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Is GRE harder than the SAT?

Generally, it is believed that the GRE is more challenging than the SAT. This is mainly due to the specialized vocabulary that you have to learn for the GRE.

Generally, it is believed that the GRE is more challenging than the SAT. This is mainly due to the vocabulary that you have to learn for the GRE. Moreover, GRE questions are tricky in their wording, which requires the test taker to possess greater comprehension and critical thinking skills.

The one section that can be considered easier on the GRE is the Math section. Although SAT and GRE test students on the same math topics, GRE emphasizes arithmetic, introductory algebra, and basic geometry. In contrast, SAT tests you on trigonometry, polynomial graphs, and other upper-level math topics in addition to what is already on GRE.  

However, this question on its own is somewhat flawed. The two tests are very different from each other, both in purpose and in format. A simplistic yes and no answer does not paint the whole picture.

To get a better idea of which test is more complicated, let’s examine some of the key differences between the two tests.

Structure 

The GRE and SAT have very different structures. Firstly, there are six sections on the GRE divided into three measures: Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning. Out of the total of six sections, one section would be experimental. The experimental section score will not count towards your final score.

The first section on the GRE will always be Analytical writing. The next section can either be Verbal or Quant. Any of the sections besides the writing section can be experimental. Moreover, you will never know which section is the experimental section, so you would solve all the sections as if they are the real deal. This feature of the GRE exam does make it more unpredictable than the SAT.

On the other hand, the SAT has the same fixed order every time, making it a lot more convenient in terms of planning:

 1) Reading

 2) Writing and Language

 3) Math without Calculator

 4) Math with Calculator

 5) Essay (optional)

SAT is a 3-hour long exam, whereas the GRE is a 4.5-hour long exam. So, for GRE stamina and focus is a lot more important than on the SAT.

Adaptive Testing

The GRE is different from the SAT in that GRE has section-based adaptive testing. This means that based on your performance on the first section, the next section can either be difficult or easy. So, suppose you do better than average on the first Verbal section; the following verbal section would have more challenging questions, and vice versa.

SAT has no such system set in place, which makes the SAT exam more predictable than the GRE. While taking the SAT, you will have no idea if you are doing well or not. Whereas, on the GRE, if you start to see a lot of easier questions, it surely means that you messed up your previous section. This can have a detrimental impact on your performance on the remaining GRE exam and could be a real morale killer.

Use of Calculator

On GRE, you have the option of an onscreen calculator that is always present during the Quant section. However, the SAT has two math sections, one without a calculator and one with a calculator. The without calculator section comes first and tests you on topics such as algebra, arithmetic, and geometry.

Moreover, since SAT is a paper-based test, you will bring your physical calculator. So, students who are bad at mental math can find the SAT slightly harder than the GRE. However, the onscreen calculator on the GRE can be a nuisance to use.

Computer vs. Paper

GRE is mostly offered as a computer-delivered test. If computer testing is not available at a specific location, then a paper-based test is presented instead. However, this is very rare.

On the other hand, the SAT is always offered as a paper-delivered test.

In general, most students find paper-based exams easier since it is more convenient to read and write on paper than on-screen. In this area, I think the SAT gets easier than the GRE.

Grammar Vs Vocabulary

The GRE Verbal section tests you on your comprehension skills, vocabulary memorization, and critical thinking. The Analytical section tests your ability to construct and evaluate complex arguments.

In the SAT’s Writing and Language section, your task is to edit specific passages to improve the grammar, clarity, and overall brevity.

As for vocabulary, GRE tests you on your range of vocabulary. You will be asked to do “text completion” and “sentence equivalence” questions, both of which require that you understand how a word affects the overall meaning. To do well, you will have to memorize hundreds of complex and obscure words, which can be quite daunting.

Since 2016, the SAT has taken out sentence completion questions, and instead, you are only given entire passages and tested generally on your vocab knowledge.

Essays 

On GRE, you will be asked to write two essays in Analytical Writing. The Analytical Writing Section is the very first section on the GRE. You will have 30 mins for each essay, and both essays will be scored collectively on a scale of 0 to 6 in half-point increments. 

