- GMAT vs. GRE at a Glance
- What Is the GMAT?
- What Is the GRE?
- Exam Format and Structure Compared
- Types of Questions on Each Exam
- How the GMAT and GRE Are Scored
- How to Decide: GMAT or GRE?
- When You Don't Need Either Test
- GMAT vs. GRE: Which Is Right for You?
- How to Prepare Once You've Decided
- Frequently Asked Questions About GMAT vs. GRE
- Edited By Jeevan D'Souza
- Expert Reviewed By Soumen Chatterjee
GMAT vs. GRE at a Glance
Before diving into the details, here is a high-level comparison of the two exams. The GMAT Focus Edition (launched November 2023) and the shorter GRE General Test (launched September 2023) are both substantially different from their predecessors, so even if you looked into these tests a few years ago, the landscape has changed.
| Feature | GMAT Focus Edition | GRE General Test |
|---|---|---|
| Administrator | Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) | Educational Testing Service (ETS) |
| Total Duration | 2 hours, 15 minutes | 1 hour, 58 minutes |
| Number of Sections | 3 (Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Data Insights) | 3 (Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Analytical Writing) |
| Total Score Range | 205–805 | 260–340 (Verbal + Quant composite) |
| Registration Cost | $275 | $220 |
| Score Validity | 5 years | 5 years |
| Adaptive Format | Section-adaptive (difficulty adjusts between sections) | Section-adaptive (difficulty adjusts between sections) |
| Primary Acceptance | Business schools (MBA, specialized business master’s) | Broad acceptance across graduate programs (including many business schools) |
| At-Home Testing | Yes (GMAT Online) | Yes (GRE at Home) |
| Test-Optional Trend | Growing — many online MBA programs now waive GMAT | Growing — many online master’s programs waive GRE |
The most consequential difference for prospective students is not difficulty or duration — it is acceptance scope. The GMAT is designed for and primarily accepted by business programs, while the GRE is accepted across nearly every graduate discipline and increasingly by business schools as well. If you are applying exclusively to MBA or business master’s programs, both tests are likely accepted. If you are considering programs across multiple fields — or are unsure of your exact path — the GRE gives you broader flexibility.
Cost is another practical differentiator. At $220 vs. $275, the GRE is moderately less expensive per attempt, and score sending policies differ in ways that can add up if you are applying to several programs. Both exams now use section-adaptive formats, meaning the difficulty of your second section adjusts based on your performance on the first, which represents a significant change from how both tests previously operated.
What Is the GMAT?
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is developed and administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). It is specifically designed to assess readiness for graduate-level business education, and it has been the traditional standardized test for MBA and business master’s admissions since its introduction in 1953.
In November 2023, GMAC launched the GMAT Focus Edition, which replaced the previous format entirely. The Focus Edition is shorter (2 hours and 15 minutes vs. the former 3.5 hours), eliminates the Analytical Writing Assessment and the standalone Integrated Reasoning section, and introduces a new three-section structure: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights. The scoring scale also changed — the Focus Edition uses a 205–805 range rather than the older 200–800 scale.
The GMAT Focus Edition’s Data Insights section is its most distinctive feature. This section blends data interpretation, graphical analysis, multi-source reasoning, and table analysis into a format that tests how well you can synthesize information from multiple data sources — a skill that business schools increasingly value as data literacy becomes central to management education.
You would take the GMAT if your target programs are primarily business-focused (MBA, Master of Finance, Master of Accounting, or Master of Business Analytics) and if those programs express a preference for GMAT scores. Some admissions committees at highly ranked business programs still view GMAT scores as a stronger signal of business school readiness, though this preference has softened considerably as GRE acceptance has expanded. The GMAT is not typically used for non-business graduate programs.
What Is the GRE?
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test is developed and administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Unlike the GMAT, the GRE is designed as a general-purpose graduate admissions test, accepted by master’s and doctoral programs across virtually every academic discipline—from engineering and the sciences to humanities, social sciences, education, and, increasingly, business.
