GRE vs GMAT

Who Needs GRE and GMAT?

It used to be fairly straightforward- appearing for a GMAT examination is necessary if one wants to pursue an MBA. But many business schools have recently started accepting the GRE instead of the GMAT. MBA aspirants should be aware of the differences between GRE and GMAT.

Many prospective MBA aspirants encounter this dilemma when considering which test to appear for. Students should be aware of the differences that exist between GMAT and GRE. GMAT is meant for business school admissions. On the contrary, GRE is suitable for admission to graduate programs. Nowadays, B-Schools look for applicants with more than just a management background.

In other words, GMAT is not the only test that they will consider. GMAT and GRE have different question formats with various testing parameters. They have varied options for sending their scores to universities and colleges.

Key Differences between GRE and GMAT

Applicants should know about the differences between GRE vs GMAT. Most business schools will accept two graduate entrance exams- the GRE or the GMAT. MBA applicants can select which test to appear for. Students aspiring to pursue MBA should know the variances between GMAT and GRE. Here are the key differences between GMAT vs. GRE for MBA.

Test Fees

The test fee for GMAT is $250, while the GRE entrance test costs $205.

The Total Number of Business Schools Accepting GMAT or GRE

While most business schools prefer GMAT scores, management institutions now accept GRE scores.

The Duration of the Test

The overall duration of the GMAT examination is three hours and seven minutes. On the contrary, the total duration of the GRE entrance test is three hours and forty-five minutes.

The Design of the Entrance Examinations

The main objective of the GMAT test is to analyze the business and management skills of the applicants. On the other hand, GRE is a more generalized test that encompasses a broad range of subjects.

The Scoring System of the Entrance Examinations

The GMAT exam has a score range of 200 to 800. On the contrary, the score range of the GRE lies between 130 to 170. GRE has a separate section dedicated to analytical writing.

The Structure of the Test

The GMAT exam structure stays fixed with four sections. These four sections are analytical writing, verbal test, integrated reasoning, and quantitative aptitude. The GRE entrance exam comprises six sections. Always remember that the AWA section always appears first. The rest of the question sections can appear in any order.

The Format of the Test

The GMAT entrance examination is a computerized adaptive test. On the other hand, GRE is conducted through both paper and computer assessments.

The Maximum Number of Retakes

Students can retake GMAT after every 16 days to a maximum of five attempts in a single year. MBA aspirants can attempt GMAT eight times in their lifetime. On the contrary, one can retake GRE every 21 days to a maximum of five attempts yearly.

Students should know the high-scoring areas of the GMAT exam structure.

GRE or GMAT, Which One Do Universities Prefer?

Should a student take GMAT vs. GRE for MBA? GMAT is designed explicitly for business school applicants. On the other hand, GRE lets students gain access to graduate programs across various subjects, including MBA. Conventionally, GMAT has the upper hand over GRE. But these days, numerous management colleges are accepting both tests.

GRE is accepted in more than 1200 B-Schools worldwide. GRE has a unique quantitative question format that focuses on quantitative comparisons. GRE has a unique verbal question format that analyzes a student's text completion and sentence equivalence abilities. Most business schools prefer the GMAT score as its quantitative question pattern emphasizes data sufficiency. GRE's unique verbal questions look at critical reasoning.

Nowadays, top management colleges and universities take a holistic approach to the admission process for an MBA. Most B-Schools accept GRE scores to broaden their pool of applicants. The main objective is to bring students from diverse educational backgrounds. The key to selecting GMAT vs. GRE for MBA is to recognize which universities require which type of test. It is crucial to contact the university to learn more about their preferences.

GRE vs. GMAT Test Format and Scoring Differences

As an MBA aspirant, one should know about the test format and scoring differences between GRE and GMAT. Here are the essential aspects of learning about the differences in the test format and scoring differences of both these tests.

GMAT

• The total duration of the test is 3 hours and seven minutes
• It comprises four sections
• The four sections of the GMAT are Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Integrated Reasoning, and Analytical Writing.
• The section duration of QR, VR, IR, and AWA are 62 minutes, 65 minutes, 30 minutes, and 30 minutes respectively.
• The GMAT test comprises a total of 80 questions.
• The total number of questions for QR, VR, IR, and AWA are 31, 36, 12, and 1

GRE

• The total duration of the GRE test is 3 hours and forty-five minutes.
• It comprises six sections - üThe six sections in GRE Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Analytical Writing, Unscored, and Research.
• The section duration of the GRE varies from GMAT
• QR has two sections, each of thirty minutes
• VR has two sections, each of thirty-five minutes
• The AWA has two essays of thirty minutes each
• The unscored and research section varies
• The GRE test comprises a total of 81 questions
• The total number of questions for QR, VR, AWA, Research, and Unscored are 40, 40, 1
• The total questions for research and the unscored section vary

Which is Easier? GRE or GMAT

Students aspiring to get into the top B-Schools should opt for GRE coaching. When the context is about the overall difficulty level, both exams are pretty similar. The quantitative and verbal section of both these tests showcases their difficulty levels.

Therefore, an MBA aspirant should carefully assess both tests' verbal and quantitative sections. The verbal section of the GMAT emphasizes testing an applicant's grammar and reasoning. On the other hand, the verbal section of the GRE primarily focuses on testing the applicant's vocabulary. The GRE verbal section tests challenging vocabulary, and the GMAT verbal assessment section is slightly easier.

Let's look closer at the quantitative section of the GRE and GMAT. The quantitative section of the GMAT tends to be more challenging than GRE. The quantitative section of GMAT analyzes one's problem-solving abilities. Furthermore, GMAT has a wide range of data sufficiency questions that might be difficult to solve. During GREs, aspirants can use a calculator. GMAT tests prohibit students from using a calculator.

How to Choose Between GRE and GMAT?

When deciding whether to appear for GRE or GMAT, one must assess one's objectives first. A student should consider some essential aspects when selecting between GRE and GMAT.

• If one is unsure which career path to pursue, appear for the GRE test. The GRE test will keep all the doors open as many B-Schools accept GRE scores.
• While numerous management colleges will accept GRE and GMAT, the admission authority makes the final decision. Therefore, one should do their research thoroughly.
• Students can opt for GRE coaching to optimize their scoring chances.
• If international students don't have a good track record of working with quantitative analysis, they should appear for GMAT.
• The quantitative section of the GMAT is more focused on word problems.
• The integrated reasoning section of the GMAT will test the applicant's data interpretation skills.
• To get good GRE scores, students should get every question right.
• For applicants, appearing for an entrance examination they think will perform the best is essential.
• Applicants can increase their chances of admission into reputed B-Schools by applying with the highest percentile.

The GMAT has been designed to let the admission committees analyze the candidates. The GMAT score also offers the admission committees an overview of the competency of the MBA candidates. The GMAT score can offer B-Schools insights into the clarity of a student's objectives. On the contrary, GRE scores offer admission committees insights into the student's level of commitment.

The key to selecting the GMAT or GRE for MBA is first recognizing the universities' acceptance. Most universities are comfortable accepting both scores for the MBA. However, some universities won't accept both scores.

Aspirants should always play to their strengths to optimize their chances of getting into a reputed B-School. If the university confirms that it is comfortable with both tests, aspirants should select one based on their strengths. When considering GMAT vs GRE for MBA, it is essential to stay updated with the latest question formats of these tests. Aspirants should design their study plans based on their GRE and GMAT preferences.