The test attempts to determine the extent of the examinees' understanding of fundamental principles of physics and their ability to apply them to problem solving.

Many graduate schools require applicants to take the exam and base admission decisions in part on the results.

The scope of the test is largely that of the first three years of a standard United States undergraduate physics curriculum, since many students who plan to continue to graduate school apply during the first half of the fourth year.

It consists of 70 five-option multiple-choice questions covering subject areas including the first three years of undergraduate physics.

A table of information representing various physical constants and conversion factors is presented in the test book.