GRE vs GMAT Exams: Which Test is Right for you?

Are you struggling to decide which exam to take for your graduate school application: the GRE or the GMAT? Many prospective students who want to enrol in an MBA or master's programme struggle with this issue frequently. Both exams are widely accepted by graduate programs across the world. Still, they have distinct differences in format, content, and focus.

So, how do you select the exam you will take? Choosing between the GRE and GMAT exams ultimately depends on your circumstances and goals. The GMAT is likely the best option if you're primarily interested in pursuing a graduate degree in business. However, if you're considering a more diverse range of graduate programs or are unsure of your future academic plans, or have strong verbal and analytical writing skills, the GRE may be the better choice. Ultimately, it's important to thoroughly research both exams, consider your strengths and weaknesses, and consult with admissions officers and test prep experts to determine which test is right for you. You may confidently take on either exam and make the first step towards realising your academic and professional goals with the right preparation and an awareness of your objectives.

What is the GMAT and its Format?

The Graduate Management Admission Test, commonly called GMAT, is a standardised test required for admission to most business schools worldwide. It is a computer-based test that measures an individual's abilities in analytical writing, integrated reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and verbal reasoning. The GMAT is designed to evaluate a candidate's critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities, all of which are essential skills in business and management.

The GMAT is divided into four main sections:

The AWA section requires test-takers to write an essay analysing an argument. In contrast, the IR section tests their ability to integrate data from multiple sources and solve complex problems. The QR and VR sections measure the individual's reasoning ability mathematically and verbally, respectively.

• It is a computer-adaptive test, meaning the questions' difficulty adjusts to the individual's ability level.
• If a candidate correctly answers a question, the next question will be more difficult; if they wrongly answer it, the next question will be easier. This guarantees that the test accurately assesses a candidate's skills and fairly assesses their abilities.
• The test-taker receives the unofficial GMAT score report immediately after completing the exam. In contrast, the official score report is sent to the schools selected by the candidate within 20 days of taking the test.

Overall, the GMAT is a rigorous and challenging test that requires extensive preparation and practice. Understanding the format of the GMAT and the skills it tests is essential for success. Proper preparation can increase candidates' chances of achieving their desired score and gaining admission to their preferred business school.

What is the GRE & Format?

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardised test frequently used for graduate school admissions in the United States and other nations. It is owned and regulated by Educational Testing Service (ETS), a non-profit organisation. The GRE measures a candidate's verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing, and critical thinking skills. The test is adaptive, meaning that the difficulty of the questions adjusts based on the test-takers performance.

The GRE has two formats: the computer-based test (CBT) and the paper-based test (PBT). The computer-based test is more common and is administered at test centres worldwide.

GMAT vs GRE Structure & Scoring

The GMAT and GREs have different structures and scoring systems. Let's look at the table below to spot the differences between GMAT and GRE:

Which is easier, the GMAT or the GRE?

The GMAT and GRE tests are standardised tests for admission to graduate school. Both are challenging, but they have different strengths and weaknesses. The GMAT is known for its challenging math section, while the GRE emphasises vocabulary and language skills. In the end, taking practice tests for both exams will show you where you perform best and which test is easier.

Here is a more detailed comparison of the two tests:

GMAT

• Math: The GMAT math section is known for being challenging, and it requires a strong foundation in algebra, geometry, and arithmetic. This section includes problem-solving and data-sufficiency questions that test your analytical skills and ability to interpret data.
• Verbal: The GMAT verbal section assesses your reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction abilities. There are several different question kinds in this section, including passages for reading comprehension, inquiries about critical thinking, and inquiries for sentence correction.
• Integrated Reasoning: The GMAT's integrated reasoning part assesses your capacity to decipher and combine intricate material from several sources. Numerous question kinds, including multi-source reasoning, table analysis, and visual interpretation, are included in this area.
• Analytical Writing: GMAT's analytical writing section requires you to write 2 essays: an issue essay and an argument essay. You'll be asked to give your opinion on a subject and support it with evidence from your training and experience. In the argument essay, you must analyse an argument and identify any flaws in the reasoning.

GRE

• Verbal: The GRE verbal section assesses your ability to understand and analyse complex written material, as well as your vocabulary skills. There are several different question kinds in this section, including reading comprehension passages, critical thinking inquiries, and vocabulary inquiries.
• Quantitative: The GRE quantitative section includes problem-solving and quantitative comparison questions. The problem-solving questions test your ability to solve math problems. In contrast, the quantitative comparison questions test your ability to compare two quantities and determine which is more significant.
• Analytical Writing: GRE's analytical writing section requires you to write 2 essays: an issue essay and an argument essay. You must convey your viewpoint on a particular subject in the issue essay and support it with examples drawn from your knowledge and experience. In the argument essay, you will be asked to analyse an argument and identify any flaws in the reasoning.

You can see that the GMAT and GRE are both difficult exams. Take practice exams for both exams to see where you do well, and it will give you the best idea of which test is simpler.

GMAT vs GRE Scores for MBA Programs

Many universities require a GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) or a GRE (Graduate Record Examination) score when applying for an MBA program. While both tests assess critical thinking, analytical writing, and verbal reasoning skills, there are some differences between them. In this table, we compare the average scores for both tests among MBA program applicants:

Please note that these average scores for MBA programs are general ranges and may vary by university and program. For example, some universities may have minimum score requirements. In contrast, others may consider a candidate's score along with other factors, such as work experience, undergraduate GPA, and letters of recommendation. Ultimately, it's important to research each university's requirements and take the test that best aligns with your strengths and the program's requirements.

