Heritage
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Rita: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...I specialize in working with neurodiverse students and BIPOC, but all are warmly invited to study with me. My critical work has been featured in the Routledge Companion of Literature and Food, the Bloomsbury Handbook to Literary and Cultural Theory, and the Bloomsbury Handbook of Twenty-First Century Feminist Theory. I am also a published poet and an editor of Honey Literary, Sundress Publications, and Split Lip Magazine. My sessions are never boring, and you can...
Education & Certification
- Temple University - Bachelor in Arts, English
- Temple University - Master of Arts, English
- Florida State University - Doctor of Philosophy, General Literature
Subject Expertise
- GRE Subject Test in Literature in English
- African-American History
- SAT
- SSAT- Upper Level
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Neil: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
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Education & Certification
- Florida State University - Bachelor in Arts, Philosophy
Subject Expertise
- GRE Subject Test in Literature in English
- GRE Subject Test in Psychology
- CLEP American Literature
- Middle School English
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Jennifer: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...the humanities. These abilities provide an essential foundation for engaged local- and global-citizenship as well as for successful careers. Likewise, I am diligent in setting deadlines, editing drafts of term papers, and sharing scholarly resources. My mentoring strategy is both nurturing and persistent, probing the students to find their authorial voice and then guiding them in discovering a logical mode of argumentation. This is a give-and-take exchange between student and mentor that fosters self-confidence and...
Education & Certification
- Florida State University - Bachelor in Arts, Art History, Criticism, and Conservation
- Florida State University - Master of Arts, Art History, Criticism, and Conservation
- Florida State University - Doctor of Philosophy, Art History, Criticism, and Conservation
Subject Expertise
- GRE Subject Test in Literature in English
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Susan: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...a tutor is breaking down skills and concepts into small parts to identify exactly where someone is struggling. I can do this with organization and learning needs, too, not just math and English content. I am also versatile and flexible; I can work on all sorts of content and handle unknown problems. I can teach you how to do that, too. I also have a great deal of experience working with students with special needs....
Education & Certification
- Oberlin College - Bachelor in Arts, English
- The New School for Social Research - Masters in Education, High School Teaching
Subject Expertise
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Laura: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...full range of learners. Measurable achievement is realized by numerous acceptances to selective colleges and universities. Additionally, I effectively equip individuals who are challenged by ADHD, ADD, anxiety, and Autism Spectrum Disorders, addressing barriers resulting in higher educational accomplishments. My professional path is somewhat unconventional. Proficient in Spanish, I began my career as a marketing specialist and events planner. Along the way I ventured into acting and eventually landed in college advising - my true...
Education & Certification
- Pace University-New York - Bachelor in Arts, Spanish
Subject Expertise
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Sam: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...and the SAT, ACT, GMAT, GRE, SAT II, IB, and AP exams (including SAT Math IIC, AP Calculus, AP Computer Science, AP Biology, AP U.S. and European History, AP Art History, and a wide variety of other fields). I've made perfect or near perfect scores on every standardized test I teach, beginning from when I made perfect scores on SAT I Writing, Verbal, SAT II Math IIC when I was 15. It is not at...
Education & Certification
- Rice University - Bachelor in Arts, Economics
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Subject Expertise
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Thwana: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...students. I believe each student is individual in his or her learning style. I hold degrees in Middle Grades Education, English, English Education 6-12, and Business. I am here to serve all age groups and I look forward to working with you all! I graduated from Kennesaw State University, attended Emerson Communication College in Boston Massachusetts, earned my Master's in Human Resource Management in 2016, and am currently working on my Post Master's Certificate in...
Education & Certification
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Subject Expertise
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Margaret: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...learners and new writers who want to improve on their ability to communicate and express their ideas. I also worked on a minor in Spanish during my undergrad. When I was 17, I graduated early from high school and spent two months in Guatemala at a Spanish language school. In college, I participated in a Spanish language drama club, and I directed a play in Spanish, produced at a local theater. Last spring, I traveled...
Education & Certification
- Indiana University-Bloomington - Bachelors, English
- Indiana University - Masters, English
Subject Expertise
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Jennifer: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
I have been a professor of History for 9 years, with a focus on modern Europe. My research is on immigration to Germany from Turkey in the postwar era. I have also worked as a writing and reading comprehension tutor, a tutor for learning German as a second language, and a tutor for the GRE. I served as an AP European History reader (grader) for 4 years. I have also lived in Germany for 4...
Education & Certification
- Davidsion College - Bachelors, German
- Rutgers University-New Brunswick - PHD, History
Subject Expertise
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Craig: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...non-profit, helping hundreds of servicemen and women transition from the military and gain admission to competitive American universities. Recently, however, I relocated to the Houston area because my fiancee, who also has a PhD in English, now teaches at a major university here. While I continue my research and work towards publishing my dissertation, I will be accepting students for verbal section test prep for all major standardized tests (SAT, ACT, TOEFL, GRE, LSAT, GMAT,...
Education & Certification
- Cornell University - Bachelor in Arts, English
- Harvard University - Doctor of Philosophy, English
Subject Expertise
- GRE Subject Test in Literature in English
- Writing
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David: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
David Sanchez is a writer and English professor from Tampa, FL. He is currently a James A. Michener Creative Writing Fellow at the University of Miami where he is an MFA candidate in fiction. He also teaches English composition and creative writing at UM. His poetry and fiction have been published in Thread Literary Inquiry, The Missing Slate: International Literature & Art Magazine, and Momma Tried Magazine.
Education & Certification
- University of South Florida-Main Campus - Bachelor in Arts, English
- University of Miami - Master of Fine Arts, Creative Writing
Subject Expertise
- GRE Subject Test in Literature in English
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Mason: GRE Subject Test in Literature in English course instructor
...the top 1% of test-takers. I moved to Brooklyn at the beginning of February. I have really enjoyed getting acquainted with the Greater New York area, and I've been lucky to attend some excellent live music shows. In the rest of my free time I enjoy reading (both literature and philosophy), making music on my synthesizer, and spending time in conversation with my friends. I look forward to the opportunity to work with you and...
Education & Certification
- University of Virginia-Main Campus - Bachelors, English, Philosophy
- University of Virginia-Main Campus - Masters, Philosophy
Subject Expertise
- GRE Subject Test in Literature in English
- PCAT Reading Comprehension
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