GMAT Vs GRE: Expert Guide To Picking The Best Exam

Are you planning to pursue higher education abroad? If so, you’re likely aware of the importance of standardized tests like the GRE and GMAT in the admission process. Both exams are widely accepted by universities globally, but they have distinct differences. In this article, we’ll explore the GRE vs GMAT debate, helping you make an informed decision about which test is right for your study journey abroad. CLBS Institute is a comprehensive and personalized platform that provides expert guidance and support to students preparing for the GRE and GMAT.

Understanding the GRE and GMAT

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized test required for admission to many graduate programs, including master’s and doctoral degrees. The test assesses verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing skills.
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), on the other hand, is specifically designed for business and management programs, such as MBA and EMBA. The test evaluates analytical, quantitative, and verbal reasoning skills, as well as integrated reasoning abilities..

Key Differences between GRE and GMAT

When deciding between the GRE and GMAT, consider the following key differences:

Primary Purpose

The GMAT is specifically designed for graduate management program admission, particularly MBA studies. It tests skills necessary to succeed in business and management and includes analytical, quantitative, and verbal reasoning, as well as integrated reasoning skills.

As opposed to this, the GRE is a more general graduate school entrance exam, cutting across fields of study that include business, science, engineering, social sciences, and the humanities. It provides entry to a broad range of graduate programs, not just MBA programs.

Test Content

The GMAT strongly focuses on quantitative ability with individual sections for integrated reasoning and a distinctive Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA). Its verbal section tests critical reasoning, reading comprehension, and sentence correction abilities, all with business applications in mind.

The GRE, on the contrary, has sections for Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning, testing general quantitative and verbal abilities without any particular focus on business content.

Both the GMAT and GRE are computer-adaptive tests, so your comfort level with technology is important. Experience with activities such as working with on-screen calculators and pacing yourself is essential. Those who feel more comfortable with computer-based activities might prefer the GRE, while those who feel comfortable with computer-adaptive testing might prefer the GMAT. Your confidence with technology can make a big difference in your test experience, so pick accordingly.

Acceptance by Programs

Historically, the GMAT has been the choice for MBA programs, with most top business schools either requiring or heavily preferring GMAT scores. That said, increasingly, MBA programs are accepting GRE scores as well.

In contrast, the GRE is welcomed in a wide range of graduate programs beyond business school to include such fields as science, engineering, arts and humanities, social sciences, and so on.

Scoring Scales

GMAT: The quantitative and verbal portions receive different scores, which range from 200 to 800. Separate grades are assigned to the Integrated Reasoning and Analytical Writing Assessment sections. ​

GRE: The Analytical Writing portion is evaluated on a scale from 0 to 6, while the Verbal and Quantitative portions are scored between 130 and 170 each.

Cost of the Test

GMAT: The registration fee is about $275, plus extra fees like $25 for each score report, $100 for rescheduling, and $100 for late registration. ​

GRE: The registration fee is approximately $220, and there are additional fees of $27 for each score report, $50 for rescheduling, and $50 for late registration. For those who qualify, both tests offer fee reduction programs. ​

Availability of Test Centers

Take into account the availability of test centers when making your decision. The GMAT generally has a more extensive array of test centers than does the GRE. This translates to candidates having a wider set of options and locations available to them when they schedule their GMAT tests, hopefully providing more convenience and flexibility in terms of choosing an appropriate place to take the test.

Test Duration and Score Validitya

The GRE is a longer test than the GMAT. The GRE has two versions: the computer-based test lasts around 3.75 hours, and the paper-based GRE takes around 3.5 hours.

The GMAT typically lasts 3.5 hours

Both GRE and GMAT scores are valid for five years, so candidates can apply their scores for admissions purposes within this period.

Score Acceptance

Scores on both GRE and GMAT are universally accepted by business schools and universities across the globe, presenting candidates with freedom of choice between programs and geographies. In the United States, for example, elite business schools such as Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management all accept both GRE and GMAT scores for their MBAs.

In the same vein, universities in Europe like INSEAD in France and the London Business School in the United Kingdom also accept both GRE and GMAT scores for admission. This is not limited to business studies alone, as graduate studies across different disciplines like engineering, social sciences, and the arts also accept the scores. It’s crucial that applicants verify the individual score requirements and policies of institutions and programs in which they’re applying, as certain ones might have preferences between the tests or particular score cut-offs.

HOW CAN CLBS HELP YOU IN ACHIEVING YOUR DESIRED SCORE

To guarantee complete exam readiness, CLBS Institute offers access to extensive study resources designed specifically for GRE and GMAT preparation, such as video lessons, practice questions, and full-length mock tests. Students can study whenever and wherever they want thanks to the platform’s flexible learning options.

Through consistent performance monitoring, tailored feedback, and professional assistance, students can pinpoint their areas of weakness, improve their test-taking techniques, and maintain motivation as they progress through their preparation process. CLBS is a great option for students hoping to succeed in their graduate and business school admissions because of its track record of assisting students in reaching their desired GRE and GMAT scores.