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When preparing documents for studying abroad for a master's or doctoral degree, the two international standardized tests GMAT and GRE are often mentioned as important criteria. So What is gmat gre?, what are the similarities and differences? In this article, ETEST English for Study Abroad will provide detailed information about the test sections, how to compare GMAT and GRE, and instructions on choosing the right test for your needs to help you prepare.
What is GMAT?
The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is an international standardized test designed to assess the ability to enter graduate business programs, especially MBA programs. This test is developed and administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), and is currently used by more than 2,300 business schools worldwide in the admissions process.
The GMAT is designed to measure critical thinking, analytical skills, logical reasoning, and academic communication skills – key factors that predict success in the intense, high-pressure academic environment of MBA or master's programs in business.
Candidates may take the GMAT at an authorized testing center up to five times within a 12-month period and no more than eight times in their lifetime. If the GMAT is taken online, candidates may only retake the test once.
What is GRE?
GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is an international standardized test administered and organized by ETS (Educational Testing Service). This is an entrance exam commonly used in the admission process for master's, doctoral, and some MBA or law programs at more than 1,000 universities worldwide.
The GRE is designed to assess critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, analytical language, and academic writing skills – all of which are essential for success in graduate school. Compared to the GMAT, the GRE is more flexible and recognized by a wide range of disciplines, not just business.
Test takers can retake the GRE up to five times within a 12-month period, with at least 21 days between each test. ETS also allows test takers to use the ScoreSelect feature, which allows you to select your best score to send to your colleges, instead of having to send all of your scores.
What is the difference between GMAT and GRE?
The most obvious difference between the GMAT and the GRE lies in their intended use and acceptance range:
- The GMAT is specifically designed for business and MBA programs, while
- The GRE is more versatile, used for many graduate fields of study, including social sciences, engineering, law, and even business.
Additionally, the GMAT focuses on analytical logic and data integration, while the GRE assesses more on academic vocabulary and general language skills. The differences between the two exams are clearly shown in the comparison table below:
| GMAT | GRE | |
| Accepted by | Most graduate business programs today | Most graduate programs, including business programs |
| Exam location | Test online or at a testing center | Test online or at a testing center |
| Cost (in US) | $250 when taking the online test or $275 when taking the direct test | $205 |
| Length of the test | 3 hours 7 minutes + two 8 minute breaks (optional) | 3 hours 45 minutes + one 10 minute break (optional) |
| Exam sections | Analytical Writing, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, Verbal | Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning |
| Point validity period | 5 years | 5 years |
Comparison of the two exams GMAT and GRE
The GMAT and GRE are both standardized tests used for admission to graduate programs, but they have distinct differences in purpose, how they assess skills, and what each school requires.
Comparing the structure of the GMAT and GRE exams
When choosing between two exams GMAT and GRE, the test structure plays a very important role because it directly affects the review strategy and output results. Although both are standard entrance exams for postgraduate study, the way the test is constructed, the duration, the number of sections and the scoring method have many differences.
| The difference | GMAT | GRE |
| How the test is performed | On computer | On computer and on paper (applicable where computer tests are not available) |
| Test format | Computer-Adaptive Testing | Section-Adaptive Testing on Computer |
| Number of exams | 4 parts: AWA – IR – Quant – Verbal | 6 sections: AWA – Verbal (2) – Quant (2) – 1 unscored research section |
| Test duration | 3 hours 7 minutes | 3 hours 45 minutes |
| Analytical Writing Section (AWA) | 1 essay – 30 minutes | 2 Essays – 60 minutes (Issue Task & Argument Task) |
| Integrated Reasoning (IR) Section | 12 questions – 30 minutes | Do not have |
| Quantitative Section | 1 part – 31 questions – 62 minutes | 2 parts – 20 questions each – total 70 minutes |
| Verbal Section | 1 part – 36 questions – 65 minutes | 2 parts – 20 questions each – total 60 minutes |
| Overall score | 200 – 800 (increases in multiples of 10 points) | 260 – 340 (increases by multiples of 1 point) |
| Quantitative section score | 6 – 51 (converted, calculated into total GMAT score) | 130 – 170 |
| Verbal Score | 6 – 51 (converted, calculated into total GMAT score) | 130 – 170 |
| IR (Integrated Reasoning) Section Score | 1 – 8 (not included in total score) | Not applicable (NA) |
| Analytical Writing Score (AWA) | 0 – 6 | 0 – 6 |
Comparing the New GMAT and the New GRE
In recent years, GMAC and ETS – the two organizations behind the GMAT and GRE – have introduced shortened versions of the exam: the GMAT Focus Edition and the new GRE (shorter GRE). These improvements reflect a trend toward simplifying the test, reducing the time it takes to complete the test, and helping candidates focus on the core skills that graduate programs actually require.
