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The GRE vs. GMAT debate has long been raging among MBA applicants, but recent updates to both exams have added a new wrinkle. So, even those MBA hopefuls who previously decided which one to take are now left wondering, which test is right for me?
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into how the new, shorter GRE and GMAT Focus Edition exams compare. From test duration and number of questions to timing per question and difficulty, we’ll cover everything you need to know to make a strategic decision about which test is best for you.
We’ll also provide a side-by-side shorter GRE vs. GMAT Focus Edition comparison for quick reference and answer a bunch of common questions about how the two exams compare.
Here are all the topics we’ll cover:
- Release Dates
- Shorter GRE vs. GMAT Focus Edition: Structure
- Shorter GRE vs. GMAT Focus Edition: Timing
- What are the differences in test duration between the shorter GRE and the GMAT Focus Edition?
- Are there any breaks between sections?
- How many questions are there in each section?
- How much time is allotted per question in each section of the shorter GRE and the GMAT Focus Edition?
- How does the stamina required for the shorter GRE compare to that for the GMAT Focus Edition?
- Shorter GRE vs. GMAT Focus Edition: Content
- Which test is more difficult, the shorter GRE or the GMAT Focus Edition?
- Side by Side: Shorter GRE vs. GMAT Focus Edition
- What’s Next?
To start, let’s discuss a fundamental piece of the puzzle that could, for some test-takers, render all other considerations moot: when these new tests will be available.
Release Dates
Shorter GRE: September 22, 2023
GMAT Focus Edition: October-December 2023 (TBD)
Registration for the shorter GRE is open now, with test dates starting as soon as September 22, 2023.
On the other hand, registration for the GMAT Focus Edition does not open until August 29, 2023. Furthermore, test dates will not begin until some time in Q4 (October-December) of 2023. As of this writing, GMAC (the GMAT-maker) has yet to announce an exact start date for testing. However, at the very latest, we’ll know the GMAT Focus test dates by the end of the summer, when registration opens.
So, the question then is whether your business school plans allow for some uncertainty. For example, let’s say you plan to apply in round 2, so your application deadlines are in early January 2024. In that case, you may be cutting it close if, say, you can’t make a decision about which test to take (and thus which to study for) until the end of August, or if it turns out that GMAT Focus test dates don’t start until December.
Remember, many test-takers need at least a few (if not several) months to prepare for test day, and it’s wise to leave time for at least one retake just in case.
Of course, if you’re planning to apply to B-school in round 1 of 2024, for example, and thus your application deadlines are in September and early October 2024, then you have plenty of leeway regardless of when in 2023 GMAT Focus test dates start.
Also, if you’d like to take either exam at home, you’re in luck. Both the shorter GRE and the GMAT Focus Edition will be available at test centers and online.
KEY FACT:
Both exams will be available at test centers and online.
Retake Waiting Periods
Shorter GRE: 21 days
GMAT Focus Edition: 16 days (or none)
You can take the GRE once every 21 days, up to 5 times within any continuous 12-month period.
Similarly, you can take the GMAT once every 16 days, no more than 5 times in a continuous 12-month period. There is also a lifetime limit of 8 test attempts for the GMAT.
However, there is a way to get around the GMAT retake waiting period. If you go from an online GMAT to an in-person one, the 16-day waiting period is waived. (The test attempt limits still apply, however, and both types of test administration count toward the limits.)
So, if you want to play it safe and leave time for at least one test retake, consider these waiting periods when thinking about your application deadlines.
KEY FACT:
You can take the GRE once every 21 days and take the GMAT once every 16 days.
Registration Fees
Shorter GRE: $220 (test center or online)
GMAT Focus Edition: $275 test center; $300 online
Registration for either type of GRE test administration — online or at-home — is $220.
The registration fee for the GMAT Focus differs depending on how you take it and what country you’re in. For testing at a U.S. test center, the fee is $275. For online testing in the U.S., the fee is $300.
KEY FACT:
The GMAT Focus registration fee is somewhat more expensive than the GRE fee.
Now that we know when the new tests will be available and how much they cost, let’s dive into our discussion of the three major areas for comparing the two tests:
- test structure
- testing time
- test content
We’ll start with the test structure.
Shorter GRE vs. GMAT Focus Edition: Structure
There are a few major differences in the basic structure of each test that we should consider:
- section types
- section order
- computer adaptivity
- skip, flag, and edit functions
Let’s start with the section types.
