All that You Need to Know About the GMAT & GRE Exam

The GMAT exam is your gateway into top business schools across the world. So, if you are planning on taking the exam to get into one of them this year, you have two options. The two options being — online (due to the pandemic) and in test centres (if they have opened up in your area). You can choose any of the two options based on the availability of the GMAT exam and based on your own convenience. 

Registering for the GMAT exam is a very straightforward process. You will have to log on to the website – mba.com, create an account and provide all your basic information such as name, address, contact, etc. Then you select the exam date and location you prefer. Next you will have to select the universities you want to send your GMAT scores to. Then, proceed to the payment page and make the payment for the exam. The GMAT exam registration fee is $250.

The GMAT exam structure comprises four main sections: Verbal Reasoning, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment and Quantitative Reasoning. The duration of the exam is three and a half hours inclusive of 2 optional eight minute breaks. 

The scoring for the GMAT exam is between 200-800. The section wise split of the scores are given below:

Sections	Score Range
Analytical Writing assessment	0 to 6  ( 0.5 point increment)
Quantitative Reasoning	6 to 51 ( 1 point increment)
Verbal Reasoning	6 to 51  ( 1 point increment)
Integrated Reasoning	1 to 8  ( 1 point increment)

You have the option to select the order of the sections you wish to attempt from the 3 choices given below:

• Verbal, Quantitative, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment
• Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, Verbal
• Quantitative, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment

You must also be aware that the GMAT exam is a computer-adaptive exam, which means that the difficulty of the next section of the exam depends on your performance in the previous section. You can prepare yourself for the adaptive nature of the exam by attempting a sufficient number of mock tests. Mock test will help you understand your strengths and weaknesses and how much more you are required to prepare to get your desired score. 

We hope you are now familiar with the basic information of the GMAT exam. Let us now acquaint you with the GRE exam.

GRE Exam

The GRE is the most sought after exam by candidates who wish to pursue their MS program overseas. The scores of the GRE are instrumental in getting admissions to the programs you desire. 

There are two types of GRE — GRE General Test and the GRE Subject Test. The GRE General test has 3 main sections — Quantitative, Verbal and Analytical Writing. The GRE subject test, on the other hand, evaluates your knowledge in more specific subject areas. These tests are at present offered for the following subjects – Chemistry, Maths, Physics and Psychology.

Registering for the GRE exam is a simple process too. You log into the ETS website, create an account by entering your basic details. Then you choose the test location, date and the universities you want to send your scores to. Then proceed to the payment page and make the payment of $205. On completion of the registration process you will receive a confirmation mail from ETS stating your test date, center and the link to launch the test and the recipients of your score. 

The GRE scores are available to you after 10-15 days on completion of the exam. You can also order additional score reports if you want to send them to more universities than the ones you have already selected. 

The scoring range for each section is listed below:

Sections	Score Range
Analytical Writing	0 to 6 (half point increments)
Quantitative Reasoning	130 to 170 ( one point increment)
Verbal Reasoning	130 to 170  (one point increment)

With the current pandemic situation, ETS has also provided the option for you to attempt the GRE exam online from the comfort of your home.

We hope this article has given you a brief overview of both the GMAT and the GRE exams.

Good Luck!