There are several MBA programs that will accept both GRE and GMAT exam scores as part of their admissions requirements into their school or program. But before you sign up for either exam, it’s important to understand the differences between the two in order to know which one will benefit you the most.
The GRE Basics
The GRE (Graduate Record Exam) is the most commonly required admission test for graduate school. The GRE test has three major sections: Analytical Writing, Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning.
The GRE exam costs $205 and will take approximately 3.75 hours to complete.
The GMAT Basics
The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is designed specifically for those who are interested in applying for an MBA and/or trying to get into business school. The exam aims to measure the skills you’ll need to succeed in your graduate school studies, including your reading and verbal skills, quantitative and qualitative reasoning, grammar and writing skills, and math skills.
The GMAT test is broken into 4 sections: Analytical Writing, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, and Verbal Reasoning.
The GMAT exam costs $250 and will take approximately 3.5 hours to complete.
Which One Should You Choose?
Since several schools are beginning to look at results for either exam, it’s difficult to know which one will benefit you the most. One of the first things you should do is to look into school exam policies. If you’re trying to get into a specific school or program, research which exam scores this particular school accepts.The next step is to determine your skills, career path, and goals. If you’re positive you want to attend business school and pursue a career in business, it will be best to take the GMAT.
To determine your skills, ask yourself the following questions: Do you possess strong critical thinking skills and are you able to confidently answer quantitative questions? If so, the GMAT might be a good option for you. On the other hand, do you find that you have a strong vocabulary? If so, consider taking the GRE.
If your skills are in the middle of the road, take online practice exams for both tests. Practicing each exam will allow you to compare your scores on both the GRE test and GMAT test. Consider taking the particular exam on which you perform the best to boost your chances of admission.
Peterson’s test prep gives you unlimited access to hundreds of prep courses, including practice tests for both the GRE and GMAT exams. Take a closer look at what is included in our GMAT test prep and our GRE test prep.
