Choosing between the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) and the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is a critical decision for MBA applicants. While both exams are widely accepted by business schools, each has distinct features that can influence your choice. In this guide, we’ll compare the two exams and help you determine which one best aligns with your strengths and MBA aspirations.
Understanding the GMAT and GRE
What is the GMAT?
The GMAT is specifically designed for business school admissions. It tests skills essential for management education, including quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, integrated reasoning, and analytical writing.
- Sections:
- Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA)
- Integrated Reasoning (IR)
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Verbal Reasoning
- Scoring: Total score ranges from 200 to 800
- Duration: Approximately 3 hours and 7 minutes
- Best for: Candidates committed to business school programs
What is the GRE?
The GRE is a more general graduate school entrance exam accepted by a variety of programs, including MBA, law, and master’s degrees.
- Sections:
- Analytical Writing
- Verbal Reasoning
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Scoring:
- Verbal and Quantitative sections are each scored from 130 to 170
- Analytical Writing is scored from 0 to 6
- Duration: Approximately 1 hour and 58 minutes (new shorter version)
- Best for: Candidates considering multiple graduate programs
Key Differences Between GMAT and GRE
| Feature | GMAT | GRE |
|---|---|---|
| Exam Focus | Business school-specific | General graduate admissions |
| Quantitative Difficulty | More data sufficiency & logic-based | More straightforward math concepts |
| Verbal Focus | Grammar-heavy (sentence correction) | Vocabulary-focused |
| Essay Section | 1 essay | 1 essay |
| Score Validity | 5 years | 5 years |
| Cost | $300 | $220 |
| Retake Policy | Once every 16 days (up to 5 times per year) | Once every 21 days (up to 5 times per year) |
Which Exam Should You Take?
Take the GMAT if:
✅ You are applying exclusively to business schools ✅ You have strong quantitative and analytical skills ✅ You want to stand out for MBA programs, as GMAT scores carry more weight ✅ Your target school requires or prefers GMAT scores
Take the GRE if:
✅ You are considering non-MBA graduate programs as well ✅ You have strong verbal skills and prefer vocabulary-based questions ✅ You want a more flexible test format (GRE allows skipping and returning to questions) ✅ Your target school accepts both exams equally
Conclusion: Making the Right Choice
Both the GMAT and GRE can help you get into a top MBA program, but the best exam for you depends on your strengths, career goals, and school preferences. If you’re focused solely on business school, the GMAT is often the better choice. If you want to keep your options open for other graduate programs, the GRE may be the way to go.
Before making a final decision, research the admission policies of your target business schools and take practice tests for both exams to see which one aligns better with your strengths. Good luck with your MBA journey!