GRE vs GMAT: What’s Best for You in 2025

GRE vs GMAT are the two most popular MBA and graduate program tests. Both the GRE and GMAT are used to get into graduate business schools. The full form of GRE and GMAT is Graduate Record Examinations and Graduate Management Admission Test.

Most schools worldwide accept the GRE as a measure of a candidate’s ability for various graduate-level target programs and master ‘s-level programs, but the GMAT is only used to prove a candidate’s entry into business school programs. Candidates for MBA programs should contact prospective institutions to inquire about entrance exam requirements.

When deciding GRE vs GMAT in 2025, consider your academic background and career goals. The GMAT is tailored for business school admissions, while the GRE is accepted for a broader range of graduate programs. Understanding the difference between GRE and GMAT which is better is crucial in making the right choice. If you’re focused on business school, the GMAT may be the better option as it is specifically designed for that purpose. However, if you want to keep your options open for various graduate programs, the GRE could be more advantageous.

Key Considerations:

• Program Requirements: Many business schools accept both tests, but some may have a preference. Research your target schools to see if they lean towards the GRE or GMAT.
• Strengths and Skills: Assess your strengths in quantitative and verbal reasoning. The GMAT has a stronger emphasis on analytical writing and logical reasoning, while the GRE includes a broader range of question types.
• Test Format and Experience: The GRE allows for more flexibility in navigating questions, while the GMAT has a more structured approach. Consider which format you might perform better in.

Ultimately, the decision between the GRE vs GMAT should reflect your strengths and the specific requirements of the programs you are interested in. Understanding the nuances of (GRE vs GMAT) will help you make an informed choice that aligns with your academic and career goals.

In this post, we will explain the GRE vs GMAT. Let’s look more closely At GRE GMAT differences, including their structures, exam patterns, eligibility requirements, scores, requirements, and many other things.

GRE vs GMAT

Here are some of the key differences between the GRE vs GMAT:

1. Purpose: The GMAT is specifically designed for business school admissions, while the GRE is accepted by a wider range of graduate programs, including business, law, and humanities.
2. Test Structure: The GMAT includes sections on analytical writing, integrated reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and verbal reasoning. The GRE features verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing, but with different question formats and scoring.
3. Question Types: The GRE includes a broader variety of question types, such as text completion and sentence equivalence, which are not found on the GMAT. Conversely, the GMAT focuses more on data-sufficiency questions in its quantitative section.
4. Scoring: The GMAT is scored on a scale of 200 to 800, while the GRE has separate scores for each section, with a combined score for verbal and quantitative reasoning ranging from 260 to 340.
5. Flexibility: The GRE allows test-takers to skip questions and return to them later, while the GMAT has a fixed question order, meaning you cannot go back to previous questions once answered.

Factor	GRE	GMAT
Section	Analytical Writing Quantitative Reasoning Verbal Reasoning Unscored or Research Section	Analytical Writing Quantitative Reasoning Verbal Reasoning Integrated Reasoning
Mode Of Exam	It is done on a computer, with paper forms given up to three times a year.	Only available on a computer
program Relevance	Widely accepted for a variety of graduate-level programs	Emphasizes MBA admissions
Time for the Test	3 hours and 45 minutes, plus short breaks	3 hours and 7 minutes, plus short breaks

GRE vs GMAT: Exam format

Find out how the GRE vs GMAT syllabus tests are set up. Learn how each test is put together and what parts it has so you can decide which Is the best GRE vs GMAT for your school goals.

When comparing the GRE vs GMAT, understanding the exam format is essential for making an informed decision.

The GMAT consists of four main sections:

1. Analytical Writing Assessment: One essay that measures your critical thinking and communication skills.
2. Integrated Reasoning: 12 questions that assess your ability to analyze data from multiple sources.
3. Quantitative Reasoning: 31 questions focused on problem-solving and data sufficiency.
4. Verbal Reasoning: 36 questions that evaluate reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction.

The total testing time for the GMAT is approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.

In contrast, the GRE is structured with three main sections:

1. Analytical Writing: Two essays that measure your critical thinking and analytical writing skills.
2. Verbal Reasoning: Two sections with a total of 40 questions that assess your ability to analyze written material and understand relationships between words and concepts.
3. Quantitative Reasoning: Two sections with a total of 40 questions that evaluate your basic math skills, understanding of quantitative concepts, and ability to interpret data.

The total testing time for the GRE is about 3 hours and 45 minutes, including a short break.

When considering the (GRE vs GMAT) exam format, think about which structure aligns better with your strengths and test-taking preferences. This understanding will help you choose the exam that best suits your academic and career goals.

GMAT Exam Format

GMAT is made to test the skills of people who want to go to school for management. It tests the candidate’s data sufficiency, logic, critical thinking, analytical writing, and problem-solving skills.

GMAT has four sections, and applicants must be able to do simple math and English. The test will see how well you can solve problems, analyze and draw conclusions from knowledge, and think critically. The GMAT curriculum covers areas like Analytical Writing Assessment and Integrated Reasoning, as well as complex judgments, critical thought, and analytical skills.

Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Integrated Reasoning, and Analytical Writing are the parts of the GMAT test. The total GMAT score is from 200 to 800 in 10-point levels. You’ll get different Verbal and Quantitative scores, each on a scale from 6 to 51, a Writing score out of six, and an Integrated Reasoning score out of eight.

• The Quantitative Reasoning test checks how good you are at math and how well you understand numbers.
• The Verbal Reasoning part checks how well you understand what you read and how well you understand written arguments.
• The Integrated Reasoning part tests how well you can look at and understand data.
• The Analytical Writing part tests how well you can communicate and think critically.

