GMAT vs. GRE: Why Is the GMAT More Popular for MBA Admissions?
Is it better to take the GMAT or GRE for MBA admissions? Learn why 4 in 5 business school applicants prefer the GMAT exam when it comes to GMAT vs. GRE.
Which Test Should You Take as an International MBA Applicant?
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With the increasing popularity of GRE in the admissions process of multiple business schools, many candidates have pondered which test they should take to maximize their odds of admission and scholarship.
Based on my work with hundreds of GMAT test takers and candidates applying to top business schools abroad, I’ve compiled my insights on the question of GMAT vs GRE with the hope that it could help you make an informed decision when applying to business schools as an international candidate.
GMAT or GRE? Understanding the nature of both tests
Generally speaking, both the GMAT and GRE are computer adaptive tests but in different ways.
In the GMAT exam, you must answer the presented question in order to move to the next question. The level of difficulty of the next questions would also depend on how you answer the current question. In this regard, if you answer questions incorrectly, the next questions will become easier and worth fewer points.
On the other hand, the GRE, which is adaptive by question, will allow you to skip questions within a section and the algorithm adapts at the section level. This means that if you do not perform well on the first section, your score will be penalized, and the succeeding section will be easier.
Therefore, for test takers for whom English is not their native language (and feel stronger on Quant), pivoting to GMAT might be a better choice.
Which test do top business schools prefer?
Generally, the GMAT exam has long been considered the gold standard for MBA admission at all business schools around the world. A high GMAT score will undoubtedly put you in a better advantage for admission and scholarships.
Because business schools are driven by ranking and a stellar GMAT score can help schools climb the ranking, taking the GMAT can increase your odds of getting a more generous financial aid. Many schools that want to improve their ranking would tend to admit students with excellent GMAT score, which means that taking the GMAT exam would place you in an advantageous position.
In a survey conducted among admission committees, around 13 percent preferred the GMAT and only 1 percent preferred the GRE, and the rest assess the candidates with no preference.
Therefore, the GMAT offer you with more options to choose among leading business schools.
Which test suits your strengths?
Furthermore, even though the GRE exam is generally easier than the GMAT, especially in the quantitative section, it demands test takers to possess an abnormally amazing memory to remember thousands of “weird” words for the verbal section. Therefore, if you have good analytical skills and find it a burden to memorize vocabulary, the GMAT could be a better option.
Another point worth considering is that the GRE is usually perceived as easier quantitatively than the GMAT. Hence if you do not have a good GPA or scored less impressive in quantitative courses in college, I would recommend trying the GMAT to demonstrate your quantitative ability to the admission committees.
Nevertheless, if your GMAT score comes in below average after several attempts, it would be better to shift to the GRE to gain an edge.
The GMAT exam is tailored made for business school
From my conversations with many international applicants getting into T10 or T15 MBA programs in the United States, the GMAT offers countless benefits beyond admission.
As shared by Kacey Nguyen (Duke Fuqua Class 2022), her professor once asked her class to brush up on GMAT sentence correction to improve writing skill. As the professor explained, business writing requires concision and clarity. These are exactly what test takers can take from the GMAT exam.
Additionally, in a number classroom discussions, Kacey applied what she had learned in terms of logical reasoning and critical analysis. In the GMAT, the Critical Reasoning section (CR) covers a wide range of topics and situations test takers are expected to be able to understand and analyze.
By solving thousands of CR questions, Kacey shared that she greatly improved her ability to evaluate a piece of reasoning. This is critically important as the educational method of most of Vietnamese universities places much emphasis on rote memorization and local students are not empowered to sharpen their critical reasoning.