All About the GRE and GMAT Graduate Admissions Tests

As you complete your undergraduate degree and move toward a graduate program, you may remember your experience with the SAT and ACT tests. While graduate school admissions tests require a new round of studying, you may find that they are similar to the undergraduate exams. And like their undergraduate counterparts, a high test score on the graduate exams can separate you from other applicants and put you in line to receive scholarships, grants, and research positions.

Depending on your degree choice and career path, the colleges and universities you choose may require you to complete one or even two graduate admissions tests. The standard qualifying test for most graduate school admissions is the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). In addition, students considering post-graduate degree work in business--such as a Master's of Business Administration--may be required to complete the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).

Introduction to the GRE Test

The GRE evaluates your verbal and quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills through a test that can be taken either on paper or using a computer. The General Test contains three distinct graded sections and an experimental section that is not graded. Grades for the multiple-choice sections range from 200-800.

Each section of the GRE tests a different facet of your learning. The quantitative section tests your math aptitude, including geometry and algebra, the verbal section tests your vocabulary and reading comprehension skills, and the writing section measures your analytical and reasoning abilities with two short essays. The first essay requires you to select a topic and discuss your particular viewpoint, and the second requires you to craft a written analysis on one side of a specific issue.

The Educational Testing Service provides you with test materials to help with preparation. The materials, included in your testing fee, include a CD with numerous practice questions and a handful of sample tests. If you need more assistance, professional GRE test prep courses provide mock exams, helpful hints, and test-taking strategies.

Everything You Need to Know About the GMAT Test

The GMAT, a test for students bound for business school, is administered by The Graduate Management Admission Council. The test consists of three sections: the verbal section, the quantitative section, and the analytical writing assessment. Your GMAT score helps business college admissions counselors assess your current job-related skills, your general business knowledge, and the depth of your business acumen.

The analytical writing assessment is a business-oriented writing task separated into two 30-minute assignments. You will be asked first to assess an issue and then to analyze a detailed argument. The verbal section contains 41 multiple-choice questions designed to test your critical reasoning skills, grammar, and reading comprehension. The quantitative section has 37 multiple-choice questions that test your ability to solve problems and evaluate complex data.

Professional test preparation can be critical for success in the GMAT since the test penalizes you for not completing sections. Many students choose to take test preparation classes from private GMAT-preparation schools to help them with practice exams, section pacing advice, and popular test strategies.

Sources
Educational Testing Service (GRE)
Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAT)