GRE Vs MAT: Comparison and Conversion Guide

Successful people know the difference between the GRE Vs. MAT difference and capitalize on it to advance their careers. People who want to go to graduate school take both the GRE and the MAT exams, but the GRE is much more well-known.

If you’ve heard of MAT, you might be aware that it’s a quicker and less expensive graduate school admissions test with just one type of question you need to prepare for.

Naturally, lots of people favor the “GRE.” The MAT, or Miller Analogies Test, is another favorite option. Almost every graduate program accepts both exams, but certain people favor one over the other.

Which test, if you had the option, would you choose to take? In this GRE vs. MAT article, we explain the peculiarities of these tests and the significant differences between each.

GRE vs. MAT: About the GRE (Graduate Records Examination)

The GRE evaluates a candidate’s level of academic achievement in undergraduate subjects. It is for applicants with undergraduate degrees, is harder than the ACT or SAT, and is for those who have already sat for SAT or ACT.

It has sectional divisions that test examiners in different ways.

The verbal reasoning section assesses vocabulary using challenging reading passages, text completion exercises, and sentence equivalence questions.

The GRE quantitative reasoning section tests a candidate’s familiarity and ability to work with numbers and simple arithmetic. This section is simpler than other competitive exams.

Before taking the GRE, it is important to consider whether the chosen graduate course requires the GRE or other exams, such as the ACT, and whether any fellowships or scholarships are available for deserving candidates.

Candidates should also be sure that their graduate school GPA qualifies them for further study and that they are certain of the course or doctoral research, they want to pursue.

It’s crucial to remember that getting a good GRE score is not a myth, and applicants should thoroughly research and contrast the graduate schools to which they intend to apply.

The average GRE score for the test’s verbal and quantitative reasoning parts is 151 and 154, respectively. GRE scale the verbal and quantitative sections of the exam in a range between 130 and 170.

You can take the GRE up to five times yearly, and the results remain valid for five years.

Also see: Is the GRE Hard?

Eligibility for the GRE.

There are no specific requirements for taking the GRE, says ETS. Anyone can sign up to take the GRE, regardless of age or educational background.

However, if they are applying for master’s programs, candidates must take the GRE. The only additional requirement for a candidate is to have a valid passport to register for the GRE because they will need to present it as identification at the testing center.

As of July 1, 2021, applicants may use their Aadhar Card in conjunction with other forms of identification when registering for the GRE.

The GRE Format.

Both the computer-based and paper-based GRE Exam Patterns are unique.

The computer-based GRE has an adaptive exam format.

The GRE General Test format consists of three distinct sections: the GRE Verbal Reasoning, GRE Analytical Writing Assessment, and GRE Quantitative Reasoning.

There are two subsections in each of these sections. Three hours and 45 minutes is the total time for the GRE General Test.

Check out: Is the GRE harder than the SAT

GRE vs. MAT: About the MAT (Miller Analogies Test)

The Miller Analogies Test, “MAT,” is a standard exam primarily for graduate school admissions that assesses your capacity for analogy solving.

MAT came into existence about 50 years ago as an IQ test to gauge the test-takers capacity for analytical thought.

Pearson Assessment administers this examination.

The MAT takes 60 minutes to complete and has 120 questions. The 120 questions assess a candidate’s higher-level reasoning abilities, analytical thinking, and general academic knowledge gathered over many years of schooling.

Every MAT question requires you to complete a partial analogy. The exam gauges a general understanding of the humanities, natural sciences, mathematics, and social sciences. Out of the 120 questions, only 100 will contribute to the final score; the remaining 20 are experimental.

Test-takers do not see the experimental questions before the exam.

MAT covers various relationship types. These relationship types include Semantic, classification, association, and logical/mathematical relationships.

There are no breaks when taking the MAT, so test-takers are to move slowly and skip challenging questions before returning to them.

Test takers should attempt to respond to each question because incorrect answers do not reduce their scores.

It is not advisable to cram for the MAT because it intends to test the analytical abilities and general knowledge that a person has.

One common exam-taking technique is to read each of the three terms provided and try to come up with the fourth term before looking at the possible answers. There is only one valid and logical relationship between the pairs of terms.

Learn from this expert tips on How to register for the GRE online

GRE vs. MAT: More About MAT

Your MAT test score will increase with tested MAT flashcards.

More than 500 testing facilities offer MAT in the US. On the MAT website, test takers can register for the exam and access a testing center.

