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Last Updated on September 17, 2026
Which is easier, GMAT or GRE? The answer will depend largely on your individual strengths and weaknesses. For example, students with strong vocabulary skills may find GRE Verbal more manageable, while students who are comfortable with quantitative reasoning, logic, and data analysis may be better suited to the GMAT.
The good news is that if your target programs accept both exams, you don’t have to guess which test is right for you. Take an official practice test for both the GRE and GMAT, compare your performance, and consider which question types and test format better suit your skills.
Today, the vast majority of business school applicants have the option to take either the GRE or GMAT.
- Do Your Desired Schools Accept the GRE?
- Do Your Desired Schools Prefer the GMAT?
- What Are Your Career Goals?
- Still Unsure of Which Test to Take?
- Have You Begun Studying?
- The Mechanics of the GMAT vs GRE
Let’s begin by considering the schools you’d like to attend.
Do Your Desired Schools Accept the GRE?
The obvious initial point of consideration is whether the schools to which you’re applying accept the GRE. Today, the vast majority of business schools accept GRE scores alongside GMAT scores, including leading MBA programs. However, testing policies can vary by school and program, so be sure to check the requirements for each program on your target-school list.
If all of the schools to which you’re applying accept both the GMAT and GRE, your next consideration is whether any of those programs have specific testing requirements or guidance that could influence which exam you take.
Do Your Desired Schools Prefer the GMAT?
If the schools to which you’re applying accept both the GMAT and GRE, your next consideration is whether any of those programs prefer one test over the other.
Many leading business schools explicitly state that they have no preference between the GMAT and GRE. For example, Harvard Business School, Stanford GSB, Wharton, and London Business School all currently say that they accept both tests without preference.
That said, you should always check the current admissions requirements for the individual programs on your target-school list. Testing policies can change, and some schools may provide additional guidance about the scores they expect from applicants.
TTP PRO TIP:
Research the schools you’re interested in to confirm their current GMAT and GRE policies and any guidance they provide about standardized test scores.
The next consideration is your career goals.
What Are Your Career Goals?
Your career goals may also influence whether the GMAT or GRE is the better choice for you. Some employers, particularly in management consulting and finance, may ask candidates to provide standardized test scores during the recruiting process.
So, if you’re planning to pursue a career in consulting, banking, or another highly competitive field after business school, it’s worth researching whether the companies you’re targeting consider GMAT or GRE scores when evaluating candidates. The current GMAT reports separate scores for Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights, in addition to your Total Score.
Of course, recruiting practices vary by company and can change over time. So, rather than choosing a test based on assumptions, look at the current hiring requirements of the firms you may want to work for and, if possible, speak with people who have recently gone through the recruiting process.
The bottom line is that your test choice should take into account not only business school admissions but also any potential implications for your post-MBA career.
Still Unsure of Which Test to Take?
Let’s assume all of your schools accept either test, have no preference about which one you take, and your future career goals aren’t steering you toward one test or the other. In that case, there are some other factors to consider.
Firstly, have you begun studying?
Have You Begun Studying?
If you’re just beginning your preparation and you’re not sure whether to take the GRE or GMAT, start by taking an official practice test for each exam. Take both tests under realistic testing conditions and do your best to simulate the actual test-day experience.
Then, compare your performance on the two exams. Rather than simply comparing the scores themselves, consider how competitive each score would be at your target schools. You should also think about how comfortable you felt with the question types, timing, and overall structure of each test.
If you perform significantly better on one exam, that result may point you toward the test that better suits your strengths. If your performance is similar on both, your next step should be to compare the mechanics and content of the GRE and GMAT and determine which exam is the better fit for you.
TTP PRO TIP:
To help you decide which exam is best for you, take a practice GMAT and a practice GRE, and compare your performance on each.
The Mechanics of the GMAT vs GRE
Overview
On the GRE, you’ll face one 30-minute Analytical Writing section, two Verbal Reasoning sections, and two Quantitative Reasoning sections. The first Verbal section contains 12 questions and the second contains 15 questions. Likewise, the first Quant section contains 12 questions and the second contains 15 questions. In total, the GRE takes approximately 1 hour and 58 minutes.
On the GMAT, you’ll face three 45-minute sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights. Quantitative Reasoning contains 21 questions, Verbal Reasoning contains 23 questions, and Data Insights contains 20 questions. In total, the GMAT takes 2 hours and 15 minutes, plus one optional 10-minute break.
Time
The GRE is currently the shorter of the two exams. The total testing time for the GRE is approximately 1 hour and 58 minutes, while the GMAT takes 2 hours and 15 minutes, plus one optional 10-minute break. So, although both exams require strong focus and stamina, the GRE requires less total testing time.
