GRE vs. GMAT

GRE vs. GMAT: Scoring, Schools, & Conversion

November 4, 2025

Have you noticed there's a lot of talk about test scoring? Many students focus their entire study plan on obtaining a particular score, whether for admission to an elite department or program, or for future job prospects and opportunities. GRE and GMAT learners have their desired score at the front of their minds from the moment they embark on their preparation journeys with a private tutor or in an in-person or online class. Let's face it—scores matter and their presence is felt tenfold in the process of attaining them! 

The landscape for the GRE and GMAT has changed somewhat over the past decade or so. More and more business schools began accepting the GRE as well as the GMAT for admission, until now when most of them do. And while it's not necessarily relevant to this particular article, a majority of law schools accept the GRE as well as the LSAT now as well! What does this mean? First and foremost, it gives students more options. But particularly when applying to MBA programs, it gives the GRE more leverage and weight. 

Perhaps some students who always imagined taking the GMAT will instead sit for the GRE. But if you do, you may then wonder, "How do I measure up compared to GMAT scores?" Fortunately, we offer conversion tools to assist you in determining your place in the pecking order and an alternate projected score. 

Let's take a look at how we can make the conversions, as well as delve into both exams, including their importance, their role in the application process, and their relationship with one another. 

GRE vs. GMAT Scoring

In order to understand how score conversions work, we must first break down how each exam's scores are scaled. 

Let's begin with the GRE, which has scores ranging from 130-170 for both Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning individually. So, a "perfect" score would be a 170 in Quantitative Reasoning and a 170 in Verbal Reasoning. The average GRE scores from the 2023-2024 testing year were 158 in Quant and 151 in Verbal. There's also the Analytical Writing section, which is scored from 0 to 6 and had a 3.5 average score. 

The scoring works a little differently for the GMAT. Take a look at the following table to understand what each section contains and their score ranges. 

Test Section# of QuestionsScore Range
Quantitative Reasoning21 Questions60-90 points
Verbal Reasoning23 Questions60-90 points
Data Insights20 Questions60-90 points

The GMAT total score can range from 205-805, which is based on all three sections weighed equally. A formula that's not publicly disclosed is used to calculate the total score from the scores for the three sections. 

As you can see, the scores for the GRE and GMAT work on different scales. It's important to know how they are graded and what each section is worth to understand comparisons and conversions. 

Significance of GRE and GMAT Scores 

Since most business schools will accept either the GRE or the GMAT, it's important to understand the significance of both exams. 

The GRE has traditionally been used to assess a candidate's future performance in graduate school. However, most business schools and a majority of law schools will now accept the GRE instead of the GMAT or LSAT, so it's considered an overall higher education measure of competency. The GMAT was created to be an assessment for future MBA and real-world success. Elite business schools will have a student population with higher-than-average GMAT scores due to selectivity. No matter if you're applying to an Ivy League b-school or one that's less competitive, your highest possible score is of paramount importance for winning admission. 

The significance of a candidate's scores for either of these exams is taken into deep consideration by admissions committees, not just as a hierarchy of applications, but as a real predictor of department and program success. There can even be instances where it goes beyond that, as interviewers have been known to ask graduating MBA students about their GMAT scores, occurring mostly in the engineering and financial fields. Long story short—these scores matter, not just to get your foot in the door, but to keep the door open for future opportunities! 

GRE and GMAT Conversion

At one time, GRE creator and administrator ETS' website had a conversion table for GRE to GMAT scores. It no longer publishes the tool, which was only for scores the previous 10th edition of the GMAT. We created a chart to do conversions that works for the GMAT's current Focus edition. It combines data from ETS' former table and the concordance chart from GMAT creator GMAC that's used to convert score from the 10th edition to the Focus edition. (Note: Score conversions should be used as a general assessment of your projected score, and not be considered 100% accurate.)

