GMAT vs GRE: Which Should I Take?

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) administers the GMAT, which is a popular entrance exam for business schools and MBA programs. The test assesses reasoning and critical thinking abilities to indicate readiness for top graduate business schools.

In a rolling 12-month period, you can retake the GMAT at a testing site up to five times (no more than eight times total). You can retake the GMAT online exam once.

The GRE consists of three scored sections and a potential experimental or unscored component. The component on analytical writing will always appear first, but you won’t be aware of the placement of the other section or which one isn’t assessed.

Up to five attempts at the GRE may be made in any 12-month rolling period (once every 21 days). You can select which test results are submitted to the colleges you’re applying to if you take the exam more than once.

GMAT vs GRE Structure & Scoring

The GRE’s AWA part is graded similarly to the GMAT’s (scores between 0-6 for each section, with half-point increments). With 1-point increments, the Verbal and Quantitative parts are rated between 130 to 170. The total score ranges from 260 to 340 and is given in 1-point increments.

The GRE is a computer-adaptive exam as well, but it is “sectional-adaptive,” meaning that in the Verbal and Quantitative modules, the section will be made easier or harder depending on how well you did in the prior section.

This “sectional-adaptive” exam makes sure you can return to a question, skip a question or question(s), and/or mark a question to try it later.

Particular	GMAT Exam	GRE Exam
Accepted by	Most graduate business programs	Most graduate programs, including business
Location	Online or at a testing center	Online or at a testing center
Cost (US)	$250 online or $275 in person (includes free score delivery to up to five schools)	$205 (includes free score delivery to up to four schools)
Length	3 hours and 7 minutes, plus two optional 8-minute breaks	3 hours and 45 minutes, plus one optional 10-minute break
Sections	Analytical Writing, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, Verbal	Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning
Scores good for	5 years	5 years

Also Read: GRE Eligibility Criteria 2023 | Check Age Limit, Educational Qualification

GMAT vs GRE Scores for MBA Programs

Both exam styles evaluate your abilities in three key areas: writing, verbal reasoning, and mathematical reasoning. The GMAT, however, examines your ability to reason logically and critically, whereas the GRE lays more of focus on vocabulary.

Since there are several word lists to learn before you can be certain of doing well on the Verbal component of the GRE, the GRE verbal is sometimes a more difficult exam for non-native speakers.

Contrarily, the Quant parts of the GRE are substantially simpler than those of the GMAT as most of the problems are centered on straightforward computations and numeric entry-type questions and do not actually test your critical reasoning abilities that much. 

Additionally, although most business schools accept the GRE for their MBA programmes, they prefer that you take the GMAT instead. The institutions have a reasonably clear knowledge of what a “good” GMAT score is and how to evaluate your GMAT score because many applicants have already taken the GMAT for their MBA programmes.

The definition of a good GRE score for a B-school, however, is still a little hazy because there aren’t many data points (i.e., prior results) accessible to B-schools. For GRE candidates, the best B-schools often establish a higher cutoff score. 

For example, for a top B-school such as Stanford, Yale, or Harvard, the average GRE score is 328+, while the average GMAT score is ~730. In our opinion, it is easier to score a 730 on the GMAT than a 328 on the GRE. Therefore, we recommend that if you are applying to an MBA program, you should write the GMAT. For other master’s and Ph.D. programs, write the GRE.

Which test is easier: GRE or GMAT?

There are significant similarities between the GMAT and GRE verbal portions. The GRE’s emphasis on vocabulary and word choice is another distinction. Your vocabulary isn’t explicitly tested on the GMAT.

It encourages critical thinking and reasoning. Concerns about the GRE verbal section’s reliance on obscure vocabulary terms. Most pupils (including native English speakers) need to acquire 1500–2000 words to feel at ease. The GRE may be more difficult than the GMAT just for this reason.

Your capacity to retain and apply 200 grammatical principles is tested on the GMAT. The study of grammar is the focus of the Sentence Correction section. The vocabulary on the GMAT is often simpler for test-takers. There are reading comprehension questions on both exams. Here, you should read a paragraph or two.

Your capacity to retain and apply 200 grammatical principles is tested on the GMAT. The study of grammar is the focus of the Sentence Correction section. The vocabulary on the GMAT is often simpler for test-takers.

Both examinations’ quant sections mostly consist of high school-level math. They exclude calculus, trigonometry, and other subjects in upper mathematics. Calculators are allowed on the GRE. This gives many people comfort.

However, the calculator will typically hinder you more than assist you. We show our pupils how to discover an answer without one quickly! You are not permitted to use a calculator on the GMAT. You must feel confident doing mental calculations for both examinations.

The GMAT quant portion prioritizes logical math problems over geometrical ones, which differs from the GRE.

Also Read: Detailed Guide on GRE 2023 Exam with Syllabus, Exam Pattern

Should I take the GMAT or GRE?

Now that we’ve answered which is easier, let’s compare the tests in more detail. You must think about your strengths and future objectives to respond to this question. If you have your heart set on studying business, the GMAT is a better option. It is true that more and more MBA programmes are accepting the GRE.

The GRE is now accepted by prestigious business schools including Stanford and Harvard. Even yet, a lot of business schools exclusively accept the GMAT. Only 1300 institutions with a business school accept the GRE, to give you an idea of the numbers.

The GMAT is accepted by over 2300 colleges and over 7000 business programmes. Simply said, the GMAT will satisfy every business school’s exam requirement. Less people accept the GRE.

The GRE is less specific because it is accepted by a wide variety of graduate schools. This gives you flexibility. The GRE is a better choice for you if you are unsure of what you want to pursue after graduation. Your GMAT score tells institutions that you’re committed to working in management. It demonstrates your dedication to obtaining an MBA or other business-related master’s degree.

The GMAT’s structure is confusing, foreign, and stressful. The GMAT is computer adaptive, in contrast to the exams we all took in high school and college.

This fact results in two key differences from the GRE. The “fixed in stone” question navigation is perhaps the most disturbing. eh? A question cannot be skipped and then returned to. A response is made as soon as you confirm it. An algorithm calculates the order and degree of difficulty and modifies it in response to your replies.

FAQs – GMAT vs GRE: Which Should I Take?