How to Decide Between the GMAT and GRE?
As part of your business school and graduate school application you will need to take either the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Although both tests have their differences, they weighed the same during an applicant’s admissions review. More than 1200 MBA programs accept the GRE and over 5600 business programs accept the GMAT. In the following piece, we break down the differences between the two tests to help you decide which exam is right for you and help you acquire the best score possible.
Inside The GRE And The GMAT People who are hoping to get a master’s degree or go to business school take the GRE. Although there are less business programs that accept the GRE vs. the GMAT, the number is growing. To be certain, it is best to check with your top school. Due to its cost, the GRE is appealing to many. It costs $195 dollars to take, which is $55 dollars less than the GMAT. Unlike the GMAT, the GRE is offered as a paper-based test in areas where computers are unavailable. Both exams are given year-round in a secure testing environment and scores are valid up to 5 years.The GRE testing time is 3.5 hours using paper and 3.75 hours using a computer. It includes a 60-minute Analytical Writing section - with two essays at 30 minutes each, a Verbal Reasoning section, also with two 30-minute parts, and two 35-minute Quantitative Reasoning sections. There is also a 30-35 minute experimental section that can be either math or verbal. When it comes to the verbal questions, the GRE emphasizes vocabulary. It has been said that the math section on the GRE is easier than the GMAT math. Although both tests cover the same topics, calculators are available for use on the GRE.Those who take the GMAT are looking to go to business school only. Hands down the GMAT will satisfy your business school requirements. The GMAT is only offered on the computer and overall is a little shorter than the GRE, coming in at 3.5 hours. Its verbal questions have an emphasis on grammar and if you’re a math wiz, you will love the GMAT due to its difficulty. The GMAT asks you to approach word problems analytically and no calculators are allowed during the quant section. A calculator will be provided for the Integrated Reasoning section only.
The GMAT or GRE: The Choice Is Yours Choosing which test to take depends on your test taking strengths and what your degree goals are. If you haven’t decided yet between pursuing an MBA or another graduate degree (or a dual-degree program), taking the GRE is a good choice since it satisfies both non-MBA and MBA application requirements. On the other hand, if you are only looking at MBA programs, the GMAT will cover all your bases.Hone in on your strengths. The GMAT may be more challenging for some due to its math section. For others, the GRE verbal section, with an emphasis on vocabulary, may be troublesome. Either way, in order to succeed at either exam you will need to prepare for fundamental math—algebra, arithmetic, geometry, data analysis—as well as reading and critical reasoning skills and competent test-taking strategies.
Which Tests Do Ivy League Schools Prefer? This is a trick question when it comes to MBA programs. According to some of the big hitters, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Harvard Business School, and Columbia Business school to name a few, they don’t value one exam over the other and happily accept both.
For more information about the importance of GMAT/GRE scores and your GPA for an MBA Application, please visit this article.