GMAT vs. GRE: Which to Take? Which is Easier? What is the Difference?

Prior to 2017, candidates would have to follow a set pattern in answering each of the sections. However, the rule has been modified now and since 11th July 2017, the GMAT candidates are provided with an option to select the section they would like to answer at first. The options are, nonetheless, limited to three set patterns:

1. AWA, Integrated Reasoning, (an optional break of 8 minutes), Quantitative Reasoning, (an optional break of 8 minutes), Verbal Reasoning.
2. Verbal Reasoning, (an optional break of 8 minutes), Quantitative Reasoning, (an optional break of 8 minutes), Integrated Reasoning, AWA.
3. Quantitative Reasoning, (an optional break of 8 minutes), Verbal Reasoning, (an optional break of 8 minutes), Integrated Reasoning, AWA.

To avoid confusion and to make the best use of this option of order, it is recommended that a candidate aptly analyzes his/her strengths. For instance, if candidate A is confident of his/her quantitative reasoning skills but needs full energy and focus to answer the verbal reasoning section, he/she may opt for pattern 2. Similarly, if candidate B is confident of his/her verbal reasoning skills, he/she may opt for pattern 1. To better ascertain one’s competency in the section, a candidate must opt for a free GMAT mock test.

Scoring

GMAT is a computer-adaptive test. Each of the questions on GMAT is categorized under varying levels of difficulty. The candidate is presented with the questions, one at a time, and with each correct response, the level of difficulty increases. Thus, on GMAT,

• If a response is incorrect, the following question will be of a lower difficulty level.
• The difficulty level of the questions correctly answered determines the final score of the candidate. The correct responses to difficult questions will result in higher scores while correct responses to less difficult questions will result in lower scores.
• A score of 710 and a score in the range of 760-800 ensures the 90th and 99th percentile respectively.
• The scores obtained on the AWA and Integrated Reasoning sections do not contribute to the total GMAT score.
• While there is no negative marking for incorrect responses, heavy penalty is levied on unanswered questions.

The following table explains how each of the sections is scored on GMAT:

 
About GRE

GRE, or the Graduate Record Examination, is conducted by the ETS, or the Educational Testing Service. Founded in 1936 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, GRE is a standardized assessment test that helps to analyze the test taker’s analytical writing and verbal and critical reasoning skills. Since its inception, GRE has undergone several important changes, unlike GMAT, in exam pattern and scoring format. For instance, until 2002, candidates were scored out of a total of 2400 in GRE; in the next revision, candidates were scored out of a total of 1600. In 2011, the exam pattern was again revised and candidates were provided with individual scores on the two pertinent sections, verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning. GRE is mainly opted for by candidates aspiring to gradd programs in core disciplines. Further, in GRE candidates are now being scored on a range of 130-170 in each of these sections.

The GRE Exam Pattern

The GRE consists of 3 distinct sections that test individual skills:

1. Analytical Writing Assessment – This section tests the candidate’s proficiency in critically evaluating information and coherently communicating their perspectives on the same while keeping to the standard written English norms.
2. Verbal Reasoning – This section tests the candidate’s ability to comprehend information, determine how the specific parts of the sentence relate to one another, and identify the differences between concepts and words and their relationship to one another.
3. Quantitative Reasoning – This section tests the candidate’s competency to apply basic mathematical concepts to analyze information and interpret data.

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The following table explains the structure of the Computer-based GRE exam

 
The following table explains the structure of the Paper-based GRE exam

 
GRE allows students to take the paper-based exam in locations where the computer-based test cannot be administered. Although, the pattern and question type remains unaffected by the mode of exam, the duration of each mode differs:

• The paper-based exam consists of 6 sections and the students are granted a 10-minute break after the second section; the total estimated time for GRE paper-based exam is 3 hours 30 minutes.
• The computer-based exam consists of 6 sections and the students are granted a 10-minute break after the third section; the total estimated time for GRE computer-based exam is 3 hours 45 minutes.

