An MBA is one of the most valuable assets that a business professional can have, one that can dramatically affect your earning potential over the course of your career. As a result, people applying to business school generally want to make sure that they do everything possible to put their best foot forward. So, many MBA applicants wonder, “Should I take the GMAT or GRE for MBA admissions?”

In this article, we’ll answer some common questions about whether to take the GRE or GMAT for MBA admissions and provide expert advice on how to decide which test to take.

To start, let’s discuss your first consideration when thinking about the GMAT vs. GRE for MBA applications: which exams are accepted.


It used to be that the GMAT was by far the predominant exam accepted by MBA programs, and the GRE was used for other graduate programs. However, views about standardized testing have come a long way over the years. These days, the GRE is recognized by most MBA admissions committees as on par with the GMAT. So, the good news is that you have flexibility in terms of which test you can take, because the vast majority of MBA programs now accept test scores from both the GRE and the GMAT. (In fact, even law schools are increasingly accepting GRE test scores.)

Although most MBA programs accept both exams, you should still err on the side of caution and double-check the specific standardized testing requirements for the programs you’re interested in. The best way to confirm that MBA programs accept GRE test scores is to visit the website of each program you’re interested in and look at the application requirements. Individual program websites should clearly state which test scores they accept. However, if you’re ever unclear about which tests are accepted, don’t hesitate to contact admissions offices to get clarification. They get questions from potential applicants all the time, and they’re generally very willing to help.

If all of the schools you’re interested in accept both the GRE and the GMAT, your next point of consideration is whether any of the schools openly prefer the one test to the other.


Even though the GRE is now accepted at most MBA programs, applicants still worry that the GRE may not be viewed as favorably by admissions committees as the GMAT is. It’s true that, as recently as 2017, some top-tier U.S. business schools stated a clear preference for the GMAT over the GRE. However, nowadays, most top MBA programs state that they treat GRE and GMAT test scores equally.

Of course, many MBA applicants are still concerned that GRE test scores won’t carry as much weight with admissions committees as GMAT scores will. Here’s the thing: if a program explicitly states that it has no preference for one test over the other, I don’t think there is any reason not to trust that statement. After all, MBA programs are not in the business of soliciting applicant information that they don’t actually find valuable. Doing so would be a waste of their time, right?

Now, if a program states on its website that it accepts both exams, but does not state whether it prefers one over the other, or for some reason you’re still concerned that the school prefers the GMAT, you can always contact the folks in admissions and inquire about which test to take. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Admissions offices should be able to tell you whether one test is preferred.

Assuming that the MBA programs you’re interested in accept test scores from either exam, the real question you should be asking yourself is which exam is better for YOU. Let’s discuss.


If the MBA programs you’re applying to treat test scores from the GMAT and the GRE equally, then you’ll simply want to take the test on which you’ll score highest, right? This line of reasoning begs the question, “Which is easier, the GMAT or GRE?”

The fact is, both exams are challenging, though each exam emphasizes a slightly different mix of skills. For instance, the GRE Verbal section is more vocabulary-focused, while the GMAT Verbal section is more grammar-focused. The Quantitative section of the GMAT features Data Sufficiency questions, while GRE Quant features Quantitative Comparison questions — and so on.

Nevertheless, there is a TON of overlap between the concepts and content tested on the two exams, and both the GRE and the GMAT generally require extensive test prep. Thus, asking “which is easier” isn’t really a relevant question. The question is, which test plays more to your individual strengths and downplays your weaknesses? In other words, which test is easier for YOU? Let’s discuss.


The only way to accurately determine which test will allow you to submit a more impressive score is to get your baseline score for each. So, before you decide between the GRE or GMAT for business school, take an official practice GMAT test from mba.com and an official practice GRE test from ets.org. Take each of these practice tests seriously, following test-day rules and procedures and trying your hardest, so you get a realistic assessment of your skills. If your score percentile is significantly higher on one test, then that test may be your best bet for your MBA applications. You may also want to use a score conversion chart to see how your GRE score translates to a GMAT score, or vice versa.

If you earn similar scores on both practice exams, you’ll want to closely consider your test-taking experience during each exam. How comfortable did you feel during each exam? Did you feel more confident when answering questions on one exam? Did you feel that one exam focused more on skills that are familiar to you or areas where you tend to perform well? Did you simply prefer the format of one test over the other? Did one exam feel more physically taxing for you? The psychological and physical aspects of the test-taking experience are important factors to take into account when making your decision, because — like content differences — they will make a difference in your test-day performance.

Now, let’s discuss whether you should take the GMAT for MBA programs if you already have GRE test scores.


In general, as long as your GRE test scores are still valid when you submit your applications, and the MBA programs you’re applying to accept the GRE, you don’t need to take the GMAT if you have GRE scores in a competitive score range.