In September 2023, ETS launched a significantly shorter version of the GRE General Test. The revised exam takes under two hours (approximately 1 hour and 58 minutes), down from roughly 3 hours and 45 minutes. The test still contains Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing sections, but the unscored/research sections were removed, and question counts were reduced. The Analytical Writing section now includes only one essay task (the “Analyze an Issue” task) rather than two.
The GRE’s primary advantage is breadth of acceptance. If you are applying to programs in multiple fields—say, an MBA and a Master of Public Policy—the GRE covers both. Over 1,300 business schools now accept GRE scores, including most top-ranked MBA programs, making the old assumption that “business school means GMAT” increasingly outdated.
The GRE’s Verbal Reasoning section places a heavier emphasis on vocabulary and complex reading comprehension than the GMAT’s Verbal section, which tends to focus more on logical reasoning. For students who are strong readers with extensive vocabulary, the GRE’s verbal demands may feel like a better fit. On the quantitative side, the GRE covers a broader range of math topics but does not include the GMAT’s Data Sufficiency question type, which some test-takers find particularly challenging.
You would take the GRE if your target programs accept it (which most do), if you want the flexibility to apply across multiple fields, or if your academic strengths align better with the GRE’s question formats.
Exam Format and Structure Compared
Understanding the section-by-section structure of each exam helps you anticipate what test day looks like and evaluate which format plays to your strengths. Both exams have been substantially streamlined in their 2023 editions, but the internal structure differs in important ways.
| Structural Element | GMAT Focus Edition | GRE General Test |
|---|---|---|
| Section 1 | Quantitative Reasoning (21 questions, 45 minutes) | Analytical Writing (1 essay, 30 minutes) |
| Section 2 | Verbal Reasoning (23 questions, 45 minutes) | Verbal Reasoning — Section 1 (12 questions, 18 minutes) |
| Section 3 | Data Insights (20 questions, 45 minutes) | Verbal Reasoning — Section 2 (15 questions, 23 minutes) |
| Section 4 | — | Quantitative Reasoning — Section 1 (12 questions, 21 minutes) |
| Section 5 | — | Quantitative Reasoning — Section 2 (15 questions, 26 minutes) |
| Total Questions | 64 | 54 (plus 1 essay) |
| Total Duration | 2 hours, 15 minutes | 1 hour, 58 minutes |
| Breaks | 1 optional 10-minute break | None (exam is shorter overall) |
| Adaptive Mechanism | Section-adaptive across 3 sections | Section-adaptive within Verbal and Quant (second section difficulty adjusts based on first section performance) |
| Section Order Flexibility | You choose the order of the 3 sections | Fixed order |
Several structural differences matter practically. The GMAT Focus Edition gives you the ability to choose your section order, which means you can start with your strongest section to build confidence — a small but real advantage for test anxiety management. The GRE uses a fixed section order, starting with Analytical Writing.
The GRE splits both Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning into two separate adaptive sections each, while the GMAT keeps each domain contained in a single section. This means on the GRE, your performance on the first Verbal section determines the difficulty of the second Verbal section — and the same applies to Quant. On the GMAT, adaptation happens between the three sections rather than within domains.
The GMAT’s Data Insights section has no direct GRE equivalent. If you are applying to data-heavy business programs (analytics, finance, operations), strong performance on Data Insights can be a meaningful differentiator. If your target programs are in non-business fields, this section’s relevance diminishes significantly.
Finally, the GRE includes an Analytical Writing section that the GMAT Focus Edition does not. While AW scores are generally weighted less heavily than Verbal or Quant scores in admissions, some programs — particularly in the humanities and social sciences — do pay attention to them. For business programs, the writing score rarely moves the needle.
Types of Questions on Each Exam
The format and structure of the tables tell you how many questions and how much time you get. But the actual question types — what you are asked to do in each section — are where the exams diverge most significantly. Your individual strengths in vocabulary, logical reasoning, data interpretation, and quantitative problem-solving should heavily influence which exam you choose.
