GRE vs. GMAT: Verbal and Writing Section

Verbal Section

Reading Comprehension passages are common to Verbal sections in both exams.

You can expect Reading Comprehension passages typically consisting of 200-600 words per passage with 3-4 questions for each passage.

The GMAT has two other Verbal question types: Critical Reasoning and Sentence Correction.

Critical Reasoning questions present a short statement or argument and then test your ability to use logical analysis to evaluate the statement. These questions have multiple choice answers.

Sentence Correction questions contain a sentence in which a part of the sentence or the entire sentence is underlined, and you will be asked to identify and correct errors in grammar and usage in the underlined portion.

Expect to see 1-4 GMAT-style Critical Reasoning questions in the Verbal sections of the revised GRE.

While there are no Sentence Correction questions on the GRE, it contains two additional Verbal question types: Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence.

Text Completion questions will have a sentence or short passage with one, two, or three words or phrases missing. From the answer choices, you must pick the missing word(s) that best fit(s) the overall meaning and context of the sentence.

Sentence Equivalence question present a single sentence with one word missing. From among six answer choices, you must select the TWO answer choices that both logically complete the sentence AND produce sentences with equivalent meanings. These question types are a test of your ability to understand a) the logic and structure of English sentence formation; and b) vocabulary-in-context.

Expect to see hard (not-so-commonly-used) English words in Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions.

Writing

The GRE and GMAT both have a 30-minute essay on the analysis of an argument, where you are asked to analyze an argument for its questionable assumptions and overall validity. The GRE, additionally, has a second 30-minute essay where you are prompted to take a position on an issue and present an argument for your position using specific and relevant examples. The specific tasks on the GRE (and the expected quality) of your draft are far more exacting than those on the GMAT.