Last Updated on September 11, 2023
Not too long ago, if you were an MBA applicant, your only option was to take the GMAT. But the business school admissions process has changed a lot in recent years. Today, the vast majority of MBA applicants have the option to take either the GMAT or the GRE as their admissions test, leaving many wondering, “Should I take the GMAT or GRE for MBA admissions?”
In this article, we’ll discuss what points you need to consider when deciding whether to take the GMAT or GRE for business school and answer some important questions about how admissions committees view both exams. You’ll also get a complete rundown of all the key differences and similarities between the GMAT and GRE, so you can make an informed decision about which test is right for you.
Here are the topics this blog will cover:
- Do You Need the GRE or GMAT for MBA Programs?
- What Are Your Career Goals?
- Have You Tested Your Performance on Each Exam?
- The Mechanics of the GMAT vs. the GRE
- GMAT vs. GRE Exam Content
- Is the GRE Easier than the GMAT in Quant?
- GRE vs. GMAT for an MBA: Which Is Better?
- Decision Time
- What’s Next?
Do You Need the GRE or GMAT for MBA Programs?
When figuring out whether to take the GMAT or GRE for business school, first and foremost, there are a couple of key questions you must ask yourself:
- Do your desired schools accept GRE scores?
- Do your desired schools prefer the GMAT?
Let’s explore each of these questions in further detail.
Do Your Desired Schools Accept GRE Scores?
As I mentioned up top, essentially all business schools now accept the GRE or GMAT for full-time MBA applicants.
ETS, the maker of the GRE, publishes a list of business schools that accept the GRE, organized by country and, for the U.S., by state. Of course, lists and policies change. So, be sure to do your due diligence by visiting the website of each program you’re interested in to see which admissions tests it accepts. This information should be readily available on the application requirements page of any MBA program.
Chances are, you’ll find that the schools you’re interested in accept either the GRE or the GMAT for MBA applicants. If that is the case, your next point of consideration is whether any of the schools prefer one test over the other.
KEY FACT:
Essentially all business schools now accept the GRE or GMAT for full-time MBA applicants.
Do Your Desired Schools Prefer the GMAT?
Given how common taking the GRE has become among MBA applicants, students often ask me, “Do MBA programs really prefer GMAT scores?” Five years ago, I might have said that there was a decent chance that at least some business schools a student was interested in would openly state a preference for the GMAT. However, nowadays, you’d be hard pressed to find a business school that explicitly states a preference for the GMAT over the GRE.
In fact, the admissions websites of most of the top business schools indicate no preference for one test over the other.
If, after checking admissions pages, you’re unsure whether a school you’re interested in prefers the GMAT or GRE exam, don’t hesitate to call or email the admissions office and ask for clarification. The folks in admissions are there to help, and they’re generally up front about what they’re looking for from applicants.
TTP PRO TIP:
If you’re unsure whether a school prefers the GMAT or GRE, reach out to the admissions office for clarification.
Now, although business school admissions committees may welcome either GMAT or GRE scores, some employers may be stricter in their requirements. So, your next consideration should be what type of career you plan to pursue post-MBA.
What Are Your Career Goals?
For years, certain employers have asked job candidates for copies of their GMAT scores. This practice has been particularly common in management consulting and banking. However, in recent years, top employers such as McKinsey, Bain, BCG, and Goldman Sachs have said that they’re placing less of an emphasis on test scores when making hiring decisions.
Likely, this change was in large part prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic, during which many business schools waived test requirements, and thus recruiters were encountering more MBAs with no test scores to speak of. However, at least as of this writing, these employers don’t seem to be reversing their position that test scores are less of a priority.
That said, top firms may still want to see your GMAT scores, even if they’re placing less emphasis on, for instance, hiring applicants who meet a particular score threshold. Depending on where you’re applying, however, employers may be fine with seeing either GMAT or GRE scores.
KEY FACT:
In recent years, top employers in management consulting and banking, such as McKinsey, Bain, BCG, and Goldman Sachs, have said that they’re placing less emphasis on GMAT scores.
