IELTS and the GRE are two standardized assessments that have pretty distinct objectives. While IELTS is designed to evaluate English language skills for non-native speakers who wish to study or work in English-speaking nations, the GRE is primarily used to get admission to graduate programs in the United States.
Both the exams are equally efficient and both test the proficiency of the test-takers. But the question still remains, IELTS vs. GRE- Which is the better option? Knowing the distinctions between these two exams can help you to choose which one to take depending on your academic and professional objectives.
What is the GRE test?
The Graduate Record Examinations, or GRE, is an important entrance exam that assesses a student on their qualitative as well as quantitative reasoning. The exam is meant to check the student’s verbal and mathematical skills. GRE is administered by the Educational Testing Agency (ETS), a commercial, non-profit organization with its headquarters in the US. There are two test styles available: paper-based and online. Most students who wish to go to exciting universities like the London School of Economics, Harvard, University of Chicago, and Imperial for their master’s have to appear for the GRE in order to exhibit their skills in front of a diverse admissions body.Â
What is the IELTS exam?
The International English Language Testing System, or IELTS, is a language assessment instrument that is used to determine a student’s proficiency in the language. In this test, the writing, reading, speaking, and listening capabilities of the students are assessed.
The exam, which was initially made available in 1989, is jointly administered by the British Council, IDP Education, and Cambridge Assessment English. Both paper and digital versions of the test are available.
Differences in IELTS vs. GRE
There are several differences between the GRE and IELTS, which are two separate exams. If you’re wondering if the GRE or IELTS is better, we’ve detailed all the significant differences for both tests below:
IELTS vs. GRE: Conducting Body
The Educational Testing Service (ETS) conducts the GRE exam. A non-profit corporation known as ETS is renowned around the world for developing standardized examinations for educational reasons.
On the other hand, The British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English all jointly own IELTS.
IELTS vs. GRE: Eligibility Criteria
There are no specific requirements that must be accomplished in order to take the IELTS. Generally speaking, once you have finished your 12th level of study, you are eligible to apply for the test. The majority of non-English speaking students who want to continue their study at foreign institutions take this test.
To take the GRE, you don’t need to meet any specific prerequisites. Anyone interested in studying abroad, regardless of age or educational background, may apply for the test. The majority of master’s degree candidates are qualified to take this exam.
IELTS vs. GRE: Exam Format
The GRE is divided into three primary sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing.
- Two assignments are part of the analytical writing section: analyze an issue and an argument.
- There are two portions of the verbal reasoning test, each with 20 questions.
- There are two parts with 20 questions each in the quantitative reasoning section.
- Ungraded research questions might be asked as part of the exam.
The IELTS is made up of 4 major components:
- There are multiple-choice questions in the listening and reading portions, two writing exercises, and a face-to-face interview with the examiner in the speaking section.
- The exam evaluates the test-taker’s comprehension of spoken and written English and their proficiency in verbal and written communication.
IELTS vs. GRE: Score
The GRE is scored on a scale of 130-170 for both the Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning sections, in one-point increments.
- Scores for the analytical writing component range from 0 to 6, with half-point increments. A total score between 260 and 340 is obtained by combining the results of the verbal and quantitative reasoning components.
- The GRE exam scores are good for five years, and the score report shows the test-taker’s overall score as well as the results of each component.
Percentile ranks, which show the proportion of test-takers who scored lower than the test-taker, are also included in the score report.
On the other hand, Each component of the IELTS test is graded on a scale from 0 to 9, in half-point increments.
- The four categories’ results are summed to get an overall score that ranges from 0 to 9. The test-takers’ total score as well as the results of each segment are included in the score report.
- The band score, which represents the test-taker’s level of English ability, is also included in the score report.
- The IELTS exam scores are good for two years, and the score report shows the test-taker’s total score as well as the scores for each portion of the exam as well as the band score.
IELTS vs. GRE: Difficulty
GRE: The Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning parts of the GRE are very difficult. The questions are made to gauge your capacity for critical thought, deductive reasoning, and problem-solving.
IELTS: Depending on the candidate’s level of English language skills, the IELTS has varying degrees of difficulty. An understanding of varied accents and challenging texts is usually required for the Listening and Reading parts. Effective communication and idea structuring are required in the Speaking and Writing parts.
IELTS vs. GRE: Price
The cost to take the GRE varies depending on where you are, but it typically costs between $205 and $255. For services like score reporting, sending supplementary score reports, and postponing or cancelling the exam, there can be extra costs.
The cost to take the IELTS exam varies depending on where you are, but it typically costs between $185 and $325. For services like score reporting, sending supplementary score reports, and postponing or canceling the exam, there can be extra costs.
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IELTS vs. GRE: Which is easier?
The IELTS exam only assesses the English language proficiency of a candidate and doesn’t focus on the knowledge and educational skills of the candidate.
The GRE exam focuses on the analytical and educational skills of the students, making it much more difficult than the IELTS test.
IELTS vs. GRE: Which one should you pick?
IELTS or GRE? Candidates frequently are unsure about which test they should select or which of the two is preferable. If students can identify what meets their needs and what suits them, they will have clarity about this.
Graduate students seeking more education may select the GRE, whilst working adults seeking jobs or students intending to study abroad may select the IELTS. The IELTS is taken by all demographics, including students, recent graduates, post-graduates, and working professionals, thus it’s important to remember that.
Students must take into account their desired college entrance standards while choosing which exam to study for. The GRE should be the exam that they concentrate on taking if their selected college has a certain qualifying score range. Alternatively, if the university has an IELTS minimum band threshold, that test should be studied for and taken. The college could demand both tests in specific circumstances. At the end of the day, it’s crucial to know which test—the GRE vs. IELTS—is best suited to the candidate’s specific needs.
Conclusion
These 2 tests may appear to be the same but there are various differences between the two. The IELTS exam evaluates a student’s English ability, whereas the GRE exam is meant to assess a student’s academic proficiency. It is very important for students to comprehend the distinctions and the perks between the two exams so they may select the one that most closely suits their academic objectives and other requirements.
FAQs
GRE vs. IELTS Which is easier?
Because IELTS focuses largely on language competence testing, it is less difficult to prepare for than the GRE.
What distinguishes the GRE from the IELTS?
The GRE is a globally standardized test necessary for masters-level admittance, whereas the IELTS is a language test required for international students from non-English speaking countries.
How many times a year am I allowed to apply for the GRE and IELTS?
In contrast to the GRE, which is only offered five times a year, the IELTS is offered 48 times.
What do the GRE and IELTS tests assess?
The IELTS exam measures a test-taker’s English ability, whereas the GRE is meant to assess a test-taker’s academic aptitude for graduate-level study.
How are the IELTS and GRE tests graded?
The verbal and mathematical reasoning components of the GRE are graded on a scale of 130–170, while the analytical writing section is graded on a scale of 0–6. Each component of the IELTS exam is graded on a scale of 1 to 9, and the total score is calculated as the average of the four sections.
Gaurav Kandari is a seasoned study abroad consultant with over 5 years of experience, specializing in guiding students to the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia. An avid traveler, he draws on his global adventures to enrich his consulting, providing invaluable insights to aspiring scholars.
