GMAT vs. GRE: How to Choose the Right Test for You
If you’re trying to figure out how to choose sides in the seemingly never-ending debate on GMAT vs. GRE, you’ve come to the right place.
Since you’re reading this article, you must at least be considering business school as an option.
Why else would you even consider taking the GMAT, right?
In our experience, those who grapple with the question of choosing between GMAT vs. GRE are the ones who have not clearly decided which postgraduate degree to go for. The logic is simple for those who have clearly decided to pursue specific programs – if it’s a B-School program like an MBA, take the GMAT. If it’s anything else, take the GRE.
So, we assume that you want to keep your options open or at least explore what it will mean for you to pick one test over the other when it comes to GMAT vs. GRE. No matter what your questions are, we hope you’ll find the answers you’re looking for in this article.
The GRE and GMAT are both tests which you will consider taking only when you are looking to get your postgraduate degree from a reputed, international institution, whether in India or abroad. Both exams are internationally recognized and have a lot in common, so picking between the two is really not that simple.
There are five critical questions you should ask yourself when trying to choose between GMAT and GRE. Your answers to these questions will help you figure out which test will serve your purpose best. Six questions that will help you choose between GMAT and GRE are:
- What is the Difference between the GMAT and the GRE?
- Which Degree and Specialization Do You Plan to Choose?
- Which Schools Do You Plan to Apply to?
- What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses?
- How Much Importance Should You Give to Exam Costs?
- How Does Score Translation Work?
Further, we look into how answering each of these will help you.
1. What is the Difference between the GMAT and the GRE?
The GMAT and GRE vary on various counts but they also have many similarities in the pattern, syllabus, and the likes.
In this section, we will take a look at the ways in which the two tests differ and converge, respectively.
| Parameters | GMAT | GRE |
| Exam Pattern | Four Sections: | Six Sections |
| Question Types | Verbal: Data Sufficiency | Verbal: |
| Syllabus | Verbal: | Verbal: |
| Duration | 3 hours 7 minutes | 3 hours 45 minutes |
| Cost | $250 | $205 (for Indian Students) |
| Applicable For | Business Schools (MBA and similar programs) | Master’s Programs and some Business School Programs |
| Score Analysis | Enhanced Score Report, available for $30 | Diagnostic Score Report, available free of cost |
| When you can take the test | Year-round | Year-round |
| Score Validity | 5 years | 5 years |
| Score Range | Verbal: 6-51 | Verbal: 130-170 |
*This section is not scored at all. GMAT IR and the AWA sections on both exams are scored separately but these scores are not included in your final test score.
2. Which Degree and Specialization Do You Plan to Choose?
Now, you must be aware that taking the GMAT will effectively limit your choices to B-Schools exclusively. A GMAT score won’t get you into an MS program anywhere in the world.
On the other hand, there are B-Schools that accept GRE scores even for their MBA and other hardcore-business-oriented programs. In effect, with a GRE score, you will leave both avenues open for yourself.
But you will have to be thorough in your research before you pick either option.
The thing is, many B-Schools accept the GRE on the face of things, but they have certain limitations on which specializations will accept students with GRE scores instead of GMAT. In order to avoid finding yourself in this position, you’ll need to have an idea in advance on what you plan to do next.
It’s okay to have doubts or even to be totally uncertain with respect to your area of expertise/interest. The first thing you need to do in such a situation is, figure out if your interests and expertise lie beyond the realm of B-Schools.
If they do, you’re probably better off choosing the former when it comes to GRE vs. GMAT.
However, if you’re sure that the programs you’re interested in are all offered by B-Schools, you’ll be better served by taking the GMAT.
Here’s the thing:
Both exams will eliminate a certain set of institutions for you. You just need to figure out which ones you’re okay with shutting the door on.
3. Which Schools Do You Plan to Apply to?
More B-Schools in the US and Canada are likely to be open to the GRE as compared to those across Europe and Asia.
What this means for you is that it is safer for you to go for the GRE if you’re applying to colleges in the US-Canada region. You will be eligible to apply at a significant number of B-Schools in addition to other universities if you do this.
However, if you want to apply to B-Schools in Europe and Asia, taking the GRE will eliminate most of your options.
In any case, irrespective of where you want to apply, remember that taking the GMAT will most certainly close all avenues apart from B-Schools for you.
It might be a good idea to invest some time into thinking about the specific schools and universities you want to apply to. Spend some time figuring out the preferred exams for the schools and universities you’ve chosen to apply to.
Ideally, you should have a list with a maximum of 8-10 programs that you would like to apply to, before deciding which exam you will take to get into these programs.
This helps make the decision more or less easy.
4. What are Your Strengths and Weaknesses?
Another critical factor is what you’re naturally adept at between Quant and Verbal. In a GRE vs. GMAT evaluation, the first interesting point to note is that both exams have the same major sections.
There are two parts of the exams on which your final score calculation is based, in the GMAT as well as in the GRE. These sections are Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning, or Quant and Verbal. Both the exams have Quant and Verbal sections.
The biggest difference in GRE vs. GMAT is that the tougher of the two sections is Verbal on the GRE and Quant on the GMAT.
This means that if you’re great at Quant, you are likely to score better (in percentile as well as directly translated scores) on GRE Quant than on GMAT Quant. Similarly, if you’re great at Verbal, you’ll score better on GMAT Verbal than on GRE Verbal.