Adaptivity
The GMAT is adaptive on a question level. As you progress through each section, the difficulty of the questions adjusts based on your performance on previous questions. You must answer each question before moving to the next, so you cannot initially skip questions. However, the current GMAT includes a Question Review & Edit feature. If you have time remaining after answering all the questions in a section, you can review your responses and change up to three answers.
The GRE is adaptive on a per-section basis, rather than on a question-by-question basis. The Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning measures each contain two sections. The first section contains 12 questions, and the second contains 15 questions. Your performance on the first section determines the difficulty level of the second section. Within each section, however, you can move freely between questions, skip questions and return to them later, and change your answers as many times as you like while time remains.
KEY FACT:
The GMAT is adaptive at the question level, whereas the GRE is adaptive at the section level.
Ability to Skip Questions
Some students like that the GRE provides the flexibility of being able to skip around within a section. If you take a GRE practice test or two, you’ll be able to get an idea of whether this feature is helpful to you. Some students improve their scores by being able to skip around. Other students find that once the time pressure is factored in, they have little time available at the end of a section to return to questions they skipped.
Calculator for Math
The GRE provides a simple on-screen calculator on the Quant sections. Some students choose to take the GRE because of this calculator. Taking the GRE just because you can use a calculator is a big mistake. The calculator cannot do the thinking for you, and its availability will likely be of minimal help. The GRE is a thinking test, and although there will be calculations to perform, the majority of the work you’ll be doing on the Quant sections will be analytical reasoning. In other words, you’ll be thinking more than you’ll be crunching numbers. If you’re a person who truly has a hard time doing multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction, take a few GRE practice tests and determine whether the calculator is of significant help to you.
There is no calculator allowed for the Quant section of the GMAT. However, on the Data Insights section of the GMAT, an on-screen calculator is provided. As with the Quantitative section of the GRE, don’t overly rely on this tool. The GMAT is a thinking test; don’t expect a calculator to help you think.
KEY FACT:
The GRE provides an on-screen calculator for its Quant sections, while the GMAT provides one only for its Data Insights section.
Question Types
Another mechanical consideration is the question types on the two exams. On the GMAT, the Quantitative Reasoning section consists of Problem Solving questions, while Verbal Reasoning includes Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning. The Data Insights section includes five question types: Data Sufficiency, Multi-Source Reasoning, Table Analysis, Graphics Interpretation, and Two-Part Analysis.
The GRE also features a variety of question types. In addition to Quantitative Comparison questions, GRE Quant includes traditional multiple-choice, multiple-answer, and numeric-entry questions. GRE Verbal includes single-answer, multiple-answer, and select-in-passage questions.
So, when deciding between the GMAT and GRE, consider not only the content tested but also which question formats you find more comfortable and intuitive.
KEY FACT:
The GRE includes a wider variety of response formats, including Numeric Entry questions, whereas the GMAT does not.
The Fatigue Factor
The GRE Quantitative and Verbal measures are each presented in two sections. The first Verbal section is 18 minutes long and the second is 23 minutes, while the first Quant section is 21 minutes and the second is 26 minutes. After the 30-minute Analytical Writing section, the Verbal and Quant sections may appear in any order.
The GMAT consists of three 45-minute sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights. You can choose the order in which you take the three sections, and you also have one optional 10-minute break.
Some students may prefer the GRE’s shorter sections, while others may prefer the GMAT’s longer, more consistent section lengths. You have to know a bit about yourself and how you perform to use the fatigue factor as a decision point.
GMAT vs GRE Content
If you’re choosing one test over the other on the basis of the content, the Verbal sections of each exam are typically what test-takers should consider most.
Verbal Content
The main similarity between the GMAT and GRE Verbal sections is Reading Comprehension. On both tests, you’ll be presented with passages of varying lengths and asked a series of questions about each passage. While GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are single-answer multiple choice, GRE question types vary. In addition to single-answer multiple choice, you will encounter multiple-answer multiple choice and questions that ask you to highlight a sentence from the passage.
In addition to Reading Comprehension questions, the GMAT will present you with Critical Reasoning questions. Critical Reasoning questions test your ability to analyze and evaluate arguments, draw conclusions, and assess the strength of reasoning. Unlike the previous version of the GMAT, the current exam does not include Sentence Correction questions.
