GRE vs IELTS: Difference Between GRE and IELTS
GRE
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a popular test among students looking to pursue MS and MBA studies. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a popular English language proficiency test for candidates looking to pursue higher education in English-speaking countries abroad. While both standardized exams are part of a candidate’s study abroad journey but purpose of them is different. Let us examine the differences between GRE and IELTS.
Is GRE exam easier than the IELTS Exam? GRE and IELTS are two popular standardized tests for study abroad. GRE exam is for getting admission to PG programs while the purpose of the IELTS exam is to assess English language proficiency. The purpose of both exams is not the same. IELTS is a language proficiency exam while the GRE is a standardized test that evaluates the quantitative, verbal reasoning, and analytical writing skills of a candidate.
Yes, PTE may seem harder to some students who have taken the IELTS exam earlier. This is because the PTE exam is concluded in a single sitting of 2 hours. However, the IELTS exam takes place in two different sittings within a span of a week. This gives students more time to prepare for the speaking part of the IELTS test.
One other difficulty that the student may come around is that the test is completely automated and student may not find any human examiner for any part of the test. This might intimidate the students who are not comfortable with taking the test on a computer.
Duolingo English Test is entirely online and adaptive while the students can take IELTS exam in computer-based and paper-based test. The difficulty level of any exam depends on individual strengths and weaknesses. It's often perceived that the Duolingo English Test is easier than IELTS Exam. Here are some reasons behind this:
- Duolingo English Test is shorter than IELTS exam.
- Duolingo question difficulty adjust based on your performance of the last answer. DET primarily assesses practical language skills and communication while IELTS exams a wider range of language abilities, including academic English.
- Traditional IELTS format emphasis on academic English, which might be more challenging for someone who is not proficient enough.
The University of Hertfordshire has a 70% acceptance rate, making it easy to get into and having simple admissions requirements. Academic achievement, English language proficiency, references, and many other factors are taken into consideration while making the selection. At Hertfordshire, some programs may require four to five years of experience. To enroll in any programme at Hertfordshire University, students must meet the qualifying requirements. In addition, students with average performance can showcase their relevant experience or extracurricular activities participation to increase their selection probability.
After applying to Hertfordshire University UK, the applicants are going to receive an initial decision about their application within 2-3 working days. After the submission of the application and documents, the applicants are required to pay their tuition deposit. Then, complete the Sponsorship interview and the financial declaration. International students are required to pay a deposit of £5,000 before registration. The balance can be paid in line with the liability dates related to the year and entry of the semester.
The difficulty level of the GRE compared to the CAT depends on the test taker's knowledge. The Quantitative section of the CAT is typically more challenging than that of the GRE exam. However, if a test-taker has a weaker vocabulary, the GRE may be more difficult.
Coventry University is one of the renowned universities popular for its rankings, academic structure, facilities, research opportunities, and location. The university offers over 130 UG and 100 PG programs across four faculties. Coventry University also ranked no. 1 for student-staff ratio in midlands as per 'The Complete University Guide 2025' and rated gold for student experience as per the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023).
Johnson and Wales University application fees for international students is zero. Johnson and Wales University does not charge any fees for applying to either undergraduate or to graduate programs. International students can apply throught the official application portal of Johnson and Wales University.
It is important to understand the differences between the IELTS Test and GRE Exam if you are planning to study abroad. Universities across the world, use the English language as their medium of communication, and Indian students must prove their efficiency in the English language at the time of admission. Here the IELTS scores come into the picture. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a postgraduate requirement for candidates looking to study MS and MBA courses across universities abroad. Let's compare GRE vs IELTS, so you get a clear understanding of both exams.
Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!
- What is GRE exam?
- What is IELTS Exam?
- GRE vs IELTS: Which is Better?
- GRE vs IELTS: The Right Test For You?
What is GRE exam?
Conducted by ETS, the GRE exam is one of the most sought-after exams for candidates looking to pursue MS and MBA postgraduate studies abroad. The exam is available in two formats, the GRE General Test and the GRE Subject Test. The General Test is for candidates who want to apply for MBA abroad and MS studies abroad. The GRE Subject Test is available in Mathematics, Physics and Psychology. Subject test is for those candidates who are seeking admission to specialized postgraduate programs in these subjects. The GRE exam is available to candidates in the paper-delivered as well as the computer-delivered format. Candidates looking to register for the GRE General Test are required to pay a GRE exam fee of INR 22,550 and the GRE Subject exam fee of 14,500. The total duration of the GRE test is 1 hour 58 minutes. The Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning skills of the candidates would be assessed in the GRE exam. Candidates can get GRE scores in 8 to 10 days after completing the exam. While the total GRE score is 340. However, GRE scores for each component are reported separately - Your GRE Analytical score is reported on a scale of 0 - 6, your GRE Verbal Reasoning score is reported on a scale of 130-170 and your GRE Quantitative Reasoning is reported on a scale of 130-170. Your GRE scores are valid for 5 years from the day of your GRE exam.
