GMAT vs. GRE – Everything You Need to Know

May 16, 2025

Ah, the burning question: Which exam is best to take for b-school admission, the GMAT or GRE? No doubt countless students around the world are tapping their fingers nervously at their desks wondering the exact same thing. With most schools now accepting either exam, and even some law schools taking the GRE in lieu of the LSAT, it begs the question—is the GRE the new "it" test? 

As if applying to MBA programs wasn't stressful enough, prospective test-takers are scratching their heads wondering which exam will give them a better chance of admission. Rest assured that the acceptance of GRE scores by business schools isn't to stress you out more than you already are, it's an attempt for programs to reach out to a broader pool of applicants to have more diversity. At the same time, it brings up questions for applicants, such as: Will a GRE score hurt me when applying to Harvard? Is taking the GMAT old news? Will one test give me an extra leg up over the other when push comes to shove? 

In an attempt to shed some light on questions like these, let's examine both tests—their similarities and differences in everything from content to structure to cost. With your sights set high on the school of your dreams, you should pursue the test that will best play to your strengths and aid you in admissions. Hopefully, this article will help you do just that!

Both Exams at a Glance

Since breaking down the GMAT and GRE can involve information overload, let's take a look at the differences between both exams at a glance. This can paint a visual image and give you some key takeaways as we delve further into their similarities, differences, and school preferences.

It might be a good idea to spend some time with this GMAT vs. GRE breakdown. What are some aspects that leap out at you? If you're able to keep some of the main points about them in the back of your mind, it can enhance your decision-making as you get closer to choosing to take one or the other. 

Verbal

Traditionally, the GRE is known for having a more challenging verbal section than the GMAT. This is probably due to the necessity of an advanced knowledge of vocabulary and even some grammar on the GRE—even though both tests claim to not test verbal content beyond the high school level. Still, those with verbal strengths will probably fare better on the GRE than GMAT, making it appealing for those who aren't so math-inclined.

In terms of key differences, the GMAT is known to be "analysis heavy," whereas the GRE is "inference heavy," meaning you make inferences to determine what could possibly be true. Because of this, the GRE has more aspects of formal logic that is similar to a philosophy class or even the LSAT, for example. There are slightly different names for specific question types—such as the GRE's "Text Completion" and "Sentence Equivalence" that mirror somewhat the GMAT's "Sentence Completion" ones. 

How did you perform on the ACT or SAT verbal section? If you're trying to determine if your strengths lie in your grammar and vocab abilities, it may help to look at your previous standardized tests and their results for guidance. Keep in mind that unlike the GRE, the GMAT does not allow you to alternate between questions. This comes into play most importantly in Reading Comprehension, where speed reading through an article and internalizing it is important on the GMAT so as not to waste precious time. However, the GMAT Focus edition, which replaced the previous 10^th edition in February 2024, now allows you to review questions and change up to three answers at the end of each section.

Quant

Both tests are similar in their Quant sections, where you are asked to solve questions revolving around mathematical theories and concepts. Again, they don't test beyond the high school level, so really advanced mathematics is not necessary. If you're quick at solving math in your head, the GMAT may be more for you, since it doesn't allow a calculator in this section. On the GRE, however, a "digital calculator" is present on the screen.

The Quant section is known to be more difficult on the GMAT than the GRE and not just because of the no-calculator rule. The GRE contains more straightforward questions that are not question-adaptive, meaning your performance on one question will not factor into whether the following question is easier or harder. It is section-adaptive, however, meaning how you do in the first Quants section determines the difficulty of the second section. Because of this, truly challenging math problems on the GRE can be more rare. It's no coincidence that MBA applicants in the world of finance and statistics will take the GMAT and promote their Quant scores on their resumes. 

One positive aspect of the GMAT Quant is that the scoring algorithm is designed for missed questions, making it more forgiving. Again, it's designed to push your mathematical capabilities, where eliciting wrong answers can demand a lot of brainpower. This is not true necessarily for the GRE, which is not question-adaptive. If your strengths lie in mathematics then the GMAT may be more suited for you. Of course, sitting for a mock exam can give you the feedback you need prior to making the decision.

School Preferences

Most MBA programs and business schools now accept the GRE in lieu of the GMAT. Why the change? It appears to be in an attempt to enroll a more diverse student population. Not only is the GRE more widely taken, it's also less expensive, giving a chance to students who might otherwise not sit for the GMAT to apply to business school. Clearly, if you're applying to business schools and have a varied academic or professional background, the GRE's wider acceptance provides you more opportunities.

The GRE is even being accepted in lieu of the LSAT for law programs, with schools like Cornell and NYU announcing in 2018, "Our hope is that accepting the GRE and GMAT allows us to reach a diverse group of students from different backgrounds, such as engineering or technology." 

A primary reason for MBA programs accepting the GRE is also so students applying to other graduate programs don't have to study for two different tests

Of course, the only way to know for sure if your target schools accept both exams is to go to their websites and find out directly. Furthermore, it might not be a bad idea to check the statistics about how many students apply with the GMAT versus the GRE. Trust a school at their word when they say they have no bias for one test over the other. Thankfully, b-school-bound students have choices. 

In the end, deciding which exam to take is a personal decision. If you're applying to non-business graduate programs that require the GRE, it probably makes more sense to conserve all your energy for that. After all, you want an exam that meets all your needs and is flexible as to your course of study. 

If you are only applying to b-schools, however, weigh your options carefully. Take stock of your strengths. Would you say your aptitudes lie more in the realm of verbal or quantitative reasoning? Based on your diagnostic practice exams for both, which test did you find more suited to your talents, needs, and capabilities? These questions—among others—are all important when deciding whether to take the GMAT or the GRE. 

If you're truly on the fence and applying only to MBA programs, then our assessment would be to take the GMAT. Since it is the "traditional" exam for b-school admission, it does carry weight and a level of seriousness. While some schools may claim no bias—and we have to take them at their word—if given the choice with viable options either way, take the route countless other MBA applicants have chosen before you with the GMAT. Anything that helps you demonstrate your seriousness as a viable business school student can only increase your chance of admission. Better to stick with the road most taken in any effort to enhance your candidacy.