How tough is the GRE general test?

Question

I'll be taking the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) this summer and have heard opposing stories about its difficulty and about how easy it is. If you have taken the GRE, what do you think? Tell me what you scored, how much preparation you put into it (if any), and if you've taken the SAT compare its difficulty to that.

Answer 1

The thing about the GRE is that it tests you to the limit of your ability.  For every question you get right, it gets harder.  Conversely, every time you get a question wrong, the test gets easier.  That's why the test is tricky.  It is meant to be the most challenging test you'll ever take because it works with your ability.

Now as for the SAT I didn't study at all and was able to manage a 1250 on a 1600 pt. scale.  For the GRE I didn't prep math and did a vocab refresher and managed a 1400/1600.

I believe the GRE is the more difficult test because it tests you to the max.  At least that's how it is now.  I don't know how they do the SAT anymore, but since it was paper/pencil in my day, it's easier.

With the GRE you can't go back and answer a question you were stuck on, and you can't review your answers at all because the test changes as you take it.

Hope that helped.

Answer 2

I think the verbal was a more difficult version of the SAT, and the math section was significantly easier.  That, to me, made it feel about the same.  

I've heard people say that you're likely to get about the same score on the GRE as the SAT-- if you took the old version on the 1600 scale, anyway.  I am no exception:  I got a 1410/1600 on the SAT, then a 1410 again on the GRE.

Prep time?  I studied my butt off for the SAT.  GRE-wise, though, I just did a vocab refresher (I read 100-200ish words in a GRE book) and took a couple practice tests.