On the GRE, in addition to Reading Comprehension questions, you’ll also see two other verbal question types. On Sentence Equivalence questions, you’ll be presented with a single sentence that has one word missing. Your job is to choose exactly two answer choices that logically complete the sentence, and at the same time, produce two sentences with equivalent meanings. Text Completion questions present you with either a sentence or a short passage with up to three words missing. For each missing word, you must choose the word that best fits the meaning of the sentence. In general, the GRE places a much greater emphasis on vocabulary than the GMAT does. If you plan to take the GRE, mastering a large number of vocabulary words is a must.
KEY FACT:
The GRE places a greater emphasis on vocabulary, while GMAT Verbal focuses on Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning.
Of course, the significant differences between GRE and GMAT Verbal do not preclude consideration of the difference between GRE and GMAT Quant. Let’s take a look.
Quantitative Content
Both the GMAT and GRE test your ability to reason quantitatively, but the content and question types differ. GMAT Quantitative Reasoning focuses on arithmetic and algebra and consists entirely of Problem Solving questions. GRE Quantitative Reasoning covers arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis and includes several different question types.
One important difference is that the GRE includes Quantitative Comparison questions. These questions present you with two quantities, Quantity A and Quantity B, and ask you to determine how the two quantities relate to each other.
Data Sufficiency questions are also tested on the GMAT, but they are now part of the Data Insights section rather than the Quantitative Reasoning section. These questions require you to determine whether the information provided is sufficient to answer a given problem.
So, although there is some overlap in the quantitative skills required for the GRE and GMAT, the content and question formats you encounter on the two exams are different.
Give this sample DS question a try: GMAT Data Sufficiency example.
Now try this sample QC question: GRE Quantitative Comparison example.
Each of these Quant problem types has a particular logic that must be applied when you are working the problem. For some students, DS questions just “feel” easier to grasp and to answer. For other students, the QC question type suits their unique problem-solving style. If you’re concerned about Data Sufficiency or Quantitative Comparison questions, try questions of each type to determine which fits your way of thinking and applying logic to problem-solving.
Another major difference is that GRE Quant includes Data Interpretation sets based on charts, graphs, and tables. On the GMAT, data interpretation is tested primarily in the Data Insights section.
Here is a GRE Data Interpretation example.
TTP PRO TIP:
Try several practice GMAT Data Sufficiency questions and several GRE Quantitative Comparison questions. Determine whether one question type feels more comfortable for you than the other.
Finally, let’s consider the difficulty of GMAT vs GRE math.
Is the GRE easier than the GMAT in Quant?
Students sometimes ask me whether they should consider the GRE over the GMAT because they heard that the math on the GRE is easier than the math on the GMAT. The short answer is that GRE Quant is probably easier than GMAT Quant. GMAT Quant is notorious for presenting challenging logic questions that test multiple concepts at once and use basic math as the backdrop. GRE Quant questions are a bit more straightforward, probably due to the fact that a much broader audience takes the GRE. After all, students take the GRE to do a master’s degree in English, a PhD in math, and everything in between. People taking the GMAT are all applying to business school.
Nonetheless, students who go into the GRE with the notion that the math won’t be that difficult tend to be surprised. Whether GRE math is actually easier than GMAT math is not that relevant a question. The Quantitative sections of both exams are challenging and favor the well-prepared. Do your best to prepare as diligently as possible and don’t expect one to be easier than the other. Furthermore, most MBA programs have quant-heavy coursework. If your math skills are weak, why not strengthen them before business school?
Students who go into the GRE with the notion that the math won’t be that difficult tend to be surprised.
The nervousness that many students feel about GMAT Quant is a little misplaced because this section can be mastered if you put in the time and hard work, and prepare with comprehensive study materials. Many students are nervous about this section because they are not fully prepared to deal with it. This nervousness dissipates as their skills increase to the level of proficiency.
One final point to consider: Let’s assume for argument’s sake that GRE math is actually easier than GMAT math. Let’s also assume that admissions people know this. Would an 80th percentile, for example, on GRE Quant carry the same weight as an 80th percentile on GMAT Quant? I can’t predict the answer to that, but it’s certainly something to think about. If you and the rest of the test-taking population think that GRE math is easier than GMAT math, then admissions officers probably think that same thing. There doesn’t appear to be a free ride in taking the GRE over the GMAT solely because of the relative difficulty of each exam’s Quant sections.
If you and the rest of the test-taking population think that GRE math is easier than GMAT math, then admissions officers probably think that same thing.
Switching Exams
If you’ve already invested time studying for one exam and are considering switching, I think it’s important to do some careful self-reflection during which you clarify your motivation to switch. Is there something irreconcilable about one exam that is pushing you to switch to the other, or could it be that you simply need a breather from studying? Perhaps you feel overworked, need better study materials, or should consider enlisting the help of a tutor.
