![\"Should](\"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gre\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/04\/shoulditakethegreorgmat.jpg\")
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If you\u2019re wondering whether to take the GRE or GMAT, you\u2019re probably getting ready to apply to business schools. In a lot of situations, it doesn\u2019t matter very much which test you take! However, there are some critical differences between the two tests, and you don\u2019t want to be surprised when it\u2019s time to submit applications. Keep reading to learn how to make your GRE vs GMAT decision.<\/span><\/p>\n In some situations, you have to take the GRE. In others, you have to take the GMAT. Do your research now, because if you\u2019re in one of these situations, there\u2019s only one right test for you!<\/span><\/p>\n Although a large and growing number of MBA programs will accept the GRE, a small number only accept the GMAT. The ETS has published a <\/span>list of programs that accept GRE scores<\/span><\/a>: if your program is on this list, you\u2019ll be able to take either test. However, <\/span>a few programs have stated that they <\/span>prefer<\/span><\/i> the GMAT, even if they technically accept the GRE<\/span><\/a>. It goes without saying that if you\u2019re applying to one of these programs, the GMAT is the way to go.<\/span><\/p>\n In some situations, you\u2019ll have no choice but to take the GRE instead of the GMAT. For instance, if you\u2019re applying to a dual-degree program, research your program\u2019s test requirements. Some dual-degree MBA programs require the GRE rather than the GMAT, in order to satisfy the admissions requirements of both programs.<\/span><\/p>\n There are also logistical reasons to choose between the GRE or GMAT. The GMAT comes with a lifetime limit: you can only take the test eight times in total, and while you can appeal, it\u2019s not guaranteed that you\u2019ll be allowed to take it a ninth time. There\u2019s also a limit to how many times you can take either test within a year (five times in any twelve-month period for either the <\/span>GRE<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>GMAT<\/span><\/a>). If you\u2019re at this limit, you\u2019ll have to take the other test if you want to continue retesting. It\u2019s also possible, but unlikely, that you\u2019ll be offered testing accommodations for one test but not the other. In that case, you\u2019re probably better off taking the test that you received accommodations on.<\/span><\/p>\n At this point, go ahead and check the websites for the programs you\u2019re applying to. If none of the situations above apply to you, and if all of your schools accept both tests, keep reading! And while you\u2019re at it, jot down the average GMAT and GRE scores for your target schools: they\u2019ll help you make your decision later on.<\/span><\/p>\n You may have heard that one of the two tests is easier. That\u2019s not entirely false\u2014but it\u2019s not entirely true, either.<\/span><\/p>\n The GMAT is an \u201citem-adaptive\u201d test. On the GMAT, you aren\u2019t allowed to go back and check your work on previous problems. Also, if you\u2019re consistently getting problems right, the test will steadily increase the difficulty level until you start getting a significant number of problems wrong. Because of this, virtually everyone misses a substantial number of problems on the GMAT, especially on the Quant section. The difference in scores comes not from how many problems you got right, but from the difficulty of the problems you were able to answer consistently.<\/span><\/p>\n In contrast, the GRE <\/span>is<\/span><\/i> scored based on how many problems you get right. However, you can also go back (within each section) and double-check your work, and you can save problems for later to avoid wasting time.<\/span><\/p>\n Due to this difference between the test algorithms, you\u2019ll almost certainly get <\/span>more right answers on the GRE than on the GMAT<\/b>. That can definitely make the GRE feel easier. But does it mean your score will be higher on the GRE?<\/span><\/p>\n Probably not! Even though you\u2019ll get more right answers on the GRE, a very high GRE score requires a lot of right answers, while a very high GMAT score definitely doesn\u2019t. On top of that, remember that both tests <\/span>compare you to other test-takers<\/b>. Even if the GRE is easier, it\u2019s easier for everyone who takes it\u2014so your \u201chigher\u201d score will put you at about the same level, once you\u2019re compared against other test-takers.