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Visa applicationWhat is IELTS Exam?
Conducted by IDP IELTS India, the IELTS exam is one of the most sought-after English language proficiency tests for candidates looking to study abroad. The exam is available in two formats, the IELTS Academic Test and the IELTS General Training. The IELTS Academic is for candidates who are looking to study abroad (education purposes) and the IELTS General Training is for candidates who are planning to migrate or work in English-speaking countries. The IELTS exam is available to candidates in the paper-delivered and computer-delivered modes. Candidates are required to register for the IELTS exam and pay the IELTS exam fee of INR 18,000.
The total duration of the IELTS exam is 2 hours and 45 minutes. The Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking skills of the candidates would be tested through multiple related tasks and questions. The candidate's skills would be assessed on a band score of 0 to 9 and their IELTS scores would be available to them in 3 - 5 days if they have opted for the IELTS Computer-delivered test or 13 calendar days if they have opted for the IELTS paper-based test. The candidate's IELTS scores would be valid for 2 years from the date of the announcement of their IELTS band scores.
GRE vs IELTS: Which is Better?
IELTS or GRE: In this section, we are going to be looking at the difference between GRE and IELTS exams for candidates who are planning to study abroad.
| Parameters | GRE | IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| Exam Full form | The full form of GRE is the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). | The full form of IELTS is the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). |
| Conducting Body | ETS (Educational Testing Service) | IELTS IDP India |
| GRE vs IELTS: Exam Type | GRE General Test GRE Subject Test |
IELTS Academic Test IELTS General Training |
| GRE vs IELTS: Purpose | The GRE General Test is for candidates looking to study MS and MBA postgraduate studies abroad. GRE Subject Test is for candidates looking to pursue advanced studies in the following subjects: Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology. |
The IELTS Academic Test is for candidates who are planning to pursue higher studies (educational) abroad. The IELTS General Training test is for candidates who are looking to migrate or for employment in English-speaking countries abroad. |
| Accepted | GRE scores are accepted in over 90 countries, including the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Ireland, and Sweden. |
USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand are popular countries that accept IELTS scores. |
| GRE vs IELTS: Eligibility Criteria | ETS the conducting body of the GRE exam has not mentioned any GRE eligibility criteria to register for the GRE exam However, candidates looking to pursue graduate studies abroad mostly benefit from taking the GRE exam. |
IELTS IDP India the conducting body of the IELTS exam requires candidates to be at least 16 years of age to register for the test. while this is not a rule, it is preferred IELTS eligibility criteria that candidates be above the 16-year threshold. |
| GRE vs IELTS: Test Format | The GRE is primarily available in the Computer-delivered method. With the exception of locations that do not have the required resources such as the Internet or computers. Here the GRE test can be conducted via the paper-delivered method. ETS has also launched the GRE Home Edition test that allows candidates to take the GRE General Test from the comfort of their homes. | The IELTS exam was primarily available to candidates in the paper-delivered method. However, candidates can also opt for the IELTS computer-delivered method going forward. Both options are available to candidates in India and come with their pros and cons. Candidates can also opt for the IELTS Online which is the IELTS Academic test taken from the comfort of your home. However, the IELTS Online does not enjoy a vast acceptance network. |
| GRE vs IELTS: Exam Pattern | The current GRE exam pattern requires candidates to attempt a total of 80 questions and 2 tasks spread across 5 sections. September 22, 2023, onwards, the new GRE exam pattern would require candidates to answer 54 questions and 1 task spread across 5 sections. | In the IELTS Exam Pattern candidates are required to listen to four recorded audios in the IELTS Listening section, attempt three reading passages in the Reading Section, undertake two writing tasks in the writing section and end with a three-part face-to-face interview with an IELTS interviewer. |
| GRE vs IELTS: Exam Sections | Analytical writing, quantitive reasoning, verbal reasoning | Reading Section, Writing Section, Listening Section and Speaking Section |
| GRE vs IELTS: Skills Tested | In the GRE syllabus, the test takers' analytical, verbal and quantitative reasoning skills are tested through multiple different question types. | In the IELTS syllabus the candidate's reading, listening, speaking and writing skills are tested through a series of questions and tasks. |
| Difficulty Level | The GRE exam is a graduate-level exam and tests the candidates on analytical and verbal skills along with basic math in the quantitive reasoning section. The GRE is considered to be the toughest of the two exams. | The IELTS exam is for undergraduate as well as post-graduate studies. And since the IELTS exam only assesses the candidate's English-speaking skills. The IELTS exam is comparatively easier when compared to the GRE test. |
| GRE vs IELTS: Exam Duration | The current duration of the GRE exam is 1 hour 58 minutes |