That’s because GRE Verbal is tougher than GRE Quant, while GMAT Verbal is easier than GMAT Quant. If you compare the two exams directly, section-on-section, GRE Verbal is tougher than GMAT Verbal, and GRE Quant is easier than GMAT Quant.
We recommend that you should go for the exam which has an easier set of the section you’re good at.
For example, let’s say Quant is your strong suit and Verbal is going to be more or less of a gamble. In this case, we recommend that you take the GRE. We’re aware that most of you would have assumed the best one to go for with a strong Quant skillset would be GMAT, but we don’t think that’s a good idea.
Here’s our logic:
It makes sense to capitalize on your strengths. But it is not a good idea to ignore your weaknesses while you do that.
Suppose, in the given example, you go for the GMAT instead. You know you’re not so good with Verbal, which means you will need to work hard to improve your verbal skills. But the GMAT is known for having a relatively tougher Quant section than the GRE, which means you’ll need to study some of that and probably spend significant amounts of time honing your Quant skills as well.
However, if you go for GRE, the exam with the easier Quant section, you can focus almost entirely on scaling up your Verbal skills. You can walk into your prep with near-certainty that you’ll score a 160+ on GRE Quant, so you won’t need to worry.
So, figure out which section you’re stronger at; it should help with this GMAT vs. GRE debate.
5. How Much Importance Should You Give to Exam Costs?
In simple terms: none.
It is truly baffling to us that a LOT of our students try to figure out what the GMAT costs, GRE costs and their comparison mean for them.
Why one exam is cheaper or more expensive than another says literally nothing about the level of question difficulty or subject proficiency required to crack it. Of course, the GRE and GMAT are both tests you can’t fail, so by ‘crack it’, we mean get your target score.
Some of you may already know this but one GMAT attempt costs $250 while one GRE attempt costs $205 for Indian students.
Now, we’re aware that the difference between converted costs is around ₹3,100. Some of you may think an exam worth around ₹17,400 is more expensive than one worth around ₹14,300 and these are big amounts to pay for ‘just an exam’. We understand the temptation to go for the cheaper option.
But here’s the thing:
Both these exams combined will still amount to only around 3-4% of the annual expenditure on the tuition for any program abroad. Unless you enroll for non-business-based masters programs in Germany, that is. Those programs charge no tuition fees.
In any case, our point is that if you’re looking to study abroad, it is all the more reason to keep exam costs out of your mind. If you’re looking to cut corners on exam costs, you are unlikely to be able to afford what follows.
Honestly, only take these exams if you can do so without thinking much about the costs.
6. How Does Score Translation Work?
Now for the most complicated part of this article.
At the outset, let us make it clear that there is no objective way to compare GMAT and GRE scores to each other.
Since GRE and GMAT are each designed to serve distinct purposes, drawing parallels between the two is quite complex. So much so, in fact, that even Universities around the world struggle to get it figured out.
The ETS, which is the body that conducts the GRE, provides a GRE to GMAT score converter to find the indicative GMAT score equivalent to a certain GRE score. However, this is only an indicative list, meaning that each school and B-School can come up with its own list of comparative scores.
This means that the ETS may say that a GRE 325 is the same as a GMAT 700, but any B-School could say that the GRE 325 is only equal to a GMAT 670.
In short, this system of score conversions is more or less arbitrary. It is not even a matter of comparing percentiles, because even that would not be a reliable system. How much value your GRE score holds depends entirely on the credibility that the GRE has in the eyes of a given B-School. This can actually matter a lot more than you’d think.
For instance, a certain B-School that has an average GMAT score in the 600-680 range might expect a GRE score range of 318-325.
However, scores that B-Schools will consider comparable to anything below a GMAT 600 will still be close to 315 on the GRE. Scores above GMAT 680 will require your GRE score to go well over 320 or even 325.
Naturally, scoring under 310 on the GRE is kind of pointless, since the lowest B-Schools are likely to go will be about a GRE 315. So if the required GMAT score is under or near 600, you should just go after the GMAT itself. On the other end of the spectrum, scoring above 315 on the GRE will take serious effort; it’s likely to be easier for you to score a GMAT 700+ than to get a GRE 325+.
The given numbers are not fixed or specific, they are merely indicative of the latest known scenario.
Depending on the score conversion tendencies of the B-Schools you plan to apply to, it might be more practical to take the GMAT rather than taking the GRE.
For over 50 years now, the GMAT has been the gold standard for B-schools to determine a candidate’s suitability for their programs. It continues to be the most popular test for business school aspirants.
However, in the past decade, there has been an upswing in both, the number of students taking the GRE for business schools, as well as the number of B-schools accepting GRE scores instead of GMAT scores.
As a result, even though both the exams continue to maintain their standards, the GMAT and GRE are just like any two rival products in the market.
We hope this article has helped you figure out which side to pick in the GMAT vs. GRE battle.
If you’re still unsure whether your profile is suitable for B-School, check out our free profile evaluation tool!
5 Things About GRE Scores for ISB
ISB takes both GRE scores, as well as GMAT scores, and you are probably wondering which test to take. Maybe you have taken the GMAT, and your score isn’t very high. Perhaps our article on GMAT scores for ISB has put you off, and to add to the confusion, the ISB website does not show any special preference for either of the tests; refer to ISB Faqs. Don’t worry! We will put you out of your misery!
In this blog, we will look at a few factors that you need to consider while deciding on which test to take to apply to ISB.