Test-takers should be aware that every center is responsible for setting its fees for the MAT and its testing schedule.

The testing fee includes up to three official transcripts that will be mailed to chosen institutions without additional charge. However, those recipients must be specified when the test is taken to avoid paying additional fees.

Additional costs (currently $25 per transcript, subject to change) will apply if you need to send more than three transcripts.

Test takers are not to bring personal items while taking the MAT. They would only need to bring identification and a piece of paper with the school address if they want the results sent.

Test takers with disabilities can ask for special testing accommodations. Anyone needing accommodations should contact their preferred testing location well before the exam date because most testing centers can provide them. The materials must be delivered six weeks before the exam date.

Specifications With Accommodations

There is no extra cost for taking the exam with accommodations, but MAT will need to receive documentation outlining the specific types of accommodations needed.

An official score report will be mailed approximately 10 to 15 business days after the MAT is taken. A percentile rank and a scaled score will both be included in the result.

The scaled score has a 200–600 range with a 400–600 average. A scaled score of 400 corresponds to a percentile rank of 50%. No minimum MAT score is required, but individual institutions may have their standards for program admission.

Score verification can be requested if a student feels there was a problem with their exam score. Although there is a fee of $35 (subject to change), this rarely affects the final score.

However, if there is a change, the fee will be returned, and corrected transcripts will be sent to all institutions that received an original transcript.

If test takers are unsatisfied with their initial results, they can choose to retake the exam. There isn’t a hard-and-fast rule about how often the MAT can be taken again.

In addition to practice exams and online practice tests, the official MAT website also offers preparation materials and services from outside organizations.

However, because MAT covers a wide range of topics.

MAT vs. GRE: 10 Ways They Differ

Even though they are both used for graduate school applications, GRE and MAT differ in many ways. Below are 12 GRE vs. MAT comparisons.

1. Length Of Exams

The MAT is considerably shorter than the GRE. The GRE is a three-and-a-half-hour exam with six sections, two essays, and one hundred multiple-choice questions. The MAT, in contrast, has 120 questions and lasts 60 minutes.

2. Format of Examination

The GRE is broken down into six sections covering a key subject area. After writing two essays, the exam will alternate between sections on verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning. Every verbal and quantitative question will have multiple-choice answers.

The MAT only has one section, and questions are arranged in various ways.

3. Structure of the Exam

The GRE is the only exam that divides questions into different sections.

The GRE consists of three sections: analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning.

Testing writing and analytical reasoning abilities are called analytical writing. Identifying key ideas in texts, summarizing passages, and comprehending the meaning of words, sentences, and complete passages are all skills tested on the Verbal Reasoning section of the exam.

Geometry, data analysis, algebra, and arithmetic are all tested in the quantitative reasoning section.

MAT has an analogy you must complete; however, the analogies assess your familiarity with various subjects, including the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and mathematics.

Take out time to read through: Crush the GRE: Time-Efficient Prep for High Scores

4. The Time Allotted for Questions

The MAT is shorter and contains fewer questions, but you’ll need to finish those questions more quickly. Each MAT question will give you an average of 30 seconds.

The GRE, on the other hand, typically has more detailed questions that may require you to read lengthy passages or solve challenging math problems. You typically have one minute and forty seconds to answer each multiple-choice question.

5. Verbal vs. Mathematical Emphasis

Compared to the GRE, MAT has fewer math questions for you to complete because it places a greater emphasis on verbal questions.

Only one of the four MAT question types, Logical/Mathematical, includes math-related questions so most tests will consist of verbal questions.

The GRE, in contrast, places a greater emphasis on mathematics than MAT because it has two sections, each of the questions covering verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning.

6. Verbal Passages

The verbal portions of the two exams test some of the same abilities, but the GRE requires you to read and interpret several brief passages.

In contrast, the MAT only has analogy questions and requires no additional reading.

As a result, verbal questions on the MAT place a greater emphasis on “smaller picture” subjects like word definitions and analyzing phrases. Whereas verbal questions on the GRE place a greater emphasis on critical reading skills. It also focuses on a person’s capacity to analyze and summarize written passages.

8. Use of Calculator

You cannot use a calculator on the MAT, but you may on certain GRE sections.

During the Quantitative Reasoning sections of the GRE, you will have access to a computer displayed on a screen.

