Should You Take the MCAT or the GRE?
Whether you want to be a doctor or a research scientist, you will most likely have to take the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) or the GRE (Graduate Record Examination). Both of these standardized tests are requirements for entry into postgraduate programs, or your next degree after you graduate from college.
Which test you should take depends on what kind of career you are thinking about pursuing. If you want to apply to medical school to become an MD or DO, you will need to take the MCAT. If you’re thinking about graduate school to pursue a Master’s or, eventually, a PhD, you will have to take the GRE.
[ RELATED: How to build an MCAT study plan that fits your needs ]
What are the similarities between the MCAT and the GRE?
Both the MCAT and the GRE are entrance exams for higher education degree programs post-college. They are both timed, standardized tests. You’ll also be taking both on a computer, so no need to stress about bubbling in answers with a No. 2 pencil.
MCAT vs. GRE
The similarities pretty much end there. Here’s a side by side comparison to give you a better sense of the structure of each exam:
| MCAT | GRE |
|---|---|
| Required for medical school (MD or DO) | Requirement for graduate school (most Master’s or PhD programs) |
| Administered by the AAMC (American Association of Medical College) | Administered by ETS (Educational Testing Service) |
| About 30 test dates per year. See 2019 test dates. | Offered year-round. Registration is first-come, first-served. |
| Scores valid for 3 years. | Scores valid for 5 years. |
| Can take up to 3 times in one year and 7 times in a lifetime. | Can take up to 5 times in one year. |
| Cost: $315 | Cost: $205 |
| Not adaptive. | Adaptive, Multi-Stage Test. Adapts to your performance. |
| 7 hours and 30 minutes long | 1 hour 58 minutes |
| 4 sections: 1) Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (95 minutes) 2) Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (90 minutes) 3) Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (95 minutes) 4) Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (95 minutes) | 3 sections: Analytical Writing Verbal Reasoning Quantitative Reasoning |
| Max score is 528. The top 10% of all test takers score at least 514. | Max score is 170. The top 10% of all test takers score at least 163 on Verbal, 165 on Quantitative, and a 5.0 on Analytical Writing. |
Both tests will require you to sharpen your reading comprehension skills, but overall, the content tested by both exams is very different.
The MCAT will test your knowledge in Biology, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Math, Psychology, Sociology, and Biochemistry. Although you won’t be expected to recall everything you learned in those classes, the MCAT will require you to not only know, but also to apply concepts and information from all of those subject areas. The AAMC recommends that the average pre-med student spend between 300 and 350 hours over several months preparing for the MCAT.
[ KEEP STUDYING FOR THE MCAT: How to study for the MCAT in 3 months • How to study for the MCAT in 6 months ]
Studying for the GRE will require you to review foundational concepts and master the strategic approaches to each type of question tested. Most people spend between one and three months studying for the GRE.
[ KEEP STUDYING FOR THE GRE: How to study for the GRE in 2 months • How to study for the GRE in 3 months ]
Before you begin preparing for either exam, spend some time setting your score goals. Base your score goals, above all, on the requirements of your target graduate programs. Take some time to review your programs of interest and research their score requirements. Once you decide on the programs to which you are going to apply and set your score goals, you should create a study plan and calendar.
Want to see how you’d do on the MCAT or the GRE today? Take our Free MCAT Practice Test or our Free GRE Practice Test.
