GRE vs TOEFL: Which one to Choose in 2025?

If you’re from a non-English speaking nation, you might have encountered the GRE vs TOEFL dilemma while planning to pursue higher education in top countries like the US or Canada. The GRE is a graduate-level exam that examines your graduation course work whereas TOEFL is an English language test that checks your English language skills. Both tests are recognised and globally accepted. 

These GRE and TOEFL tests are required to enrol for universities offering study abroad programmes. Passing any one of them is not sufficient; You should pass both tests to be eligible for admission to universities abroad. Still, if you are not sure about GRE or TOEFL, read this blog till the end as it covers GRE vs TOEFL key distinctions, a quick glance at scoring patterns, acceptance etc.

Table of Contents

• GRE vs TOEFL: Overview
• GRE vs TOEFL: Quick Comparison
• Key Differences between GRE and TOEFL Exam
• 1. Eligibility criteria
• 2. Exam Pattern
• 3. Exam Duration
• 4. Exam Fees
• 5. Marking Scheme
• 6. Test Difficulty Level
• 7. Number of attempts
• 8. Acceptance
• GRE vs TOEFL: How to choose the right test for yourself?
• Frequently Asked Questions

GRE vs TOEFL: Overview

The main intention of taking the GRE and TOEFL exams is to apply for admission to graduate programs at the best universities in popular study destinations like the US, UK, Canada, etc. These test scores help the officials in your profile evaluation and also assess the knowledge you have gained in previous studies. Furthermore, the examining committee also takes GRE and TOEFL scores into account while granting financial help or merit-based scholarships in the top colleges across the world. The GRE exam is typically taken by students planning to pursue graduate studies, whereas the TOEFL test is taken by non-native English speakers aiming to study at English-speaking institutions.

GRE vs TOEFL: Quick Comparison

Here is a chart that gives key differences of the crucial aspects between the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL):

Particulars	GRE	TOEFL
Total students appeared in 2022	114,647	Around 23 lakhs
Frequency	5 times	TOEFL iBT: 50 times TOEFL PBT: 4 times
Scoring Range	Total score: 260-340; For Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning: 130-170;	TOEFL iBT: 0-120 TOEFL PBT: 310-677 (Each section is scored from 0-30)
Computer-adaptive	Yes	Yes
Total Time	3 hours & 45 minutes	TOEFL iBT: 3 hours TOEFL PBT: 2.5 hours
Total number of questions	MCQs: 80; Unscored research section: 20	MCQ: 87 to 90 questions ; Unscored research questions: 15-20
Number of sections, essays, speaking tasks	Sections: 6; Essays: 2 Speaking tasks: 0	Sections: 4 (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking); Essays: 2 Speaking tasks: 6
Validity	GRE score validity is up to 5 years	TOEFL score validity is 2 years
Cost	$205	Varies by country
Free score reports included	4	4

Key Differences between GRE and TOEFL Exam

Although GRE and TOEFL are two different types of exams, they almost serve the same purpose but they vary in a few aspects. If you are unsure about GRE or TOEFL-which test is better, we have given you the key differences to look at between the two tests.

8 Key differences between GRE and TOEFL tests are

1. Eligibility criteria
2. Exam Pattern
3. Exam Duration
4. Exam Fees
5. Marking Scheme
6. Test Difficulty level
7. Number of Attempts
8. Acceptance

1. Eligibility criteria

There are no specific eligibility requirements for GRE. Irrespective of age or qualifications, anyone interested in studying abroad can apply for the exam. Mostly, candidates planning to study for a master's degree usually appear for this examination. 

For the TOEFL test, there is no age limit and specific eligibility criteria. You can apply for the exam if you have completed your 12th level of school. Students who are from non-English speaking countries typically choose this exam to continue their education in study abroad institutions.

2. Exam Pattern

If you are looking for an answer to the question, Is TOEFL easier than GRE? You can find the answer here by comparing the exam pattern of both tests. Here we have explained the GRE and TOEFL exam patterns.

GRE

The GRE exam has three main sections which are Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning. Since the tests are organised in two formats i.e. Computer-based and Paper-based. Let’s have a look at their respective exam pattern:

Sections	Computer-based	Paper-based
Analytical Writing	1 section: two tasks (60 minutes)	2 section: two tasks (60 minutes)
Verbal Reasoning	2 section: 40 questions (60 minutes)	2 section: 50 questions (70 minutes)
Quantitative Reasoning	2 section: 40 questions (70 minutes)	2 section: 50 questions (80 minutes)
Unscored	Varies	NA
Reasoning	Varies	NA

TOEFL

TOEFL exam will test your English proficiency in speaking, listening, writing and reading. This test is to evaluate a student’s diverse skills and language abilities. Table given below is the exam pattern of the test:

Sections	Total Questions	Time taken
Reading	35-56	60-80 minutes
Listening	34-51	60-90 minutes
Break	—-------	—-------
Speaking	6 tasks	20 minutes
Writing	2 tasks	50 minutes

Compared to the GRE, TOEFL exam has easier Reading and Writing questions. Both GRE and TOEFL test reading and writing skills, but GRE tends to be more challenging than TOEFL and needs more skills in critical reading, argument analysis, and developing your own argument.

