<p>For somebody interested in Applied Mathematics programs, which subject test should they take. In particular, I'm interested in Theoretical CS and Discrete Maths stuff and I'm not sure which subject test would be more relevant.</p>
<p>Also, which one seems to be the more difficult of the two?</p>
<p>You can go to the GRE website and research the subject tests. You can download a practice booklet, look over the test, and make a decision from there of which ones applies most to you. Good Luck :)</p>
<p>Applied math housed in math departments will have different recommendations from applied math housed in computer science departments. What programs are you interested in? </p>
<p>Also, would you be prepared to take both GREs? </p>
<p>The Math GRE is hard because some of the problems are tricky, but you don’t need to know much advanced material to do well on it (ideally math up through real analysis, abstract algebra and topology, though you could get by without algebra and topology). </p>
<p>The CS GRE is hard because it tests so much material. A CS major friend of mine said that she had taken 15 CS classes, including all of the “core” courses of the major, and there’s still stuff on the test that she has never seen before. On the other hand, the percentile scores will reflect that most CS majors have not studied all topics on the exam.</p>
<p>I have practiced both tests and didn’t get good scores on either (obviously I need more practice).</p>
<p>For the Maths one, I’ve taken all the required courses (real analysis, topology, measure theory, combinatorics, abstract algebra, etc…). Also, it is quite tricky and some questions takes alot of time to solve.</p>
<p>For the CS one I was very comfortable with the algorithms and theoretical (complexity, automata, logic) parts but like what b@r!um said, there are alot of materials that I havn’t taken yet. I did not follow the traditional CS path since I am a double major, so I havn’t taken courses like operating systems, software modelling, hardware, etc…</p>
<p>If I choose to take the CS one then I’d have to study all the topics that will appear on the test. By the way, does anyone know any good textbooks that cover these topics that are for GRE subject preparation?</p>
<p>Right now I’m leaning towards the CS test since I think it’s significantly easier than the Maths one, even if I have to learn some materials independently. Any insights on this are greatly appreaciated.</p>
<p>The programs I’m interested in are housed inside the either the engineering school or the computer science department. On their websites, most said that I can take either Math, Physics or CS depending on my undergrad major.</p>
<p>Are the subject GREs required for those programs? If not, why bother?</p>
<p>The GRE subject test are not required, but it is recommended. In particular, it might help make up for the low verbal and writing scores that I got in the GRE general test.</p>