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The \u201cGMAT or GRE\u201d decision seems more complicated than it really is. There are a few reasons you might strongly prefer one test over the other, but now that most MBA programs accept both tests, most of us are free to take whichever one is right for us. In this article, we\u2019ll look at the differences between the GMAT and the GRE, and how those differences might change your decision.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s possible that your GMAT vs. GRE dilemma has already been decided for you. There are a handful of situations where you\u2019ll <\/span>have<\/span><\/i> to take the GMAT and others where only the GRE is acceptable. <\/span><\/p>\n A handful of MBA programs still only accept the GMAT. This only affects a small number of schools, and the information should be available on the program\u2019s website. (You can confirm it by checking <\/span>this list of business programs that accept GRE scores<\/span><\/a>.) <\/span>Other programs have stated that they prefer the GMAT over the GRE<\/span><\/a>. If you\u2019re applying to one of these programs, you need to take the GMAT; if there\u2019s truly an extenuating circumstance, contact the program directly.<\/span><\/p>\n In other situations, you might be required to take the GRE. For instance, there\u2019s a lifetime limit on how many times you can take the GMAT. If you\u2019ve reached that limit, your only option may be to apply with the GRE. Certain dual-degree programs, such as <\/span>certain MS\/MBA programs at Stanford<\/span><\/a>, require the GRE (although others will accept either test). Finally, the GRE is offered (<\/span>as a paper-based test<\/span><\/a>) in some geographic areas where the GMAT isn\u2019t available. This affects a small number of test-takers, mainly in the Middle East and Africa, and should be discussed with your schools. <\/span><\/p>\n Finally, it\u2019s possible (but unusual) to be offered <\/span>testing accommodations<\/span><\/a> for one test but not the other. If you need accommodations to take the test, and you haven\u2019t yet decided which test to take, consider applying for both as early as possible. <\/span><\/p>\n As your next step, check the websites for each of your programs and determine whether they accept both the GMAT and the GRE. While you\u2019re there, check out the average GMAT score and average GRE score for each of those schools, if they\u2019ve been published. Assuming that all of your schools accept both tests and none of the other factors we\u2019ve mentioned affect you, keep reading!<\/span><\/p>\n A lot of the anxiety surrounding the GMAT or GRE question comes from a sense that one test might be easier. The most popular rumor is that the Math sections of the GRE are easier. That\u2019s true in some ways, but maybe not in the way that you think. <\/span><\/p>\n If you take both the GMAT and the GRE, you\u2019ll almost certainly get more right answers on the GRE. In that sense, the GRE is \u201ceasier.\u201d But this comes with a down side. <\/span>Your GMAT score isn\u2019t based on how many questions you get right<\/span><\/a>, but your GRE score is. You can get a very high GMAT score with a lot of wrong answers<\/a>, as long as you handle your timing well and don\u2019t miss easy questions. But, to get a very high GRE score, you need to get nearly every question right. (<\/span>Here\u2019s how the GRE is scored<\/span><\/a>.) <\/span><\/p>\n In short, GRE Math is \u201ceasier,\u201d but it\u2019s also less forgiving. If you\u2019re a perfectionist but you struggle with the tougher math problems, GRE Math may be easier for you. If you worry more about making careless mistakes on the easy stuff, the GMAT might let you get away with more wrong answers. <\/span><\/p>\n Also, consider who you\u2019re being compared to! If the Math section on the GRE is easier, then it\u2019s easier for almost everyone! You might get more questions right, but so will everybody else. Your GRE score, when compared to the scores of other applicants, might not look any stronger than your GMAT score. <\/span><\/p>\n The takeaway here is to focus on factors that only affect you, not everybody. If one test is easier for everybody who takes it, that really doesn\u2019t matter (and can even be a problem, if it means that careless mistakes have more impact). However, if one test is much easier <\/span>for you<\/span><\/i>, that could change your decision. Here\u2019s why that might happen. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Taking the GRE is very similar to taking the GMAT. Both tests take about the same amount of time, and both are taken in official testing centers in a computer-adaptive format. <\/span><\/p>\n However, there is one significant difference. Many test-takers find the GRE less stressful than the GMAT. If you\u2019re very prone to test anxiety, you may have a stronger performance on the GRE. <\/span>That\u2019s because the GRE lets you mark questions and return to them at the end of each section<\/span><\/a>. (However, <\/span>test anxiety doesn\u2019t have to hurt your score<\/span><\/a>!)