Summary: 

• The New Focused GMAT is easier than the New Shorter GRE, thanks to its fewer content areas, reduced preparation time, and greater time allocation per question.
• The New GRE necessitates intensive memorization, including mastery of 1000 vocabulary wordsand over 50 geometry formulas, which require rote learning.
• Contrastingly, the GMAT emphasizes logical thinking, reasoning skills, and data analysis, and eliminates the need for rote learning.
• The New Focused GMAT has eliminated Geometry, Sentence Correction (grammar), Essayquestions and drastically reduced the number of data sufficiency questions to a mere 5.
• Despite its higher level of difficulty compared to the New Focused GMAT, the New GRE offers test-takers the advantage of applying to a more diverse array of programs.

As the academic landscape continues to evolve, so too does the structure of major exams. Both the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) and the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) have introduced new formats that aim to streamline the testing process while maintaining a rigorous standard of knowledge assessment.

The question remains: which test is easier, and which should you opt for? In this post, I will delve deep into the updated formats, examine their complexities, and provide a clear guide to help you make the right choice.

Overview of the New GRE and GMAT Formats

The GRE now includes:

• 1 Essay with a duration of 30 minutes.
• 2 Math sections with a total of 27 questions, tackled within 47 minutes. (1.7 minutes per question)
• 2 Verbal sections comprising 27 questions to be solved within 41 minutes. (1.5 minutes per question)

* The GRE does not permit any breaks during the test.

There is NO change in the Math and Verbal content/topics/Curriculum of the New GRE.

The GMAT now encompasses:

• No essay.
• 1 Math section with 21 questions, to be answered in 45 minutes. (2.1 minutes per question)
• 1 Verbal section with 23 questions, to be completed in 45 minutes. (2 minutes per question)
• 1 Data analysis section containing 20 questions, with a 45-minute time limit. (2.3 minutes per question)

* A single 10-minute break is allowed on the GMAT.

In contrast to its predecessor, the new GMAT format brings significant changes to its structure. Geometry, traditionally a component of the exam, is now completely removed from the test content. Additionally, the questions on Sentence Correction, which assessed a test-taker’s command over grammar, have been entirely omitted in the new GMAT format.

Furthermore, there’s been a substantial reduction in the focus on data sufficiency questions. The old GMAT format included a whopping 16 data sufficiency questions, creating a complex and challenging section for many students. However, the new GMAT has trimmed this number down to just 5 questions, considerably reducing the emphasis on this type of question and potentially making the exam more manageable for many test-takers.

Both exams are adaptive, with the GRE being section-adaptive and the GMAT being question-adaptive.

Comparative Difficulty

In terms of content and overall difficulty, the NEW GMAT focused edition is now the easier exam than the NEW Shorter GRE exam.

While the GRE leans more towards academic rigour and necessitates substantial memorization, the GMAT underscores the importance of logic and reasoning skills in its approach.

The GMAT has fewer areas to cover, with no grammar (sentence correction), geometry, vocabulary, or essay requirements. The verbal section includes passages and logical reasoning, which are less challenging compared to those in the GRE. Additionally, GMAT provides more than two minutes per question for every question on the math and verbal sections.

On the other hand, the GRE has a broader content coverage, making it more challenging and more time consuming to prepare than the GMAT. It requires the memorization of over 700-1000 vocabulary words and a good grasp of geometry concepts, necessitating learning of over 50 formulas, theorems, and properties. The verbal section, including vocabulary, passages and logical reasoning, is of higher complexity than the GMAT’s. The time allotted per question in the math and verbal sections is less than that of the GMAT, adding another layer of difficulty.

Importantly, the GMAT enhances your test-taking experience by providing a 10-minute break and the flexibility to choose the order of your exam sections. This is contrasted with the GRE, which doesn’t permit the selection of the exam’s sequence and lacks break intervals, requiring you to proceed through the test without rest.

However, the GRE does hold a slight edge over the GMAT in terms of question navigation within a section; you have the liberty to skip any question and revisit it later to change the answer. Meanwhile, the GMAT allows for skipping only up to three questions per section.

Difficulty Rating of the NEW GMAT and NEW GRE

Here is my assessment of the difficulty rating of the NEW Focused GMAT in comparison to the NEW Shorter GRE exam. The difficulty ratings, ranging from 1 to 10, provide a measure of how challenging each section of the GRE and GMAT exams can be for a typical test-taker. The higher the number, the more difficult the section is considered to be.

These ratings factor in aspects like the complexity of content, the depth of knowledge required, the type of questions, and the time allotted per question.

Math Section: I have given the GRE’s math section a rating of 9/10, implying it’s quite challenging, with extensive content coverage including a significant focus on geometry. The GMAT’s math section, rated 7/10, is considered a bit easier, primarily due to the lack of geometry and the larger amount of time allocated per question. The difficulty level of the topics that are common on the GRE and the GMAT is the same and there is no difference there in terms of complexity and preparation time.

Verbal Section: The GRE’s verbal section earns the maximum rating of 10/10. This higher difficulty is due to its comprehensive content, including complex passages, logical reasoning, and a significant vocabulary requirement. On the other hand, the GMAT’s verbal section, rated at 5/10, is deemed to be easier because it omits grammar and sentence correction and focuses on passages and logical reasoning that are typically less complex.

