Confused between GRE and GMAT! Clear the CLOUD

With the demand for quality education getting higher there has been a significant increase in the number of students travelling to join famous universities abroad.

The universities abroad attract students from worldwide, all of whom who have earned a degree under different educational systems making it difficult for them to reach a common ground which is at par with the host university’s education system.

To put an end to this ambiguity, a private non-profit organization Educational Testing Service (ETS), founded in 1947 designed a standardized test called Graduate Record Examination (GRE) along with other such examinations like  TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication).

A similar examination known as GMAT(Graduate Management Admission Test) introduced by  Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) is dedicated for the students who want to pursue a management degree or any other degree at a B-School.

Most of the time students are confused between GRE and GMAT examinations and this article will try to clear all the cloud by delving further into the topic.

GMAT Versus GRE

Similarities and Differences

Types of Questions asked in GRE and GMAT

GRE General Test contains three types of questions:

1. Reading Comprehension
2. Text Completion
3. Sentence Equivalence

There are three types of Reading Comprehension questions:

• Multiple-choice Questions: These questions ask you to pick the correct one among the five options
• Multiple-choice Questions:  These questions provide three answer choices and ask you to select only the correct ones, however, the only difference is that there can be more than one right option so one has to identify all of them.
• Select-in-Passage: This question allows one to select certain words or sentences from the passage that meets a certain description. In longer passages, the question will usually apply to only one or two specified paragraphs; you will not be able to select a sentence elsewhere in the passage.

The GMAT exam is comprised of four sections – Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, and Verbal.

Analytical Writing Assessment

The Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) measures one’s ability to think critically and to communicate their ideas. During the AWA, questions are aimed at analyzing the reasoning skills behind a given argument and write a critique of that argument.

Integrated Reasoning Section

The Integrated Reasoning section measures one’s ability to evaluate information from multiple sources. It tries to judge the skills one might need to succeed in the technologically advanced, data-driven world.

Quantitative Section

The Quantitative section measures your ability to analyze data and draw conclusions using reasoning skills. The mathematics needed to understand and solve the questions in this section of the GMAT exam is no greater than what is generally taught in secondary school classes.

Which of the two (GMAT or GRE) is more difficult?

For aspirants with a sound Quantitative Aptitude the GRE math will seem easy, however, the GMAT math is definitely more difficult. On the other hand, if one has mediocre knowledge with the nuances of vocabulary and style, the GRE verbal section may seem difficult.

The GMAT verbal is comparatively easier. Since the Sentence Corrections section is more like a science of grammar, it will be easier for aspirants with the logical bent in minds tend to quickly sift through the labyrinth of words to identify grammatical errors. The GRE Text Completions and Sentence Equivalence questions, by contrast, are testing the art of word usage, a skill most students of humanities have been honing for years.

Unable to decide between the GMAT or the GRE

If you’re applying for the sole purpose of joining a Business School, taking the GMAT might be more beneficial for you, however, some B-schools do accept GRE score. The sole motive of taking these tests is to prove your worth and the yardstick for judging that is the percentile one achieves. In order to check that out of the two in which you have an upper-hand, try some mock GRE or GMAT tests online and it will bring you clarity. If you are planning to study abroad and tensed about funds, here's the answer.