260–340
Verbal + Quant (130–170 each)
205–805
Three sections, new format since 2023
1h 58m / 2h 15m
GRE (at home) / GMAT Focus
GRE vs GMAT: what's the core difference?
The GRE General Test, administered by ETS, is accepted for admission to graduate programs across almost every discipline — MBA, law, medicine, science, humanities. The GMAT Focus Edition, administered by GMAC, is designed specifically for business school. Nearly all top MBA programs now accept both scores, but the GMAT remains the traditional choice for business, while the GRE opens broader optionality if you're undecided between an MBA and other graduate degrees.
The GMAT Focus Edition launched in 2023, replacing the original GMAT. It dropped the Sentence Correction and Integrated Reasoning sections and introduced Data Insights as a standalone section. The new format is shorter (2 hours 15 minutes versus 3+ hours for the old GMAT) and is fully computer-adaptive at the question level.
The GRE, by contrast, emphasises vocabulary and analytical writing more heavily, and its Quant section is slightly less demanding than the GMAT's for students targeting elite business programs. If you have strong verbal skills and weaker data reasoning, the GRE may play better for you.
Structure and format: GRE vs GMAT Focus Edition
The 2023 GMAT Focus Edition changed the business school landscape significantly. Here's how the two exams look side by side.
| Feature | GRE General | GMAT Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Sections | Verbal, Quant, Analytical Writing | Verbal, Quant Reasoning, Data Insights |
| Score scale | 130–170 per section; 0–6 writing | 60–90 per section; 205–805 composite |
| Total questions | ~82 scored | 64 scored |
| Adaptive format | Section-adaptive | Question-adaptive |
| Calculator | On-screen for Quant | On-screen for Quant & Data Insights |
| At-home option | Yes (ScoreSelect) | Yes |
| Score validity | 5 years | 5 years |
| Cost (approx.) | USD $220 | USD $275 |
Sources: ETS GRE General Test Guide (2024–25); GMAC GMAT Focus Edition Overview (2024).
Do MBA programs prefer GMAT over GRE?
The short answer is no — at least officially. Harvard Business School, Wharton, Stanford GSB, LBS, INSEAD, and virtually every other top MBA program explicitly state they have no preference between the two exams and evaluate them equivalently.
In practice, historical data shows GRE applicants have been admitted at similar rates to GMAT applicants at most schools. However, GMAT scores are still more commonly listed in admitted student profiles on official school websites (because more applicants historically submitted GMAT scores), which can create a misleading impression. If a school reports a "median GMAT of 730," it doesn't mean GRE applicants are disadvantaged — it reflects the historical composition of the class.
Check school-specific data before deciding
Some schools — particularly in Europe — still see a higher proportion of GMAT applicants and may have admissions officers less familiar with GRE score interpretation for business profiles. For schools like HEC Paris or Bocconi, check the latest class profile to see the GRE vs GMAT submission split before committing to one test.
Which is harder — GRE or GMAT?
Difficulty is personal. The GMAT Quant section is widely considered more demanding than GRE Quant for students applying to business schools — it focuses heavily on data sufficiency questions, a unique question type that tests whether you have enough information to solve a problem rather than asking you to actually solve it. These require a different mode of thinking and trip up students who haven't specifically prepared for them.
GRE Verbal, by contrast, includes a higher volume of advanced vocabulary questions (Text Completion, Sentence Equivalence) than the GMAT. If you're a non-native English speaker or haven't studied SAT-style vocabulary, GRE Verbal can feel punishing. GMAT Verbal (in the Focus Edition) is primarily critical reasoning and reading comprehension — skills that feel more natural for many international students.
The new GMAT Data Insights section combines elements of integrated reasoning and data interpretation. Students from quantitative or finance backgrounds often find it manageable; students with pure humanities backgrounds tend to find it challenging. Practice with official GMAT Focus mock tests before assuming it's the easier option.
GRE or GMAT: which should you take?
Use this framework to decide. If you're still unsure after applying it, take a free official practice test for each and compare your scores using an ETS concordance tool.
Take the GRE if you…
- Are applying to both MBA and non-MBA programs
- Have strong vocabulary and analytical writing
- Want to use ScoreSelect (send only your best scores)
- Are applying to PhD, law, or medical programs too
Take the GMAT if you…
- Are exclusively targeting MBA programs
- Excel at data reasoning and critical logic
- Want a shorter, more focused exam format
- Are targeting top European business schools
See where your GRE score ranks
Use our free GRE percentile calculator to convert your Verbal, Quant, and composite scores to precise national percentiles based on ETS's most recent data.
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