Query Your Network
Given the evolving stance of some employers about test scores, your best approach is to get to know the companies to which you’d like to apply after you earn your MBA. Network with people who are in the know at these companies. See what they have to say. Do insiders recommend one test over the other? Are hiring managers interested in your performance on the Integrated Reasoning section of the GMAT?
Just as you should research the admissions test preferences of the schools you’re interested in, you should research the preferences of the companies you’d like to work for.
TTP PRO TIP:
To get a sense of whether companies you’d like to work for prefer to see GMAT scores, network with people who are in the know at those companies.
Now, let’s assume that all of your desired schools accept either test and have no preference about which one you take, and your 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 taken practice tests to gauge whether you’re likely to perform much better on one test than on the other?
Have You Tested Your Performance on Each Exam?
If you’re not sure whether to take the GRE or GMAT for business school, it’s wise to get a baseline score for each test by taking an official practice GMAT and an official practice GRE.
It’s important to take each exam under realistic testing conditions, following all of the test-day rules. No extra breaks, unauthorized calculator use, or checking text messages during your exams.
It’s also important that you really do your best on each exam. After all, you want these scores to be an accurate reflection of your current GMAT and GRE skills. If one score percentile is significantly higher than the other, you may have an advantage on that test. For example, say you earn an 89th percentile score on the GMAT and a 57th percentile score on the GRE. In that case, the GMAT may be the better choice for your business school admissions test.
TTP PRO TIP:
To help you decide which test is best for you, take a practice GMAT and a practice GRE, and compare your performance on each.
If you earn similar scores on both your GMAT and GRE practice exams, you should then more closely consider the mechanics of each exam.
The Mechanics of the GMAT vs. the GRE
If you’ve taken a practice GMAT and a practice GRE, you have some sense of the structure and functionality of both exams. Nevertheless, you probably weren’t thinking too deeply about those details when you took your initial practice tests.
So, if you’re still unsure of which test you should ultimately take for business school, it’s a good idea to more closely assess the mechanics of each exam. Doing so will help you assess whether one exam is more likely to play to your strengths on test day.
Let’s start by taking a look at the length and time constraints of each exam.
Testing Time
The GMAT and GRE take about the same time to complete. The total exam time for the GRE is 3.75 hours (3.5 hours if you take the paper-based GRE). The total exam time for the GMAT is 3.5 hours. So, you’ll need to build test-taking stamina regardless of which exam you take.
On the GRE, you’ll face a 60-minute Analytical Writing section that requires you to write two essays, each with a time limit of 30 minutes. There are also two Verbal Reasoning sections, each 30 minutes long, and two 35-minute Quantitative sections.
In addition, there is one 30- or 35-minute (Verbal or Quant, respectively) experimental/research section, which will not count toward your score.
After the first three sections of the GRE (at about the two-hour point), you get one 10-minute break. You may stand, stretch, and use the restroom if you wish. You also get one-minute breaks between the other sections of the test, but you can’t leave the room during these shorter breaks.
On the GMAT, you’ll face one 30-minute essay, one 30-minute Integrated Reasoning section, one 62-minute Quantitative section, and one 65-minute Verbal section.
During the exam, you’ll have two optional 8-minute breaks during which you can use the restroom, have a snack, or simply stretch your legs.
You’ll need to build test-taking stamina regardless of which exam you take.
The Fatigue Factor
GRE Quant and Verbal are each presented in two sections, and those sections are presented in alternating order. Some students don’t mind going back and forth between Quant and Verbal sections. They may even like being able to “take a breather” from doing Quant or Verbal questions, rather than having to do one type of thinking for a long stretch.
Other students find this “stop and go” thinking challenging, and thus prefer the immersion provided by the GMAT’s one Quant section and one Verbal section.
Still others find that the GMAT’s longer sections are tiring and become fatigued at the end of each.
You have to know a bit about test-taking style and how you perform to use the fatigue factor as a decision point.
