GMAT vs GRE: Which One Is Best For You?

Overview

When it comes to B-school admissions, the GRE and the GMAT stand out as a critical part of the process for hundreds of programs across the globe. Although they have many similarities, each program prefers a certain standardized test for its own admissions process.

While the GRE is more popular for admissions to master’s and doctoral programs, the GMAT is the gold standard for the admissions processes of management and business programs at various B-schools.

Given the popularity of the GMAT as the go-to test for B-school admission, test prep providers and students alike tend to think of the GMAT as a prerequisite for getting into an MBA program. However, times have changed and many schools have started accepting GRE scores as a valid standardized score for their applicants.

But why?

The answer is simple. The GRE is a much more versatile test and is taken by students from various academic backgrounds. To encourage these students to join B-schools and get an MBA, universities are pushing towards accepting GRE scores as a valid substitute for the once-revered GMAT.

However, this attempt at diversifying the applicant pool does not mean that the GMAT has lost its throne. In fact, most B-schools around the world still consider GMAT scores above the GRE. That may change soon.

Note: The GMAT is used only for business programs. If you wish to pursue degrees other than in business, you should take the GRE or other relevant standardized tests.

So, given that B-schools accept both GRE and GMAT scores, the question remains — GMAT vs GRE: which one is the best for you?

In this article, we are going to answer this question, so that you can choose the exam that is the right fit for you.

GMAT vs GRE: Key Differences

We have summed up the key differences between the GMAT and the GRE in the following table.

	GMAT	GRE
What is this test for?	The GMAT is used for the admissions processes of management and business programs at B-schools	The GRE is typically used for the admissions processes of various master’s programs and graduate programs
Who conducts this test?	GMAC	ETS
How many B-schools accept this test?	As the primary standardized test accepted by most B-schools, the GMAT is used in the admissions processes of 7000+ management programs at more than 2000 universities in the world	The GRE is accepted by over 1300 universities and educational institutions for business programs. This number is growing year by year
What is the test format?	Computer-adaptive test	Computer-adaptive test. The paper-based format is only available in countries without adequate and optimal computer facilities
What is the cost of taking the exam?	$300 (around ~INR 24,600)	$220 (around ~ INR 18,040)
What is the validity of the scores?	5 years	5 years
When can I take the test?	All year-round	All year-round
What is the duration of the test?	2 hours 15 minutes	3 hours 45 minutes
What are the sections within the test?	The GMAT has 4 sections: Quant, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning, and Analytical Writing Assessment	The GRE has 3 main sections: Quant, Verbal, and Analytical Writing
What is the test score range?	The composite GMAT score ranges, in 10-point increments, from 200 to 800	The GRE Quant and Verbal sections range, in 1-point increments, from 130-170 for each section. The Analytical Writing section is graded between 1 and 6.
Which test is easier?	GMAT Quant is considered to be more difficult and focuses on analytical skills. The way questions are asked in the GMAT is more challenging compared to the GRE. Furthermore, a calculator is not provided. The GMAT Verbal places more emphasis on grammar.	GRE Quant is considered to be more straightforward, in terms of the concepts tested and the nature of the questions asked. A calculator is permitted for the Quant section as well. The GRE Verbal tests complex vocabulary heavily.

GMAT vs GRE: Test Structure

Now that we know about the basic differences between the GMAT and the GRE, let us dive deeper into the test structures for both of them.

Quant Section

Here’s the part that makes students happy. Ready?

The concepts tested in the Quant sections for both the GMAT and the GRE are very similar. They mainly comprise concepts that you will already have covered in school or your undergraduate college — Arithmetic, Geometry, Data Interpretation, and Algebra.

In fact, the Quant section of most standardized tests relies heavily on these topics. The difference between the GRE and the GMAT in this section is in the way these concepts are tested.

The GMAT Quant section is made of two sub-sections — the Quant section and the Integrated Reasoning section.

Of these, the Quant section contains two types of questions: Problem-solving and Data Sufficiency (where you’ll have to decide whether the given data is sufficient to solve the question).

The Integrated Reasoning (IR) section, on the other hand, contains 4 question types — Table Analysis, Multi-source Reasoning, Two-part Analysis, and Graphics Interpretation. The IR Section is more complex and requires you to analyze data from multiple sources to solve problems. It tests your high-order thinking, logic, and data interpretation skills.