<\/span><\/p>\n So neither test is universally \u201ceasier\u201d\u2014at least not in any way that matters. However, it\u2019s possible that one of the tests will be significantly easier <\/span>for you<\/span><\/i>. If that\u2019s the case, you should definitely take the significantly easier test. Here are some things to consider.<\/span><\/p>\n The GRE and the GMAT are both taken at a testing center, in front of a computer. Both tests are about equal in length, and the rules (no notes, no snacks in the testing room, no using your phone) are similar. Nonetheless, many people find the GRE less stressful than the GMAT.<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re seriously affected by test anxiety, especially if you\u2019re currently struggling with the GMAT, consider taking the GRE instead. You should exhaust other avenues for anxiety reduction first, but it\u2019s possible that taking the GRE will get you unstuck. The GRE allows you to go back to previous problems, check your work, and mark problems to review later, which can make the time limit feel less oppressive. It\u2019s worth your time to take a practice GRE and see whether there\u2019s a substantial improvement.<\/span><\/p>\n The two tests look at very similar material. First, let\u2019s go over the question types.<\/span><\/p>\n The question types almost completely overlap, with only a few differences. Although GMAT Data Sufficiency and GRE Quantitative Comparisons have different rules, they both test your ability to work with mathematical logic, rather than purely crunching numbers. Both tests look at how well you can read graphs, although the GRE includes this as part of the Math section, while the GMAT makes it a completely separate part of the test. Finally, and perhaps most significantly, the GMAT tests English grammar, while the GRE tests your vocabulary. Vocabulary and grammar are both useful on both tests, but each test heavily emphasizes one over the other.<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s unlikely that these differences will make one test much harder for you than the other. Even if one problem type is especially tough for you, that problem type will only make up a fraction of the entire test. The one exception might be if you\u2019re primarily concerned about your Verbal score, and you\u2019re much stronger at vocabulary than grammar, or vice versa\u2014but in most situations, that shouldn\u2019t force you to take one test or the other.<\/span><\/p>\n The math content between the two tests is very similar as well. The GMAT emphasizes tricky story problems more than the GRE; GRE Math problems are often easier to understand but involve more calculation. There\u2019s also an on-screen calculator on the GRE, but not on the GMAT (except on the Integrated Reasoning section).<\/span><\/p>\n The GMAT Quant section can be more forgiving of careless errors than the GRE, although careless math errors aren\u2019t a good thing on either test. Because of the difference between the scoring algorithms, you really want to get as many right answers as possible on the GRE. Missing two or three problems due to careless errors can cause a major drop in your Quant score. On the GMAT, however, you have a chance to \u2018recover\u2019 from a careless error by consistently answering the following questions correctly.<\/span><\/p>\n There are a few math topics that are more heavily emphasized on one test than the other. For instance, the GRE focuses more on geometry and on certain statistics topics (such as quartiles) that rarely or never appear on the GMAT.<\/span><\/p>\n The difference is more dramatic on the Verbal side. Both tests include Reading Comprehension, as well as problems that test your ability to understand a brief argument (on the GMAT, these problems are called Critical Reasoning; on the GRE, they\u2019re Logical Reading Comprehension). However, the GRE includes problems that require a knowledge of academic vocabulary. In contrast, the GMAT requires you to know grammar rules.<\/span><\/p>\n If you suspect that one or more of these differences will make one of the tests much easier for you, start by learning the basics of each test\u2014the problem types and the basic format. This information is available on the <\/span>GRE website<\/span><\/a> and the <\/span>GMAT website<\/span><\/a>. Then, <\/span>take a practice version of each test<\/b>. Here\u2019s a <\/span>link to our free practice GMAT<\/span><\/a>, and here\u2019s one for our <\/span>free practice GRE<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Here\u2019s how to interpret your results. First, remember how we had you jot down the average scores for your target programs? Use those to decide on an appropriate goal score for each test, following the advice in <\/span>this article<\/span><\/a>. Then, compare what you got on your practice tests to those goal scores. Here are the possible scenarios:<\/span><\/p>\n Many programs outwardly claim to give identical consideration to the GMAT and the GRE. That said, the statistics show that there\u2019s a small but consistent difference between successful applicants\u2019 GMAT and GRE scores. <\/span>On average, successful applicants who took the GRE tend to be accepted with <\/span>lower<\/span><\/i> scores than applicants who took the GMAT<\/span><\/a>. In other words, it looks like you can \u201cget away with\u201d a lower score on the GRE than on the GMAT.