Whereas, on SAT, the essay comes at the very end and is optional. That’s right; after the changes made to SAT in 2016, the essay is no longer mandatory, unlike GRE. If you choose to write the SAT essay, then you will have 50 mins to write it. There is only one essay on the SAT. The SAT essay is scored on a scale of 2 to 8.

Scoring

GRE carries a total score of 340. This score is divided into two measures, i.e., Verbal and Quant. The quant section has a scale of 130-170. 130 is the least amount of score you can achieve, and 170 is the highest. Similarly, Verbal also has a range of 130-170. Both of these scores combined give you your GRE total.

However, the Analytical section carries a total of 6 points and is counted separately from your total.

SAT, on the other hand, has a total score of 1600. The two math sections together make a score of 200-800. 200 is the lowest possible score, and 800 being the highest. The reading, writing, and language sections are combined to make the remaining 800 points. Similar to the math sections, they are scored on a scale of 200-800.

As for the SAT essay, it is scored separately on a scale of 2-8. The essay on the SAT is optional.

Availability 

GRE is available all year, whereas the SAT is only offered seven times per year. GRE can be retaken five times in a given year with at least 21 days between each attempt. SAT has no limits on retaking the test. You can retake the SAT as many times as it is offered within a year.

Which Test is Harder?

Now that you have read up on some of the key differences, you may already know the answer to this question.

GRE’s verbal relies mostly on 1000+ vocabulary memorization.

 

There is no vocabulary on the SAT, hence no need for memorization. SAT relies more on grammar and critical thinking.
GRE is 4.5-hour long. SAT is just 3-hour long.
GRE reading passages are much longer and convoluted than the SAT. SAT reading is much simpler. Much like the IELTS & TOEFL reading passages, which can be easily understood.
Wordings of all GRE questions are arcane and very tricky. SAT does not trick you with the phrasing of questions.
GRE on-screen calculator can be a nuisance to use and also time-consuming to use. SAT has a physical calculator, which you can use with greater efficiency.
On GRE, you have 90 seconds, on average, per question. On SAT, you have 70 seconds, on average, per question.
GRE Math only covers basic Math concepts. SAT Math covers several advanced concepts such as graph plotting, polynomial functions, etc.
GRE is computer-based, which can make it harder to concentrate on a computer screen for 4.5 hours. SAT’s paper-based format makes it much more test-taker friendly.
GRE’s computer-adaptive model and the experimental section makes it a lot more unpredictable. SAT has a fixed format and every student gets the same questions. There is no unscored SAT section.

 

Thankfully the words that appear on GRE are, in most cases, repetitive, so different test prep companies have made lists of vocab words that go as far as 1000 words. Learning and memorizing these words is no easy feat.

Furthermore, GRE questions are way more complicated and trickier. Their wording is deliberately deceptive to trick you into selecting an incorrect answer. SAT, on the other hand, is way more straightforward in addition to not requiring any knowledge of obscure vocabulary.

As for the math section, it can be said that SAT is a tad tricky because, in addition to GRE math topics like arithmetic, introductory algebra, and basic geometry, it also tests you on trigonometry, polynomials, advanced functions, and graphs, etc.

However, I think that GRE is overall a more demanding test because of its unpredictability. You never know in GRE which section is going to be experimental or which section will come first. Moreover, if you do well in the first section of either verbal or quant, the next questions will be more challenging. None of this applies to SAT. SAT follows a predetermined order, as we saw above.

We also have to take into account the time gap between your high school and SAT preparation. When you are in high school, you are still learning math regularly. All the concepts are still fresh in your mind. So naturally, taking the SAT wouldn’t be as much of a challenge. On the other hand, when you take the GRE, a considerable amount of time has passed since you studied math (given that your major in college wasn’t math/physics, etc.). Keeping this in mind, I’d say GRE is overall a more difficult test. However, it’s not set in stone, and your mileage may vary.

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