Chances are you\u2019re on your way to graduate or business school or are simply trying to plan your life before deciding which programs to apply to. The process was easy a few years ago. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) rang more bells than the Graduate Records Examinations (GRE). But now, you can find yourself torn between the two choices and sometimes delay your application because you can\u2019t decide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To help you decide, this guide will shed light on both options separately and then let you know which one suits you. So get comfortable and stick with me to the end of this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All about the GMAT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One thing you\u2019ll notice about the GMAT is that it still rules the day in most graduate and business schools. At its core, the test is meant to challenge applicants’ quantitative, verbal, and writing skills. This sets the applicant on the right foot on their way to business school. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The test will also provoke higher-order thinking and exploit your problem-solving skills. Can you apply these skills in a timely fashion? That\u2019s all the test wants to prove before you receive the acceptance letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n GMAT has been around for a couple of years, and so has the GRE. However, the GMAT has a stronger grip on business schools all over the globe. So, if you plan to be an international student but haven\u2019t yet known which country you\u2019ll end up in, you can bank on GMAT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n GMAT Structure and Divisions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n GMAT has four major divisions: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Entails data sufficiency and problem-solving questions. This section tests your ability to assess data, evaluate, and draw meaningful conclusions. Quant, as it\u2019s famously called, is undoubtedly challenging. So, to brace yourself for the test, be well-versed with some math concepts. However, don\u2019t stress yourself too much with memorizing complex calculus formulae – that will most likely not be tested. Instead, recheck your data sufficiency, abstract presentation, and creative thinking skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Challenges your skills in data analysis. The section presents information in multiple formats and evaluates your reasoning. The questions are designed to help you maximize your critical thinking abilities. It tests your judgment of different outcomes and ability to take on a solution that first seemed counterintuitive. To tackle each question, you must remain alert and attentive to detail. Your score on this section demonstrates your reasoning and ability to attend to details throughout your business school years and in the marketplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This part of the test assesses your capacity to read and understand written information. Hence, it presents comprehension that may come with structural problems. This challenges your understanding, ability to notice and correct sentence problems, and critical thinking. The verbal portion of the test brings out a key point of divergence between the GMAT and the GRE. How so? The comprehension, creative thinking, and overall reasoning required are more comprehensive for the GMAT than for the GRE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n section focuses on your writing abilities. You must do a 30-minute essay showing your writing capabilities and strength in presenting and articulating an argument. The section tests your ability to defend your point of view or ideas that seem otherwise to other people. Can you take on a point, make sense of it, and articulate it in an argument?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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