A new application season is quietly approaching, and many students planning to apply for graduate programs in 26/27Fall are once again stuck on a dilemma: should they take the GMAT or the GRE?
Today, we'll analyze the differences between the GRE and GMAT from different perspectives, incorporating real test-taking experiences, to help you make a more informed choice!
Recognition of Both Tests
GRE: Compared to the GMAT, the GRE is the most widely accepted graduate school admission test globally and is suitable for virtually all fields of study. The vast majority of graduate programs worldwide highly recognize the GRE! For those who are unsure about their future direction or plan to apply to multiple fields, just go with the GRE without hesitation!
GMAT: The GMAT is limited to business programs, which makes it somewhat restrictive.
Test Content and Format
GRE
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Test Duration: 1 hour 58 minutes
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Content: Includes Quantitative Reasoning (Quant), Verbal Reasoning (Verbal), and Analytical Writing (Writing).
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Testing Options: You can choose in-person testing or at-home testing. This year, there are 29 in-person test dates across mainland China, totaling 31 test sessions. Overseas in-person test dates and times are even more flexible. Additionally, students both domestically and internationally can opt for the 24/7 at-home test.
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Test Frequency Limit: No more than 5 times within a 12-month period; there is no lifetime limit on the number of attempts.
GMAT
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Test Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes
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Content: Mainly assesses Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights. Compared to the GRE, the GMAT has removed the writing section.
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Testing Options: In mainland China, the GMAT only has 32 physical test centers, and at-home testing is not available in the region.
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Test Fee: Registration fees for both forms of the GMAT are higher than those for the GRE.
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Test Frequency Limit: No more than 5 times within a 12-month period.
*As of October 2024, the previous lifetime limit of 8 attempts has been removed.
Test Design
GRE
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The Verbal and Quant sections of the GRE use section-level adaptive difficulty, meaning your performance on one section directly affects the difficulty of the next section.
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Moderate fluctuation in difficulty, reasonably assessing test-takers' adaptability within a dynamic framework.
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Within a section, you can freely navigate between questions, preview the entire section, and change your answers. Calculators are allowed in the Quant section, providing a helpful tool.
GMAT
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The Verbal and Quant sections of the GMAT use question-level adaptive difficulty, where each question influences the difficulty of the next one.
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Greater difficulty fluctuation compared to the GRE, requiring stronger adaptability and quick thinking.
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Within a section, you must answer questions in the prescribed order and cannot return to a previous question. The revised GMAT now allows students to flag uncertain questions, but you can only change answers up to three times.
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Calculators are permitted in the new Data Insights section, but still prohibited in the Quantitative section.
Test-Taking Experience
GRE
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“No more 4-hour marathon!! Pre-test stress is much lower—2 hours feels great!”
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“The shorter GRE is an absolute game-changer! Fewer questions, no long passages, the test felt light and I stayed fully focused!”
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“Quant seems harder than before—less room for error.”
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“Removing one essay is a big relief—great for slow typers.”
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“Memorizing words is no joke—one pass isn’t enough, you need to go over them multiple times.”
Summary: After being condensed to 2 hours, the GRE reduces test pressure and feels more manageable, though the margin for error has decreased. Overall, scoring well on the GRE is relatively easier than on the GMAT.
Source: Xiaohongshu
GMAT
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“There’s no real strategy for the GMAT—if you can’t understand it, you can’t understand it. Not much has changed after the revision.”
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“Math was unexpectedly tough. Even though geometry was removed, some questions had massive calculations!!”
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“I think Verbal is the hardest section in the new GMAT.”
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“Personally, I consider it the most difficult exam, bar none.”
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“I’ve been taking classes for half a month and still have no idea about any of the question types... feels like there’s no way to get a decent score in the short term.”
Summary: After the revision, both the Quant and Verbal sections of the GMAT have become more challenging in different ways. Compared to the GRE, scoring well on the GMAT is more difficult.
Source: Xiaohongshu
Score Reporting
GRE
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Verbal and Quant scores are visible immediately after the test, and the complete score report is available after 8-10 calendar days.
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Test-takers can choose to send only their best GRE score from the past five years to schools, which greatly reduces pressure.
GMAT
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GMAT scores are released 7-20 business days after the test.
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When sending scores to target programs, all test scores from the past five years will appear on the report.
We hope this dual-exam guide gives everyone a clear direction for preparation. Whether it’s the GRE or GMAT, you need to start early and get an early jump on studying!! Finally, we wish everyone high scores and a direct hit on your dream school for the 26Fall application season!
GRE prep materials are continuously being updated🔥
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