Both the GMAT and the GRE were updated in 2023 (the former in November, the latter in September). With both of the updated exams accepted by many business schools, how can you know which of them is right for you?
To help you answer this question, we’ve put together this article. We’ll walk you through the structure of each exam, compare key differences between the two, and discuss how to decide whether the GMAT or the GRE is the exam you should take.
Overview: What is the GRE and What is the GMAT?
What Is the GMAT?
The GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) takes two hours and 15 minutes to complete.
It is made up of three sections and 64 questions and does not include a writing assessment. It is designed to test the quantitative and verbal reasoning skills of its takers, “essentially testing… executive reasoning skills.” Test takers can take the test in any order that they like. As they go, they can bookmark questions for review, and change up to three answers at the end of their exam.
The exam can be taken either in person or online. It is computer adaptive, meaning that the difficulty of questions varies according to the test-taker’s performance. Getting a question right will lead to harder questions popping up next, and getting one wrong will lead to easier questions.
The main thing to remember about the GMAT is that it has been designed specifically for business school admissions – in fact, GMAC works with admissions professionals to ensure the exam fits their needs. This means the exam has been constructed to test the skills that business schools want tested, and to reward the students who business schools want in their class.
The structure of the GMAT is as follows:
- The quantitative reasoning section. This lasts 45 minutes and consists of 21 questions.
- The verbal reasoning section: This lasts 45 minutes and consists of 23 questions.
- The data insights section. This lasts 45 minutes and consists of 20 questions.
What Is the GRE?
The GRE, or Graduate Record Examination, is an exam that most graduate schools require their applicants to complete. Created by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), it promises to test candidates’ critical thinking, logical reasoning and problem solving skills. Just like the GMAT, this is no remember and repeat exam; rather, candidates need to apply their knowledge.
The GRE can be taken at home or in person. It takes one hour and 58 minutes to complete and is computer adaptive.
The structure of the GRE is as follows:
- The analytical writing section. This lasts 30 minutes and consists of one question.
- The quantitative section. This lasts 47 minutes and consists of 27 questions.
- The verbal reasoning section. This lasts 41 minutes and consists of 27 questions.
A note on the GRE subject tests
When researching the GRE, you might come across mention of the GRE Subject Tests. These are subject-specific exams that assess “a person’s mastery of a particular field of study, such as physics or psychology”. It’s pretty rare that a graduate school would require the GRE subject test but, when they do, it is taken in addition to the GRE general test.
Key Differences Between the Two Tests
The major difference between the GMAT and the GRE comes down to purpose. While the GMAT is business-specific, the GRE is general, designed for and accepted by grad programs across a range of fields. In the last ten years, business school acceptance of the GRE has grown, and many schools consider the two exams to be roughly equivalent.
Aside from the purpose and design of the exam, there are a couple of other differences. These can be found in the content and length of the exams.
First, the exam content. Both the GMAT and the GRE consist of three sections. In the GMAT, these are quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, and data insights. In the GRE, these are analytical writing, a quantitative section, and a verbal reasoning section.
While both contain verbal and language sections, the two differ slightly. Vocabulary crops up in the GRE that isn’t seen in the GMAT, and grammar appears in the GMAT that isn’t covered in the GRE.
The math content of the exams varies, too, with the GMAT supposedly providing higher levels of challenge. For many test-takers, this is due to the simple fact that calculators are allowed in the GRE, but not in the GMAT.
Second, the exam length. The GMAT exam is two hours and 15 minutes long (giving candidates the option of a 10 minute break). The GRE is one hour and 58 minutes long.
Is the GRE What Business Schools Want?
Over the last 10 years, business school acceptance of the GRE test in place of a GMAT score has grown. These days, 1300 business schools across the world accept the GRE in place of the GMAT. The Princeton Review puts this down to shifting admission trends, which reveal business schools to be looking for applicants with more than just a business background.
Deciding Which Test Is Right for You
Deciding whether the GRE or the GMAT is right for you is about playing to your strengths. Some points you can consider when making this decision are:
Your choice of school
The very first step when deciding which exam to take is to check whether your school of choice accepts both the GMAT and the GRE. ETS has compiled a list of business schools worldwide that accept the GRE—check it out here.
Your writing ability
Do you like to get meticulous with grammar, or is vocabulary your strong point? The former will serve you well in the GMAT, and the latter in the GRE. The GRE also contains an analytical writing section (the GMAT scrapped their equivalent as part of their 2023 updates), so strong writers might find the exam a good fit for their skills.
Your mathematical ability
As mentioned above, the GRE allows a calculator where the GMAT doesn’t. In fact, the mathematical section of the GMAT is generally considered to be more challenging than the GRE, and to be well suited to those who feel comfortable with interpreting data and getting stuck into difficult mathematical problems.
Your choice of degree
Are you set on an MBA? If not, the GRE leaves your options open. Since the test is suitable for graduate programs spanning many subjects, it’s great for applicants who are applying to several programs. If you’re considering a law school alongside a business one, the GRE might be for you.
The best way to decide – take some practice exams!
Taking a practice exam is the best way to get a feel for the GMAT and GRE tests. You might find that a higher score feels easier to attain on one than the other. When you do so, remember that these are two separate exams, and therefore have distinct scoring systems. Both GMAC and ETC provide comparison tools, but the ETS’s tool tends to be the one used by business schools, and is a helpful way to compare your performance between the exams.
