GRE is operated by ETS (Educational Testing Service), with over 700,000 annual test-takers globally. GMAT is operated by GMAC, primarily for global business school applications. Both have digital/at-home testing options for scheduling flexibility.
## GRE Structure and Preparation
**Test structure (post-2023 revision)**: Verbal Reasoning (2 sections × 18 questions) + Quantitative Reasoning (2 sections × 27 questions) + Analytical Writing (1 essay); total duration approximately 1 hour 58 minutes (significantly shorter than before the revision).
**Score interpretation**: Verbal 130-170 (mean ~151), Quant 130-170 (mean ~153), Writing 0-6. Top STEM programs (MIT, Stanford) typically expect Quant 165+ (~90th+ percentile) and Verbal 155+; top humanities programs expect Verbal 160+, with lower Quant requirements.
**Preparation priorities for Chinese students**:
– Quant (math): generally strong for Chinese students; 170 is nearly standard for STEM applications; 3-4 weeks of intensive prep usually sufficient
– Verbal: the core challenge — especially vocabulary (approximately 3,000 GRE-specific high-frequency words, quite different from everyday English) and Text Completion/Sentence Equivalence question types; recommended 3-6 months of systematic preparation
– Writing: AW 4.0 is the baseline, achievable via templates and practice; trainable in a short timeframe
**Recommended resources**: Manhattan Prep GRE, Magoosh (online platform), GregMat+ (highly cost-effective YouTube prep channel).
## GMAT Preparation
**2023 revision (GMAT Focus Edition)**: eliminated AWA writing; new three-section structure: Quantitative Reasoning + Verbal Reasoning + Data Insights (integrating Data Sufficiency and chart analysis). Score range 205-805; top MBA programs (Harvard, Wharton, Stanford) median GMAT typically 730-740+.
**Preparation strategy**: GMAT tests logical reasoning ability, not pure math or English — many Chinese students lose points on Verbal (especially Critical Reasoning). Recommended total prep period: 3-6 months; build confidence with Quant first, then focus intensively on Verbal.
See [Complete US University Application Guide](https://sunqi.org/us-university-application-en/) and [GRE official website ETS](https://www.ets.org/gre/).