Verbal Section Comparison
The GRE Verbal Reasoning section tests three question types: Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence. Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions require you to fill in blanks using precise vocabulary—these are the questions that give the GRE its reputation as a “vocabulary-heavy” test. Success requires not just knowing word definitions but understanding nuanced contextual usage.
The GMAT Focus Edition Verbal Reasoning section tests two question types: Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning. There are no vocabulary-specific questions. Critical Reasoning questions ask you to evaluate arguments — identifying assumptions, strengthening or weakening conclusions, and drawing logical inferences. This format rewards analytical thinking about argument structure rather than breadth of vocabulary.
The practical takeaway: if you are a strong reader who enjoys working with language and has a broad vocabulary, the GRE verbal section may feel more natural. If you prefer analyzing logical arguments and are less confident in vocabulary-intensive tasks, the GMAT verbal format may be a better match.
Quantitative Section Comparison
The GRE Quantitative Reasoning section includes four question types: Quantitative Comparison, Multiple Choice (select one or multiple answers), and Numeric Entry (where you type in a value rather than choosing from options). GRE quant covers arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis at a level roughly equivalent to high school math, though the questions are designed to test reasoning and problem-solving rather than rote calculation. You are provided an on-screen calculator.
The GMAT Focus Edition Quantitative Reasoning section includes two question types: Problem-Solving and Data Sufficiency. Problem-Solving questions are similar to standard multiple-choice math problems. Data Sufficiency is unique to the GMAT — these questions present a problem and two statements of information, then ask whether the statements (alone or together) provide sufficient data to answer the question. You do not actually solve the problem; you determine whether it is solvable. The GMAT Focus Edition does not provide a calculator for the Quant section.
Data Sufficiency questions are often cited as the most challenging and unfamiliar question type on either exam. They require a fundamentally different approach than traditional problem-solving—you need to evaluate the sufficiency of information rather than compute answers. Some students find this format intellectually engaging; others find it frustrating and counterintuitive.
The lack of a calculator on the GMAT Quant section is a meaningful difference. While the GMAT’s math does not require complex computation, you do need to be comfortable estimating, simplifying, and working through arithmetic by hand under time pressure.
GMAT Data Insights Section
The Data Insights section is new to the GMAT Focus Edition and has no equivalent on the GRE. It contains five question types: Data Sufficiency (yes, it appears here too, in addition to the Quant section), Multi-Source Reasoning, Table Analysis, Graphics Interpretation, and Two-Part Analysis.
This section is designed to assess your ability to analyze complex data presented in multiple formats—spreadsheets, graphs, written passages, and combined data sets. Multi-Source Reasoning questions, for example, present you with tabbed information from different sources and ask you to synthesize findings across them. Two-Part Analysis questions require you to solve interrelated problems where the answer to one part constrains the answer to the other.
Data Insights is particularly relevant if you are targeting programs in business analytics, finance, consulting, or operations management, where synthesizing data from multiple sources is a core professional skill. The section contributes to your overall GMAT score and is reported as a separate section score, so admissions committees at data-oriented programs may weight it meaningfully.
If your target programs are not business-focused, or if data interpretation is not a central skill for your intended field, the Data Insights section represents preparation effort with limited payoff, which is one reason the GRE may be a better investment of your time for non-business programs.
How the GMAT and GRE Are Scored
The scoring systems for the GMAT and GRE are structured differently, which can make direct comparison confusing—both for students and, sometimes, for admissions committees. Understanding how each test is scored helps you interpret your results and understand how programs evaluate them.