Further, GRE, unlike GMAT, allows the student to mark a question as review, a feature that allows the student to come back to the question and confirm his/her response on the same. For a better understanding of the GRE exam pattern, one must refer to a relevant GRE guidance program.

Scoring on GRE

Unlike GMAT, GRE is a section adaptive test. In GRE, the difficulty level of questions does not depend on the response to the previous question; instead the difficulty level of the questions in the second section for both Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning depends on the performance in the first section. Thus, candidates, who are able to perform well in the first section, answer more difficult questions in the second section and are accordingly graded. It is recommended that a candidate only opts for authentic GRE study resources to be able to acquire competitive scores on GRE.

GRE follows an intrinsic grading system:

• The Analytical Writing section –

Computer-based Tests –

• The section is graded individually by a human reader and an e-rater. If the grades provided by the two entities closely mirror each other, the average of the two scores translates as the final score on the section
• However, if the grades appear to be incongruent, a second human reader grades the response and the average of the scores provided by the two human readers contribute to the final score on the section.

Paper-based Tests –

• Two human readers individually grade the responses on the section. If the individual scores are congruent, the average of both translates as the final score on the section.
• If the two individual scores feature a disparity, a third human reader determines the gap in the score.
• In this section, the responses are holistically reviewed and the ability of the candidate to critically think and analyze is tested. However, the score obtained in this section does not contribute to the total score obtained on GRE.

• The Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning section –
• The number of questions answered correctly generates a raw score that is converted to a scaled score to indicate the level of difficulty of each section. The scaled score helps to maintain consistency across all test sections.

Further, in GRE, the 90th percentile is determined by a score in the range of 161-162 in the Verbal section and 165-166 in the Quant section. Similarly, the 99th percentile is determined by a score in the range of 169-170 in the Verbal section and more than 170 in the Quant section.

The following table explains how each of the sections is scored on GRE:

 
Briefly, GMAT or GRE: Which is Easier?

• The skills of no two candidates can be similar. Thus, determining if one test is easier than the other will call for the individual candidate’s ability to comfortably answer the sections.
• A test may be perceived as easy or difficult depending on the level of preparedness of the candidate. GMAT and GRE, both, attempt to assess similar skills of a candidate and while preparing for one test may help in the preparation for the other, it cannot be enough.
• Such differences in feature as options to review, use calculator, and take either the computer-based or the paper-based test may also cause a candidate to perceive a particular test as easier than the other.
• Given that the format of GMAT has mostly retained its structure, unlike GRE, it is comparatively easier to prepare for the test.
• If we are to consider the competition and performance, it goes without saying that the 90th percentile on GMAT will definitely record a higher number than the 90th percentile on GRE, when the GRE score is converted to GMAT score.
• Nonetheless, a candidate solely targeting MBA programs should be aware that the B-schools use a GRE to GMAT conversion tool to conduct objective screening of profiles.

GMAT and GRE: What is the Difference?

 
GMAT and GRE: The Format

Both GMAT and GRE seem to follow the same format of testing individual skills. However, the tests significantly differ in the number and type of questions. Thus, while GMAT and GRE both test the analytical writing skills, GRE invests almost an hour to determine the analytical skills through two different forms of content and GMAT invests only half an hour to test the same skill through a given form of content. Further, GMAT distinctly tests the candidate’s ability to analyze and interpret data. GRE employs two elaborate sections to analyze the candidate’s vocabulary usage, reading comprehension skills, and problem-solving efficiency, an analysis effectively conducted by GMAT in only 65 minutes.

GMAT and GRE: The Syllabus

The quantitative and verbal reasoning sections on both GMAT and GRE necessitate an acquaintance with several standard concepts in the domain of mathematics and English language. For instance, to be able to answer the GMAT and GRE quantitative and verbal sections, the candidate must be acquainted with the following respective concepts:

The following table outlines the broad concepts tested in GMAT and GRE Verbal Reasoning section:

 
The following table outlines the broad concepts tested in GMAT and GRE Quantitative Reasoning section:

 
There may be a significant overlap between the syllabus for both GMAT and GRE, but there is a significant deviation in how individual skills are tested. Reportedly, a candidate taking the GMAT is tested upon his/her ability to apply the concept and logical reasoning skills while a candidate taking the GRE is tested upon his/her memory and knowledge of the concept.