1) Why did ISB Start Taking GRE Scores?
TL;DR response: Because it wants to increase the applicant pool.
Seriously! Why did ISB start taking GRE? Why suddenly in 2016? The answer to this lies in what has been happening at ISB over the last many years. In 2006, if you graduated from ISB, it meant you studied in the Hyderabad campus, and graduated in a batch that had a strength of 345.
Cut to 2016, if you got admitted to ISB, it could mean you will be either in Hyderabad or in Mohali. You are probably going to graduate with 908 others next year! That is a whopping 163% of the earlier strength. However, cut ISB some slack. For any college to reach a critical mass, they need to start serving more students. Like a factory, it would make no business sense if the machines (in this case, the buildings, the teaching staff, the support staff and infrastructure) remain underutilized. However, as with any world-class MBA that has a large class size (Harvard took in 935 people last year), ISB also worries about the acceptance rate.
Acceptance rate = Number of people who are offered / Number of applicants to the program X 100
Now, if you think about it, the lower the acceptance rate, the better it is for the prestige of the school. However, if my numerator keeps increasing, my acceptance rate would balloon up. One way to fix this is to decrease the denominator. This means you get more applicants to the ISB program. Wait! Let me correct myself. This means you get more QUALITY applicants to the ISB program. However, as the GMAT is taken by roughly around 25,000 people in India, the total addressable market (TAM) remains limited.
Hence, ISB decided to increase the pool of quality applicants by opening up to GRE scores. Now, the GRE is taken by about a lakh students in India. That is a huge number, a number that is enough to ensure a large pool of quality applicants. Just so you know, the GRE is accepted by most top B-Schools around the world.
2) What is the Minimum GRE Cut-off Required at ISB?
TL;DR answer: 310 with a huge bunch of caveats. Firstly, let me clear this misconception.
There is no cut-off but if you do want to hold a knife to my neck and ask me for a number, I would say 600 for reasons articulated in the article GMAT cut-off for ISB. By the same token, what would be the GRE score cut-off at ISB? If you use the GRE to GMAT comparison tool available at the ETS website, you will see that a score of Q163 and a V148 would give you a total score of 315 that is the equivalent of a 600 on the GMAT. This roughly translates to a Q44 V25 score on the GMAT. My only issue with this comparison is that it isn’t really an apples to apples comparison. If you think about it, the average Amit who takes the GRE is a lot younger and less experienced and focused than the average Ajay who takes the GMAT. However, I don’t think ISB would be looking at this fact.
So, yes, if you hold a gun to my head, I would reckon the GRE “cutoff” at ISB would be around 310. But as we say, the 3 things about MBA applications: Profile, Profile, Profile!!
3) How Will ISB Compare GRE Applicants with GMAT Applicants?
TL;DR response: ISB won’t compare.
Okay, so if you have taken the GRE and scored well, it obviously means that you are/were looking at other programs. Maybe you want to keep your options for an MS open, while taking a shot at the ISB YLP or ISB EEO programs. Maybe you took the GRE while you were in college without having a clue as to what you would do with it. Now you want to use it to apply to ISB. Whatever the reason is: Don’t worry! ISB is really looking for sharp folks who can think clearly.
GMAT or GRE is not going to stand between you and ISB. Chances are that if you apply with a similar GMAT score, your chances of selection (or rejection) remain pretty much the same. Put yourself in the shoes of the ISB Admissions committee. They have a predicament. They have no clue how to interpret these clumsy GRE scores because there is not much precedent.
They cannot tell themselves, “Oh! I remember this smart guy last year who had a GRE 320, and who made it to the Dean’s List”. They are probably winging it. Chances are that they are reading this article to figure out if they can get some juice ☺. So, if you have a GRE score, go ahead and apply! There is more to the application than the test you take.
4) Should I Prepare for the GRE or the GMAT?
TL;DR response: GMAT! Though CrackVerbal runs both GMAT and GRE programs, I would have to say GMAT. There are two good reasons for saying this:
1. As mentioned earlier, ISB has perhaps not yet figured out what to do with GRE scores. So, you can risk applying – HOPING they know what to do with your score. OR, you can apply using a good solid 3 digit GMAT score that starts with 7.
2. Taking the GMAT would enable you to apply to a lot of other B-School programs around the world. Though other schools also take GRE scores, they are in the same boat as ISB when it comes to figuring out what to do with the GRE scores. Studying for either of the tests should take you a good two to three months. The sections are also mostly common, analytical writing, verbal, and quantitative. Here is the GMAT test structure, incase you haven’t seen it:
And here is the GRE test structure for you:
To reiterate, if you have not taken the test, and are ambivalent, take the GMAT. However, if you have a good reason to take the GRE like applying to an MS program in the US, by all means, take the test. Read point #3 above.
5) Should I take the GRE if My GMAT Scores are Low-ish?
TL;DR response: Yes
Before getting any further, let me give you some food for thought: What makes you think that if you have a low score on the GMAT, you would do any better on the GRE? I suggest you don’t look at taking the GRE as an escape route. At the end of the day, you still need to be smart and focussed to crack either of the tests.
Having said that, if for some reason, a higher score on the GMAT is eluding you, you should definitely have a look at the GRE. When it comes to Verbal, both the GMAT and the GRE test you on the essential skill of comprehension. However, the GRE also puts a lot of emphasis on vocabulary, while the GMAT tests you on the rules of grammar. If you think you can learn about 2000+ new words using various techniques such as mnemonics, GRE sentence equivalence and text completion questions maybe the panacea you are seeking.