Section Types
Shorter GRE: Analytical Writing, Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning
GMAT Focus Edition: Data Insights, Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning
Both the shorter GRE and the GMAT Focus Edition include 3 section types. However, the GRE breaks those into 5 sections of different lengths, while the GMAT Focus has just 3 sections of equal length.
Both tests feature Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning sections. However, the GRE breaks each of those sections into two. So, there are technically 2 short Quantitative Reasoning sections and 2 short Verbal Reasoning sections on the GRE. The GMAT Focus Verbal and Quant sections are not split into two sections each, and thus are roughly twice as long as each of those sections on the GRE.
The thing is, the total time spent on Quant and Verbal is very similar on both tests. So, the difference is whether you’ll be completing Quant and Verbal in smaller chunks or longer stretches. You may have a personal preference. (The longer GRE alternates Quant and Verbal sections, so we assume the shorter test will do the same. However, there is a possibility the format of the shorter test will be different, so stay tuned!)
Another difference in the sections of the two exams is that the GRE includes an Analytical Writing (essay) section, while the GMAT Focus includes a Data Insights section. We’ll discuss the content of those sections in further detail later. For now, let’s discuss the order in which the sections of each test are presented.
KEY FACT:
The GRE breaks its 3 section types into 5 short sections of varying lengths. The GMAT Focus just has 3 somewhat longer sections of equal length.
Section Order
Shorter GRE: Computer chooses.
GMAT Focus Edition: You choose.
One of the great features of the GMAT Focus is that you have complete control over the order in which you complete the test sections. In other words, you can complete the 3 sections in any order you choose.
On the GRE — at least the longer version — the Analytical Writing section is always first, followed by the Verbal and Quant sections in random, alternating order. We assume the same will be true for the shorter GRE.
KEY FACT:
The GMAT Focus gives you complete control over the order in which you complete the test sections. The GRE presents Analytical Writing first, followed by Quant and Verbal in random, alternating order.
Computer Adaptivity
Shorter GRE: section-adaptive
GMAT Focus Edition: question-adaptive
The GMAT Focus Edition is basically a question-adaptive test. So, your performance on prior questions in a section influences the difficulty of the subsequent questions. If you answer a question correctly, the next question in that section may be slightly more difficult. If you answer a question incorrectly, the next question may be slightly less difficult.
However, there is some crossover. For example, if you perform well on prior sections, the question you start off with in a subsequent section may be on the more difficult side, rather than a medium-level question, which is what you would start with in your first section.
The GRE is a section-adaptive test — at least the Verbal and Quant sections are. The Analytical Writing section is not adaptive, since it needs to be scored by a human after your exam.
So, on the GRE, the difficulty level does not adapt within a section based on your answers to previous questions in that section. Rather, your performance on the first Quant section determines the difficulty of the second Quant section. Likewise, your performance on the first Verbal section determines the difficulty of the second Verbal section.
Moreover, there is no “cross-pollination” between the sections. In other words, your performance in Verbal does not affect the difficulty level of Quant, or vice versa.
KEY FACT:
The GMAT Focus Edition is adaptive at the question level, with some “cross-pollination” between sections. The GRE is adaptive at the section level, with no “cross-pollination” between section types.
Skip, Flag, and Edit
Shorter GRE: skip, flag, unlimited editing
GMAT Focus Edition: no skipping, flag, edit up to 3 answers per section
Because the GRE and GMAT are adaptive in different ways, they have different rules governing how you can move around within a section and how many of your answers you can change.
Since the GRE is section-adaptive, you can skip around freely within a section, answering questions in any order you choose. You can also flag questions for later review and change your answers in a section as many times as you want (time permitting, of course).
In essence, nothing you do in a section is “permanent” until the clock runs out on that section, and you can work through the section however you like.
Conversely, since the GMAT Focus is question-adaptive, your movement within a section is more restricted. For one, you must select an answer to each question when it is presented, before you can move on to the next question. So, there is no skipping around, leaving questions blank, or answering questions in any order you choose.
You can, however, edit your answers to up to 3 questions per section on the GMAT Focus. So, you’re not entirely “locked in” when you select an answer. And since you can flag questions for later review, just as you can on the GRE, you can easily return to questions you guessed on to give them another go (again, time permitting).
KEY FACT:
The GRE allows you to skip questions and change as many answers as you like in a section. On the GMAT Focus, you cannot skip around, and you can edit only 3 answers per section.