Data Analysis Section: The GMAT’s data analysis section is rated 9/10, indicating it requires a high level of critical thinking and data interpretation skills. The GRE’s data analysis section gets a 7/10, suggesting it’s slightly easier, with fewer questions dedicated to this area. For both GRE and GMAT, you don’t need to learn extra content to attempt the data analysis questions. The concepts that you learn while preparing for the math questions are used in the data analysis questions.

It’s crucial to note that these ratings are general indicators and can vary based on individual strengths, preparation levels, and familiarity with the subject matter. Always consider your personal strengths and weaknesses when preparing for these sections.

Which Exam is Right for You?

When weighing the GMAT against the GRE, I generally recommend the GMAT due to its reduced content scope and emphasis on reasoning, which many find to be more straightforward and easier to tackle.

That being said, everyone has unique strengths and preferences, so it’s essential to test the waters before diving into the preparation for either exam. I encourage you to take a sample test for both the GMAT and the GRE to gauge your comfort level and initial performance on each. This practical experience can be extremely insightful and can significantly influence your decision. Especially for those who are not particularly fond of the verbal section, the GMAT often emerges as a more attractive choice.

Below is my detailed take on which exam might be right for you given your unique situation.

If You Love Math and Love Verbal: Then Take the GMAT

Reason: The GMAT exam has fewer content areas compared to the GRE. This means there’s less material to study for the GMAT, which can save you a lot of preparation time.

Another significant aspect of the GMAT is its focus on reasoning and critical thinking. Unlike the GRE, which requires you to memorize extensive vocabulary and geometry formulas, the GMAT emphasizes problem-solving and analytical skills. This means you can concentrate on applying and honing your existing math and verbal skills rather than spending time memorizing new information.

Essentially, if you’re already good at math and verbal skills, the GMAT allows you to use these strengths more efficiently. You won’t need to spend extra time or effort on rote learning, as you would with the GRE.

If You Love Math but Hate Verbal: Then Take the GMAT

Reason: The GMAT has decreased its emphasis on the verbal component. They’ve done this by eliminating Sentence Correction questions, which used to test grammar skills. This means you wouldn’t need to spend as much time studying complex grammar rules, which might be a relief if you don’t enjoy verbal study.

Now, the verbal section in the GMAT mainly focuses on logical reasoning and comprehension. Compared to the GRE, these elements are about 50% less difficult in the GMAT.

Another point to note is that the GMAT doesn’t require you to learn extensive vocabulary. The GRE, on the other hand, often requires the memorization of a considerable number of words, sometimes up to 1000. If you’re not a fan of rote learning or if vocabulary isn’t your strong suit, the GMAT might be more appealing.

Finally, the structure of the GMAT gives more weightage to math. About two-thirds of your GMAT score will be based on your math performance. So, if you love math, this structure will allow you to spend most of your preparation time on it, thus helping you focus on what you enjoy and are good at.

If You Hate Math but Love Verbal: Then Take the GRE

Reason: This might sound a bit odd that I am recommending GRE to you since GRE’s math requires a lot more prep than GMAT math due to broader content coverage. But hear me out.

In the GRE, the maximum score for both the quant and verbal sections is 170, adding up to a total maximum score of 340. In other words, the quant and verbal sections each constitute half (50%) of the total score. Therefore, if a student has strong verbal skills, they have the potential to score high in the verbal section, which would significantly contribute to their overall GRE score.

On the other hand, the GMAT weights the quant and verbal sections differently. The verbal section only accounts for 33% of the total score, while the quant section makes up the remaining 67%. So even if a student is highly skilled in verbal areas, their GMAT score would still be largely influenced by their performance in the quant section.

Therefore, if a student’s strengths lie in verbal areas rather than math, the GRE could be a more advantageous choice. They could maximize their verbal score, which would have a significant impact on their overall GRE score. Conversely, if a student with the same skills were to take the GMAT, their high verbal proficiency would have a lesser impact on their overall score because of the lower weightage of the verbal section in GMAT’s scoring system.

If You Hate Math and Hate Verbal, Then Take the GMAT

Reason: The GMAT emphasizes analytical and logical thinking over pure math and verbal skills. It means you won’t have to drill complex math problems or memorize extensive vocabulary as in the GRE. Instead, you can focus on honing your reasoning and data interpretation skills, which might feel more practical and less daunting.

The new GMAT format has made the test simpler overall. It has cut back on data sufficiency questions (these are complex questions that require you to decide whether you have enough data to solve a problem). Also, it has completely removed geometry from the math section and sentence correction from the verbal section. This streamlined structure might make the exam more manageable for those who dislike math and verbal tasks.

Value in the Real World

The GMAT’s emphasis on reasoning and critical thinking skills makes it more valued by business schools, whereas the GRE, with its academic leanings, doesn’t relate as closely to real-world problem-solving. That said, the GRE allows applicants to a broader range of programs, including non-business ones. While both exams cover data analysis, the GMAT places a more substantial emphasis on this skill.

Choosing between the GMAT and GRE depends largely on your personal strengths like I just discussed above, career aspirations, and the specific requirements of the programs you are targeting. Despite its perceived ease, the GMAT’s focus on data analysis and logical reasoning might appeal to those aiming for business school. In contrast, the GRE, despite its greater difficulty, offers flexibility in terms of the range of programs you can apply to.

So, the choice ultimately depends on your unique circumstances. Consider your academic strengths, future plans, and test-taking style before making your decision. Always remember that the test does not define you, but it can be a stepping stone towards your next big academic or professional journey.