If you’re deciding whether to take the GMAT Focus or the GRE General Test for MBA programs, a big part of your decision probably rests on the differences between the Verbal sections of the two tests. After all, whereas the content of the GMAT and GRE Quantitative sections is quite similar, the Verbal content is different in significant ways.
In this article, we’ll explore the key differences between the GMAT and GRE Verbal Reasoning sections in detail. We’ll talk structure, scoring, topics tested, and question types. We’ll also discuss how your Verbal test preparation will differ depending on which test you take. Additionally, we’ll tackle one of the most common questions I hear about the two exams: Is GMAT Verbal harder than GRE Verbal?
Here are all the topics we’ll cover:
- GMAT vs. GRE Verbal Section: Key Differences
- GMAT vs. GRE Verbal Sections: Structure
- GMAT vs. GRE Verbal Sections: Content
- GMAT vs. GRE Verbal Sections: Test Prep
- GMAT vs. GRE Verbal Section: Key Takeaways
- What’s Next?
To start, let’s review the key differences between GMAT and GRE Verbal.
GMAT vs. GRE Verbal Section: Key Differences
The table below features a comparison of the major features of the GRE and GMAT Focus Edition Verbal Reasoning sections.
| GMAT Focus Verbal Reasoning | GRE Verbal Reasoning | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Sections | 1 | 2 |
| Time per Section | 45 min. | 18 min. (section 1) 23 min. (section 2) |
| Questions per Section | 23 | 12 (section 1) 15 (section 2) |
| Time per Question | 1:57 | 1:30 (section 1) 1:33 (section 2) |
| Question Types | Critical Reasoning Reading Comprehension | Text Completion Sentence Equivalence Reading Comprehension |
| Computer-Adaptive? | By question | By section |
| Skip Questions? | No | Yes |
| Bookmark Questions | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Section Review Screen | At end of section | Access anytime |
| Edit Previous Answers | 3 per section | Unlimited |
| TOTAL QUESTIONS | 23 | 27 |
| TOTAL TIME | 45 min. | 41 min. |
As we can see, the GMAT and GRE Verbal sections are different in some key respects. So, let’s dig into each difference between GRE and GMAT Verbal in detail, starting with the basic structural elements.
GMAT vs. GRE Verbal Sections: Structure
There are several key structural differences between GMAT and GRE Verbal. You’ll want to keep these differences in mind when evaluating which exam to take. They include:
- the number of Verbal sections that appear on the exam
- the amount of time allotted per section
- the number of questions per section
- the nature of the test’s computer-adaptivity
- the ability to skip around within a section
- the ability to bookmark and review previous questions and edit answers
Let’s explore each of these differences.
Number and Length of Sections
As we saw in the table above, one of the major differences between GMAT and GRE Verbal is that the GMAT features only 1 Verbal section, whereas the GRE features 2.
Interestingly, however, the number of questions and time you’ll spend in total on Verbal is pretty comparable on the tests. On the GMAT, you’ll see a total of 23 Verbal questions, which you’ll have 45 minutes to answer. On the GRE, you’ll see a total of 27 Verbal questions, which you’ll have 41 minutes to answer.
So, the real difference in the Verbal section structure is that you’ll answer all of the Verbal questions on the GMAT in a row. On the GRE, you’ll get a break from answering Verbal questions, during which you’ll see a Quant section.
Thus, the question becomes, which section structure fits your test-taking style?
Which Section Structure Fits Your Test-Taking Style?
Would you rather complete all of your Verbal work in one shot, as you will on the GMAT Focus, or get a “breather” by alternating between Quant and Verbal sections, as you will on the GRE?
To put it another way, does completing a 45-minute stretch of Verbal questions exhaust you, or does switching back and forth between modes of thought every 20-ish minutes make you feel scattered?
There is only one way to know for sure whether you prefer the “one and done” of the GMAT or the “quick hits” of the GRE. You have to take an official practice exam of each type. You can find a free GMAT practice test here and a free GRE practice test here.
TTP PRO TIP:
To decide whether the GMAT or GRE Verbal section structure better fits your test-taking style, take a full-length, official practice test of each type.
Computer-Adaptivity
The GMAT Focus and GRE are both computer-adaptive, but in different ways.