| Parameter | GMAT Focus Edition | New GRE (Shorter GRE) | Current GRE (Classic GRE) | Current GMAT (Classic GMAT) |
| Test duration | 2 hours 15 minutes | 1 hour 58 minutes | 3 hours 45 minutes | 3 hours 7 minutes |
| Number of exams | 3 parts | 5 parts | 7 parts | 4 parts |
| Exam name | QR – VR – DI | QR – VR – AWA (1 lesson) | QR (2) – VR (2) – AWA (2) – Test section | QR – VR – AWA – IR |
| Duration of each part | 3 parts x 45 minutes | QR: 47 minutes VR: 41 minutes AWA: 30 minutes | QR: 60 minutes VR: 70 minutes AWA: 60 minutes | QR: 62 minutes VR: 65 minutes AWA: 30 minutes IR: 30 minutes |
| Total number of questions | 64 sentences (estimated) | QR: 27 VR: 27 AWA: 1 | QR: 40 VR: 40 AWA: 2 + non-scoring part | 80 sentences QR: 31 VR: 36 IR: 12 AWA: 1 |
| Is there an essay section (AWA)? | Do not have | Yes (1 post) | Yes (2 essays: Issue + Argument) | Yes (1 essay) |
| Is there a Data Insights (DI) section? | Yes (20 separate questions) | Do not have | Do not have | None (IR only – integrated inference) |
Compare quantitative test
The quantitative component is an important element in both exams. GMAT and GRE, especially for candidates applying to programs that require logical thinking, data analysis, and basic mathematical skills. However, the design and assessment objectives of this section differ significantly between the two exams.
- The GMAT focuses on logical problem solving and data sufficiency – a unique question type not found on the GRE.
- The GRE focuses on pure mathematics with a variety of multiple choice, numerical entry, and quantitative comparison questions, testing your ability to calculate accurately in a short period of time.
The table below will help you see the differences in structure, number of questions, and score ranges between the quantitative sections of the two exams:
| Criteria | GMAT | GRE |
| Number of parts related to quantity | 2 parts: Quantitative Reasoning and Data Integration (IR) | 2 parts Quantitative Reasoning |
| Number of quantitative questions | 31 sentences | 40 questions (20 questions in each part) |
| Time to do the test | 62 minutes | 60 minutes (30 minutes per section) |
| Typical question types | – Problem Solving – Data Sufficiency | – Multiple Choice – Numeric Entry – Quantitative Comparison |
| Difficulty level | Focus on logical thinking and complex data processing | Focus on computational skills and understanding mathematical concepts |
| Point range | 0 – 60 (converted, usually ranges from 6–51 and counts towards the total GMAT score) | 130 – 170, calculated separately does not affect the Verbal section |
Compare speaking test
The Verbal Reasoning section of both the GMAT and GRE assesses your ability to understand and analyze information in language, however, the approach and question types between the two exams differ significantly.
| Criteria | GMAT | GRE |
| Number of exams | 1 Verbal part | 2 Verbal parts |
| Number of questions | 36 questions | 40 questions (20 questions per section) |
| Duration | 65 minutes | 60 minutes (30 minutes per section) |
| Main sub-section | – Reading Comprehension – Critical Reasoning – Sentence Correction | – Reading Comprehension – Text Completion – Sentence Equivalence |
| Outstanding features | Focus on assessing language logic and the ability to detect grammatical errors | Focus on semantic assessment and extensive academic vocabulary |
| Score range | 0 – 60 (converted, usually ranges from 6–51, calculated into the total GMAT score) | 130 – 170 |
Should I take the GMAT or GRE?
If your goal is MBA or study abroad at top business schools, you should choose GMATOn the other hand, if your goal is multidisciplinary, especially STEM, economics, sociology... and the school accepts GRE, then you should choose to take the exam. GRE.
Both exams are accepted by many graduate schools around the world, but they are designed for different purposes and assess different skill sets.
Choose the exam required by the school
Before you decide, you should check the specific admission requirements of the school or program you are interested in. Some schools only accept the GMAT, some accept both, but consider the GMAT to be “more standardized.” Some schools even allow you to submit both if you have taken both, and choose the best score for admission.
Depends on the program: MBA or business program
If you are aiming for an MBA or other business and management-related program, the GMAT is the preferred choice. This exam is designed specifically for this purpose, with a test structure that tests specific skills such as data analysis, quantitative reasoning, critical logic, and decision-making – all of which are essential for studying and working in the business world.
Although many business schools now accept the GRE, the GMAT is still considered the “gold standard” for MBA admissions. Some top schools such as INSEAD, Wharton or Harvard Business School may not say so, but they still prioritize the GMAT when evaluating candidates with similar profiles.
Choose the exam that suits your ability
GMAT and GRE differ in how they assess ability:
- GMAT Focus on logical thinking, data processing ability and reading - analysis skills in a business environment.
- GRE Requires a good foundation in academic English, especially complex vocabulary and academic writing skills.
If you are strong in mathematics and critical thinking but not good at academic English, the GMAT will be easier to control. On the contrary, if you have deep reading comprehension and a rich vocabulary, the GRE will bring out your strengths. Therefore, the test score you receive will be higher, creating a favorable premise for you to apply for graduate programs.
Choosing between GMAT and GRE is an important step on the journey to conquer graduate school, but to achieve optimal scores, you need more than determination - a systematic study path, scientific test preparation methods and an intensive training environment. ETEST English for Study Abroad, you will find all those elements in the test preparation programs. GMAT and GRE Designed specifically for Vietnamese students who aim to study for a master's degree in the US and English-speaking countries.
Please contact us immediately. ETEST English for Study Abroad by hotline: 0933 80 66 99 – 0937 80 66 99 to receive direct advice from experts on suitable majors, international exams and pathways SAT test preparation, IELTS test preparation alone to conquer the goal!
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