Differentiation between GRE and IELTS

What is the GRE Exam?

Most study abroad programs recognise the Graduate Record Examinations, or GRE, as a graduate examination. The test's structure allows for accurate evaluation of students' verbal and numeric abilities.

The Educational Testing Agency (ETS), a private non-profit organisation headquartered in the US, administers this internationally standardised exam. It is available in two formats: online and paper.

What is the IELTS Exam?

The International English Language Testing System, or IELTS, is a language assessment tool used worldwide to gauge pupils' language proficiency. This exam evaluates reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

The exam, originally offered in 1989, is jointly administered by the British Council, Cambridge Assessment English, and IDP Education. It has two exam formats: computer-based and paper-based.

IELTS vs GRE: A Brief Overview

Although IELTS is required for international students to demonstrate their English language proficiency, the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a graduate-level standardised test. To ensure that you are qualified for graduate courses, the majority of universities check your GRE score. However, the IELTS test results ensure that your English language command is sufficient to succeed in the academic requirements of a university.

The following table sheds light on some crucial elements of both examinations by highlighting the main distinctions between the GRE and IELTS:

Also, check: Official IELTS Exam Dates Calendar - 2024

What is the Difference between IELTS and GRE?

The differences between the GRE and IELTS make it difficult to determine which is superior. Therefore, if you're wondering which test is superior, we've outlined all the key distinctions between them here:

1. Eligibility Criteria

2. Exam Pattern

3. Exam Duration

4. Exam Fees

5. Marking Scheme

6. Difficulty Level

7. Number of Attempts

8. Acceptance

Let's discuss each distinction in detail:

Eligibility Criteria

There are no precise requirements for taking the IELTS exam to be eligible. Generally speaking, you can apply for the test after finishing your 12th grade. Students from non-English speaking nations who wish to study in universities abroad or want to work there take the IELTS exam.

However, the GRE has no particular qualifying requirements. Anyone who wants to study overseas, regardless of age or educational background (minimum 12th pass), can apply for the exam. The majority of students who take this exam are those who wish to obtain a master's degree.

Exam Pattern

Exam patterns for both examinations can help determine which is superior if you're wondering whether it is GRE or IELTS. We have covered the GRE and IELTS exam pattern-related information in this section: 

The GRE consists of three sections: analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning. The tests are conducted in two modes: Paper-based and Computer-based. Let's look at the exam pattern of IELTS vs GRE:

The GRE test's examination format is provided below:

The IELTS exam, on the other hand, evaluates your writing, speaking, reading as well as listening skills in English. It is centred on assessing a candidate's language proficiency.

The IELTS test's examination format is provided below:

Exam Duration

The GRE topic test might take up to two hours and fifty minutes, but the GRE general exam lasts three and forty-five minutes. On the other hand, you have two hours and fifty-five minutes to complete the IELTS exam, with a break for lunch.

Exam Fees

For Indian students taking the GRE General test, the examination fee is 269 USD or approximately 22,550 INR. However, the price of applying for the GRE could differ from nation to nation.

However, there are regional variations in the IELTS application fee as well. You must register for this test and pay 203 USD/17,000 INR to apply. In addition, you may have to pay additional costs for processes like the exam you wish to change for the centre, you are submitting the late fees, or in the case of cancellations, etc.

Marking Scheme

You can figure out the difficulty of the GRE compared to the IELTS by considering its marking scheme. We've discussed the GRE and IELTS scoring patterns here.

Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Analytical Writing are three core sections of the GRE exam.  Exam scores for the Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning components vary from 130 to 170. The typical score for quantitative reasoning is 153, whereas the mean score for verbal reasoning is 151. Further, the final section, Analytical Writing, has a mean score of 4.0, ranging from 0 to 6 in half-point increments.

However, the IELTS exam has four sections: speaking, writing, listening, and reading. The scores for these areas are determined by a band score ranging from 1 to 9.0. A 6.5 or 7.0 band score is often considered good for entrance to universities overseas.

Difficulty Level

The GRE exam is regarded as significantly harder than the IELTS due to its more challenging vocabulary and reading passage problems. However, the GRE's mathematics problems are easier than those of other tests.

On the other hand, if you have good English, the IELTS is usually easier than the GRE. IELTS does not evaluate your mathematics knowledge; the only purpose of your IELTS exam is to assess your English language proficiency.

Number of Attempts

You may choose to take the GRE General test once every 21 days for a maximum of five consecutive rolling 12-month periods. This requirement also holds true if you have cancelled any past GRE attempts.

In contrast, there are no restrictions on how many times you can take the IELTS exam. You can take the IELTS exam up to four times each month or forty-eight times annually. 

Acceptance

The GRE is a test widely accepted for postgraduate study worldwide. The US, UK, and Canada are major countries that recognise these scores for graduate programs.

However, all study abroad programs require the English Proficiency Test or IELTS. In almost 150 different nations, over 9,000 institutions broadly accept this test.

How to Choose the Right Test Between GRE vs IELTS?

Given that each of these examinations serves a different purpose—graduate admissions for one test and international student admissions for another—both have their uses. However, you must first take practice exams in order to determine which GRE exam or IELTS is best for studying abroad. It's highly likely that one of the two will work best for you. 

While the IELTS is a language test that all non-native students must take, the GRE test scores are primarily needed for admission to graduate programs at foreign universities. As a result, you must evaluate your practice exams and take the one in which you feel the most comfortable.

Also, check: TOEFL vs IELTS Or PTE vs IELTS Which One is for You?

Conclusion

In summary, students who want to study or work in English-speaking nations must take the IELTS language exam, and those who wish to study abroad must take the GRE. It's challenging to select between the two, but as you realise how important and different the two tests are, it will get simpler for you to decide. Overall, The assessment of your aptitude level is the primary area where the GRE and IELTS diverge.

If you want to know more about the GRE vs IELTS,  we recommend you sign up for our IELTS courses designed by our experts. Please contact Prepare IELTS Exam (PI) expert counsellors if you need further guidance. Our team of education experts is dedicated to assisting you in the best possible way for the IELTS exam. You can also get a one-on-one counselling session online via our platform. Contact us at info@prepareieltsexam.com or call us at +91 9773398388.