KEY FACT:
The GRE presents a total of four shorter, alternating Quant and Verbal sections, whereas the GMAT presents a total of two longer Quant and Verbal sections.
Adaptivity
The GMAT is adaptive at the question level. That is, after you answer each question, the computer determines whether to give you a harder question or an easier one.
When you correctly answer questions, succeeding ones are, on average, more difficult (and worth more points). When you incorrectly answer questions, the ones that follow are, on average, easier (and are worth fewer points).
The GRE is adaptive at the section level. So, instead of individual questions changing on the basis of your correct or incorrect responses, the sections will become more or less difficult as a result of your performance on previous sections.
The second scored Quant section will be, overall, either easier or harder depending on your performance on the first scored Quant section. Likewise, the second scored Verbal section will be, overall, either easier or harder depending on your performance on the first scored Verbal section.
Importantly, this section adaptivity does not “cross-pollinate” between Quant and Verbal. So, your performance on Quant does not affect the difficulty of the Verbal sections, or vice versa.
KEY FACT:
The GMAT is adaptive at the question level, whereas the GRE is adaptive at the section level.
Ability to Skip Questions
On the GMAT, you must answer the question presented to you before moving on to the next one. There is no skipping around or going back to previous questions.
On the GRE, you are allowed to skip around within each section. You can, for instance, skip a question you’re not sure you can answer and return to it after you’ve completed the other questions in the section. You can even select an answer to a question, and then return to the question later to change your selection (provided you’re still in the same section).
Notably, there is no skipping from one section to the next or going back to previous sections. You can skip around only within each section.
Some students like that the GRE provides the flexibility of being able to skip around within a section, but you shouldn’t assume that this feature will be a net gain. Some test-takers improve their scores by being able to skip around. Others find that, because of the GRE time constraints, they have little time available at the end of a section to return to questions they skipped.
If you take a GRE practice test or two, you’ll be able to get an idea of whether skipping around is helpful to you.
KEY FACT:
On the GMAT, you must answer the question presented to you before moving on to the next one, whereas on the GRE, you can skip around within each section.
Calculator Use
The GRE provides a simple on-screen calculator for use during 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. Although there are calculations to perform, the majority of the work you do on the Quant sections is analytical reasoning. In other words, you’ll be thinking more than you’ll be crunching numbers. Furthermore, the on-screen calculator can be somewhat cumbersome to use.
If you’re a person who truly has a hard time doing multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction, take a few GRE practice tests to 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 Integrated Reasoning section of the GMAT, an on-screen calculator is provided. As with the Quantitative section of the GRE, you wouldn’t want to overly rely on this tool. The GMAT, like the GRE, is a thinking test; don’t expect a calculator to help you think.
Neither the GMAT nor the GRE allows you to use your own calculator during the test.
KEY FACT:
The GRE provides an on-screen calculator for its Quant sections, but the GMAT provides one only for its Integrated Reasoning section.
Question Formats
The GMAT presents traditional multiple-choice questions (except for Data Sufficiency questions).
The GRE presents a wide variety of question types:
- traditional multiple choice
- Quantitative Comparison
- numeric entry
- multiple answer
- select-the-sentence (in Reading Comprehension)
For some students, this vast array of question types is overwhelming and stressful. For example, if you miss even one part of a multiple-answer question, then the entire question is considered incorrect. There is no partial credit. For many students, the standard, five-option multiple-choice question format of the GMAT is a safe and dependable haven.
KEY FACT:
GMAT questions follow the standard multiple choice format, while the GRE uses a variety of question formats.
Speaking of question types, another key consideration when comparing the GRE vs. GMAT for business school is exam content. Let’s discuss.
GMAT vs. GRE Exam Content
When you’re choosing one test over the other on the basis of the content, test-takers typically should most closely consider the Verbal sections of each exam.
Verbal Content
Reading Comprehension (RC) is the biggest similarity between the GRE and GMAT Verbal section. On both exams, you are given passages of various lengths and asked a series of questions on each passage.
