Varsity Tutors GRE Biology mobile app

There are several different GRE Subject Tests you can take if you plan to apply for certain graduate programs in a specific field of study. Those who are considering biology may be required to take the GRE Biology Subject Test prior to their acceptance into the program at their chosen school. The test is sometimes an important part of admissions decisions, and it is suggested that you do everything you can to prepare before taking the test. The Varsity Tutors GRE Biology app is available for Android and Apple devices to provide you with access to a comprehensive study experience in the three sections of the test: cells, biochemistry, and molecular biology.

There are many different concepts that you'll need to know in order to progress into graduate-level courses. These include concepts like organogenesis, the digestive system, genetic drift, and many others. On the free GRE Biology app, you’ll gain access to professionally written content that helps you to assess your preparation for the test in subjects like ecology, organismal biology, evolution, and cellular biology.

If you are struggling with a particular concept, the Learn by Concept function is available to provide detailed explanations for specialized topics. There are sections that cover ion channels, the Krebs cycle, immunological processes, action potentials, and so much more. Each concept contains a variety of practice test questions with detailed explanations to help you improve your understanding of the concept.

The app also provides a wide range of premade GRE Biology flashcards, along with a Flashcard Maker, which you can use to create your very own flashcards to study. Those who enjoy fast-paced, spontaneous study sessions can use this study tool solo or with a group. It is a great way to streamline your study sessions by working on only the concepts you need to review. With the Flashcard Maker, you can use test questions of your own design to up the ante during your studies.

You can also take timed full-length practice exams that cover topics from gene mutations to plant nutrition and hydration. There are several hundred practice tests on the app, which gives you the opportunity to practice your skills at any time or place. Upon completion of the test, you are given a great deal of information related to your performance on the test, such as explanations for the answers, concepts you need to review, and your overall solving time in comparison to others who completed the test. The full-length practice tests give you a comprehensive analysis of your abilities by breaking all the relevant concepts down and analyzing them carefully.

With a little preparation and guidance, you can feel confident when it’s time for you to take the GRE Biology subject test. Download the Varsity Tutors GRE Biology app from iTunes or the Google Play Store today to start your GRE Biology prep. It’s a perfect tool for those who want to practice biology before the big day!

If you’re a college student majoring in biology and are looking to continue your studies into graduate school, you’ll probably have to take the GRE subject test in Biology. It will test all the knowledge learned in cellular and molecular biology, organismal biology, and ecology and evolution. The standardized test was designed by the Educational Testing Service. The better you do, the more potential graduate schools and employers in the field will see in your application.

Most questions on the GRE Biology Test include topics from the first three years of undergraduate biology. The test is typically administered sometime in the first half of your last year in college. On the test, there are approximately 190 questions. Each one has five possible answers. Some of the questions are grouped into sets related to laboratory and field studies, experiments, and diagrams. If you develop a working knowledge of the Krebs cycle, glycolysis, and action potential, among many other aspects of this comprehensive subject, you should be prepared once you set foot in the test room.

The first part of the test covers cellular and molecular biology. Your knowledge of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells is tested. This section covers metabolic pathways and regulation, cell membranes, organelles, and cytoskeletons. The details about the cell cycle learned over the course of your studies will be called upon as well. Genes, chromosomes, and gene expression questions will be on the test, and so will questions on the relationship between cellular function and immunity. Subtopics here range from macromolecular structure/ bonding and the origin of biological molecules to enzymes, receptors, and metabolism. You’ll also have to call on knowledge of photosynthesis and respiration. The facts you learned about how macromolecules are synthesized will be important as well. So will the intricacies of messaging between cells.

If you’re well-versed in the technical aspects of biology, then you may be ready for the GRE Biology Test. The test may cover an array of membrane dynamics and the structures inside a cell. Study up on the cell nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, and endoplasmic reticulum. Strong knowledge of lysosomes and vacuoles will help increase the chances of being able to answer the questions properly.

Are you an expert on the cytoskeleton? Be prepared to be tested on what impacts its motility and shape, what microtubule-based systems are, and how filaments and flagella are important. The cell cycle includes growth, division, and regulation. Knowing this is essential, but you’ll also need to be familiar with the different types of microscopes, processes, and techniques of viewing and experimenting with things in the cellular world. Keep in mind the ins and outs of different kinds of microscopes such as electron, light, and fluorescence. You should be familiar with laboratory techniques such as centrifugation and gel filtration, and immunological techniques that include Western Blotting and immunohistochemistry.

The GRE Biology Test also covers various aspects of genetics, including genetic mapping. Its content deals with chromosomes and their impact on DNA replication, mutation, and repair. You’ll encounter questions on gene expression, RNA, and protein synthesis. Normal versus abnormal gene development and expression is covered, and you’ll also have to call on your knowledge of immunobiology. The intricacies of bacteriophages, animal viruses, and plant viruses are connected to replication, assembly, and virus-host cell interactions. You also need to understand the methodologies for DNA sequencing, analysis, and cloning, and you should know about polymerase chain reactions as well.

The structure of organisms, their physiology, and behavior are covered in detail in college biology and on the GRE Biology Test. By now, you should understand how fluids are regulated and how water, salt, and nutrients are exchanged within organisms. You should know how organisms process energy and how circulatory, digestive, excretory, and respiratory systems work in general. Organismal biology also involves the various supporting structures in a complex organism, and the kinds of movement systems that exist in nature. The communication methods of basic lifeforms don’t seem like much compared to the higher order interactions of human beings, but they influence the way a colony of millions of insects interacts. The ways basic lifeforms learn and use instinct are important to know. All animals must reproduce to propagate the species. This process occurs in more than one way, and you should be familiar with all of them before the test.

Not only will you have to answer questions about animal reproduction and development, and related structures, phases, and processes, but also about plant structure. In particular, you will need to know about the organs, tissues, and systems of flowering plants. Your knowledge of phloem transport and storage, mineral nutrition, and respiration and photosynthesis will be tested. The world of plant reproduction involves concepts such as meiosis, sporogenesis, and seed development, which vastly impact the natural environment. Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on the planet, and how it varies among and between species, and between complete ecosystems. You’ll need to know the differences and variations in terrestrial and marine environments.

Ecology and evolution is another big section of the exam. On the GRE Biology test, you’ll be asked how organisms interact with their environment, and about behavior ecology. Subtopics here include habitat selection, mating/ social systems, and resource acquisition. The basics of how ecosystems function must be understood, and include the ways entire communities of organisms interact, plus aspects such as energy flow and chemical cycling. In addition to the apparent structure of ecosystems, you will need to understand the field of evolution. Key concepts include genetic variability and macroevolutionary/ microevolutionary processes, which includes natural selection. You’ll need to understand how adaptation, convergence, and divergence matter in the scope of a particular species’ evolutionary track.

Lastly, you will need to call upon your understanding of the origin of life, the fossil record, and paleontology. The way genetic sequences can be transferred laterally should be known in detail. With the evolution section, you’ll need to be sure you’ve fine tuned your quantitative skills, and basic mathematical models will need to be mastered to answer every question correctly.

The test requires you to have memorized facts. It will also be essential to analyze data and make simple calculations. There are many complex relationships in the world of biology. The facts go beyond terminology and the physical traits of organisms. The GRE Biology test is not easy, but all of these topics learned can be mastered with the right level of preparation.