GMAT vs GRE - Which Exam Should You Take?

Are you planning to apply for an international MBA? Wondering if you should take the GMAT or GRE for MBA? In the course of training thousands of students for the GMAT and GRE and interacting with admissions consultants, I have garnered key insights that I would like to share in this article.

How to Decide between the GMAT and GRE?

1. Ponder over your goals and priorities. If you are unsure of what course you want to pursue and want to keep your options open, it is advisable to take the GRE. On the other hand, if you are completely certain about MBA, focus primarily on the GMAT.
2. What does your target school want? Read their policies and interact with their currently enrolled students, alums, and admissions committee officials to know if they prefer one exam over the other.
3. Irrespective of the exam you take, it is imperative that you excel in it and the exam is compatible with your skillset. The quant section of the GMAT is tougher than GRE, so if it is not your forte, consider the GRE. Generally, the GMAT is ideal for those who have strong quantitative and analytical skills, and excel at interpreting data presented in charts, tables, and text to solve complex problems. The GRE math section, on the other hand, tends to be more straightforward.
4. Consider giving an official practice test for both GRE and GMAT as a diagnostic experiment to analyze where you stand. Is one score significantly better than the other? Did you find one of the two considerably more challenging? Irrespective of the choice of exam, it is imperative for your score to be at least 740+ on the GMAT and 330+ on the GRE if you are aiming for M7 or Ivy League business schools. Both require substantial effort and preparation of at least 300-400 hours.

An essential component for business schools is to keep their academic index high to compete with other premium schools and keep their rank high. Consequently, they harp on the academic performance of all their applicants. This is judged on the basis of college grades and test scores. So, irrespective of the test, high scores become vital. Impressive GMAT and GRE also help in balancing low college grades and emphasize your academic intellect.

Do Admissions Committees prefer GMAT over GRE?

Several colleges still prefer the GMAT because it is designed to predict performance in the MBA program. Business Because reports that schools like INSEAD and Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper still prefer the quant-heavy GMAT. According to a survey, 78% of the class of 2022 at Harvard Business School was admitted with a GMAT score. Although the number dropped from 85% in 2020, it still holds considerable sway. Even as some schools state that they don’t prefer the GMAT over GRE and vice versa, they convert the GRE to the GMAT score to compare MBA applications objectively.

GRE began to be accepted so that the underrepresented pools of candidates could apply and stand a chance to enter the MBA cohort. The diversity that it would bring within classroom discussions was particularly important for most b-schools. However, even though several business schools accept both and are ambivalent about their preference, a GMAT score is seen as a plus.

What are the benefits of the GMAT over the GRE?

1. According to MBA.com, "While there are a wide variety of MBA scholarships available, most merit-based scholarships are awarded to students who’ve taken the GMAT. That’s another reason why most candidates prefer to take the GMAT rather than the GRE." (My GMAT Score Paid for My MBA: How to Unlock Your Scholarship?) Similarly, at Tuck, women candidates can avail the Forte MBA fellowship only if they have taken the GMAT. Sam Weeks, an MBA graduate from the University of Oxford Sa?d Business School, scored a GMAT score of 720 which helped him secure a 30% scholarship. “If a merit-based scholarship is a priority for an applicant, I recommend taking the GMAT, not the GRE,” says Sam, who now works as an MBA admissions consultant.
2. Several employers, especially the top-tier consulting firms, investment banks, and others, consider GMAT scores in job applications, thus paving the way for you to land a competitive and high-paying job after business school. There may not be a direct correlation between higher scores and higher salaries, but many firms use a certain GMAT score as a baseline cut-off. A member of the GMAT club did a simple search on monster.com and found multiple ads for companies that asked for GMAT scores or mentioned a minimum of 700 for eligibility.
3. When applying for business-oriented programs such as MBA or MiM, a GMAT score is favored because when an applicant submits GMAT, they unequivocally imply that they are committed to enrolling at a graduate business school and not a master’s program. Often, candidates with engineering or science backgrounds submit GRE scores because they are also applying for master’s programs in other colleges. This is particularly off-putting for ad-coms because it shows that you are confused and may not end up accepting their offer.
4. The GMAT exam measures the skills most relevant to succeed in MBA and your business career thereafter. Each of the four sections of the GMAT target honing specific skills that are highly valued and necessary to the careers post-MBA. Thus, when you prepare for the GMAT, you are investing time not only for getting through a b-school but also for sharpening skills for your career.

Many find GRE attractive simply because they dread the GMAT. The number of google searches for MBA without GMAT and GMAT waivers has increased over the years and I have observed the reluctance and fear of people on forums such as Reddit, Quora, and GMATClub as well. However, do not let your fear take the decision for you.

While I will always be proud of helping my students achieve the perfect score of 800 on the GMAT, I am just as proud when I succeed in removing all GMAT-related fears from any student’s mind and convince them that they have it in them to score GMAT 740+

If you want to partner with me for your GMAT prep journey, schedule a free demo with me at +91 8448474648 or discuss your GMAT strategy here: https://calendly.com/manan-kumar/gmat-inquiry-meeting

Want more insights on GMAT? Check out Enzo Prep’s Instagram account for all updates, strategies, and hacks related to GMAT and MBA prep: https://www.instagram.com/enzoprep/