When it comes to Quant, both tests pretty much have the usual suspects: Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry. Here, the difference is in the type of questions asked. For example, the GRE has quantitative comparison, while the GMAT has data sufficiency. Having said that, I think the biggest difference could be the way the algorithm works. So, despite what people say, it might just be easier for you to score higher on the GRE (higher than the equivalent score on the GMAT).
You can go ahead and hide your GMAT sins, and apply with your freshly minted GRE score!
Hopefully, this article helped you decide on what to do with a GRE score for ISB. If you found the article useful, and would like to pick my brains on your chances at ISB with GRE, go ahead and leave your queries in the comment below. I’d love to give my 2 cents on what I feel the gatekeepers at ISB would see when they look at your profile.
All you need to know about the new GRE
(27 questions that all GRE test-takers have and do not know whom to ask!)
Here are the list of questions!
1. Why are GRE scores important?
2. Why was the GRE exam created?
3. Why should you take the GRE over GATE?
4. Why should you take the GRE over the GMAT?
5. Why should you take the GRE over CAT?
6. Why are an increasing number of B-Schools accepting the GRE?
7. What is considered a good GRE score? How difficult is the GRE?
8. What is the eligibility for taking the GRE?
9. What is the test structure of the GRE? What is the GRE Syllabus?
10. When is the best time to take the GRE?
11. What are the average GRE scores? (GRE cutoff)
12. Where are the GRE test centers in India?
13. What are the scores that GRE provides?
14. What happens if you are absent on the exam day?
15. How is the test administered?
16. How long is the GRE test?
17. How does the computer-based GRE test work?
18. Can I use a calculator while taking the test?
19. How much does it cost to take the GRE?
20. How do I book my GRE test?
21. How do I cancel my GRE score?
22. How do I reinstate my cancelled score?
23. How do I reschedule my GRE exam ?
24. How long are the GRE scores valid?
25. For multiple answer questions, if I get any of the answers correct, do I receive partial credit?
26. How do I prepare for the GRE?
27. How are GRE scores calculated?
Why are GRE scores important?
Your GRE score is similar to your IQ. Admission committees in any university will immediately judge you as being ‘super smart’, smart or above average based on what your score is.
Top universities around the world want to accept only ‘super smart’ students, and this translates into a 320+ GRE score. All the universities in the US, UK, Europe, Singapore and Australia consider the GRE as a standard measure for evaluating an applicant’s ability to cope with the curriculum.
“
Admission committees in any university will immediately judge you as being ‘super smart’, smart or above average based on what your score is.
The GRE is especially important for international students, as often, their academic and work profile cannot be verified thoroughly.
Why was the GRE exam created?
If we had to trace the history of how the GRE came into being, we would be heading way back to the end of the second world war. Yes, that’s how further back the story goes!
The Educational Testing service (ETS) was given the task of creating an exam that would act as a universal measure of the verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing, and critical thinking skills of students, acquired over a long period of learning.
This endeavour in the year 1949, gave birth to the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) as we know it today.
Why should you take the GRE over GATE?
The purpose of taking these two exams – GRE and GATE, is completely different.
You cannot apply for Master’s programs in Indian universities with a GRE score. Similarly, you cannot send your GATE rank to a university abroad and expect admission based on it. A choice between GRE and GATE, is therefore a choice between a Master’s in India and a Master’s abroad.
If you have a strong academic and professional profile, and hunger for success, you should probably take up the GRE and apply for a Master’s abroad. While a Master’s in India will cost you much less than an MS in the US, the academic value and the amount of leverage the international Master’s program will give to your career is incomparable.
“
If you have a strong academic and professional profile, and hunger for success, you should probably take up the GRE and apply for a Master’s abroad.
In India, there are only a few institutes such as IITs, IISC, and the IIMs which offer world class higher education that can give a substantial boost to your career. However, the limited seats make it very difficult to get admission in these institutes.
Why should you take the GRE over the GMAT?
The GMAT exam is designed specially for applicants to business programs.
Hence, if you are applying for a business program, and the college you want to apply to is amongst the only few institutions that do not accept the GRE, you would have no choice but to take the GMAT.
Hard luck!
However, if you are applying for an MS program, your GMAT scores will not be accepted, so you need not bother to take the GMAT.
As the GMAT assesses business school applicants, it is different from the GRE, which is taken by students applying for programs in a variety of subjects.
For example, there is an extra section in the GMAT, known as Integrated Reasoning, which requires the test taker to analyze a collection of data and interpret the data to answer a set of questions. GMAT quant is also more difficult than GRE quant.
The GRE gives you the freedom to apply to MS programs and MBA programs, thus providing a unique opportunity to engineers with a few years of experience, who are not able to decide between an MS and an MBA.
Some students who are more confident about their verbal ability than their quant skills also tend to take the GRE, although they have decided to applyonly to Business schools.
“
The GRE gives you the freedom to apply to MS programs and MBA programs, thus providing a unique opportunity to engineers with a few years of experience, who are not able to decide between an MS and an MBA.
Some students who are more confident about their verbal ability than their quant skills also tend to take the GRE, although they have decided to applyonly to Business schools.
Why should you take the GRE over CAT?
CAT is an exam for admission into Indian Bchools. IIIMs, and most tier 2 colleges in India accept CAT scores for admission.