The GRE is adaptive at the section level. So, your performance on the first Verbal section you see affects the difficulty level of the second Verbal section. Thus, if you perform well on the first section, the second section will be more difficult overall. If you don’t perform well, the second section will be less difficult overall. (The same is true for the Quant sections. However, this feature does not “cross-pollinate.” So, your Verbal performance does not affect the difficulty of your Quant sections, and vice versa.)
The GMAT is adaptive at the question level. So, based on your performance from one Verbal question to the next, the computer determines whether to give you an easier or more difficult question. Again, the same goes for Quant and Data Insights. However, in the case of the GMAT, there is some “cross-pollination” between sections, though GMAC has stated that the effect of this feature is minimal. (Start the linked video at 47:00 to hear that discussion.)
KEY FACT:
The GMAT adapts its difficulty based on your performance at the question level. The GRE adapts based on your performance at the section level.
Ability to Skip Around
One major difference between the GMAT and GRE that will affect how you tackle your Verbal work is the ability to skip around.
Since the GRE is section-adaptive, you can skip around freely within a section, answering questions in any order you choose.
On the GMAT, you must answer the question presented to you before moving on to the next one. There is no leaving questions blank, unless you run out of time at the end of a section–not an ideal situation.
Now, the ability to skip around may seem like an amazing advantage of GRE Verbal over GMAT Focus Verbal. However, it may not be the huge net positive you initially assume. Let’s discuss.
KEY FACT:
Unlike on the GRE, on the GMAT, you must answer the question presented to you before moving on to the next one.
Skipping Around: Net Positive?
For some test-takers, the ability to skip around within a Verbal section surely is a net positive. For instance, some test-takers may use the strategy of answering questions that generally take less time, such as 1-blank Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions, before answering more time-consuming questions, such as multi-blank Text Completion and Reading Comprehension questions.
Others may attempt the questions in order but quickly skip over any that they can’t immediately answer, with the intention of returning to all their skipped questions at the end of the section.
The thing is, these strategies don’t work for everyone. For example, some GRE test-takers find that skipping around to find questions of certain types to answer first adds to the time pressure for them. Additionally, many test-takers find they have little time left at the end of a section to return to skipped questions.
So, you shouldn’t assume that the ability to skip questions will be a net gain.
Keep in mind also that skipping from one section to the next or returning to previous sections is not allowed. You can skip around only within each section. So, if you have time left at the end of Verbal section 2, you can’t go back to work more on Verbal section 1.
When you take your initial GRE practice test, you can see whether the ability to skip around is helpful to you or a feature that you don’t pay much attention to. Of course, you can refine your timing strategies during your GRE Verbal practice prior to test day, so you can make strategic use of the ability to skip around. But again, your personal test-taking style will come into play. You may find that skipping around reduces your focus as you work through a section.
Bookmark, Review, and Edit
Although you can’t skip around in GMAT Focus Edition Verbal, you can bookmark as many questions as you like and return to them later (time permitting). This feature is one that the GMAT and GRE share. However, once again, the GRE gives test-takers a bit more leeway than the GMAT gives.
On the GMAT, if there is time remaining at the end of the section, a review screen will pop up. From that screen, you can return to any question in the section. (The screen will show a bookmark icon next to questions you’ve flagged). You can see the review screen here. Additionally, you can edit your answers to up to 3 questions per section.
If your time runs out in the GMAT Verbal section before you’ve answered all the questions, you will not see the review screen for that section. So, you will never have the opportunity to review or edit any of your previous answers.
On the GRE, you don’t have to wait until the end of a section to see the review screen. Rather, it’s available to you at any time as you work through the section. Additionally, you can edit as many answers as you like in each section (time permitting, of course).
It’s important to reiterate that on both tests, you cannot go back to previous sections. Once the clock runs out on a section, your opportunity to do any work in that section runs out.
KEY FACT:
The GRE allows you to change as many answers as you like in a section, whereas the GMAT caps you at 3 answers per section.
Now that we understand the structural differences between GMAT and GRE Verbal, let’s consider the content differences.
GMAT vs. GRE Verbal Sections: Content
Many students wonder, is the syllabus for GMAT and GRE Verbal the same? The simplest answer to that question is no. There are significant differences between what the GMAT tests in Verbal and what the GRE tests. However, you may be surprised to learn that there are also some significant similarities between the Verbal sections of the two exams.
Before we cover the differences, let’s look at those similarities.
Similar Question Types
GMAT Focus Verbal and GRE Verbal are similar in that they both feature Reading Comprehension questions and Critical Reasoning questions. However, they feature these questions in different amounts.
