GMAT vs GRE for MBA: Which Test Should You Take?
One of the most important choices you will have to make while thinking about an MBA school is whether to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
Although business schools throughout the world accept both examinations, your chances of getting admitted may be impacted by the test you take. The main distinctions, parallels, and considerations between the GMAT vs GRE for MBA admissions are examined in this article.
What is GMAT vs GRE for MBA?
What is the GMAT?
The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) administers the GMAT, a popular entrance exam for MBA programs and business institutions.
The test assesses critical thinking and reasoning abilities that are necessary to thrive in prestigious graduate business schools. A rolling 12-month period allows you to retake the GMAT at a testing facility up to five times for a maximum of eight total retakes. This is true for any exam format.
What is the GRE?
The Educational Testing Service (ETS) administers the GRE, which is taken into account for admission to hundreds of graduate programs, including law and business schools. The purpose of the test is to assess your critical thinking, analytical writing, and verbal and mathematical reasoning abilities.
The GRE may be retaken up to five times (every 21 days) throughout a 12-month rolling period. You can select which test results are delivered to the colleges you are applying to if you take the exam more than once and purchase the ScoreSelect option.
GMAT vs. GRE: Which admissions exam is more popular?
The greatest test for non-native English speakers is the GMAT. According to recent studies, individuals with a limited vocabulary may find it simpler to study for the GMAT test than the GRE.
The GMAT is now accepted at more business schools. Over 2,400 business schools worldwide have more than 7,700 programs that accept the GMAT. In contrast, about 1,300 business schools accept the GRE.
GMAT scores are sought after by top business recruiters. Many recruiters take GMAT scores into account when employing MBA or business master’s graduates, per GMAC’s 2024 Corporate Recruiters Survey.
The GMAT is the preferred entrance exam for the best business schools in the world. On average, around two-thirds of students at the top 10 business schools in the United States (based on the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings) took the GMAT. At universities like the Booth School of Business (73%), Harvard Business School (74%), and Kellogg School of Management (76%), the GMAT was the most popular option.
GMAT vs. GRE: Differences Between the Two Exams
| Category | GMAT | GRE |
| Purpose | The only exam created especially for graduate business program admissions that has been proven to accurately forecast success throughout the first year of an MBA program. | Many graduate schools outside of business accept the general graduate school exam. |
| Online Time | 2 hours 15 minutes | 1 hour 58 minutes |
| Sections | Three portions of the test that focus on particular abilities related to your career path | Five exam portions that have nothing to do with a particular topic of study |
| Tools | The sequence of the exam portions is up to you, and you can use a keyboard and a whiteboard online or in person. | There is a set order in which sections must be finished. No choice for a keyboard-equipped online whiteboard. |
| Unofficial scores | Official scores usually take 1-3 business days to appear; view unofficial results instantaneously. | Await your official score in 8–10 days. |
| Sending scores | Scores can be sent to five programs for free; each extra institution costs $35. After obtaining scores, select schools. | Scores can be sent to four programs for free; each extra university costs $27. Before the test, select schools. |
| Retesting | Wait 16 days; you can try five times a year. No restriction on lifespan. | Wait 21 days; you can try five times a year. No restriction on lifespan. |
GMAT vs GRE Scores for MBA Programs
The GMAT is no longer the only test in the game since admissions trends indicate that business schools are seeking candidates with backgrounds beyond business. Comparing results on the GMAT and the GRE is like comparing apples and oranges since they are two very distinct examinations.
Although many MBA programs utilize the ETS comparison tool as a benchmark, both GMAC (the people who administer the GMAT) and ETS (the people who administer the GRE) employ comparison tools to put students’ results into context. You should find out what score ranges the institutions you have selected demand for admission to maximize both your application and your score.
Which test is easier: GRE or GMAT?
Generally speaking, the GMAT is best suited for people with strong analytical and quantitative abilities who are also adept at deciphering data from text, tables, and charts to answer challenging issues. In contrast to the GMAT, the GRE math portion is often simpler and comes with a calculator for every quantitative issue.
Test-takers with strong vocabularies may favor the GRE, whereas strong editors may like the Verbal portion of the GMAT. It will take some preparation to become acclimated to the “oddball” question types on both tests, which include Data Sufficiency on the GMAT and Quantitative Comparison on the GRE.
Conclusion
Depending on your target schools, professional objectives, and abilities, you might choose between the GMAT and GRE for your MBA application. While the GRE provides flexibility for a variety of graduate programs, business institutions and MBA recruiters frequently choose the GMAT. Selecting the right exam to increase your chances of admission requires strategic preparation and an understanding of the main distinctions.
