The Graduate Record Examination in Literature in English is offered by the Educational Testing Service three times a year. It is meant to gauge your knowledge in classical literature and literary analysis.

This exam is not for the faint of heart -- it requires a vast amount of reading of works from many authors and time periods. However, it is required by some graduate programs in English Literature, and can also be used for credit toward an undergraduate degree at some schools, such as Excelsior College and Charter Oak State College.

If you are considering taking the literature GRE, the following preparation guides should help you in your studies:

1. Cracking the GRE Literature Test, 5th Edition by The Princeton Review
2. GRE Literature in English, the Best Test Prep for the GRE by REA
3. GRE: Practicing to take the Literature in English Test by ETS