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GRE vs GMAT: Eligibility Criteria

GRE and GMAT both tests are widely accepted by universities for admission into their graduate programs. Still, there are some differences in their eligibility criteria. In this table, we compare the eligibility criteria for the GRE and GMAT:

It's important to note that some universities may have specific requirements for the GRE or GMAT. For example, some business schools may require the GMAT specifically or may waive the requirement for applicants who have a certain level of work experience. Similarly, some graduate programs may require additional tests, such as subject-specific GRE tests or the LSAT for law school. Therefore, it's important to research each university's requirements and plan accordingly.

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Syllabus Comparison Between GRE & GMAT

Before deciding between GRE and GMAT, it's important to understand the differences in their syllabus. While both tests assess critical thinking, analytical writing, and verbal reasoning skills, their syllabus has some differences. Let's compare the syllabus for the GRE and GMAT:

It's crucial to remember that the GMAT has an integrated reasoning portion, but the GRE does not. This section tests your ability to analyse information from different sources and formats. It is specifically designed to assess skills needed for business school. Additionally, the GRE includes a research section, which is not scored and is used to test new questions for future tests. Therefore, thoroughly review each test's syllabus and practice accordingly to prepare for test day.

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GRE Vs GMAT: Exam Pattern

It's important to understand the differences between GRE and GMAT exam patterns before deciding. Both tests are computer-adaptive, meaning the difficulty of the questions adjusts based on your performance. However, there are minor variations in the number of sections and duration of the test. In this table, we compare the exam pattern for the GRE and GMAT:

It's crucial to remember that the GMAT has an integrated reasoning portion, but the GRE does not. This section tests your ability to analyse information from different sources and formats and is specifically designed to assess skills needed for business school. Additionally, the GRE includes an unscored research section, used to test new questions for future tests, and can be either verbal or quantitative. Therefore, familiarise yourself with the exam pattern of each test to prepare for test day.

GRE Vs GMAT Difficulty

The GRE and GMAT are both challenging tests that assess a variety of skills. However, there are some general differences in the difficulty level of the two tests:

• The GRE is generally considered a more "verbal" test, while the GMAT is a more "math" test.
• The GRE verbal section includes more vocabulary questions. In contrast, the GMAT verbal section includes more reading comprehension and critical reasoning questions.
• The GRE math section includes more geometry and quantitative comparison questions. In contrast, the GMAT math section includes more problem-solving and data-sufficiency questions.
• The GRE is also a more "open-ended" test, while the GMAT is more "closed-ended." For example, the GRE verbal section includes more questions requiring you to interpret and analyse text. In comparison, the GMAT verbal section includes more questions requiring you to select the correct answer from a list of choices.
• The GRE math section includes more questions that require you to solve problems using your knowledge and reasoning. In comparison, the GMAT math section includes more questions that require you to follow specific instructions and procedures.

Ultimately, the GRE and GMAT's difficulty will depend on your strengths and weaknesses. For someone with a strong background in math, the GMAT may be easier, while someone with strong language and vocabulary skills may find the GRE easier. Take a practice test and analyse your results to find out which test is simpler.

GRE Vs GMAT: Exam Fees

The cost of taking the GRE and GMAT generally depends on where you take the test and whether you are a first-time test-taker or a repeater. The GRE costs $225 for repeat test-takers and $205 for first-time test-takers. The cost of taking the GMAT is $250 for first-time test-takers and $275 for repeat test-takers.

Here is a table that summarises the exam fees for the GRE and GMAT:

Please note that the cost of taking the GRE and GMAT may be waived for students who meet certain eligibility requirements. For more information on eligibility requirements and fee waivers, please visit the GRE and GMAT websites.

GRE Vs GMAT: Marking Scheme

The marking scheme for GRE and GMAT is different, and it's important to understand how each test is scored to prepare effectively.

It's important to note that the GRE and GMAT use a computer-adaptive format, meaning the questions' difficulty level adjusts based on your performance. This means that getting more difficult questions correct can lead to a higher score, while getting easier questions incorrect can result in a lower score.

Ultimately, the scoring system for the GRE and GMAT are designed to assess different skills and abilities, and it's important to prepare thoroughly for either test to maximise your performance.

GRE Vs GMAT: Accepted by Top International Universities

The GRE scores are accepted by over 10,000 graduate schools worldwide, and 6000 universities accept GMAT scores. These include top universities in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Some of the universities that accept GRE and GMAT scores are:

As you can see, the GRE and GMAT are scores accepted by many top international universities. By taking into account your own skills and limitations as well as the graduate programmes you are interested in applying to, you may select the test that is perfect for you.

GRE Vs GMAT: Which Exam Should You Choose?

Choosing between the GRE and GMAT can be difficult, and it's important to consider your unique circumstances and goals when making this choice.

Suppose you are pursuing a non-business graduate degree in psychology or engineering. In that case, the GRE is likely the better option for you. However, recognise that each exam is designed to assess different skills, and the GRE is specifically designed to assess general academic abilities relevant to various fields.

If you plan to pursue a business degree, such as an MBA, the GMAT is typically required. While this may seem daunting initially, it's important to remember that the GMAT assesses the skills that are important in the business world. As a result, it might give you insightful information about how you think and make decisions.

That said, some business schools also accept GRE scores as an alternative to the GMAT. So, research the requirements of the graduate programs you are interested in and practice for each exam to determine the best fit for you.

Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all answer when choosing between the GRE and GMAT. Before selecting a choice, give your situation and ambitions some thought. Then, with careful research and preparation, you can choose the exam that is the best fit for you and your future career aspirations.

Still unclear about anything? Well, not to worry. Contact AECC and get your queries answered today! AECC is one of the world's leading educational consultancies, with versatile expert professionals ready to help you with any queries you may have. Contact us so we can be of assistance to you in your journey to achieving your dream.

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