Should I take the GMAT or the GRE?

January 16, 2012 3:36 PM

Lots of business schools now accept GMAT and the GRE. Which one should I take?

Some of the research I've done seems to show that the GRE is a bit easier than the GMAT in general. However, the vocabulary and verbal parts are my weakest ones, I am much more able to do well on the math part if study a lot. The GRE has the vocabulary part, which GMAT doesn't. I am looking to study not more than 6-8 weeks, have limited time to study every week, and really looking to get this over with.
Any thoughts and insight will be much appreciated.

posted by TKL0125 to education (6 answers total)

Take the GMAT - it's the test made specifically for business schools and I'm sure that admissions officers will value that score more than the GRE. The GMAT is not that difficult if you know what you're getting yourself into - my advice is to take as many practice tests as possible.
posted by echo0720 at 3:39 PM on January 16 [1 favorite]

Personally, if I do an MBA I'm going with the GMAT (I've already taken the GRE, though). The reason schools take both is to widen the applicant pool, and what I've been told is that if you can score higher on the quant sections for the GRE (based on your math skills/background, for example) you should use that score in your application -- but most schools still prefer the GMAT unless you have good reason not to, or an inability to take it (and one being possibly easier than the other for you is not considered a good reason).
posted by sm1tten at 3:56 PM on January 16

GMAT seems like the one that is traditionally for business school entrance. I once considered b-school and it's not hard. You don't get to use a calculator on the math portions and there's no calculus. It's easy once you practice.
posted by anniecat at 3:57 PM on January 16

Get copies of the one-year out of date "comes with a CD" practice books for each test (Half Price Books always has a ton of these from all the publishers) and see which one you get a better percentile score on overall.

In general, I'd say that if you're confident with your math skills, by all means do the GMAT. It keeps every single door open, and there's no real advantage to taking the GRE, unless you're thinking you might want to not get an MBA at all.
posted by SMPA at 4:08 PM on January 16

GMAT. I studied less than you will and did well. If you are up on your math and have common sense and standardized test taking skills. the GMAT will be ok.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 4:09 PM on January 16

Business schools prefer the GMAT.

But if I were you, I'd take a practice test of both and if you do remarkably better on the GRE, take that.
posted by k8t at 4:30 PM on January 16