What are the MCAT and GRE?
The MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) and GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) are both standardized tests for students pursuing higher education or, in other words, another degree on top of their bachelor’s.
If you’re applying to medical schools (both MD and DO), you need to take the MCAT. If you want to go to graduate school and get a Master’s Degree or PhD, you will most likely take the GRE. Of course, the MCAT and the GRE aren’t the only post-graduate entrance exams! Check out Chris’s post for the differences between the GRE and GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test).
The table below looks at some of the differences and similarities of the MCAT vs GRE.
| Test Dates for 2016: January 22nd to September 10th (check link for specific dates) | Dates in 2016: Check availability on ETS Website |
| Requirement for medical school (MD and DO) | Requirement for graduate school (Most PhD and Master’s programs) |
| Cost: $305 | Cost: $205 |
| Not adaptive | Section-adaptive |
| Length of test: 7 hours and 30 minutes | Length of test: 3 hours and 45 minutes |
Sections 1) Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (1 hour, 35 minutes) 2) Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (1 hour, 35 minutes) 3) Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (1 hour, 35 minutes) 4) Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (1 hour, 30 minutes) |
Sections 1) Analytical Writing (1 hour) 2) Verbal Reasoning (Two 30-minute sections) 3) Quantitative Reasoning (Two 35-minute sections) |
| Good score: ~514 is the 91st percentile | Good score: 326 is the 90th percentile |
What’s the difference between how you study for the MCAT vs GRE?
One of the main differences between studying for the MCAT vs GRE is the amount of information you need to review for each test. Similar to the GRE, you also have to sharpen up your reading comprehension skills as part of your test prep. But for the MCAT, you’re also expected to review Biology, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Math, Sociology, Psychology, and Biochemistry. While you may have taken classes in the subjects I just mentioned, all of the material covered in those classes is probably not fresh in your mind.
Equally important is knowing how to take the MCAT. There test will throw a lot of information your way. Some of it will be useful in helping you solve a question. The rest of the information is extra and tests your ability to identify it as just that- a distraction. Think about it: doctors have a lot of test results that they look at when they’re diagnosing patients but only some of those results are crucial. So, the better they are at distinguishing useful from useless, the better they are at helping patients get better! In order to get an idea for how the MCAT tests you, we recommend that you study for at least 8 weeks. Be sure to check out Magoosh’s online MCAT prep for more study help!
When you’re studying for the GRE, you review Math, Verbal (including vocabulary and reading comprehension), and how to write analytical essays. Unlike the MCAT, the exam usually provides you with the appropriate amount of information to solve the problem. There are definitely test-taking tips that will help you navigate the GRE, but most of your studying revolves around studying the topics tested within the Quantitative, Verbal, and Analytical Writing sections. Our GRE Study Plans accommodate students who wish to study for any length of time between one month, three months, or even six months!
Happy Studying! 🙂
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