GMAT RC questions are single-answer multiple choice.
GRE RC questions can be single-answer multiple choice, multiple-answer multiple choice, or questions that ask you to highlight a sentence in the passage.
So, again, we see a bigger variety of question formats on the GRE.
Vocab vs. Grammar
GMAT Verbal features Sentence Correction (SC) and Critical Reasoning (CR) problems, in addition to RC. Sentence Correction questions assess your understanding of English grammar and meaning. Critical Reasoning questions assess your ability to analyze arguments using logic.
GRE Verbal features Sentence Equivalence (SE) and Text Completion (TC) questions, in addition to RC. (Note that some RC questions are in the style of CR questions. However, CR questions don’t feature nearly as prominently in GRE Verbal as they do in GMAT Verbal.)
In Sentence Equivalence questions, you are given a single sentence with one word or phrase missing. Your task is to select two answers that logically complete the sentence while producing two sentence versions that have essentially the same meaning.
Text Completion questions ask you to complete a sentence or a series of sentences that is missing up to three words or phrases. You must logically complete the sentence(s) by selecting one answer for each blank in the sentence.
GRE SE and TC questions focus heavily on vocabulary skills. GMAT SC questions focus heavily on grammar skills and skill in analyzing sentence effectiveness, while CR focuses on logical reasoning. These distinctions aren’t to say that you won’t need any grammar or logical reasoning skills for GRE Verbal or that a solid vocabulary knowledge won’t help on the GMAT — quite the contrary. The point is, the two exams place greater emphasis on different Verbal skills.
So, you can expect that you’ll need to memorize many vocabulary words for the GRE. On the other hand, you’ll need to learn many rules of English grammar and usage for the GMAT.
KEY FACT:
GRE Verbal focuses heavily on vocabulary knowledge, whereas GMAT Verbal focuses heavily on grammar and usage.
Now, let’s look at the similarities and differences between GMAT and GRE Quant.
Quantitative Content
Both the GMAT and the GRE test similar content in the Quant sections, including:
- linear and quadratic equations
- roots and exponents
- number properties
- inequalities and absolute values
- functions and sequences
- probability and combinatorics
- ratios and percents
- rates and work
- unit conversions
- general number skills
- statistics and overlapping sets
- geometry
- coordinate geometry
Yes, the two tests have subtle variations in the weighting of topics tested and in the logic that the questions demand. Yes, GMAT Quant is a bit more challenging than GRE Quant (more on this point in a minute). However, the topics tested on the GMAT and GRE are similar enough that the primary difference in Quant you may wish to consider is the question types, not the content.
Data Sufficiency vs. Quantitative Comparison
One difference between the question types presented in GMAT Quant and GRE Quant is that the GMAT presents Data Sufficiency (DS) questions and the GRE presents Quantitative Comparison (QC) questions. Each requires mastery of a quantitative concept. However, the twist in each is the particular logic applied for determining the answer.
The GMAT’s DS questions give you initial information in the question stem, and a question is posed about that information. Then, you are given Statement 1 and Statement 2, each of which provides additional information. Your job is to determine whether the information in each or both statements is sufficient to answer the question posed.
Give this sample DS question a try: GMAT Data Sufficiency example.
The GRE’s QC questions provide you with two mathematical quantities: Quantity A and Quantity B. Your task is to determine which of the quantities is greater, or whether the quantities are equal, or whether the answer cannot be determined based on the information given.
Give this sample QC question a try: GRE Quantitative Comparison example.
Each of these Quant problem types has a particular logic that must be applied when you work the problem. For some students, DS questions just “feel” easier to grasp and 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 a handful of questions of each type to determine which better fits your way of thinking and applying logic.
TTP PRO TIP:
Try several GMAT Data Sufficiency questions and several GRE Quantitative Comparison questions to determine whether one question type feels more comfortable for you than the other.