Let’s delve into the biggest similarity first: Reading Comprehension questions.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Reading Comprehension (RC) is the biggest similarity between the GMAT Focus Verbal and GRE Verbal sections. On both exams, you must read passages of various lengths and answer a series of questions about each passage.
GRE and GMAT RC questions tend to feature similar language (“what is the primary purpose of …,” “which of the following can be inferred about …,” etc.) and test many of the same skills. For instance, both GMAT Focus and GRE RC test your ability to understand the following about a passage:
- its main idea
- how it is organized
- the connections between ideas it discusses
- the implications of various details within it
- what sorts of conclusions can be drawn based on information in it
There are some clear differences between RC questions on the two exams, however. For one,
GMAT RC questions are always single-answer multiple-choice. GRE RC questions can be single-answer multiple-choice, multiple-answer multiple-choice, or questions that ask you to highlight a sentence in the passage.
Additionally, GRE passages can employ more literary or lyrical styles that you won’t see on the GMAT. GMAT passages tend to be a bit “dryer” and more “mechanical” in their style and structure.
Furthermore, although it’s possible you could see a stray long passage, GRE passages tend to be just 1 or 2 short paragraphs. GMAT passages, on the other hand, trend somewhat longer–often in the range of 200-450 words. However, you will also see some relatively short 1- and 2-paragraph passages on the GMAT.
You’ll also see slightly more RC questions in GMAT Focus Verbal than in GRE Verbal: 13 or 14 vs. roughly 10 to 12, respectively.
The other question type GMAT and GRE Verbal have in common, Critical Reasoning, is where you’ll really see a big difference in the number of questions. Let’s discuss.
Critical Reasoning Questions
Both GMAT and GRE Verbal feature Critical Reasoning (CR) questions (sometimes called “paragraph argument” questions on the GRE). CR questions present short arguments that are 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:
- strengthen an argument
- weaken an argument
- identify an assumption made in an argument
- explains a seeming paradox within the argument
and more.
CR questions do not feature nearly as prominently in GRE Verbal as they do in GMAT Focus Verbal. You’ll see 9 or 10 of them on a GMAT Focus but only 1 or 2 in total on a GRE.
So, while there is significant overlap between the skills tested and style of passages in GMAT and GRE CR, CR will be a much bigger part of your Verbal test preparation and your Verbal score if you’re taking the GMAT.
KEY FACT:
On the GMAT Focus, you’ll see 9 or 10 Critical Reasoning questions, whereas on the GRE you’ll see only 1 or 2.
Now that we’ve covered the question types that the GMAT and GRE Verbal sections have in common, let’s talk about the types that are unique to each exam.
Unique Question Types
Aside from RC and CR questions, GRE Verbal features Sentence Equivalence and Text Completion questions, which largely test vocabulary skills, but also require knowledge of logical sentence structure. These 2 question types are unique to the GRE. Let’s explore each.
GRE Text Completion
Text Completion (TC) questions test your ability to analyze the meanings of words in a particular context and understand the logic of sentences.
TC questions present you with a single sentence or multiple sentences that have words or phrases missing from them (represented by a blank(s) in the sentence). Your task is to fill in any blanks with the word or phrase from among the answer choices that logically completes the sentence.
TC questions may have a single blank (in which case they are always just a single sentence), 2 blanks, or 3 blanks. In the case of 2- and 3-blank questions, you may be presented with a single sentence containing all of the blanks or multiple sentences with the blanks distributed anywhere among the sentences. However, TC questions are never more than a few sentences long.
Try out some Text Completion practice questions here.
KEY FACT:
Text Completion questions may feature 1, 2, or 3 blanks.
GRE Sentence Equivalence
Sentence Equivalence (SE) questions are similar to 1-blank Text Completion questions in that they ask you to fill in a blank in a single sentence in a way that logically completes the sentence.
However, in SE questions, you must select 2 answer choices that convey essentially the same meaning in the given sentence. In other words, there are 2 correct answers to every Sentence Equivalence question.
Because Sentence Equivalence questions require you to create two sentence versions that have essentially the same meaning, much of your skill in answering Sentence Equivalence questions rests on your ability to recognize answer choices that are synonyms of each other. Of course, there often is more than one synonym pair among the answer choices. So, the other part of your task will be to determine which pair creates a logical meaning in context.
TTP PRO TIP:
To master Sentence Equivalence questions, you must be able to recognize synonym pairs among the answer choices.
