Every year during graduate applications season, prospective applicants everywhere face one rite of passage looming ahead, a standardized graduate admissions test. For people applying to US programs, the big question is whether to go for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).
These tests are used for admissions in MS, MBA & Ph.D. programs, and are mandatory at several non-US (European and Candian) universities as well. To crudely differentiate between the two tests, the GMAT is required exclusively for MBA and other management-related graduate programs. At the same time, you need the GRE to apply to several disciplines, such as engineering and humanities. Now let’s dive into some important aspects you need to consider before choosing between the two.
In this Article
Which Test is Suitable for What Program?
The GMAT is required solely by a Graduate study in Business, Management, Finance, and Accountancy. Examples of such programs are MBA, Masters in Finance, and Masters in Accountancy, etc.
The GRE is required for various disciplines, including Sciences, Engineering, Social sciences, Humanities, and Law programs (University of Arizona Law school recently started accepting the GRE along with the traditionally favored LSAT).
Although MBA and other management-related programs rely predominantly on the GMAT, an increasing number of schools are now accepting the GRE for these programs. Even though many business schools accept the GRE, the GMAT is often given more weight in MBA applications. For instance, if you take the GRE, the schools will use the GRE to GMAT score converter, which penalizes students with GRE scores. For example, a 320+ is as challenging to get on the GRE, as is a 700+ on the GMAT. But the converter grades a 320 on the GRE to a mere 650 on the GMAT.
Moreover, since many MBA programs have relied heavily on the GMAT in past decades, they are skeptical about the GRE in selecting students for their applications. To sum up, the GRE should be your test of choice if you have not finalized your graduate study area, due to its broad applicability and increasing acceptance to MBA programs as well. On the other hand, you must only take the GMAT exam if you are applying to an MBA program only. If you are applying to other management-related programs such as Finance, Accounting, etc., then GRE is a good choice.
Differences in Structure
The GRE is 3 hours and 45 minutes long and has a scoring scale of 260-340. The test consists of the following sections:
- 2 Quantitative reasoning sections (20 questions each and 35 minutes each)
- 2 Verbal reasoning sections (20 questions each and 30 minutes each)
- 1 analytical writing section (two essays, 30 minutes each)
- 1 experimental section (either verbal or quantitative, 30-35 minutes)
The GMAT is taken over a total duration of 3 hours and 15 minutes and scored on a scale of 200-800. It consists of the following sections
- 1 Analytical writing section (one essay 30 minutes)
- 1 Quantitative reasoning section (60 minutes)
- 1 Verbal reasoning section (65 minutes)
- Integrated reasoning section (30 minutes)
The integrated reasoning questions on GMAT are similar to the data analysis questions on the GRE; however, IR is more calculation and computationally intensive.
Which Test is Easier and Why?
The GMAT is more suitable for people who have an aptitude for mathematics. This because GMAT questions on quant are more stringent than the GRE. Also, calculators are not allowed on the GMAT, which means that the GMAT quant section requires much more on mathematical brainpower than the GRE, where you can get help from a calculator.
The GRE, on the other hand, is heavy on language skills. It employs a lot more vocabulary, and people who are naturally inclined towards languages, find it easy to learn new vocabulary. The reading passages on the GRE are much dense and convoluted than those on the GMAT. On the other hand, the GMAT verbal section does not use any vocabulary power – it only tests basic to medium reading ability, logical reasoning, and some grammar knowledge.
The GMAT has a question adaptive algorithm whereas the GRE has a section adaptive algorithm. This makes things harder on the GMAT – with the difficulty level of each question on the GMAT changing constantly. Moreover, on the GRE, you can skip, edit, and return to unanswered questions later, but you cannot do that on the GMAT. On the GMAT, you have to answer a question before moving on, and then you cannot return to the question again.
So if you have a choice between GRE and GMAT, I would favor the GRE over GMAT. But if your verbal skills are far worse than your quant skills, then you can consider the GMAT.
Remember, GMAT takes longer to prepare than GRE does. On average, students take four months to prepare for GMAT, whereas on the GRE, they take three months. So whichever test you chose eventually do weigh in all of the considerations mentioned above. Good Luck!