It is nice to want to take a standardized test to facilitate your admission into the next phase of your life but knowing what any of the exams stand for will help you make better decisions. So, the MCAT vs GRE, which would you sit for and why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This article will clearly introduce the MCAT and GRE while also stating similarities and differences between the two exams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Medical College Admission Test is a standardized, multiple-choice exam that prospective healthcare professionals must complete before applying to a medical school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is the Association of American Medical College that administers it and the admission system in graduate schools has felt the impact in over 90 years since it was introduced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Research shows that over 85,000 students take the MCAT annually and if you intend to attend a medical school either in the US or Canada, you must take the MCAT as part of the application requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is no way you can talk about the world’s most widely accepted graduate test without having to talk about the Graduate Record Examinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, unlike the MCAT which is exclusive to medical students, the GRE serves a useful purpose to graduate students in all fields, including business and law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Educational Testing Service administers it and it has been in use since 1949. Statistics show that about 700,000 students take the test each year and although it is computer-based, paper-based assessments are accessible in areas where computers are not available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The MCAT is a test that assesses prospective students on the industry-related skills and knowledge needed to succeed in medical school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are four portions to the test. Each segment is regarded as a fundamental requirement and a predictor of a student’s future performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The areas it covers include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Generally, the GRE is all-encompassing and covers quite a lot of subject areas. But, below is a list of the major question types.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The GRE subject tests are in the following subjects<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Biology, Chemistry, Literature in English, Physics, Psychology, Mathematics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The MCAT exam lasts for about six hours and thirty minutes, excluding breaks and setup time. The duration of the show is around seven hours and 33 minutes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the GRE General Test takes around three hours and 45 minutes to complete. Short breaks will be factored in, perhaps lengthening the total sitting duration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you schedule your test in advance, you’ll pay about $320. However, the price will increase to $375 if you wait until eight days before the test date to register.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Depending on your location, you may be charged an extra $115 for registration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The cost for the GRE test varies depending on the location where you take it. In most parts of the world, it costs about $205.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, there are exceptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Globally, the cost of the GRE Subject Tests is $150.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Below are what you can find common between both exams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both tests are standardized. This means that all test takers get the same set of questions. The same standards are used to evaluate their responses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both the MCAT and GRE tests are entrance tests that committees use to evaluate a candidate’s capacity and finally decide if it should admit them into a graduate school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another striking similarity between the two exams is that they’re both computer-based. Just like the GMAT, a computer system administers them and follows a pattern to your level of understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The table below shows a clear-cut comparison between the two standardized tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n