| Scoring Component | GMAT Focus Edition | GRE General Test |
|---|---|---|
| Total Score Range | 205–805 (in 10-point increments) | 260–340 (Verbal + Quant composite) |
| Verbal Reasoning Range | 60–90 | 130–170 (in 1-point increments) |
| Quantitative Reasoning Range | 60–90 | 130–170 (in 1-point increments) |
| Data Insights Range | 60–90 | N/A |
| Analytical Writing Range | N/A | 0–6 (in 0.5-point increments) |
| Percentile Reporting | Yes, for the total and each section | Yes, for each section |
| Score Select (choose which scores to send) | Yes—send any or all attempts | Yes—Score Select lets you send scores from your best sitting(s) |
| Score Sending Cost | $35 per additional report (after first 5 free) | $35 per additional report (after first 4 free at test time) |
| Unofficial Scores Available Immediately | Yes—Verbal and Quant on screen; full official scores in ~5–7 business days | Yes—Verbal and Quant on screen; official scores in ~8–10 days |
A few scoring nuances matter for your decision. The GMAT Focus Edition uses a new 205–805 scale that is not directly comparable to the old 200–800 GMAT scale. If you see advice referencing “a 700 GMAT,” that benchmark was calibrated to the previous format. GMAC provides concordance tools, but admissions committees are still adapting to the new score distributions as the Focus Edition matures.
The GRE’s Verbal and Quant scores are reported separately (each 130–170), and many programs evaluate them independently rather than as a composite. This means a strong Verbal score can partially compensate for a moderate Quant score (or vice versa), depending on the program’s priorities. Business programs tend to weight Quant more heavily; humanities and social science programs tend to weight Verbal more heavily.
Both exams now offer score-select policies that let you choose which test attempts to send, which reduces the risk of a bad day permanently affecting your application. However, the specifics differ: the GMAT gives you five free score reports at any time, while the GRE gives you four free reports at the time of testing (you must designate recipients on test day to use the free sends).
A “good” score is program-dependent, not universal. For the GMAT, competitive MBA programs typically look for scores in the 645–705+ range on the Focus Edition (roughly corresponding to the old 680–730+ range). For the GRE, a combined Verbal + Quant score above 310 is generally competitive for many master’s programs, but selective programs may expect 320+. Always check your target programs’ published score ranges or class profiles rather than relying on generic benchmarks.
How to Decide: GMAT or GRE?
Knowing the structural and scoring differences between the two exams is necessary but not sufficient. The actual decision depends on your specific situation—your target programs, career direction, academic strengths, and practical constraints. Work through the following framework systematically rather than making a snap judgment based on one factor alone.
Consider Your Target Programs
This is the single most important factor. Before choosing a test, identify the specific programs you plan to apply to and check each one’s admissions requirements.
Most MBA and business master’s programs now accept both the GMAT and GRE. However, some programs express a preference — typically for the GMAT — in their admissions materials or class profile data. A handful of highly specialized business programs may still require the GMAT specifically, though this is increasingly rare.
Non-business master’s programs (education, engineering, public health, social work, computer science, liberal arts) overwhelmingly use the GRE as their standard, and many do not accept the GMAT at all. If any of your target programs fall outside the business domain, the GRE is almost certainly the safer choice.
If all of your target programs accept both exams and express no preference, you have full flexibility — and the remaining factors in this framework become your tiebreakers.
Action step: Visit the admissions page of every program on your list. Look for a “standardized testing” or “test requirements” section. Note whether each program requires the GMAT or GRE, accepts both, or offers test waivers. Build a simple spreadsheet to track this information.
Consider Your Career Goals
While admissions committees generally treat GMAT and GRE scores as equivalent for acceptance purposes, the test you take can send a subtle signal about your professional orientation.
The GMAT is associated with business and management careers. Taking it signals that you are focused on the business world, which can be a small positive if you are applying to a competitive MBA program where demonstrating business commitment matters. Some consulting and finance recruiters also view GMAT scores favorably during the recruiting process, though this is more relevant for full-time MBA students than for online master’s students who are typically already working.
The GRE is discipline-neutral. It does not signal a specific career path, which makes it appropriate for students exploring multiple directions or pursuing non-business graduate education. If you are applying to programs in public policy and business or in data science and education, the GRE covers all of these without raising questions about fit.