That said, the GMAT Focus restricts when you can return to questions in a section, whereas the GRE does not. Let’s discuss.
Question Review
Shorter GRE: at any point in a section
GMAT Focus Edition: at the end of a section
On the GRE, you can access a review screen at any point during a section. That screen displays a list of the questions in the section, along with the “status” of the question (Answered, Incomplete, Not Answered, or Not Encountered), and a checkmark next to questions you’ve marked for review. (See what the review screen looks like here.) From that screen, you can return to any question you like in the section.
On the GMAT Focus, you will see the review screen for a section only after you answer the final question in the section. On that screen, you’ll see a numbered list of questions in the section and be able to click on a question number to return to that question. You’ll also see a bookmark icon in the list on any question you flagged for review. If your section time runs out before you answer the final question, you will never see that section’s review screen.
So, you have less flexibility on the GMAT Focus in terms of when you can return to questions to work on them further and possibly edit your answers to them.
It’s important to note that on both tests, you cannot go back to previous sections. Once the clock has run out on a section, your opportunity to answer skipped questions or edit answers in that section has also run out.
KEY FACT:
On the GRE, you can access the review screen at any point during a section. On the GMAT Focus, the review screen appears only after you answer the final question in the section.
Now that we’ve covered the basic structural elements of the two tests, let’s discuss issues related to testing time and pacing.
Shorter GRE vs. GMAT Focus Edition: Timing
Although the shorter GRE and GMAT Focus are roughly the same length, you will face different pacing challenges depending on which test you take. So, let’s first look at the testing time of each exam.
What are the differences in test duration between the shorter GRE and the GMAT Focus Edition?
Shorter GRE: 1 hr. 58 min.
GMAT Focus Edition: 2 hr. 15 min.
The testing time of the GMAT Focus Edition is 17 minutes longer than that of the shorter GRE. So, test duration should not be a major factor in deciding between the two exams.
Each section of the GMAT Focus is 45 minutes long.
The GRE sections break down as follows:
Analytical Writing: 30 min.
Quant Section 1: 21 min.
Quant Section 2: 26 min.
TOTAL QUANT TIME: 47 min.
Verbal Section 1: 18 min.
Verbal Section 1: 23 min.
TOTAL VERBAL TIME: 41 min.
So, all in all, there is not much of a difference in the total amount of time you’ll spend answering Quant or Verbal questions on either exam. The big difference, of course, is completing a 45-minute Data Insights section vs. a 30-minute Analytical Writing section. We’ll address that further shortly.
KEY FACT:
The new GRE is slightly less than 2 hours long, while the GMAT Focus is slightly more than 2 hours long.
Are there any breaks between sections?
Shorter GRE: no break
GMAT Focus Edition: optional 10-minute break
There are no breaks during the shorter GRE (unless you receive a testing accommodation for them). Of course, the test is fairly short, so not having a break isn’t the worst thing in the world.
The GMAT Focus does allow for an optional 10-minute break. So, if you choose to take this break, your test duration will be extended to 2 hours and 25 minutes. Again, still not a huge difference in test duration between the GRE and the GMAT Focus, but important to note.
So, you may look at the GRE more favorably if having the shortest test experience possible is very important to you. On the other hand, you may look more favorably at the GMAT Focus if having a break is important to you. At the end of the day, the difference here is minimal, so break vs. no break probably won’t be a deciding factor.
KEY FACT:
If you choose to take the optional 10-minute break on the GMAT Focus, your total testing time will be 2 hours and 25 minutes.
How many questions are there in each section?
Shorter GRE: total of 54 questions + 1 essay
GMAT Focus Edition: total of 64 questions
The total number of questions on the GMAT Focus Edition is 64. Those questions are split fairly evenly among the 3 sections:
- Data Insights: 20 questions
- Quantitative Reasoning: 21 questions
- Verbal Reasoning: 23
The shorter GRE has a total of 54 questions, plus 1 essay question. The 54 questions are split evenly between the Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning sections, for a total of 27 questions of each type.
Remember, though, that the Verbal and Quant sections on the GRE are each split in two. So, since 27 is not an even number, you don’t actually see the same number of questions in each section of a particular type. Rather, the first section of each type presents 12 questions, while the second section of each type presents 15.
KEY FACT:
The first Verbal and Quant sections on the shorter GRE contain 12 questions each. The second Verbal and Quant sections contain 15 questions each.