Data Interpretation vs. Integrated Reasoning
Another major difference in the Quant sections is that GRE Quant includes two data interpretation scenarios (charts, graphs, tables) with several questions about each. The majority of data interpretation on the GMAT is included in the Integrated Reasoning (IR) section.
Here is a GRE Data Interpretation example.
And here is a GMAT Integrated Reasoning example.
Explore both GRE data interpretation questions and GMAT IR questions to get a sense of whether either way of testing data analysis skills is better suited to your strengths.
TTP PRO TIP:
Explore both GRE data interpretation questions and GMAT IR questions to get a sense of whether either way of testing data analysis skills is better suited to your strengths.
Now, let’s consider the difficulty of GMAT vs. GRE math.
Is the GRE Easier Than the GMAT in Quant?
Many students have heard the rumor that GRE math is easier than GMAT math. Consequently, they wonder whether to take the GRE instead of the GMAT.
The truth is, 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 because a much broader audience takes the GRE. After all, students take the GRE to pursue 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. Let’s discuss why.
Students who go into the GRE with the notion that the math won’t be that difficult tend to be surprised.”
“Is GRE Math Easier?” Is Not a Relevant Question
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. Furthermore, most MBA programs have quant-heavy coursework. If your math skills are weak, why wouldn’t you want to strengthen them before business school?
Many students are nervous about GMAT Quant because they are not fully prepared to deal with it. This nervousness dissipates as their quant skills increase to the level of proficiency. In short, if you put in the time and hard work, and prepare with comprehensive study materials, there is no reason that you won’t be able to master GMAT Quant just as well as you would GRE Quant.
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 committees know this. Would, for example, an 80th percentile score on GRE Quant carry the same weight as an 80th percentile score on GMAT Quant? I can’t predict the answer, but this question is 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 committees 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 committees probably think that same thing.
GRE vs GMAT for an MBA: Which Is Better?
If you’re still unsure of whether to take the GMAT or GRE for MBA admissions, you may find it helpful to consider the following questions.
Is Business School Your Only Option?
What do you plan to do if you’re 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? 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.
Are You Unsure of Your Graduate School Plans?
Let’s say you are an undergrad and have not yet decided between grad school and B-school. However, you want to sit for your exam now. In that case, the GRE is the safer bet. After all, the GRE allows you the flexibility to apply to business schools as well as a wide range of other graduate programs.
Should You Switch 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.
Let’s talk about some downsides of switching exams.
The Downsides of Switching
One major downside of switching tests is that you will lose some of the material you worked hard to learn. 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 struggling with the grammar and writing tested on the GMAT. They choose to switch to the GRE, thinking that it will be the easier option. To me, the better approach would be to fix the weaknesses they have.
I realize that working on one’s weaknesses usually is not easy. However, doing so may be critical to your success. Why not use whichever test you’re studying for as an opportunity to improve your math and verbal skills? All of those skills are going to come into play in business school. So, if you don’t take the time to address your weaknesses, they could come back to bite you in your coursework.
Now, let’s discuss a valid reason for switching exams.
A Reason to Switch
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 grammar tested on the GMAT, and thus considering a switch to the GRE? While it’s in your best interests to put your best effort into your test prep, you don’t want to put yourself at a disadvantage. Again, take some practice tests before you decide what to do.
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.
Decision Time
Remember to consider the following major points when deciding whether to take the GRE or GMAT for business school:
- Do my desired schools or employers prefer one test over the other?
- Did I perform markedly better on one practice test than on the other?
- Am I better suited to the format or content of one test?
- Am I sure about my business school plans?
- If I’m thinking of switching exams, do I have a substantial and specific reason to make the switch?
What’s Next?
If you’ve decided that the GMAT is the right admissions test for you, you may want to check out our how-to guide to starting your GMAT prep and this guide to scoring 700+ on the GMAT.
If you’re gearing up to take the GRE, check out this helpful how-to for starting your GRE studies and these strategies for scoring 330+ on the GRE.
Whichever test you choose, study hard, study smart, and good luck!
