GMAT or GRE – One of Many Decisions When Planning Your Studies

Deciding between GMAT and GRE for your MBA? Explore the differences, how business schools view each test, and which exam might be best for your application strategy.

GMAT or GRE – One of many decisions in study planning

There are many topics that future MBA candidates need to deal with before choosing a specific study program. This includes the choice of the standardized admission test that business schools require from their applicants.

In the past, the decision was easy, as the GMAT was the obvious choice. The GMAT is an exam administered by the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), a business school group. In recent years, however, many MBA candidates have also opted for the GRE test as an alternative to the GMAT.

The GRE test (Graduate Record Examinations Test) is organized by an educational testing service and has existed for over 65 years. Traditionally, it is a general and standardized test designed for all educational levels. The GRE was adapted in 2011 and has been competing with the GMAT since its revision. While it seems unlikely that the GRE will ever replace the GMAT as the first choice of admissions officers and prospective students, the use of the GRE continues to increase.

Business schools are increasingly paying attention to the fact that their candidates have already gained experience in their lives and bring their individual perspectives into the classrooms. And it turned out that most of them were more likely to have taken a GRE exam.

Although more and more schools accept the GRE test, its results are still not equated with those of a GMAT test. Among candidates who achieved equally good results in the GMAT and GRE tests, the chances are better for those who apply with a GMAT test result.

There are many reasons for this still existing preference. One assumption, for example, would be that the GRE is a general exam that can be taken by candidates from a wide variety of academic backgrounds. This can be a disadvantage for the applicant. Someone who submits a GMAT test result is still seen as a person who pays more attention to their personal career than a person who submits a GRE test result, with which many other educations can be completed.

Although the GMAT and GRE are viewed so differently, these two tests share some qualities. Despite their differences, both exams boil down to the same thing when considering the following questions asked in both tests: Are you able to think critically? Do you pay attention to details? Can you make the right decisions? MBA applicants should therefore not panic – but above all deal with the last question.