How much time is allotted per question in each section of the shorter GRE and the GMAT Focus Edition?
Shorter GRE: Quant: around 1 m. 45 s.; Verbal: around 1 m. 30 s.; AW: 30 m.
GMAT Focus Edition: Quant: just over 2 m.; Verbal: just under 2 m.; DI: 2 m. 15 s.
On the shorter GRE, you’ll have an average of around 1 minute and 45 seconds to complete each Quant question and around 1 minute and 30 seconds to complete each Verbal question.
Here is the exact breakdown of GRE timing per Quant and Verbal question:
- Quant Section 1: 1:45 (21 minutes/12 questions)
- Quant Section 2: 1:43 (26 minutes/15 questions)
- Verbal Section 1: 1:30 (18 minutes/12 questions)
- Verbal Section 2: 1:33 (23 minutes/15 questions)
And of course, you’ll have 30 minutes to complete the essay question in the Analytical Writing section.
On the GMAT Focus, you’ll have an average of just over 2 minutes to complete each Quant question, just under 2 minutes for each Verbal question, and exactly 2 minutes and 15 seconds for each Data Insights question.
Here is the exact breakdown of GMAT Focus timing per question:
- Quant Section: 2:09 (45 minutes/21 questions)
- Verbal Section: 1:57 (45 minutes/23 questions)
- Data Insights Section: 2:15 (45 minutes/20 questions)
Of course, it’s important to remember that these figures are just averages. Your timing per question is bound to vary throughout a section on either exam. For example, Reading Comprehension questions may take a bit longer than Critical Reasoning questions in Verbal.
TTP PRO TIP:
Average times per question are just that. In reality, your time per question is bound to vary throughout a section on either exam.
With all of these timing issues in mind, let’s discuss the stamina required for both exams.
How does the stamina required for the shorter GRE compare to that for the GMAT Focus Edition?
Since both exams are around 2 hours long, the amount of physical stamina you need for test day is basically the same whether you take the new GRE or the GMAT Focus Edition.
Mental stamina may be a different story and largely could come down to your test-taking “style.” For instance, do you prefer to have a little breather between answering questions of one type? If so, you may prefer the alternating, short Verbal and Quant sections on the GRE to the longer sections on the GMAT Focus (unless, of course, the GRE changes format and no longer alternates Quant and Verbal).
Conversely, do you prefer to get all of a particular section type out of the way in one shot — a “brain dump” of sorts — so you can focus all your attention on the next type? In that case, you may prefer the 45-minute sections of the GMAT Focus.
Another consideration is the perceived difficulty of each exam. For example, if you find Data Insights questions quite challenging, the 45-minute DI section on the GMAT Focus may be mentally draining for you. On the other hand, maybe the mere thought of having to start your GRE with a 30-minute essay is exhausting.
Of course, with proper preparation, all of these challenges can be overcome. The point is, since the testing times of these exams are essentially equivalent, much of the “stamina” question will hinge on how mentally taxing you find each exam.
So, with that in mind, let’s turn our attention to the next big piece of the GRE vs. GMAT
puzzle: test content.
Shorter GRE vs. GMAT Focus Edition: Content
First, we’ll compare the sections that are similar on the shorter GRE and the GMAT Focus: Quant and Verbal. Then, we’ll discuss the sections that are unique to each test: Analytical Writing and Data Insights.
Let’s start with Quant.
Shorter GRE Math vs. GMAT Focus Edition Math
Shorter GRE: not all multiple-choice; Geometry included; calculator allowed
GMAT Focus Edition: all multiple-choice; no Geometry; no calculator
Both GRE and GMAT Quant involve only high school math concepts and don’t cover advanced math such as calculus or trigonometry. In fact, the math topics covered on the two tests are quite similar. So, both cover numerous arithmetic topics (Number Properties, Percents, Ratios, Rates, Exponents and Roots, etc.) and algebra topics (Linear and Quadratic Equations, Inequalities, Factoring, etc.).
There is an exception, however: Geometry. Geometry is featured on the standard GMAT but is NOT on the GMAT Focus Edition. However, you will see Geometry questions on the GRE. Additionally, GRE Quant features Data Interpretation questions that require some of the skills you’ll need for Data Insights on the GMAT, such as analyzing graphs and charts.
Now, although GRE and GMAT Quant cover many of the same topics, GRE Quant questions tend to be a bit more straightforward than GMAT Quant questions. GMAT Quant questions tend to have a “twist.”