Only few institutes in the country, including ISB and IIM-A, which offer the best Business programs in India, accept the GRE. The GRE is an exam for admission into various Master’s programs abroad, including some business programs. If you aspire to do an MBA abroad, CAT will be of no use.
Why are an increasing number of B-Schools accepting the GRE?
When the GRE is not designed to be a test for management programs and GMAT is, why is the GRE being accepted at B-Schools?
The GRE is being accepted at B Schools to benefit both the applicants and the institutions by accepting more scores from a wider range of students, providing more options to both.
Let’s take a look at Indian School of Business (ISB).
The number of students admitted to ISB has increased from 345 to 908 in the last 10 years. The threefold increase in the number of admitted students has presented a big problem for the institute, that of maintaining the quality of admitted students.
To get some clarity on how this quality can be maintained, let’s look at what educational institutes call the Acceptance rate.
“
The number of students admitted to ISB has increased from 345 to 908 in the last 10 years.
Acceptance rate = Number of people who are offered / Number of applicants to the program X 100
In order to keep the acceptance rates the same in 2017, ISB would need three times the applicant pool to choose from, compared to the applicant poolin 2006. Acceptance rate correlates directly to the quality of the students accepted.
In India, every year, four students appear for GRE compared to one GMAT test taker. Hence the move of opening up the gates to GRE test takers greatly increases the applicant pool.
What is considered a good GRE score? How difficult is the GRE?
The GRE is scored between 260-340.
This means, even if you get all the questions wrong (which would be pretty tragic), you would still get 130 in two sections, making it 260.
An extraordinary few from around the world have been able to score 340 since the new scoring system was implemented in 2011. The first person in India to score 340 was Ashwini Nene from Mumbai. Here’s the article on her exceptional achievement.
If you score anything above 320, you can apply to any of the premier institutes from around the world.
A 330+ score sort of establishes that you have exceptional skills, both quantitative and verbal.
The latest report by ETS provides the following information about the percentiles:
https://www.ets.org/s/gre/pdf/gre_guide.pdf
This means that if you score 165 in Verbal, only 5% of the entire GRE test taking population would score higher than you. In the quant section, the same score would mean that 11% of the population scored higher than you.
“
An extraordinary few from around the world have been able to score 340 since the new scoring system was implemented in 2011. The first person in India to score 340 was Ashwini Nene from Mumbai.
A little indulgence in maths with the above numbers tells us that getting a 170 on both the papers is possible by only three in every 10 thousand test takers. Combine that with a perfect score on the Analytical Writing section, and that makes it three in a million.
Similarly getting 165 in both the papers with a total of 330, would put you in the top 55 amongst 10 thousand test takers.
Depending on how scary or assuring those numbers sound to you, you can decide on how difficult the exam is.
What is the eligibility for taking the GRE?
There are no specific eligibility criteria for taking the GRE. However, if you want to apply to a university with the score, you have to fulfill the eligibility criteria of the specific program you want to pursue.
What is the test structure of the GRE? What is the GRE Syllabus?
GRE consists of five sections that are independent of one another. You need to complete an entire section before moving to the next. Within a section, the test takers can go back and forth between questions.
For your convenience, we have authored separate blogs with sample questions on each topic that is tested in the GRE. Here are the links to the blogs:
Quantitative Reasoning:
Arithmetic
Algebra
Geometry
Data Analysis
Verbal Reasoning:
Text Completion
Sentence Equivalence
Reading Comprehension
Analytical Writing Analysis (AWA) is a section where the test taker is required to write two essays. This blog on AWA will give you a clear idea of what to expect, and how to approach this section of the GRE.
When is the best time to take the GRE?
GRE scores are valid for five years; hence, the exam can be taken at the convenience of the test taker. However, if you are applying to a college soon, you need to plan when you will take the exam, accordingly. Typically, colleges accept applications twice a year. These application acceptance times are known as the Fall intake (August – September) and the Spring intake (Feb-March) respectively.
If you want to apply during the Fall intake you should take the exam latest by June, which will leave you with two months to work on your application essays. Similarly, for the Spring intake, you should have your GRE scores with you latest by December.
While scholarships are awarded during Fall and Spring intakes, there is a general opinion that applying for the Fall intake gives you a better chance at receiving scholarships.
What are the average GRE scores? (GRE cutoff)
The GRE score is only one of the factors that goes into the selection of an applicant for a particular program. Even if you have a score that is above 330, it does not guarantee admission into one of the world renowned institutes, such as Stanford or MIT. Universities examine your academic and professional background to make sure that you would fit in well with some of the brightest minds from around the world. Unlike universities in India, for example Delhi University with its 96% criterion, a ‘cut-off’ is never specified by these institutes abroad. However, the GRE scores of the students admitted each year are published, and can be used to measure the quality of students admitted to the university. This information will provide you with the metrics you need to understand how high a GRE score you must aim for.
A high GRE scores is especially useful for students who have an average academic profile as it helps them ensure that they can keep up with the curriculum.
“
While scholarships are awarded during Fall and Spring intakes, there is a general opinion that applying for the Fall intake gives you a better chance at receiving scholarships.
