GMAT vs. GRE: Why Is the GMAT More Popular for MBA Admissions?

There’s no doubt that taking an admissions test helps you stand out in competitive business degree applicant pools.

Admissions tests, like the GMAT and the GRE General Test, are an important part of what business school admissions committees call the holistic admissions review, in which reviewers consider the entirety of your application to gain as complete a picture as possible of your fit for their program.

Among the components of your application—including your undergraduate GPA, work experience, letters of recommendation, essays, and interview—the one part that’s standardized, or directly comparable across applicants, is your admissions test score. This helps schools evaluate talent across broad applicant pools and make comparisons between applicants from different professional, academic, or geographic backgrounds. It also helps promote fairness and eliminate bias in the admissions process.

So earning a top test score is a great way to elevate your standing among other qualified applicants, and can even help you land a scholarship.

GMAT vs. GRE: Which admissions exam is more popular?

The two most popular admissions tests for MBA and business master’s admissions are the GMAT and the GRE General Test.

Let’s take a look at how widely each one is used.

• More business schools accept the GMAT. The GMAT is accepted by over 7,700 programs at more than 2,400 business schools all over the world. The GRE, meanwhile, is accepted at around 1,300 schools.

• More students opt for the GMAT over the GRE. In the period July 2022 - June 2023, 37,191 students took the GRE in order to get into business school. In the same timeframe, A total of 108,851 GMAT exams were taken by prospective business school students.

• The GMAT is the admissions exam of choice at the world’s top business schools. At the top 10 business schools in the USA (according to the most recent Poets&Quants Ranking), the GMAT was taken by around two-thirds of students on average. The GMAT was the overwhelming choice at schools such as the Kellogg School of Management (76%), Harvard Business School (74%), and Booth School of Business (73%).

• Candidates prefer taking the GMAT. That’s according to a 2021 poll by the admissions consultancy MBA Crystal Ball, which found that 4 in 5 business school candidates think the GMAT exam is the better choice for business school admissions. 

In recent years, both the GMAT and GRE introduced the ability to test at home. Let’s break down some key differences between the two at-home exams.

Get a side-by-side comparison with our GMAT vs. GRE infographic.

GMAT is purpose-built for business school

The GMAT is the only admissions test designed specifically to be used for admissions to graduate business programs. First introduced in 1953 by nine leading business schools, for decades b-schools around the world have trusted the GMAT because it’s specifically validated to predict performance in the first year of an MBA program.

Because the GRE General Test is a general graduate school exam—accepted by a wide variety of non-business graduate programs—taking the GRE can leave business schools guessing whether or not you’re truly committed to earning an MBA or business master’s degree. Just 12% of GRE test takers intend to go to business school.

Taking the GMAT, on the other hand, sends a clear, unambiguous signal to your target programs that you’re committed to enrolling at a graduate business school. Schools like that, because they want to admit applicants who are more likely to enroll in their programs. They also like to see that you have a clear vision for your education and how it will support your professional goals.

As a bonus, lots of employers—especially top-tier consulting firms—consider GMAT scores in job applications. That means taking the GMAT can help you land a competitive (and high-paying) job after business school.

GMAT measures skills relevant to your career in business

The GMAT measures the most relevant skills you need to succeed in a graduate business program, as well as in your business career. Each of the three sections of GMAT target specific skills that are relevant to the career path you aspire to. When you prep for the GMAT, you are investing time not only in earning your best score, but also in sharpening your skills for business school and your career. 

What’s more, all three sections employ a best-in-class, computer adaptive design. That means the test tailors itself in real-time to your ability level and arrives at your score with a high degree of precision and efficiency. Translation: no wasted time and effort. The total time of the GMAT is 2 hours 15 minutes.

The GRE clocks in a little shorter, at 1 hours 58 minutes. However, there are five different sections to be aware of, compared to the three in the GMAT. Unlike the business-focused questions found in the GMAT, the five GRE test sections are not related to any specific field of study. Additionally, test takers have 25% more time on average to answer questions on the GMAT than on the GRE.

The GMAT testing experience offers choice and control

Before, during, and after your test, the GMAT is designed to offer you choices that put you in the driver’s seat to personalize your experience.

For the GMAT delivered online, enjoy the flexibility of testing appointments being available around the clock, and available to book up to six months out on a rolling basis.

On test day, you have the freedom to choose the order in which you complete the exam sections. You’ll also have the choice of using a physical whiteboard, an online whiteboard with a keyboard, or both throughout your test. The GRE requires that you complete the test sections in a fixed order that they dictate, and they do not provide the option of an online whiteboard with keyboard.

After finishing the GMAT, you’ll be able to preview your unofficial scores right away. You’ll typically receive your official scores in 3-5 days. You can then choose which schools to send them to. Your scores are good for five years, so no rush if you’re not ready to send them! But you only have 48 hours after receiving your official score to send your five (5) free score reports.

For the GRE you can send your scores to four programs at no cost. After that, you’ll have to pay an additional US$27 per institution. You’ll receive your official scores after 8-10 days. Also, you’ll have to choose your schools before taking the GRE.

Not satisfied with your GMAT score? You have the option to retake it once after just 16 days. The GRE requires you to wait 21 days to retest.

GMAT vs. GRE: Differences Between the Two Exams

Take the GMAT to show you mean business

So, why the GMAT over the GRE for your business school applications?

The GMAT is built specifically for business school admissions, so your target programs know you’re serious about pursuing a degree from their school. Business school admissions committees trust what your GMAT score says about your ability to succeed in their classrooms. 

Because the GMAT is designed specifically for business, your prep time is an investment in not only earning your best score, but also in sharpening your skills for business school and your career. The flexibility and freedom of the GMAT online exam and its unlimited score sending give you the confidence you need to showcase your talents and elevate your standing in competitive MBA and business master’s applicant pools.

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