For most online master’s students — who tend to be working professionals pursuing career advancement in a field they have already chosen — this signaling effect is minor. Focus on program requirements and your test-taking strengths rather than career signaling unless you are applying to elite, full-time MBA programs where every marginal signal counts.
Assess Your Academic Strengths
This is where the question-type differences from earlier sections become personally relevant. Honestly evaluate where your skills and comfort lie.
You may lean toward the GMAT if you are strong in logical and critical reasoning, comfortable with data interpretation and synthesis from multiple sources, unfazed by Data Sufficiency’s “determine if you can solve it” format, and willing to do quantitative work without a calculator.
You may lean toward the GRE if: You have a strong vocabulary and enjoy working with language; prefer straightforward quantitative problem-solving with a calculator available, want to avoid the Data Insights section entirely; and are comfortable with the Analytical Writing essay format.
Neither profile is inherently better. The goal is to identify which test format allows you to perform closest to your actual ability, rather than forcing you to overcome unfamiliar question types that eat into your score potential.
Action step: Spend 20 minutes reviewing official sample questions for each exam. GMAC publishes free GMAT Focus Edition sample questions on mba.com, and ETS publishes free GRE sample questions on ets.org. Before taking a full practice test, just get a feel for how the questions are structured.
Take a Practice Test for Each
Sample questions give you a preview; full-length practice tests give you data. This is the single most reliable way to make your decision.
GMAC offers free full-length GMAT Focus Edition practice exams through mba.com. ETS offers two free full-length GRE practice tests through ets.org (PowerPrep Online). Both simulate actual test conditions, including adaptive difficulty and timed sections.
Take one of each under realistic conditions—timed, uninterrupted, at a desk rather than on a couch. Compare your scores, but also compare how you felt during each test. Did one feel more manageable? Did you run out of time consistently on one but not the other? Were there question types on one exam that left you consistently guessing?
Your comparative performance on practice tests is a stronger predictor of which exam will yield your best score than any general advice about which test is “easier.” Two students with identical GPAs and professional backgrounds can perform very differently on the GMAT vs. the GRE based on their cognitive strengths.
Action step: Schedule two practice test sessions within the same week. Score both using the official scoring tools provided. If one score is meaningfully higher — or if one test felt significantly more manageable — that is your answer.
Factor In Cost and Logistics
If all other factors are roughly equal, practical logistics can serve as a tiebreaker.
Registration cost: The GRE costs $220 per attempt; the GMAT costs $275. If you anticipate needing multiple attempts, this difference compounds—three GRE attempts cost $660 vs. $825 for three GMAT attempts.
Score sending: The GRE provides four free score reports at the time of testing; the GMAT provides five free score reports that can be sent at any time within the first 48 hours after testing. Additional reports cost $35 each for both exams. The GMAT’s more flexible timing for free reports is a minor advantage if you want to see your official scores before deciding where to send them.
Retake policies: You can retake the GRE once every 21 days, up to five times within any 365-day period. You can retake the GMAT Focus Edition up to five times total, with a minimum 16-day gap between attempts. The GRE’s shorter cooling-off period gives you slightly more scheduling flexibility for retakes.
Test delivery: Both exams offer at-home testing and in-person testing at Pearson VUE centers. At-home testing for both requires a private room, a working webcam, and a reliable internet connection. The at-home experience is broadly similar for both exams, though individual reports of technical issues vary.
For most students, these logistical differences are not dramatic enough to be the primary decision factor. But if the budget is tight or if you live in an area with limited test center access, they are worth considering.
When You Don’t Need Either Test
Before investing hundreds of hours and dollars in GMAT or GRE preparation, determine whether your target programs actually require a standardized test. The test-optional movement — accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic — has become a lasting structural shift in online master’s admissions, not a temporary accommodation.
Many online master’s programs have dropped standardized test requirements entirely, particularly in fields like education, healthcare administration, social work, and general management. Others offer conditional waivers based on professional experience (typically 3–5+ years), undergraduate GPA (commonly 3.0+), or completion of specific prerequisite courses. Some programs have eliminated testing requirements with no conditions at all.