Here is a list of of the average GRE scores of the students admitted to some of best institutions in the world:
| University | Verbal | Quant | Quant |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 157 | 160 | 162 |
| Stanford University | 158 | 160 | 163 |
| University of California Berkeley | 155 | 159 | 161 |
| University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign | 155 | 159 | 163 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | 159 | 159 | 161 |
| Georgia Technological University | 155 | 159 | 161 |
| University of Texas Austin | 155 | 157 | 160 |
| University of Michigan Ann Arbor | 154 | 159 | 161 |
| Cornell University | 160 | 159 | 162 |
| Purdue University | 158 | 160 | 163 |
| University of Southern California | 158 | 160 | 163 |
| Texas A&M University | 154 | 157 | 160 |
| University of California San Diego | 154 | 164 | 166 |
| California Technological University | 158 | 164 | 166 |
| Princeton University | 158 | 157 | 163 |
| University of Wisconsin Madison | 157 | 160 | 163 |
| Columbia University | 164 | 157 | 163 |
| University of Maryland College | 154 | 159 | 160 |
| Northwestern University | 154 | 159 | 161 |
| University of Minnesota – Twin Cities | 155 | – | 163 |
| University of Washington | 156 | – | 159 |
| Ohio State University | 155 | 158 | |
| Duke University | 155 | – | 165 |
| North Carolina State University | 155 | – | 161 |
| University of Colorado Boulder | 155 | – | 152 |
| University of California Irvine | 152 | – | 161 |
| Arizona State University | 154 | – | 162 |
| Iowa State University | 152 | – | 160 |
| Northeastern University | 152 | – | 157 |
| University at Buffalo – SUNY | 154 | – | 161 |
| University of Connecticut | 153 | – | 157 |
| University of Illinois–Chicago | 152 | – | 158 |
| Colorado State University | 153 | – | 157 |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | 148 | – | 158 |
| Clemson University | 151 | – | 155 |
| University of Central Florida | 151 | – | 155 |
| University of Cincinnati | 155 | – | 159 |
| Santa Clara University | 151 | – | 157 |
| Santa Clara University | 151 | – | 157 |
| Mississippi State University | 148 | – | 157 |
| University of North Carolina | 158 | – | 155 |
| Michigan Technological University | 154 | – | 157 |
| University of Texas Arlington | 148 | – | 157 |
Where are the GRE test centers in India?
GRE has test centers in all the major cities in the country. You can visit the ETS website and look for test date availability, and book your date.
For a detailed list of the test centers in India, head over to this blog. – Test centers in India
What are the scores that GRE provides?
Three scores are reported on the GRE General Test:
- – A Verbal Reasoning score is reported on a 130–170 score scale, in 1-point increments.
- – A Quantitative Reasoning score is reported on a 130–170 score scale, in 1-point increments.
- – An Analytical Writing score is reported on a 0–6 score level, in half-point increments.
What happens if you are absent on the exam day?
If you do not turn up for the exam, you have to forfeit your exam fees. You will have to book your exam for another date, and pay the exam fees for it.
How is the test administered?
The computer-delivered test is offered year round at Prometric® test centers, and also offered
on specific dates at additional testing locations outside of the Prometric test center network.
In areas of the world where the computer-delivered test is not available, a paper-delivered test is administered up to three times a year. India is not included in this list.
How long is the GRE test?
The total testing time for the computer-delivered test is three hours and 45 minutes, plus short breaks.
How does the computer-based GRE test work?
You might have never taken a adaptive computer-based test before, but do not let that fact affect you in an adverse way. The test begins with either a quant or a verbal section, the difficulty of which may range from easy to difficult. Based on your performance in the first section the difficulty of the subsequent quant and verbal sections will be decided by the test.
This means, that if a test taker performs well in the first verbal section, the next verbal sections will have a higher difficulty level.
However, your performance in the first Verbal section will not affect the difficulty level of the quant sections and vice-versa.
The scoring for the test, takes into consideration the total number of questions answered correctly across the two sections, as well as the difficulty level of the section.
”
If a test taker performs well in the first verbal section, the next verbal sections will have a higher difficulty level.
Can I use a calculator while taking the test?
The computer-delivered GRE General Test includes an on-screen calculator for use in the Quantitative Reasoning section to reduce the emphasis on computation, and to focus more on reasoning skills. The calculator has four functions (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) and a square root.
How much does it cost to take the GRE?
The cost for the exam is USD 205, which is around INR 13,140.
How do I book my GRE test?
Visit the ETS website and create a ‘My GRE Account’.
After you have set up your account, you can:
Set your test date
View scores after the exam
Reschedule or cancel the test taken
Send out scores to required Universities
Register for the free GRE Services
If you already have a TOEFL account, you can use the same account to log on to the ETS website. Depending on your study plan and the date and time that would work best for you, choose the date and time for your exam.
How do I cancel my GRE score?
Until a few years ago, canceling your GRE score was sometimes a good idea because all GRE scores used to be reported to the selected graduate programs. One bad score could seriously mess up your chances of getting admitted.
Hence any event that interfered with your performance would be a cause to seriously consider canceling your scores.
However the recently introduced GRE Score Select lets you select which scores you would want to send to a particular program you are applying to. This change means that the test takers need not cancel the scores to avoid them from being reported.
However if you still want to cancel your scores, GRE still gives you that option.
After you have answered the last question on the test, you will be given the option to cancel the score. A cancellation cancels the whole test, and not only the section you just completed.
If the Quant section went well but the last Verbal section left you in shatters, do not cancel the score hoping that your Quant score will still show up! That will not happen.
The exam fees will not be refunded to you on cancellation.