GMAT Section	Number Of Question	Question Type	Duration
Analytical Writing Assessment	One topic	Analysis of argument	30 minutes
Integrated Reasoning	12 question	Multi-Source Reasoning Graphics Interpretation Two-Two Part Analysis Table Analysis	30 minutes
Quantitative	31 questions	Data Sufficiency Problem Solving	62 minutes
Verbal	36 questions	Reading Comprehension Critical Reasoning Sentence Correction	65 minutes
Total Exam Time	80 questions		3 hours seven minutes

Computer Adaptive Nature Of GMAT

The GMAT uses computer adaptive testing, which changes the difficulty level of the questions based on how well the test taker does. The GMAT’s computer-adaptive structure ensures that each candidate has a unique testing experience that fits their skills. This dynamic method allows test takers’ skills and abilities to be judged more accurately.

GRE Exam Format

GRE is a requirement for admission to many foreign postgraduate programs, including MBA programs.
There are two kinds of GRE. GRE Subject Test and GRE General Test. The GRE tests a person’s verbal, numerical, critical thought, and analytical writing skills. These are covered in Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing. Students may also have to take the GRE Subject Test at some places. The GRE topic test will check how much a candidate knows about Chemistry, Math, Physics, and Psychology. GRE duration is 3 hours and 10 Minutes total.

Section	Total Question	Type Of Question	Score Range	Duration
Verbal Reasoning	20+20= 40	Reading Comprehension Text Completion Sentence Equivalence	130-170	60 minutes (30 minutes per section)
Quantitative Reasoning	20+20= 40	Quantitative Comparison Questions Numeric Entry Questions	130-170	70 (35 minutes per section)
Analytical Reasoning Questions	1+1= 2	Analyzing an    Issue  Analyzing an  Argument	0-6	30 minutes for each task
Total	80 MCQs 2 Descriptive		260-340	3 hours and 10 minutes

Not every graduate school requires a Subject Test, so candidates must ensure that the program they’ve chosen requires the Subject Test they want to take. The only way to take the GRE Subject Test is with paper and pencil. The GRE Subjects Test is for people who know much about one of the four fields listed above.

• Mathematics
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Psychology

Topic Tests on the GRE are meant to see how much you know and how good you are at a topic.

Computer Adaptive Nature Of GRE

The GRE score is based on how many questions were answered properly and how hard those questions were. If you respond to more difficult inquiries properly, you get a greater result, while if you react to simpler queries correctly, you could receive a lower score.

Because the GRE CAT is adaptable, each test-taker gets the right questions for their skill level. With this method, the test can more accurately measure a person’s skills by asking questions that are just hard enough.

Differences Between GMAT and GRE Syllabus

Both the GRE GMAT differences aim to measure the skills needed for graduate management programs (like an MBA). Before choosing an exam, evaluate your skills, where it’s accepted, and how open it is. You must understand their distinctions to select between the GRE GMAT. These two tests’ GMAT and GRE Differences are compared here to help you understand the difference between GRE vs GMAT clearly.

Verbal Section

In the verbal section of the GMAT, the other two question types are Sentence Correction and Critical Reasoning. In the verbal section of the GRE, the two question types are Sentence Equivalence and Text Completion. On the other hand, the GRE vocal part is considered hard because it has a difficult vocabulary and reading passages that might be hard for a non-native English speaker to understand.

Quantitative Aptitude

The ideas that are tested on the mathematical parts of the GRE vs GMAT are similar. One big difference between the GRE and the GMAT is that you can use a computer on the GRE but not on the GMAT. The math questions on both tests are based on what you learned in high school.

Analytical Writing Assessment

Both the GMAT and the GRE test your English writing skills. The number of jobs is the main difference between the two. You have to write one task on the GMAT about a general interest topic. On the GRE, you have to do two different analytical writing tasks. The GRE and the GMAT take the same time and work to finish this part.

GMAT vs. GRE: What’s Best

Even though most business school candidates would rather take the GMAT vs GRE for MBAs, they often use GRE scores as part of their admissions criteria. This means you can choose the best test that shows your academic skills. Consider these factors while choosing your option.

Academic  Goals

Your school goals will help you decide which test to take. Take the best test for your subject if you know it. For instance, if you plan a job in finance, you need to attempt the GMAT rather than the GRE because it relies on more mathematical reasoning than verbal analysis.

Career objectives

Some employers, like investment and business consulting groups, need GMAT scores for the job application process. Do your research ahead of time if you have certain companies in mind. You may not need to retest the GMAT if you complete it before business school.

Academic Strength

The GMAT may be a better venue if you’re a better mathematician than the speaker. If you can write well, you should take the GRE. The terms on the GRE can make it harder for people who don’t speak English as their first language.

Exam Performance

Getting practice exams for every exam is one way of determining which test is most suitable for you. Take them separately in situations that are as close to real life as you can get. After your tests, you’ll know which you prefer.

So, What’s the Next Step

Many graduate and business schools take both the GMAT and the GRE. The GMAT is for getting into graduate schools in management, while the GRE is a general test for graduate and business schools. Both tests have pros and cons, and which one you choose will rely on your academic goals, how you like to take tests, and how comfortable you feel. Before making a decision, it’s best to learn about the admissions standards of the schools you’re considering, how each test is set up, and what it covers. Ultimately, you should choose between the GRE vs GMAT based on your wants and goals.

Evaluate numerous career choices to choose the right career path for yourself. Dive in to our guide on Career Advice.

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