Try your hand at some Sentence Equivalence sample questions here.
There Is No Partial Credit in GRE Verbal
One important thing to note about both Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions is that you must find all of the correct answers to a given question to get credit for answering the question correctly. In fact, the same is true for multiple-answer GRE RC questions that have more than 1 correct choice. There is no partial credit on any GRE Verbal Reasoning question.
So, if for example you fill only 2 of 3 blanks in a TC question correctly, or you select only 1 answer to an SE question, the question will be marked incorrect.
KEY FACT:
You must find all of the correct answers to a GRE Verbal question to get credit for answering the question correctly. There is no partial credit.
Now that we know the differences between the question types in GRE and GMAT Focus Verbal Reasoning, let’s discuss how those differences affect the ways that test-takers need to prepare for the Verbal section of either exam.
GMAT vs. GRE Verbal Sections: Test Prep
There are some notable similarities between the GMAT and GRE Verbal Reasoning sections, because some of the Verbal skills needed for the exams overlap. However, as we’ve already touched on, GMAT and GRE Verbal largely emphasize different skills. So, the nature of your Verbal test preparation will be different depending on which exam you’re studying for.
For instance, all else equal, you’ll spend a greater proportion of your Verbal study time learning about and practicing with Critical Reasoning questions for the GMAT Focus than for the GRE. After all, CR makes up a much higher proportion of the Verbal questions on the GMAT than on the GRE.
But probably the biggest difference between preparing for the GMAT vs. GRE Verbal sections is the GRE’s emphasis on vocab. Let’s discuss.
Studying GRE Vocab
As we’ve already touched on, GRE Sentence Equivalence and Text Completion questions focus heavily on your knowledge of vocabulary words.
So, when studying GRE Verbal, beyond just learning about the structure and logic of TC and SE questions, you’ll need to spend quite a bit of time studying vocabulary words. In fact, depending on your baseline vocab knowledge, you may need to memorize or brush up on hundreds of vocabulary words–or in some cases, 1,000+. So, vocab study will have to be a daily part of your GRE prep.
If you’re debating which exam is right for you, you’ll want to take into account this substantial difference between GMAT and GRE Verbal preparation.
TTP PRO TIP:
If you’re debating whether to take the GMAT or GRE, consider that your GRE Verbal prep will involve a lot of vocabulary study.
Is GRE Verbal Easier Than GMAT Verbal?
Students often ask me, is the GRE easier than the GMAT in Verbal? Given all the differences between GMAT and GRE Verbal that we’ve discussed in this article, you may already have an answer to this question in your mind. Perhaps you have a wide-ranging vocabulary, so GRE Verbal seems “easier” to you. On the other hand, maybe you’ve got a knack for the tricky logic that Critical Reasoning questions involve, in which case GMAT Focus Verbal is calling your name.
The point is, the answer to the “which is easier” question is different for every test-taker. Each test emphasizes different Verbal skills, so you want to pick the test that emphasizes your skills. If you don’t feel that either test is more suited to your Verbal strengths in a significant way, then consider the structural differences between the exams. Does either exam better suit your test-taking style?
TTP PRO TIP:
All else equal, pick the test that emphasizes your Verbal strengths.
Just remember, regardless of which exam you take, in order to perform at a high level in Verbal on test day, you’re going to have to put in some serious, dedicated study, likely over the course of months. When it comes to standardized tests, it’s pretty safe to say that there is no easy way out!
When it comes to standardized tests, it’s pretty safe to say that there is no easy way out!
GMAT vs. GRE Verbal Section: Key Takeaways
Clearly, the Verbal sections of both the GMAT Focus and the GRE present challenges. That said, as long as you have a smart study plan and great prep materials, there is no reason that you can’t earn a GMAT score or GRE score that showcases strong Verbal skills.
Fortunately, there are reputable resources out there to guide through the long and arduous journey to test-day success. Target Test Prep, for one, offers comprehensive, step-by-step self-study courses for both the GMAT Focus and the GRE, which include everything you need to know for either exam, plus ample practice. And you can give each course a shot for just $1 with a 5-day trial of the TTP GMAT Focus Course and a 5-day trial of the TTP GRE Course.
What’s Next?
This comprehensive comparison of the GMAT Focus and GRE will help you decide which test to take for MBA program admissions.
You can also check out these posts to learn more about the format of the GMAT and the format of the GRE.
And take a deep dive into the GMAT Quant Syllabus here.