For example, in mean and median problems on the GMAT, rather than working with a whole set of definite numerical values, you might have a set of mostly unknown data points whose values are impossible to find. Nevertheless, because of some fact about the set as a whole, you can still work out the mean or median. So, while knowing the high school concepts mean and median is essential, GMAT math problems aren’t exactly like ones you’ve encountered in high school.
Thus, although logical reasoning skills are important for Quant on both tests, some people may find GMAT Quant noticeably more challenging than GRE Quant. (Wondering just how hard GRE Quant questions are? Check out these hard-level example questions.)
KEY FACT:
There are no Geometry questions on the GMAT Focus.
Calculator Use
Meanwhile, the GMAT Focus does not allow the use of an onscreen calculator during the Quant section. (You will have a calculator for Data Insights.) The GRE, on the other hand, provides an onscreen calculator for Quant. Of course, we’ve already noted that tedious calculations are not the focus of Quant on either test. So, I wouldn’t expect a calculator to do the work for you on the GRE.
KEY FACT:
The GRE provides an onscreen calculator for Quant, while the GMAT Focus provides one only for Data Insights.
There is one final major difference between the Quant sections on the GRE and GMAT Focus: the question formats. Let’s discuss.
Question Formats
All of the questions in the Quant section of the GMAT Focus are in the standard, multiple-choice format, which presents 5 answer choices and asks you to choose one. These questions are called Problem-Solving questions.
The Quant sections of the GRE, on the other hand, feature 4 different question formats:
- Multiple-Choice Single-Answer
- Multiple-Choice Multiple-Answer
- Quantitative Comparison
- Numeric Entry
Multiple-Choice Single-Answer questions follow the standard format. Multiple-Choice Multiple-Answer questions also follow the standard format, except there may be one or more correct answers. So, for the question to be counted as correct, you must select all correct answers. There is no partial credit.
Quantitative Comparison (QC) questions are unique to the GRE. These questions ask you to compare two quantities, Quantity A and Quantity B, given in two columns. Every QC question presents the same 4 answer choices, from which you must select one:
- Quantity A is greater.
- Quantity B is greater.
- The two Quantities are equal.
- The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.
Finally, Numeric Entry questions do not present any answer choices. Rather, you must come up with a numerical answer to the question and type your answer in. (If you use the onscreen calculator, you can enter the value from the calculator display directly into the answer box.) So, you won’t have the benefit of process of elimination when answering these questions.
You can see examples of the 4 GRE Quant question types here.
KEY FACT:
All questions in the GMAT Focus Quant section are standard multiple-choice, while GRE Quant features 4 different question formats, including one with no answer choices.
Now, let’s compare the Verbal Reasoning sections on the two exams.
Shorter GRE Verbal vs. GMAT Focus Edition Verbal
Shorter GRE: includes vocab-based questions
GMAT Focus Edition: no vocab-based questions
Up until now, the major difference between GRE and GMAT Verbal was that GRE Verbal included vocab-based questions and GMAT Verbal included grammar-based questions. However, with the elimination of Sentence Correction on the GMAT Focus, grammar is no longer tested in GMAT Verbal.
GMAT Focus Verbal consists only of Reading Comprehension (RC) questions (roughly 14 of them) and Critical Reasoning (CR) questions (roughly 9). The former test your ability to understand and interpret passages that are generally a few paragraphs long, asking you to:
- identify the author’s main idea, primary purpose, or tone in writing the passage
- make inferences based on information in the passage
- interpret various details in the passage
- analyze how a passage is organized
and so on.
The latter present short arguments just a few sentences long. Your job is to select the answer choice that relates to the argument in a particular way specified by the question stem. For example, a question might ask you to find the choice that strengthens the argument, weakens the argument, or explains a seeming paradox within the argument.
The GRE also features RC and CR. You can expect about half of the GRE Verbal questions you see on the exam to be those types — so, about 14 questions — though only a few will be CR. Furthermore, the RC passages on the GRE tend to be, overall, slightly shorter than those on the GMAT, although you shouldn’t expect a dramatic difference.
The other half of the Verbal questions on the GRE are vocabulary-based questions that are unique to the GRE. Let’s take a look at what they are.
KEY FACT:
Both the GRE and the GMAT Focus feature Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning questions, though the GRE features fewer CR questions.
