TUN sits down with Melody Jones, the co-founder of Vantage Point MBA Admissions Consulting, to discuss the differences between the GMAT and the GRE and get advice on which test to take.

TUN: Melody, thanks so much for joining us today. 

JONES: Thanks, Jackson. Happy to be here. 

Great. Let’s start off with the big question. Which is a better test to take for those applying to business school? Is it the GMAT or the GRE?

That’s a great question. It’s one that I get a lot. It’s actually a relatively new question because the GRE is a relative newcomer to the MBA application process. Of course, the GMAT is the original. 

There was a time when I would usually recommend that applicants take the GMAT no matter what. It was a preferred test by admissions committees. The good news is, that’s not the case anymore. Business schools have become more accustomed to seeing GRE scores and are admitting more and more applicants with GRE scores. 

So, the way I answer that question now is that applicants should take the test that they’re going to perform the best in. Whether that’s the GMAT or the GRE, I really don’t have a strong preference, and admissions committees really don’t have a strong preference anymore. 

So, if you’re in doubt, take a diagnostic on both tests and see what your starting point is. Depending on what your strengths and weaknesses are as a test-taker, make the decision from there. 

Great. Can you briefly summarize the tests and explain the differences between them?

Absolutely. So, the GMAT and GRE are both standardized tests. They’re required for admission into any top MBA program, or most MBA programs, not only in the United States but also in Europe and in other markets. They test your ability to gain admission into a graduate-level program. 

They both last 3-4 hours each, are typically conducted online or in a testing center, and are computer-based. Both tests quantitative and verbal reasoning skills. They both have slightly different structures, setups and cadences. 

In terms of scores, the GMAT is scored out of 800. The lowest possible score is 200, and the highest possible score is 800. It’s comprised of four sections. 

So there is the analytical writing assessment, which is a breakdown analysis of an argument. It’s a freehand essay that you write. Then there’s the integrated reasoning section, which is the second quant portion of the GMAT. And then there are verbal and quantitative reasoning sections. Those go into your final composite score. That’s typically what the business schools will be asking you for. What’s your gross score, and what’s your Quant/Verbal breakdown? 

So, the GRE is similar. It is scored from 130 to 170, and that’s broken down between your quant portion and your verbal portion. And there’s a separate grade for the analytical writing assessment.

For the GRE, the quant and verbal sections are actually broken down into four sections. So there are two each plus a research section (and you actually don’t know which one that is.) And then the analytical writing assessment is two different questions that you write separately.

The GRE is scored between the quant portion and the verbal portion, but those scores aren’t typically combined into a composite score. 

They’re both adaptive tests, but it’s a little bit different in terms of how that takes place with each test. The GMAT is adaptive in that in your first question, you’ll receive a medium difficulty question and each subsequent question is determined based on your performance on that previous question. So, if you answer the first question correctly, the next one will be a little bit harder. And then hopefully you answer that one correctly, and the next one will be a little bit harder. That’s how the entire test takes place during the duration of the quant and verbal sections.

For the GRE, it is adaptive from section to section. So, the questions are stagnant in one section and how you do overall in that section determines the level of difficulty of the next section. 

So, if you have a little bit of test-taking anxiety, it definitely helps to take the GRE because you have a little bit more certainty and you aren’t agonizing over your answers to each individual question. 

The last thing I will say is that for the GRE, you can actually go back and check your work. So, if you have some extra time at the end, you can go back to a prior question and review your answer. You don’t have the ability to do that with the GMAT. Once you’ve moved on to that next question, that’s it. 

Great, so the next question I have might be one that you also get a lot. Is one test easier than the other?

Well, you know, that’s a question with a not-so-straightforward answer. But it is one that I get a lot. The tests are different. Overall, they are measuring the same skill set, but in different ways.

I think the general consensus is that the verbal section of the GRE is more challenging. So if you’re not a native English speaker or if you’re someone who struggles a little bit more with high-level, complex grammar or vocabulary, the GMAT is going to be a little bit easier.

But the flip side is that the quant section of the GMAT is considered to be more rigorous. So if you’re more of a poet than a quant, the GRE may be a preferred option. 

Great. So, how important are these tests? How big of a role do they play in terms of whether or not a student will be accepted?

Good question. It’s also one I get a lot, and it’s not necessarily as formulaic as you might think. Of course, your standardized test score matters, but they don’t tell the whole story. A high score is not a silver bullet or a get-into-school-free card for any top program. And, within reason, a below-average score is not an automatic deal breaker. 

Admissions committees will look at your overall application. It’s a holistic process. They’ll look at your undergrad GPA. They’re going to look at your standardized test score, your work experience, your letters of recommendation and your essays. 

You want to do as well as you possibly can. Admission to a top MBA program is very competitive. But (admissions tests) are not the only part of the application process that you need to put 120 percent of your effort into. 

Great. So, no matter which test students decide to take, they need to prepare for them. Do you have any tips regarding how students should prepare or advice on where they can find good practice material?

Yeah, great question. There are a ton of resources out there for GRE prep and GMAT prep. It’s really one of those things where I would advise applicants to pursue a program or a method that matches how they learn best. 

Some folks really like and enjoy the structure of a class, following a curriculum and a teacher in front of a classroom. They like the accountability that comes with that setting. Some really like the one-on-one engagement of working with a tutor, and others have the self-discipline and structure to follow more of a self-study program. 

I do strongly recommend following some sort of curriculum and syllabus so that you’re not just randomly drilling random practice questions whenever your time frees up. But what that program looks like really depends on you. It depends on your budget, your time and how you learn best. 

I think the other thing I’ll just say is, get a test date on the calendar and give yourself the time that you need to study, but don’t let it drag out indefinitely. It does definitely come to a point where diminishing returns become an issue. So, give yourself three or four months to really put in all your effort and take the test. And there’s no harm in taking it more than once.

In terms of resources, there are so many resources out there. Do your research in terms of the curriculum or the tutors that have great reviews and that folks have been successful with.

ETS, the maker of the GRE, and GMAC, the maker of the GMAT, also offer several free practice tests online. Take advantage of those, even if that’s just a starting point for you to take a diagnostic and see where you’re starting.

Great. Thanks, Melody, for joining us today! 

Thank you!

This interview has been edited for clarity.