Learn How to use the GRE calculator

9. Cost of Examination

Generally speaking, the MAT will be less expensive than the GRE, though you’ll need to do some research to find out exactly how much the MAT will cost.

You would need to decide where you want to take the test to find out when you could take it and how much it would cost. Each test center sets its prices for the MAT.

It would help if you directly contact the particular testing facility to sign up for the MAT (cost: approximately $100). There are three free score reports included in the cost.

10: Colleges That Accept Scores

In comparison to the MAT, the GRE is much more widely accepted.

You can take the GRE and have your scores accepted by all of the graduate programs you’re applying to, both in the US and abroad.

The vast majority of graduate programs both accept and value GRE scores.

Learn how to scale your GRE from this article: Khan Academy GRE: Master the Test with Expert Guidance

GRE vs. MAT: Questions to Expect

Even if they are familiar with the material being tested, many people may find it difficult to understand how MAT frames its questions,

MAT frames questions as analogies, but many people are unfamiliar with analogy questions and how to approach them.

The format of GRE questions, however, is likely to resemble school questions. It is simpler for test takers to understand what the questions are asking and how to solve them.

GRE vs. MAT: Getting Registered

Compared to the MAT, most people find that the GRE registration process is simpler and faster.

No matter where you take the GRE, the registration process is very simple and the same. You can quickly sign up after seeing the locations and times where GREs are offered.

Additionally, it’s simpler to find an answer to your questions on the ETS website or locate the appropriate contact information.

It is much less centralized to register for the MAT. You must contact each testing facility separately to learn when they offer the MAT and how much they charge.

Note that each testing facility has its MAT policies.

You’ll need to find their contact information and call them because most test centers make this information difficult to find online.

Since Pearson only provides a little online support for the MAT, you will once more need to speak with the test center directly if there are issues with your registration.

GRE vs. MAT: University Acceptance Rate

More graduate programs accept GRE scores because it is more widely used than MAT.

You’ll need to check with each program you’re interested in to see if they accept MAT scores.

Additionally, even though you can select a few schools to receive scores from both tests at the test center, it is much simpler to send additional score reports later if you take the GRE.

All you need to do is sign into your account online and follow a few simple steps.

For the MAT, you must contact the testing facility where you took the exam and adhere to their instructions for sending additional score reports.

GRE vs. MAT: Which Should You Pick

You should give the decision to take the MAT over the GRE some serious thought, even if all of the programs you’re applying to accept MAT scores.

Although data on the number of people who take the MAT each year is lacking, it is undoubtedly a very small proportion of those who take the GRE.

Graduate programs comprehend the GRE, what it measures, and what a particular score means much more thoroughly than the MAT.

If you submit your MAT scores rather than your GRE scores, admissions officers will probably have a much weaker understanding of what that score means about your abilities and knowledge.

On the other hand, they would prefer you submit your GRE scores.

Even if you had a strong MAT score, this may disadvantage you.

The last thing you should do before deciding to take the MAT is to speak with someone in the admissions department of each graduate program you’re considering and inquire whether sending MAT scores rather than GRE scores will disadvantage you.

The decision to take the MAT instead of the GRE should only be made after you have completed the steps above and know of any potential drawbacks from specific programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is GRE better than MAT?

The GRE and MAT are two different exams. None is better than the other; they only serve as graduate exams for further studies and proof of workability.

Is GRE harder than MAT?

The basis of hardness or ease differs from one test taker to the other. However, most test takers attribute the lengthiness of the GRE to hardness. Unlike the MAT, which is just one section and less lengthy, the GRE has three sections that require skill.

How Many times can I take MAT in a year?

You can take the MAT about eight times in twelve months.

Conclusion: GRE vs. MAT

People applying to graduate programs take both the MAT and the GRE, but there are significant differences between the two exams.

Compared to the GRE, MAT is a much shorter IQ test that only includes analogy questions. Given that it is shorter than the GRE and only contains one question type, MAT may be more user-friendly for many people.

But the GRE is simpler to register for and contains questions that are more like those you might have encountered on a school exam.

Furthermore, the GRE is accepted by many graduate programs and is much more popular than the MAT.

GRE is almost always the best option when deciding.

You should only sit for MAT if the MAT is accepted by all of the programs you are applying to, and practice tests show you will perform significantly better on it.

References

Rollins.edu– What is Mat
Powerscore.com – Which test is good for you
Pepscholar.com– Which test to take