If you accept the scores, the scores will be displayed on the screen. You cannot cancel your scores after you have viewed them.
After you have viewed your scores, you can choose the colleges to which you would like to send your scores.
“
GRE Score Select lets you select which scores you would want to send to a particular program you are applying to.
How do I reinstate my cancelled score?
If you accidentally, or in a ‘sudden bout of self-doubt’, cancelled the score, you can get them reinstated by registering your request within 60 days of the exam, using your account.
While registering your request for reinstatement, you need to pay a fee of USD 50 .
How do I reschedule my GRE exam ?
If you feel you need more preparation time, or if you have a personal emergency, you can visit the ETS website and get your exam rescheduled.
However there are a few conditions you need to consider:
– You can reschedule your exam no later than four days before the exam, trying to reschedule it at any later point will make you forfeit your entire exam fees.
– An additional 50$ will be charged for rescheduling provided that you reschedule the exam at least 4 days prior to the exam.
– Rescheduling is only permitted with an exam year (Starts July 1st – Ends June 30th)
How long are the GRE scores valid?
Your GRE score is valid for five years from the date you take the exam. With the score, you can apply to any college within five years.
This feature provides a great opportunity to working professionals who are not immediately applying to a university, but have plans to do so in the near future. It also provides the applicant with time to build up his or her profile over the next couple of years and make it awesome enough to gain admission into a Stanford or a Harvard.
For example, if you are currently working in a technical role but would like to shift to marketing, it would be wise to get a few years of experience in that domain before applying to a world-class university.
In this scenario, you can take the GRE, and apply with the score after gathering some experience in marketing. This will not only improve your chances of gaining admission, but will also positively affect your employability after you graduate.
“
Your GRE score is valid for five years from the date you take the exam.
For multiple answer questions, if I get any of the answers correct, do I receive partial credit?
For questions with multiple answers, all of your selections must be correct in order to receive credit for answering the question correctly.
How do I prepare for the GRE?
The shortest answer to this question: “If you are aiming for a good score, you will need a plan!”
A plan that is feasible, and one to which you are committed.
A detailed answer demands some space and peace of mind, for it to sink in, and be effective.
How are GRE scores calculated?
Three scores are reported on the GRE Test:
- a Verbal Reasoning score reported on a 130–170 score scale which has 1-point increments
- a Quantitative Reasoning score reported on a 130–170 score scale which has 1-point increments
- an Analytical Writing score reported on a 0–6 score scale which has half-point increments
No score will be reported if the test taker doesn’t answer any question.
We hope you found this blog useful.
Please spread its value by sharing the blog on your social media channels, and letting your friends know about it.
Also, I would love to know if you have any other questions about GRE, so go ahead, and let me know in the Comments section.
That’s all folks!
Best GRE Apps for the GRE test-taker!
Okay, so you have got your new smartphone. Maybe you did not pay much and you ended up with a great value phone. Or maybe you did splurge a bit to get the brand named after a fruit 🙂
Whatever the case be – you have in your hand one of the most complex devices that man has ever invented.
Have you realized yet that you hold a powerful tool that can help you ace your GRE?
There are plenty of awesome mobile apps that you can use not only to make studying fun but also to get into the right mental makeup to ace the test. We reviewed over 30+ apps before finalising on the top 5 apps that you must have, if you are studying for the GRE.
1. Elevate
In terms of UI and UX, this app comes close to the best for *any* category, not just learning.
In 2014, Apple even named it the app of the year!
What does it do?
To quote the website:
“Elevate is a brain training program designed to improve focus, speaking abilities, processing speed, memory, math skills, and more. Each person is provided with a personalized training program that adjusts over time to maximize results.”
“The more you train with Elevate, the more you’ll improve critical cognitive skills that are proven to boost productivity, earning power, and self-confidence. Users who train at least 3 times per week have reported dramatic gains and increased confidence.”
How does it help you on the GRE?
This app has very interesting games that will help you do the mental math and approximation required in sections on the GRE such as problem solving and quantitative comparisons.
Pro:
The app is designed in a very interesting way! You would love using this app – it is probably one of the funnest ways to study for the GRE.
Con:
With the basic version, you can play only 3 games per day. The paid version lets you unlock all the games.
Where can you download the iOS and Android version of the app?
‘Elevate’ in Google Play Store
2. Headspace
Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon, apparently cannot do without this app.
This app is responsible for making Zen Meditation popular in the New York subway.
What does it do?
It gives you a guided meditation tour ranging from 10 to 30 minutes, that you can listen to while you are commuting, or whenever you have some uninterrupted time. This app derives from the Buddhist principle of “mindfulness” – that the mind cannot be controlled, and that we should just let be in its natural stage, and by doing so become calmer.
How does it help you on the GRE?
Studying for the GRE can be stressful. Especially if your scores are not improving after studying a lot. This app reminds you that behind all the dark clouds, there is still a sun that is waiting to emerge.
This meditation also helps you perform better on the GRE, as it improves your concentration and focus – crucial for a test that can last for upto 4 hours!
Pro:
Very simple and intuitive app – and even absolute beginners can learn basic mediation techniques.
Con:
With the basic version, you can just have 10 free sessions of 10 minutes each. The paid version lets you unlock all levels and provides some “packs” such as the sleep pack and the focus pack.
Where can you download the iOS and Android version of the app?