<\/span><\/p>\n On both tests, you have very little time to answer each question. In fact, it\u2019s nearly impossible to give all of the time you\u2019d like to every single question. Guessing is a critical part of both tests. If you\u2019re really struggling to implement a guessing strategy on the GMAT, though, it might be easier on the GRE. That\u2019s because you can come back to questions later, which can help you become more confident about guessing. <\/span><\/p>\n The GMAT and the GRE mostly test the same basic math content. There are a few math topics that appear more on one test than the other\u2014but these will represent, at most, a few questions across your entire test. <\/span><\/p>\n However, there are differences in the math <\/span>format<\/span><\/i> between the GMAT and the GRE. For one, <\/span>you get a calculator on the GRE<\/span><\/a>, but not on the GMAT! GMAT questions usually have easier numbers to work with, but are more likely to include tough logic and tricky wording. Of course, there are plenty of traditional math questions on the GMAT, and there are some tricky logical problems on the GRE. If you\u2019re great at solving equations and crunching numbers, you\u2019ll probably find the GRE easier than the GMAT. But if you\u2019re better at creative thinking and puzzling your way through word problems, the GMAT might appeal to you more. <\/span><\/p>\n The GMAT has only two types of Math questions: Problem Solving and Data Sufficiency. Both types of problems are multiple-choice, and you\u2019ll always have to select one answer from five options. Problem Solving problems are in a traditional multiple-choice format, just like the basic Discrete Quant questions on the GRE. Data Sufficiency, however, is exclusive to the GMAT. <\/span>Here\u2019s a page from the GMAC that shows how Data Sufficiency problems look<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The GRE also has a few unique Math question types. \u201cNumeric Entry\u201d questions ask you to calculate an exact answer to a question and type it into a box. <\/span>Quantitative Comparison questions ask you to compare two values and determine which is bigger<\/span><\/a>. There are also multiple-selection problems, in which more than one answer can be correct. Finally, the GRE includes a question type called Data Interpretation, in which you read and interpret graphs. The GMAT has a similar problem type, but it doesn\u2019t appear on the Quant section. Instead, you\u2019ll only need to interpret graphs during the separate, Integrated Reasoning portion of the GMAT. <\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s unlikely that the differences in GMAT vs. GRE problem types will make one test much harder for you. Any specific problem type makes up only a fraction of the entire test, after all, and many of the problems will be similar across both tests. However, if you really struggle with your timing on the Math section, or with logic and story problems, GRE Math might be easier. <\/span><\/p>\n Two types of Verbal problems appear on both tests: Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning (which is usually called Logical Reading Comprehension on the GRE). In addition, the GMAT has one exclusive Verbal problem type and the GRE has two. <\/span><\/p>\n The GMAT\u2019s unique problem type is called Sentence Correction<\/a>, and it tests your knowledge of <\/span>grammar<\/b>. The GRE includes two exclusive problem types, Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence, which test <\/span>vocabulary<\/b>. A broad vocabulary and a strong sense of grammar will help you on both tests. However, grammar is much more important on the GMAT and vocabulary is much more important on the GRE. <\/span><\/p>\n You shouldn\u2019t make the GMAT or GRE decision solely based on the information above. Instead, here\u2019s a step-by-step guide to making your choice, assuming that you haven\u2019t started studying already. <\/span><\/p>\n Now that you\u2019ve taken both practice tests, here are a few possible scenarios. <\/span><\/p>\n In scenario 1, you should go ahead and get started with the GMAT. Check out our article on how to study for the GMAT<\/a> for more advice! <\/span><\/p>\n In scenario 2, you have a harder choice to make. As of 2018, <\/span>there\u2019s a small but significant difference in the scores of GRE applicants and GMAT applicants at top b-schools<\/span><\/a>. Relatively speaking, successful applicants tend to score lower on the GRE than on the GMAT. Taking the GRE <\/span>could<\/span><\/i> help you get accepted with a slightly lower score, especially if you have a non-traditional background. In this situation, you might consider taking the GRE instead. That\u2019s particularly true if you have limited time to study and improve your score, or if you\u2019ve struggled to improve your test scores in the past. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Finally, if one of your practice test scores was much closer to your goal score, that\u2019s the right test to start with. Bear in mind that your GMAT and GRE goal scores might not be the same! In both cases, your goal score should be based on the average scores of students at your target schools. <\/span><\/p>\n Switching to the other test won\u2019t necessarily make things easier. But if you\u2019re really struggling with one test, switching tests could shake things up enough to get you moving forward again. If you\u2019ve been studying for a while, you already know most of the content you need, since there\u2019s a lot of overlap. Your first move should be to read about the basic problem types on the other test, take a practice test, and compare both of your scores to your schools\u2019 averages. <\/span><\/p>\n The differences between the GMAT and the GRE aren\u2019t massive, and many schools have explicitly stated that they treat the two tests identically. The GMAT is still the traditional route for business school, and it does still represent the majority of applicants. If the tests are otherwise the same for you, there\u2019s no reason not to move forward with the GMAT. However, if your GRE performance is much stronger, don\u2019t hesitate to take advantage of it! In some cases, schools may even be more willing to admit lower-scoring GRE applicants when compared to GMAT applicants. <\/span><\/p>\n If this information didn\u2019t help you make your decision, get in touch with an admissions counseling service, such as <\/span>mbaMission<\/span><\/a>. They\u2019ll be able to take all of your specific concerns into account. Once you\u2019ve chosen a test, why not sign up for a free trial session in one of our <\/span>GMAT<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>GRE<\/span><\/a> classes?\u00a0 Want more guidance from our GMAT gurus? You can attend the first session of any of our online or in-person GMAT courses absolutely free! We\u2019re not kidding.\u00a0<\/i><\/b>Check out our upcoming courses here<\/i><\/b><\/a>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Chelsey Cooley<\/a> The \u201cGMAT or GRE\u201d decision seems more complicated than it really is. There are a few reasons you might strongly prefer one test over the other, but now that most MBA programs accept both tests, most of us are free to take whichever one is right for us. In this article, we\u2019ll look at the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":127,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[928,52900,873,939,4],"tags":[387],"yst_prominent_words":[54289,54184,53635,54282,54281,54283,53632,54286,53777,54000,54290,54287,53997,54288,54244,54285,53640,54284,53637,53638],"class_list":["post-16890","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-mindset","category-business-school","category-for-current-studiers","category-gmat-vs-gre","category-mba-b-school","tag-gmat-vs-gre"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16890","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/127"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16890"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16890\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17072,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16890\/revisions\/17072"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16890"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16890"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16890"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=16890"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}GMAT or GRE Dealbreakers<\/b><\/h4>\n
Is the GRE Easier Than the GMAT? <\/b><\/h4>\n
The GMAT vs. GRE Test Day Experience<\/b><\/h4>\n
GMAT or GRE Quant?<\/b><\/h4>\n
GMAT or GRE Verbal?<\/b><\/h4>\n
How Does this Affect You? <\/b><\/h4>\n
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GMAT vs. GRE Scoring<\/b><\/h4>\n
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What If You\u2019ve Already Started Studying?<\/b><\/h4>\n
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\n![\"Chelsey](\"https:\/\/cdn2.manhattanprep.com\/gre\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2015\/11\/chelsey-cooley-150x150.jpg\" "\\"Chelsey")
<\/a>\u00a0is a Manhattan Prep instructor based in Seattle, Washington.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/i><\/b>Chelsey always followed her heart when it came to her education. Luckily, her heart led her straight to the perfect background for GMAT and GRE teaching: she has undergraduate degrees in mathematics and history, a master\u2019s degree in linguistics, a 790 on the GMAT, and a perfect 170\/170 on the GRE.\u00a0<\/em><\/i>Check out Chelsey\u2019s upcoming GMAT prep offerings here<\/a>.<\/em><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"