GMAT and GRE: Level of Difficulty

As such, it is generally believed that the GMAT quantitative section is more difficult than the GRE quantitative sections, while the GMAT verbal section is easier than the GRE verbal sections. It is also suggested that the GRE syllabus largely corresponds to that of the undergraduate syllabus; hence, a student with a fairly competent undergraduate score can, with little effort, comfortably ace the GRE. Further, in GRE, students are allowed to use a calculator for answering the quant section, unlike in GMAT.

Briefly, GMAT or GRE: What is the Difference?

For any candidate taking either the GMAT or GRE, it is important to note the following points

• An elaborative test, GRE tests the candidate’s analytical skills, interpretation skills, and vocabulary usage in two distinct sections; while GMAT depends upon precise questions designed to analyze the same.
• In GRE, the candidate’s memory and knowledge of concept is tested, while in GMAT, the candidate’s ability to critically think and apply concept is tested.
• GMAT quant section consists of more high difficulty questions than the GRE quant section.
• GMAT verbal section is easier than the GRE verbal section.
• While a student, with a good undergraduate academic record, can easily take the GRE, he/she will have to take on rigorous GMAT prep classes.
• Importantly, GRE allows the student to use calculators during the exam, unlike GMAT that only allows students to use an on-screen calculator for only the IR section.

B-Schools Prefer GMAT or GRE for MBA?

If the pattern of the tests is taken into consideration, it may be easily discerned that GMAT tests skill specific to the domain of management while GRE tends to be a generic aptitude test. According to a survey, conducted in 2016, ~90% of the Top USA and European B-schools confirmed their acceptance of GRE scores for conducting admission to MBA programs; however, 20% among them indicated their preference of GMAT over GRE for conducting admission to MBA programs.

Ideally, there is no clearly stated preference of GMAT over GRE by B-schools, but considering the fact that ~75% of the applicants to MBA programs apply with a GMAT, B-schools need to convert the GRE to GMAT to be able to objectively consider the individual profiles. For the same, ETS provides a GRE to GMAT conversion tool on its website.

GMAT or GRE: Which To Take?

Firstly, it is important that the candidate is able to confidently prepare for and triumph any of the exams that he/she decides to take. Thus, to ensure maximum productivity, the candidate may decide to opt for either a GMAT mock test or a GRE mock test, whereby he/she can analyze his/her area of weakness and strength and comfort in answering each of the sections. Basis the same, the candidate may arrive at a sound decision to take either GMAT or GRE. Additionally, in deciding upon the test, the candidate must also take into consideration the logistics of the exam, for instance, the availability of exam centre, sync of time with the individual schedule, cost of the exam, and test re-taking possibilities.

Secondly, even if the B-schools do not state their preference for GMAT over GRE scores, it is advisable to opt for GMAT as the score conversion mechanism often widens the disparity in percentage score between GMAT and GRE. A GRE score of 325, a 95% score, may seem to be an excellent score. However, the same score will read 670, when converted to GMAT, a score that not only figures as 83% score but also falls below the average GMAT score requirement by the top-25 B-schools.

 
Importantly, prior to deciding upon the test to be taken, the candidate must decide upon the program he/she wishes to pursue. If the candidate aspires to core management discipline, he/she must opt for GRE. However, if the candidate wishes to pursue an MBA, he/she must take the GMAT. GMAT for MBA is truly the most standardized test available – it helps re-invigorate the candidate’s ability to critically reason and logically solve given problems, skills that are a must in any MBA candidate.

Lastly, it is always recommended that a candidate seek the guidance of expert GMAT or GRE prep consultants to ensure taking an informed decision in this regard.

All the best!