Vocab-Based GRE Verbal Questions
As I just mentioned, about half of the questions in the GRE Verbal Reasoning sections are vocab-based. Those questions come in two varieties: Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence, with slightly more of the former than the latter.
Both of these question types ask you to complete a sentence(s) containing a blank(s) with the most logical word(s) or phrase(s) among the answer choices. However, in the case of Sentence Equivalence, there are always two correct answers, which are the two words that both logically complete the sentence and produce basically the same sentence meaning.
The thing about these questions is that they require test-takers to master many, many vocabulary words. In fact, people preparing for GRE Verbal typically study between 300 and 1,200 words. So, even if you have a broad vocabulary, you can expect to have to devote study time to drilling GRE vocab words.
On the other hand, memorizing vocab will not be part of your GMAT Focus Verbal preparation. However, that fact doesn’t necessarily indicate that GMAT Verbal is easier than GRE Verbal. For example, many test-takers find GMAT Critical Reasoning questions very tricky and challenging. And CR is a bigger part of Verbal on the GMAT Focus than on the GRE, which may present only a couple CR questions on the entire test.
TTP PRO TIP:
GRE Verbal features vocab-based questions that the GMAT Focus does not. However, the GMAT Focus emphasizes Critical Reasoning questions more than the GRE does.
Now that we’ve covered the sections the GRE and GMAT have in common, let’s discuss the sections that are unique to each exam. We’ll start with Analytical Writing on the GRE.
GRE Analytical Writing
The Analytical Writing section, also known as the essay section, is the first section you’ll see on the GRE. On the shorter GRE, this section consists of 1 essay prompt, the “Analyze the Issue” task. You will be presented with a statement of opinion to which you must respond with a well-crafted essay. The presented opinion may be a single statement that is 1 or 2 sentences long or a 1-sentence “claim” followed by a 1-sentence “reason,” in which the “claim” is the opinion and the “reason” is the reasoning underlying the opinion.
Following the presented opinion, there will be instructions on what your essay should discuss or accomplish. You have 30 minutes to write your essay. Importantly, whether your essay agrees or disagrees with the presented opinion does not affect your essay score. The point of the Issue task is to showcase your ability to craft a logical, coherent, and convincing essay that demonstrates sound reasoning and analysis, not to choose the “correct side.”
The GMAT Focus Edition does not include an essay section.
However, the GMAT Focus does include a Data Insights section. Unlike the separately scored GRE Analytical Writing section, GMAT Data Insights contributes equally (along with Quant and Verbal) to your total score. So, this section is very important. Let’s discuss.
KEY FACT:
The shorter GRE requires you to write 1 “Analyze the Issue” essay.
GMAT Data Insights
As we discussed earlier, there is some crossover between GMAT Data Insights and the Data Interpretation questions included in GRE Quant, in that many Data Insights questions involve analyzing graphs, charts, and tables.
However, Data Insights makes up a third of the GMAT Focus exam, whereas you will probably see only a couple of Data Interpretation questions in each GRE Quant section.
Furthermore, GMAT Data Insights questions can be much more in-depth and multifaceted than GRE Data Interpretation questions. For instance, a single Multi-Source Reasoning question might present information in passage form, in a graph, and in a table, and ask you both math-based and verbal-based questions about various elements of that information.
GRE Data Interpretation questions are more straightforward and do not involve verbal skills. For example, a question might present a graph, and then require you to calculate an average or a percentage based on information in that graph.
GMAT Data Insights also includes Data Sufficiency (DS) questions, which you won’t see on the GRE. These questions present a question stem and sometimes additional information followed by two statements, Statement (1) and Statement (2). Your job is to determine whether you have enough information to answer the question in the stem.
The thing about DS questions is that you don’t actually need to calculate a numerical answer to them. Rather, you need to determine whether either of the statements alone, both of them together, or neither of them provides the information necessary to calculate an answer. So, while these questions do test quantitative knowledge, they also require sophisticated critical thinking, information processing, and analytical skills.
KEY FACT:
The GMAT Data Insights section features multilayered quant- and verbal-based questions. This section makes up a third of your test and total score.
So, which test is more difficult?
Which test is more difficult, the shorter GRE or the GMAT Focus Edition?
When debating the shorter GRE vs. GMAT Focus Edition, “easier” or “harder” is a highly subjective measure.
Depending on your particular strengths and weaknesses and which test structure you feel most comfortable with, you may see a clear answer as to which test is more difficult for you. On the other hand, you may find certain parts of the GRE more difficult than the GMAT Focus, while other parts of the GMAT Focus are more difficult than the GRE. So, in a sense, you simply have to “pick your poison.”
