{"id":25866,"date":"2023-09-08T13:16:33","date_gmt":"2023-09-08T13:16:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/?p=25866"},"modified":"2023-09-08T18:19:15","modified_gmt":"2023-09-08T18:19:15","slug":"should-you-take-the-mcat-or-the-gre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/mcat\/should-you-take-the-mcat-or-the-gre\/","title":{"rendered":"Should You Take the MCAT or the GRE?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019re thinking about graduate school to pursue a Master\u2019s or, eventually, a PhD, you will have to take the GRE.<\/p>\n

[ RELATED:\u00a0<\/strong>How to build\u00a0an MCAT study plan that fits your needs<\/a>\u00a0]<\/strong><\/p>\n

What are the similarities between the MCAT and the GRE?<\/h3>
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Both the MCAT and the GRE are entrance exams for higher education degree programs post-college. They are both timed, standardized tests. You\u2019ll also be taking both on a computer, so no need to stress about bubbling in answers with a No. 2 pencil.<\/span>
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MCAT vs. GRE<\/h4>
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The similarities pretty much end there. Here\u2019s a side by side comparison to give you a better sense of the structure of each exam:<\/p>\n

MCAT<\/th>GRE<\/th><\/tr>
Required for medical school (MD or DO)<\/td>Requirement for graduate school (most Master\u2019s or PhD programs)<\/td><\/tr>
Administered by the AAMC<\/a> (American Association of Medical College)<\/td>Administered by ETS<\/a> (Educational Testing Service)<\/td><\/tr>
About 30 test dates per year. See 2019 test dates<\/a>.<\/td>Offered year-round. Registration is first-come, first-served.<\/td><\/tr>
Scores valid for 3 years.<\/td>Scores valid for 5 years.<\/td><\/tr>
Can take up to 3 times in one year and 7 times in a lifetime. <\/td>Can take up to 5 times in one year.<\/td><\/tr>
Cost: $315<\/td>Cost: $205<\/td><\/tr>
Not adaptive.<\/td>Adaptive, Multi-Stage Test. Adapts to your performance<\/a>.<\/td><\/tr>
7 hours and 30 minutes long<\/td>1 hour 58 minutes<\/td><\/tr>
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)<\/td>3 sections: Analytical Writing Verbal Reasoning Quantitative Reasoning<\/td><\/tr>
Max score is 528. The top 10%<\/a> of all test takers score at least 514.<\/td>Max score is 170. The top 10%<\/a> of all test takers score at least 163 on Verbal, 165 on Quantitative, and a 5.0 on Analytical Writing.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>