GRE QuantGRE VerbalGRE Total ScoreGMAT 10th Edition Total ScoreGMAT Focus Edition Total Score
170170340800805
169169338790785-805
168168336780755-785
167167334760715-735
166166332740685-695
165165330730675-685
164164328710655-665
163163326690635-645
162162324670615
161161322660615
160160320640585-595
159159318620575-585
158158316610565-575
157157314590555
156156312570535-545
155155310560525-535
154154308540515
153153306520495
152152304500485-495
151151302490475-485
150150300470465-475
149149298450445-455
148148296440435-445
147147294420435
146146292400415-425
145145290390415
144144288370395-405
143143286350375-395
142142284330375
141141282320365-375
140140280300345-355
139139278280335-345
138138276270335
137137274250315-335
136136272230295-305
135135270220285-295
134134268200255
133133266200245
132132264200235
131131262200225
130130260200205-215

Does it Make Sense to Convert GRE and GMAT Scores?

Many will argue that trying to compare the GRE and the GMAT is like comparing apples to oranges since they're just too different. After all, isn't the GMAT's math section more difficult than the GRE's, and the verbal section of the GRE more challenging than that of the GMAT? When given the option, students who excel in grammar and vocabulary traditionally opt for the GRE and those who are math-oriented choose the GMAT to match their natural abilities and academic inclinations. 

However, what's important for you as a student who's ideally only planning to take one of these exams, is looking at what your prospective business schools value. If you're targeting a financial-heavy MBA program or one that stresses Quant in its curriculum, the GMAT might be a better choice for you. The same is true with the GRE and its traditional emphasis on verbal for schools that aren't as financial or quant focused. Either way, if schools say they accept either exam, you have to trust them to be unbiased and weigh both tests equally when making admissions decisions. 

Converting scores is more of a tool for you to understand where you stand in terms of a projected score for the other exam, and what your chances are against the competition. Naturally, each school will have individual standards depending on each test. 

GRE Percentiles vs. GMAT Percentiles

While percentiles can be more difficult to determine, the following tables reveal how they would convert to both GRE and GMAT scores. It's important to note that the GMAT is more likely to pick up differences in ability at the higher and lower ends of the scale, while the GRE facilitates more of a range between middle- and high-level test takers. Note that there may be some margin of error for these as well. The following tables contain information from MBA.com and ETS.org.

Quantitative Reasoning Percentile Comparison

PercentileGRE (130-170)GMAT 10th Edition (0-60)GMAT Focus Edition (60-90)
9217050-6086-90
701654881
5716145-4779
5015944-4578
1514630-3271
614120-2367
0130-1320-760


Verbal Reasoning Percentile Comparison

PercentileGRE (130-170)GMAT 10th Edition (0-60)GMAT Focus Edition (60-90)
99169-17044-6088-90
8416035-3883
4815226-2879
3915023-2678
2314619-2176
1814417-1975
513711-1271
01300-660-63

Which Test is Right for You?

Now that there are more standardized testing options than before, it raises the question: Which exam is right for me? As we've specified in this article, there are advantages and disadvantages to both. Unfortunately, studying for one exam doesn't always directly apply for content and strategy for the other, even though there is some slight overlap. So, choosing which test makes sense for you is a personal decision that you as a prospective test taker must evaluate. 

First off, look into what your chosen schools prefer. If the MBA programs you're looking at advertise that they happily accept both, as most now do, there isn't pressure to choose one over the other right away. However, if you are applying to graduate programs and MBA programs at the same time, the GRE might make more sense, as long as the MBA programs you're applying to also accept the GRE. (Note: Graduate programs typically don't accept the GMAT.) 

If both appear to be equal options for your circumstances, consider where your strengths lie. Since the GMAT is known to have a more challenging Quant section, that might be the better test for you if you're more math-oriented. Similarly, the GRE may be the right choice if you're stronger in verbal. Spending some time taking mock exams of both the GRE and GMAT as you weigh your options can also be beneficial, as there's nothing like getting a "test day experience" for an accurate feel of which seems right. 

Regardless of your selection, Manhattan Review is here for you and all of your preparation needs. We teach and tutor thousands of students around the world each year about useful test content and helpful exam strategies for both the GRE and GMAT. Finding out where your projected score falls in relation to both tests can be valuable, particularly when sizing up the competition from elite scores. Make sure to review your score conversions more than once; since they aren't 100% accurate, it never hurts to double- or triple-check.

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