Directional effect of applied pressure during sintering on the microstructure and fracture toughness of the heat-treated silicon nitride ceramics has been investigated. The specimens with a composition of 92Si3N4-8Y2O3(in wt%) were sintered at 172$0^{circ}C$ by a hot press (HP ) and a hot isostatic press (HIP) and heat-treated for grain growth at 1800~20$0^{circ}C$. The fracture toughness of the HP samples increased with the grain size while the fracture toughness of the HIP treated samples remained the same even though the grain growth occurred. This discrepancy was explained by a bimodal grain size distribution and large aspect ratio of the HPed samples and a monomodal grain size distributjion and samll aspect ratio of the HIP treated samples.