3. Exam Duration

• The exam duration of the GRE General test lasts 3 hours and 45 minutes, whereas the GRE subject test might take 2 hours and 50 minutes to complete.
• For the TOEFL test, you will get 3 hours and 30 minutes total time including a 10-minute break halfway through the exam and the check-in progress.

4. Exam Fees

The GRE General test examination fee is 228 USD for international students which is roughly around INR 18,769 for Indian students. The GRE application fee however might vary from country to country. 

On the other hand, the TOEFL application fee also changes based on the region. You should pay 190 USD (~ INR 14,785)  for registration to apply for this test. Additionally, you may also have to pay some extra charges for the late fee, exam center changes, rescheduling fee, any cancellations, etc.

5. Marking Scheme

The GRE vs TOEFL difficulty level can be assessed based on their marking scheme. Here we have explained the scoring range of both the GRE and TOEFL tests.

The GRE exam scores are split up into three different sections

1. Analytical Writing
2. Verbal Reasoning
3. Quantitative Reasoning

The Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning section of the test is scored between 130 to 170. The mean score for Verbal Reasoning is 151, while for Quantitative, it is 153. For the final analytical writing, the average result is 4.0, with scores ranging from 0 to 6 in half-point increments.

On the other hand, the TOEFL test has four sections which are:

1. Listening
2. Writing
3. Reading and 
4. Speaking.

The score range of each one of the sections is 0 to 30. A TOEFL score between 90 to 100 or above is good for admission to top universities.  

Only TOEFL has speaking and listening sections, If you take TOEFL you have to go through 6 speaking tasks, and in listening four to six recordings, each followed by 6 sets of questions. While GRE has math questions, TOEFL doesn’t.

6. Test Difficulty Level

The GRE test is considered as significantly harder than TOEFL as it contains more difficult questions of vocabulary and reading passages. The GRE test has simple mathematics questions similar to other tests. You need to have good math skills to do well on the GRE exam.

On the other hand, the TOEFL is simpler than GRE if you have good proficiency in English. The TOEFL test mostly focuses on testing your English skills rather than assessing your knowledge of mathematical questions or other writing-related.

7. Number of attempts

Students can appear for the GRE General test once every 21 days, which is up to five times in a continuous period of 12 months duration. This criterion is still applicable if you have cancelled your previously attempted GRE scores.

There are no limits on the number of attempts in the TOEFL exam. The maximum number of times you can appear for the TOEFL test in a 12-day period is one.

8. Acceptance

The GRE is an internationally accepted test for graduate and postgraduate courses across the world. Almost every study destination like the US, UK, and Canada takes these scores for their graduate programs. However, the TOEFL, which is an English language proficiency test is mandatory in every study abroad institution. This TOEFL test is widely accepted by more than 11,000 universities in more than 150 countries.

Now that you know the difference between GRE and TOEFL, let’s quickly determine which test you should take, ensuring you don’t miss a crucial part of your application and avoid wasting time on unnecessary tests.

Also Read: Toughest Exams in the World 2025

GRE vs TOEFL: How to choose the right test for yourself?

Students looking to attend grad school abroad for studies need to take both GRE and TOEFL, but the two tests serve different purposes. While choosing between GRE and TOEFL you should always check the college admission requirements you are applying for. Some colleges may want scores from one, both, or neither. Take the GRE test if you are applying to a graduate school, particularly research-based, and Take TOEFL if English is not your native language but excel at using it.

However, it is necessary for you to start by giving practice tests to pick up the right choice between GRE or TOEFL for your abroad studies. One out of the other could very well suit you better than the other. A crucial part is to analyse your practice tests and go for the one with which you feel more comfortable with. Hope this blog has resolved your “GRE vs TOEFL” struggle.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is GRE and TOEFL both required?

The TOEFL and GRE are the two important tests to appear if you are looking for graduate courses, however, both of them serve different purposes. There are some cases where you need to take both tests. For instance, if you are applying for schools that require GRE scores and you aren’t a native English speaker, then you will likely have to take both tests.

2. What is the difference between GRE and TOEFL?

The GRE is a graduate-level exam that checks your graduation course work whereas TOEFL is an English language test. While TOEFL is mainly a testing exam that can check your language skills, the GRE exam is designed to check the student's gauging skills in quantitative, verbal, and analytical reasoning. 

3. Should I take GRE or TOEFL first?

GRE is typically considered a harder exam than TOEFL. Hence focus on this test first. To ace the test, you should focus on your language, observation skills, joining the dots, writing skills, learning, and applying.

4. Which exam is better IELTS or TOEFL or GRE?

Most universities look for your GRE score to determine your ability to do graduate coursework. On the other hand,  IELTS test scores ensure that your skills in English are strong enough to do well in university academic instructions.

5. What is the full form of GRE and TOEFL?

The full form of the GRE is- Graduate Record Examination.
The full form of TOEFL is- Test of English as a Foreign Language.

GRE and TOEFL test scores were asked by many globally recognized universities during the application process. An important step to feel confident and score well on test day is knowing the format and content of the two exams. And trust us! Through our Kanan study abroad experts and exam resources, you can surely boost your score to land in your desired university.