<\/span><\/p>\n There are a number of reasons this could be true, and in fact, it might not be meaningful at all\u2014for instance, GRE applicants might have simply been stronger applicants in other ways. However, there are reasons to believe that taking the GRE might help you out if your score is marginal, especially if you have a non-traditional background.<\/span><\/p>\n Switching from one test to the other won\u2019t necessarily improve your score overnight. But learning the format of the other test and then taking a quick practice test will only take a few hours, and it might give you valuable information. If you\u2019re having a tough time with one test, give the other one a try. Compare your goal scores on each test to where you are with each one right now, then make your decision. Don\u2019t fall for the <\/span>sunk cost fallacy<\/span><\/a>, though\u2014the right test to take is the one that will help you impress business programs the most, not the one you\u2019ve sunk the most time into already.<\/span><\/p>\n Hopefully this information helped you make your GRE or GMAT decision! If not, we recommend chatting with an admissions counselor about your specific situation. <\/span>mbaMission<\/span><\/a> offers a free half-hour consultation, which is a fantastic resource if you have a complex situation or if your concerns weren\u2019t addressed here. And once you\u2019ve picked your test, check out a free trial session of the <\/span>Manhattan Prep GRE course<\/span><\/a>, the <\/span>Manhattan Prep GMAT course<\/span><\/a>, or both! ?<\/span><\/p>\n See that \u201cSUBSCRIBE\u201d button in the top right corner? Click on it to receive all our GRE blog updates straight to your inbox!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Chelsey Cooley<\/a> If you\u2019re wondering whether to take the GRE or GMAT, you\u2019re probably getting ready to apply to business schools. In a lot of situations, it doesn\u2019t matter very much which test you take! However, there are some critical differences between the two tests, and you don\u2019t want to be surprised when it\u2019s time to submit […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":127,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[474284,405,404,3,734199,793261,921840,6,733451,645522],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[1363411,1363126,1363414,1363406,1363408,1363412,1363415,1363047,1362627,1363404,1363154,1362669,1363094,1363409,1363405,1363077,1363410,1362670,1362628,1363147],"class_list":["post-12413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-studiers","category-gmat-or-gre","category-gmat-vs-gre-2","category-grad-school","category-graduate-degrees","category-gre-logistics","category-gre-prep-2","category-gre-strategies","category-life-hacks","category-mba-2"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12413","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/127"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12413"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12413\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12418,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12413\/revisions\/12418"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12413"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12413"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12413"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=12413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}GRE or GMAT: First Steps<\/b><\/h4>\n
Which Test is Easier: GRE or GMAT?<\/b><\/h4>\n
The Test-Day Experience<\/b><\/h4>\n
GMAT vs GRE: Question Types<\/b><\/h4>\n
![\"Should](\"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gre\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/04\/cc-95-image-1.png\")
<\/p>\nGMAT vs GRE: Content and Skills<\/b><\/h4>\n
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Do Business Programs Care Whether You Take the GRE or GMAT?<\/b><\/h4>\n
What If I\u2019ve Already Started Studying for the GRE or GMAT?<\/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 170Q\/170V on the GRE.\u00a0<\/em><\/i>Check out Chelsey\u2019s upcoming GRE prep offerings here<\/a>.<\/em><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"