One reason not to switch is the perception that the other test will be easier. Neither the GMAT nor the GRE is an easy test, and each requires considerable preparation.
One major downside to switching tests is that you will lose some of the material you worked hard to learn. Then, you’ll have to start fresh, learning new content and skills. You must carefully consider whether losing this study investment is worth it.
Also, it’s important to consider whether the weaknesses you’re turning away from will become bigger problems later on. For example, from time to time, I see students who struggle with the Critical Reasoning or Reading Comprehension tested on the GMAT. They choose to switch to the GRE, thinking that it will be the easier option. However, a better approach may be to address those weaknesses directly. Working on your weaker areas is not always easy, but doing so may be critical to your success.
The same can be said for math. I see students switching from the GMAT to the GRE because they feel that the math on the GRE will be easier. Listen, in most MBA programs, particularly the top ones, math is an essential component. Why skimp on math preparation for the GMAT? If you do end up getting into an MBA program, you may struggle with your quantitative coursework, resulting in a lot of unnecessary stress. Why not use the GMAT as an opportunity to improve your math skills and also earn a great GMAT score?
If you’ve already been studying for one test, a valid reason to switch is if something very specific about that test is seriously holding you back, and this issue would be alleviated by taking the other test. For example, is the vocabulary on the GRE such a significant (and unfixable) issue for you that switching to the GMAT is a smart choice? Are you having irreconcilable differences with the Critical Reasoning or Reading Comprehension tested on the GMAT, and thus considering a switch to the GRE? Again, take some practice tests before you decide.
TTP PRO TIP:
Simply thinking that the other test will be easier than the one you’re taking is not a great reason to switch between the GMAT and GRE.
GMAT vs GRE: Who Wins the Battle?
Finally, let’s discuss some finer points of difference between the two exams. Some students may find the following to be helpful decision points:
Is Business School Your Only Option? What do you plan to do if you are not accepted to the business school of your dreams? Will you apply to a lower-tier school, study harder to earn a higher GRE or GMAT score, or perhaps apply for a master’s or PhD program instead? If there is any chance you’ll apply to graduate programs outside of business school, the GRE is probably the better test choice since it provides you the flexibility to apply to a wider-range of graduate programs.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Is the GRE or GMAT easier?
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. Whether the GRE or GMAT feels easier depends on your particular strengths and weaknesses.
For example, the GRE places more emphasis on vocabulary, while the GMAT includes a Data Insights section and tends to place a strong emphasis on quantitative and data reasoning. The best way to determine which test is easier for you is to take an official practice test for each and compare your performance.
Should I take the GRE or GMAT for an MBA?
If the MBA programs you’re targeting accept both exams, either the GRE or GMAT may be a viable option.
So, look beyond simply asking which test is “better.” Consider your performance on practice tests, the types of questions you’re most comfortable answering, your graduate school plans, and the testing requirements of your target schools.
Do business schools prefer the GMAT or GRE?
Many business schools accept both the GMAT and GRE. However, admissions policies can vary by program.
Thus, before choosing an exam, check the testing policies of every MBA program on your target-school list. If a school provides additional guidance about which scores it accepts or how it evaluates them, factor that information into your decision.
Is GRE math easier than GMAT math?
GRE Quant questions generally tend to be more straightforward than GMAT Quant questions. However, that fact does not mean earning a high GRE Quant score is easy.
Both tests require strong quantitative reasoning skills, and you’ll be competing against other well-prepared test-takers. So, choosing the GRE simply because you expect the math to be easy is generally not a sound test-selection strategy.
Which is shorter, the GRE or GMAT?
The GRE General Test takes approximately 1 hour and 58 minutes, while the GMAT takes approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, plus an optional 10-minute break. So, the GRE is currently the shorter of the two exams.
Of course, test length should be only one factor in your decision. Your performance on each exam is far more important than a difference of several minutes in testing time.
Can I switch from the GMAT to the GRE or from the GRE to the GMAT?
Yes. However, switching exams should be a strategic decision rather than a reaction to a difficult stretch of studying.
Before switching, take an official practice test for the other exam and determine whether its format and question types genuinely play more to your strengths. Remember, neither exam is easy, and switching means you may have to spend additional time learning new question types and test-taking strategies.
What’s Next?
If you are in undergrad and plan on saving the exam for a later date, and have not yet decided between grad school and b-school, the GRE is the safer bet because it allows you the flexibility to apply to most business schools as well as a wide range of other graduate programs. Ready to start preparing for the GRE? Build the skills, strategy, and confidence you need to reach your target score with Target Test Prep’s GRE course
Whichever test you choose, study hard, study smart, and good luck!