If your mind isn’t already made up based on what you’ve learned in this article, the best way to determine which test is right for you is to take a full-length, official practice test of each type. Fortunately, both ETS and GMAC (the GRE and GMAT test-makers, respectively) provide a couple of free practice tests. So, you don’t have to invest anything into taking these tests but some time and effort.
Let’s discuss how to treat these practice tests and where to find them.
Trying Each Test
You should put your FULL effort into your initial GRE and GMAT Focus practice tests. Treat them like the real deal. You want to get an accurate sense of which test may be more difficult for you and how much studying you’d have to do to perform well on each test.
So, follow all test-day rules as you’re taking each exam, and really give each question your best shot. Also, familiarize yourself with the question types and formats of each exam before you take your practice tests, so you’re not going in completely cold.
You can access a free, full-length GMAT Focus practice test here.
Official practice tests for the shorter GRE will not be available until September 2023. However, if you must decide before then which test to study for, you could take one of the free POWERPREP official practice tests for the longer GRE. Of course, you’d skip the “Analyze the Argument” essay in the Analytical Writing section on that test, since that essay is not on the shorter GRE.
However, even skipping AWA, you’d still be answering a total of 80 Quant and Verbal questions, as opposed to the shorter GRE’s 54. Taking a longer practice test could skew your results somewhat. In other words, adding that much extra time to your test might create a false sense of the shorter GRE’s difficulty compared with the GMAT Focus’.
Nevertheless, you can still get a sense of which test feels more “in your wheelhouse” in this less-than-ideal scenario.
TTP PRO TIP:
If you can’t wait for the release of shorter GRE practice tests, skip the Argument essay on the longer practice test, and keep in mind that your results may be somewhat skewed.
Let’s wrap up with a side-by-side comparison of the exams.
Side by Side: Shorter GRE vs. GMAT Focus Edition
Use the table below as a quick reference to see how the new, shorter GRE stacks up against the GMAT Focus Edition.
| Shorter GRE | GMAT Focus Edition | |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | open now | opens August 29, 2023 |
| Test Availability | starts Sept. 22, 2023 | starts Q4 2023 (date TBA) |
| Test Center and Online? | Yes | Yes |
| Registration Fee (U.S.) | $220 at test center or at home | $275 at test center $300 at home |
| Total Test Time | 1 hr. 58 min. (no break) | 2 hr. 15 min. (+ 10 min. break) |
| Question Total | 54 + 1 essay | 64 |
| Number of Sections | 5 | 3 |
| Section Order | Computer chooses | You choose |
| Section Types | Analytical Writing Quantitative Reasoning Verbal Reasoning | Data Insights Quantitative Reasoning Verbal Reasoning |
| Question Formats | multiple-choice, multiple-answer, input answer | multiple-choice only |
| Questions per Section | Writing: 1 Quant: 27 total(12 + 15) Verbal: 27 total(12 + 15) | Data Insights: 20 Quant: 21 Verbal: 23 |
| Time per Section | Writing: 30 min. Quant 1: 21 min. Quant 2: 26 min.(Total: 47 min.) Verbal 1: 18 min. Verbal 2: 23 min.(Total: 41 min.) | Data Insights: 45 min. Quant: 45 min. Verbal: 45 min. |
| Avg. Time per Question | Quant 1: 1:45 Quant 2: 1:43 Verbal 1: 1:30 Verbal 2: 1:33 | Data Insights: 2:15 Quant: 2:09 Verbal: 1:57 |
| Computer-Adaptive? | by section | by question |
| Calculator Use | Quant section | Data Insights section only |
| Section Review Screen | access anytime | at end of section |
| Bookmark Questions? | Yes | Yes |
| Skip Questions? | Yes | No |
| Edit Previous Answers? | Unlimited | 3 per section |
| Retake Waiting Period | 21 days | 16 days (waived if switching btw. online and test center) |
What’s Next?
Now that we’ve done a comparison of the shorter GRE vs. GMAT Focus Edition for MBA applicants, you may want to take a closer look at what to expect from the shorter GRE and check out this comprehensive guide to the GMAT Focus Edition.
Ready to start studying for one of these exams? Sign up for a 5-day, full-access trial of the TTP GRE Course or the TTP GMAT Focus Course for just $1!