The duration of the computer-delivered IELTS exam is 2 hours and 44 minutes while the total duration of the IELTS paper-delivered test is 2 hours and 54 minutes - the additional 10 minutes is provided to transfer your answers to the answer sheet in the Listening Section only. |
| Scoring | Total GRE score - 340. In the GRE exam, each component is scored separately. The GRE Analytical Writing is scored on a scale of 0 - 6, the GRE Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning sections are scored on a scale of 130 - 170. | In the IELTS exam, your Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking skills are graded separately on a scale of 0 - 9 and then you also receive a total band score which is the average score of all four sections of the exam which is on a scale of 0 - 9. |
| Result Availability | GRE Scores are available to test takers 10 - 15 days from the date of appearing for the GRE exam. | IELTS Scores are available to candidates in 3 - 5 days if you have opted for the IELTS Computer Delivered test and in 13 calendar days if you have opted for the IELTS paper-based test. |
| GRE vs IELTS: Score Validity | Your GRE Scores are valid for a total of five years from the day of the GRE exam. | Your IELTS Band Scores are valid for a total of two years from the day of the results. |
| Registration | Candidates can register for their GRE exam by visiting the official ETS GRE website and creating a test-taker account. Candidates can also register for the exam over the phone, by mail or by fax. | Candidates can register for the IELTS exam online by visiting the official website of IELTS IDP India and creating a test taker profile. Or by simply visiting one of the authorised IELTS Test Centers and registering in person. |
| GRE vs IELTS: Exam fee | The GRE exam Fee is INR 22,550. | The IELTS exam fee is INR 18,000. |
| Number of Attempts | Candidates can appear for the GRE exam up to 5 times in a given year. | Candidates can register for the GRE exam up to 4 times a month or 48 times a year when opting for the IELTS paper-based test. |
| Retake Frequency | Candidates can take the test once every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous rolling 12-month period. This applies even if you have cancelled your scores on a test taken previously. | The IELTS exam does not have a limit on the number of attempts you can take on appearing for the exam. However, candidates would be required to pay the IELTS exam fee on every IDP IELTS Slot Booking. |
| Centres | Multiple GRE test centres across the length and breadth of the country | IELTS IDP India has multiple authorised IELTS centers for candidates looking to take the IELTS exam. |
| Sending College Report | Candidates can send their GRE scores to up to 4 universities for free as this would have been covered in the GRE registration fee. Additional report sending would come at a fee of INR 2009.69 per university. | Candidates can send their IELTS scores to 5 universities free of charge as this was included with the registration fee. Additional score reporting would come at a fee of INR 250 per university. |
| Additional Feature | GRE has launched the ScoreSelect option that allows test takers to decide which test scores should be sent to the designated universities from a series of GRE tests. | IELTS has introduced 'One Skill Retake' provision where test takers will be allowed to appear only for the module in which they scored less. |
| Contact | Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days per week, India Standard Time except for local holidays Email: GRESupport4India@ets.org Toll-free Phone: +18001200371 |
Hours: Mon to Sat - 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM Email: ielts.india@idp.com Phone:1800-102-4544 |
GRE vs IELTS: The Right Test For You?
A lot of times candidates are confused about whether they are required to appear for the GRE General Test or the GRE Subject Test. Candidates should note that most universities would be accepting GRE General Test scores as part of the admission process. Candidates who are looking to pursue advanced studies in Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology would be required to go ahead with the GRE Subject Test. If candidates are still confused, they can go ahead and check the admission requirements of their preferred university and go ahead with the GRE registration process.
Similarly, the difference between the IELTS Academic Exam and IELTS General Training is clearly defined. While the IELTS Academic exam is for candidates who are looking to pursue higher education abroad, the IELTS General Training is for candidates who are looking to work or migrate to English-speaking countries. However, there is very little confusion between the GRE and IELTS exams (GRE vs IELTS) as while both exams are part of a student's study abroad journey, the GRE is a standard graduate exam for candidates looking to study MS and MBA studies abroad. The IELTS is an English language proficiency test for candidates looking to apply to universities abroad. The IELTS score is also an important component of the Student Visa Application Process. Candidates can get in touch with our Shiksha study abroad counsellors for assistance with university admissions on our website.
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The purpose of both exams is different and the difficulty level of both exams depend on the student. If a test taker is fluent in English, they may find the IELTS easier. Similarly, to score well on the GRE, students must have strong skills in Quantitative Reasoning, Analytical Writing, and Verbal Reasoning.
In short, to prepare for GRE, requires advanced vocabulary, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, while IELTS focuses on language proficiency across reading, writing, speaking, and listening.