Which Test Do You Need?

Before even applying to your desired graduate school, you’ll likely need to take either the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) to submit along with your admissions packet. 

Education attainment data from the 2022 U.S. Census show a 50% increase (between 2011 and 2021) in the number of people aged 25 and over whose highest degree is a master’s. That’s quite an increase, and I commend you for challenging yourself in the same way.

Below, I’ll dive into the details of each standardized exam option. We’ll look at the structure of the exams, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and then consider factors that will help you make the best decision for yourself. By the end of this article, you should have a clearer understanding of how to proceed on your journey to graduate school.

The GMAT was created specifically for MBA programs, and more than 2,400 academic institutions accept GMAT scores for admission. Per the Graduate Management Admission Council, “The GMAT exam is designed to test skills that are highly important to business and management programs. It assesses analytical writing and problem-solving abilities, along with the data sufficiency, logic, and critical reasoning skills that are vital to real-world business and management success.” 

Here’s what you need to know about the GMAT: 

• Accepted by most business programs
• Can be taken online or at a testing site
• Test is administered on a computer
• Free score delivery for up to five schools
• Cost is $250 online or $275 in-person
• Total test time is about 3.5 hours
• Limited to five attempts in a 12-month period
• Scores are good for 5 years

Here’s how the GMAT exam is structured (not including two optional eight-minute breaks):

Total GMAT scores range from 200-800, and the Graduate Management Admission Council puts the current average at 582. However, your target school may have an average score that is greater than this. You’ll want to review your school’s website to identify the range of scores they typically accept. Generally speaking, a score of 600+ puts your application in an optimal position.

Next to each of your exam scores will be your GMAT score percentile, which is another way of comparing your results to other test-takers. Percentiles are calculated annually, using GMAT scores from the previous three years. So, if you see a percentile ranking of 80 next to your Quantitative Reasoning score, it means you scored better than 80% of those who took the GMAT in the last three years.

The GRE is another standardized exam commonly used for entrance to graduate school. It has been around a bit longer than the GMAT and is administered by a different company, but it tests similar skills: critical thinking, reasoning, and analytical writing. The GRE is, however, known to be accepted by a wider variety of graduate programs, including several business and law schools. 

Here’s what you need to know about the GRE:

• Accepted by most graduate schools, regardless of program type
• Can be taken online or at a testing site
• Test is administered on a computer
• Free score delivery for up to four schools
• Cost is $205, either online or in-person
• Total test time is about 2 hours
• Limited to five attempts in a 12-month period
• Scores are good for 5 years

Here’s how the GRE exam is structured (not including one optional 10-minute break):

*Note that changes to the general test structure took effect September 22, 2023. Previously, total test time was about 3 hours and 45 minutes.

GRE sections are scored independently of each other in the ranges listed above. For reference, the scaled score for the top 25% of all test takers is 157 in Verbal Reasoning and 165 in Quantitative Reasoning.

Comparatively, the scaled score for the top 50% of all test takers is 152 in Verbal Reasoning and 157 in Quantitative Reasoning.

Again, when considering your total score, you’ll want to know the minimum admission requirements at your desired school to better understand your baseline. Knowing the mean score of previously admitted applicants will help you determine what score you need to remain competitive during the process.

Keeping the big picture in mind, the GMAT and the GRE address the same goal: helping your prospective program evaluate your educational skills and aptitude in comparison to other applicants. There are, however, a few minor differences between the two that you’ll want to keep in mind come time to choose.

The most notable difference is that the GMAT is most often used for admission to business school, whereas the GRE is widely used for all other graduate programs, from an MFA to a PhD in Economics.

There are subtle differences in how the exams are structured, the types of questions asked, and total test time, but they test almost the exact same content. Those who have taken both exams do, however, mention that the GRE focuses more on textbook math, like geometry, while the GMAT emphasizes quantitative logic. Similarly, previous test-takers point to the GMAT’s focus on grammar, whereas the GRE leans more into vocabulary.

Both exams utilize a system known as computer adaptive testing, meaning the exam varies the order and difficulty level of the questions you are asked in real-time. However, the GMAT is question-adaptive, while the GRE is section-adaptive. What does this mean for you? The GMAT requires that you answer each question in order, without the ability to return to it, where the GRE allows you to answer questions in a section in whatever order works for you.

Overall, the best way to identify which exam is better suited for you is to run through a practice test for each (access a free GMAT practice test here and a free GRE practice test here). 

How well you do on either the GMAT or the GRE only indicates the level of fit between your skills and what was tested. There isn’t a question of which test is easier — the answer completely depends on your own knowledge and abilities. But if you consider the recommendations listed by your desired program, you should be just fine.

Unless your program specifically states that they only accept the GMAT or only accept the GRE, stick with the one that works for you, and you’ll be well on your way to graduate school in no time. Good luck!