Recently many international business schools are not making GMAT mandatory for admission to their management study programs and are willing to accept GRE scores. This has put business school aspirants in a dilemma. They are unsure of whether to take the GMAT or the GRE for admission to business schools.
They are not sure which exam is the right one. They are confused as to which will give them a better score. So, should you take the GMAT or the GRE? Well, the decision depends on your personal preferences. But you can take a more informed decision if you know the similarities and differences between these two exams.
Similarities
Both the exams are accepted by graduate business schools.
They are designed to evaluate similar skills - verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing skills of students.
The scores of both these tests are valid for five years. But you can retake these exams to get a better score.
Both these exams are accredited by the AACSB.
Differences
The pattern of both the exams are different.
GRE Exam
| Analytical writing | Verbal reasoning | Quantitative reasoning |
| Two tasks | Two sections | Two sections |
| Analyze an issue | 20 questions per section | 20 questions per section |
| Analyze an argument | ||
| 30 minutes per task | 30 minutes per section | 35 minutes per section |
| Score: 0 to 6 in 0.5-point increments | Score: 130 to 170 in 1-point increments | Score: 130 to 170 in 1-point increments |
GMAT exam
| Analytical writing | Integrated reasoning | Quantitative reasoning | Verbal reasoning |
| 1 topic | 12 questions | 31 questions | 36 questions |
| Analysis of an argument | • Multi-source reasoning • Graphic interpretation • Two-part analysis • Table analysis |
• Data sufficiency • Problem solving |
• Reading comprehension • Critical reasoning • Sentence correction |
| 30 minutes | 30 minutes | 62 minutes | 65 minutes |
| Score: 0-6 in 0.5 increments | Score: 1-8 in 1-point increments | Score: 0 to 60 (Known as scaled score) | Score: 0 to 60. (Known as scaled score) |
The scoring pattern is different
For the GRE exam the quantitative and verbal sections are scored separately with score range between 130 to 170 with 1-point increments.
For the GMAT exam the total score can be between 200 to 800 in 10-point increments.
Content of the test
The content for both the tests have similarities but the focus of questions is different. GMAT lays more emphasis on logic and grammar while GRE tests the vocabulary and writing skills of the candidate.
Cost factor
GRE costs USD 205 while the GMAT exam costs about USD 250.
To decide which exam is the best for you, do your research, find out which of these exams your chosen university accepts and prepare well for it.