‘Headspace’ in Itunes App Store
‘Headspace’ in Google Play Store
3. CrackVerbal WordToonz
The digital version of the hugely popular WordToonz flashcards.
Created by CrackVerbal, but we wouldn’t have put it in this list if it wasn’t truly a top 5!
What does it do?
You can learn 500 most commonly tested words on the GRE using Indian cartoons. These cartoons are created on the basic principles of mnemonics : the weirder the association, the more likely you are to remember them! You can play games going up a level each time – 50 levels of 10 words each.
How does it help you on the GRE?
This is perhaps the best (& fastest) way to learn the GRE high frequency word list. If you have dreaded remembering words for Sentence Equivalence and Text Completion, then WordToonz is your Batman!
Pro:
The Indian cartoons can be fun to read by themselves. The app also makes it exciting as it can be played as a game with a clock timer.
Con:
This app takes some time to load initially as it downloads the cartoons for faster processing. The free app has 10 levels out of the 50 levels free. If you want to get it for free, let us know by leaving a comment in the comment section below.
Where can you download the iOS and Android version of the app?
‘Wordtoonz’ in Itunes App Store
‘Wordtoonz’ in Google Play Store
4. Coach.me
What do successful people do before breakfast? No, they don’t hit the snooze button! 🙂
They are just better at forming good habits and more likely to stick with the habits they form!
What does it do?
Coach.me is a simple habit tracker you can use to create the habit of “studying for the GRE”. Everyday, you will be reminded that you need to study for the test. Even studying for a quick 15 minutes can be counted as a win. You even have a support forum where you can get help and support from others who are following various habits (jogging and dieting are the usual suspects).
How does it help you on the GRE?
It has been proven that those who do well on the GRE are not the people who pull “all nighters”, but those who consistently study for the test. Coach.me allows you do just that! So once you make a GRE study plan, you can make a commitment to follow it X days out of a week. We recommend that you keep the number to at least 3 days a week. Then you can track your progress against your plan!
Pro:
The UI is pretty cool and you can even use it for forming other habits such as waking up early (to study, of course! ;))
Con:
Sometimes the guilt of not following your GRE study schedule / habit can cause you to start ignoring the notifications, which can rapidly pile up 🙂
Where can you download the iOS and Android version of the app?
‘Coach.Me’ in Itunes App Store
‘Coach.Me’ in Google Play Store
5. Wattpad
Do you want to read more but are not able to find the right resources online?
This app has literally millions of stories to choose from, many of which are classics.
What does it do?
Just login and choose from a variety of different genres: popular romance, fanfic, non-fiction, mystery, fantasy, memoirs, travelogues, sci-fi, short stories and memes. However, in the interest of time, and for the sake of GRE prep, we suggest that you pick only non-fiction.
You can read on-the-go on your mobile or on your tablet. This can either be a quick bite-sized read of 15-minutes while waiting for the next class to start, or a longer Kindle-sque read while you are on the train.
How does it help you on the GRE?
Reading comprehension on the GRE requires you to read. So you can start by acclimatising yourself with authors and works you are not aware of. This app is great for reading stuff outside of your comfort zone. You may also want to practice certain techniques that apply to the GRE, such as skimming, and reading with a purpose.
Pro:
The variety is stupendous, so you get to read a great deal. Many of the stories, especially the classics, would help you assimilate similar dense passages on the GRE.
Con:
Some of the writing is by amateur authors, and you need to be careful about choosing the books you are going to spend time reading.
Where can you download the iOS and Android version of the app?
‘Wattpad’ in Google Play Store
If you’d like to use the Wordtoonz App for free, let us know by leaving a comment in the comment section below with your email ID!
If you’d like to know more about our GRE WordToonz app, check out this page:
Explore GRE Wordtoonz!Book Review : ETS GRE Official Guide 2nd Edition
The ETS GRE Official Guide cannot be compared to any other preparation book because of one very simple reason, it was written by the very people who write the questions that you will face on the test day. It maintains the standard of difficulty that you expect to find in the GRE.
What’s great about the ETS GRE Official guide:
The Verbal and Quant reasoning provides valuable insight into the rationales used to answer the sample questions. The ETS Math review is a great way to refresh your basics and exposes you to the concepts which will be applied to the questions.
What could be better on the ETS GRE Official guide :
The only area where the ETS GRE book could be found lacking is the fact that the explanations are somewhat insufficient in detail. So, this is not the right book for someone who has just begun preparing. The strategies that can be used by students to tackle questions are not provided and so the value of the ETS GRE book lies more in the questions than the answers.
It will be better to understand strategies and techniques in other books such as The Princeton Review (good explanations but relatively simple practice questions) and then use the ETS GRE official guide to practice the application of the tactics in more complex questions.
The advantage of the ETS GRE book lies in the PowerPrep Tests that are available with the book. They give you the actual GRE test with a score in the end. Since GRE is an adaptive test, paper-based practice does not really prepare you sufficiently. These full-length tests give you a different and more real preparation for the exam.
In short, the ETS GRE Official Guide is essential for anyone preparing for the GRE. But it is best supplemented by one which provides a more detailed insight into the methodologies used to answer questions.
If you have any questions about the GRE official guide, leave a comment in the comment section and our experts will get back to you! Looking for expert guidance on your GRE prep? Head over to our blog – rather our GRE Verbal Guide
Explore GRE Courses!- Copyright © 2019. All Rights Reserved. Crafted by Pixelmattic