Total Number of Questions: 31 Questions
Duration: 62 minutes in total
Score Range: 0-80 for Quant; 1-8 for IR

The GRE Quant section is relatively simpler. The questions are mostly MCQs, along with some numeric entry questions, questions with multiple correct answers, and questions related to quantitative comparisons.

The good news is you’re allowed to use a calculator for this section as well, unlike in the GMAT.

Total Number of Questions: 40 questions
Duration: 40 minutes in total
Score Range: 130-170

Verbal Section

The GRE Verbal places heavy emphasis on vocabulary. It has 2 sections within Verbal, and the question types vary from multiple-answer choices, MCQs, and filling in the blanks.

They test topics like Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, Critical Reasoning, and Sentence Equivalence (unique to the GRE, involving choosing two answers to fill a blank, both of which should produce logical and meaningful sentences that mean the same thing).

Total Number of Questions: 40 questions (20 in each section)
Duration: 60 minutes in total
Score Range: 130-170

The GMAT Verbal, on the other hand, tends to focus more on grammar. There is only 1 question type in the Verbal Section — MCQs. The topics tested are also similar to the GRE, with one exception — Sentence Correction.

The Sentence Correction question type is unique to the GMAT. In this type, you are given a sentence, with a certain part of the sentence highlighted for inspection. You will need to pick from 5 options, to determine which option fits best the highlighted part, to produce a logical and meaningful sentence.

Total Number of Questions: 36 questions
Duration: 65 minutes in total
Score Range: 0-60 (Scaled)

Analytical Writing Section

Both the GMAT and the GRE have a section for AWA, where you are asked to write an essay based on your analysis of a given prompt, reasoning, or argument presented.

GMAT AWA – 30 minutes
GRE AW – 2 tasks, 30 minutes each – 60 minutes in total

Can I take the GRE for B-school?

There used to be a time when the GMAT was the only viable test you could take to fulfill the criteria for admission to a B-school abroad. Times have changed, however, and over 1300 B-schools worldwide are now accepting the GRE as a valid substitute for the GMAT.

These include reputed schools in the US like Washington (Olin), Florida (Hough), UC-Berkeley (Haas), Texas-Dallas (Jindal), Texas-Austin (McCombs), Yale SOM, Texas A&M (Mays), Dartmouth (Tuck), Georgia (Terry), and Utah (Eccles), among thousands of others.

If you’re interested in attending business school but are more inclined towards taking the GRE, check out the full list of schools here.

GMAT vs GRE: Which test is best for me?

The GMAT and the GRE both are subtly different in their own ways. As such, one student might find either one slightly less challenging than the other.

If your quantitative skills are on point, the GRE might be a better fit for you. On the other hand, if you’re somebody who loves solving puzzles, the GMAT is sure to intrigue you much more!

If English is your forte, then either test might be equally challenging for you. It is simply a matter of training the mind to recognize patterns, analyze data, and arrive at a solution. This is why extensive test prep courses and mock tests are key to success.

Conclusion

If you’re thinking about going to business school, you can safely bet on the GMAT as your go-to test. However, in recent years, the GRE has been considered a valid stand-in for the GMAT at several universities and is even preferred at some. It is important to extensively research the school you’re considering and check which test is preferred.

To sum up, if a B-school accepts both scores, and you’re at odds to decide which exam to write, go with your strengths! If you’re not particularly comfortable with math, go for the GRE for its more straightforward questions. A good idea would be to take a diagnostic test for both tests and figure out which one you’re more comfortable with.

Note: The GMAT cannot act as a stand-in for GRE scores if you’re applying to anything other than B-schools. Hundreds of graduate programs ranging from Computer Science to Humanities require only GRE Scores. The GMAT is purely for business programs.

Before embarking on preparing for either test, you should learn as much as you can about each test and various MBA programs from different countries. Here are some useful links to supercharge your knowledge:

• Our GRE blog is your passport to knowing everything about the GRE.
• If you’re curious about MBA programs from various countries, check out our MBA Blogs! 
  • MBA in the USA
  • MBA in the UK
  • MBA in Canada
  • MBA in Australia
• Download Galvanize’s free GRE App and get started with your test preparation today!

Galvanize your journey abroad and ace the test! Good luck!