Several of the largest online master’s providers operate with test-optional or test-free admissions across most of their programs. Southern New Hampshire University does not require GMAT or GRE scores for the vast majority of its online master’s programs, including its MBA. Western Governors University uses a competency-based model and does not require standardized test scores for admission to any of its programs. Liberty University offers test-optional admissions for many of its online graduate programs, with GPA-based waivers available for others.
Even institutions with traditionally stronger testing expectations have expanded waiver eligibility. Arizona State University offers test waivers for several of its online master’s programs based on professional experience or prior academic performance.
However, test-optional does not always mean test-irrelevant. There are tradeoffs to consider:
- Competitive advantage: At programs that accept but do not require test scores, submitting a strong GMAT or GRE score can strengthen an otherwise borderline application. If your GPA is below the program’s median or your work experience is limited, a good test score adds a data point in your favor.
- Scholarship eligibility: Some programs tie merit scholarships or assistantship funding to standardized test scores. Skipping the test may mean forfeiting financial aid opportunities.
- Program selectivity: Highly selective programs — even those labeled “test-optional” — may effectively expect scores from most admitted students. Check the program’s class profile or published statistics to see what percentage of admitted students submitted scores.
The decision to skip standardized testing should be based on your specific application profile, not on test anxiety or convenience alone. If your application is strong without a test score (solid GPA, substantial work experience, clear statement of purpose), a waiver may be the right path. If your application has gaps, a test score can be the element that fills them.
GMAT vs. GRE: Which Is Right for You?
After working through the sections above, use this decision matrix to synthesize your analysis. The right test — or no test at all — depends on the intersection of your program targets, academic strengths, career goals, and practical constraints.
| Decision | Choose This Path If… |
|---|---|
| Choose the GMAT | Your target programs are exclusively business-focused (MBA, finance, accounting, analytics). You are comfortable with Data Sufficiency questions and data interpretation tasks. You perform well on logical reasoning without a calculator. Your programs express a preference for GMAT scores. You want to signal focused business career intent to admissions committees. |
| Choose the GRE | You are applying to programs across multiple disciplines — or to any non-business master’s. Your target business programs accept the GRE (most do). You have a strong vocabulary and prefer reading-intensive verbal questions over critical reasoning. You prefer quantitative questions with a calculator. You want the broadest possible flexibility in where you can send scores. |
| Consider skipping both | All of your target programs are test-optional or offer waivers you qualify for. Your GPA is above program medians, and your work experience is substantial. You are not pursuing merit scholarships tied to test scores. Your application is strong without an additional data point. You have confirmed that your target programs do not expect scores from most admitted students despite the optional label. |
This matrix is a starting point, not a rigid rule. Many students find that their situation points clearly in one direction; if you are genuinely on the fence, the practice test comparison described above is your best tiebreaker. Choose the exam where your natural abilities translate most directly into a strong score — that is the test that will serve your application best.
If the decision matrix points you toward “skip both,” revisit the tradeoffs in the test-optional section above and make sure your overall application is strong enough to compensate. Test-optional admissions is a genuine option for many online master’s applicants, but it works best when the rest of your application is already compelling.
How to Prepare Once You’ve Decided
This page is about choosing the right exam, not about comprehensive test preparation. But once you have made your decision, here is where to start.
For the GMAT: GMAC’s official preparation resources at mba.com include free practice exams, a question bank, and paid prep tools. The official GMAT Focus Edition prep materials are the most reliable starting point because they use actual retired questions and the real adaptive algorithm. Third-party prep courses from providers like Manhattan Prep, Target Test Prep, and Magoosh are also widely used. For a deeper look at preparation options, see our guide to the best GMAT prep resources .
For the GRE: ETS offers free PowerPrep Online practice tests that closely replicate the actual exam experience. The Official GRE Super Power Pack (a bundle of ETS’s three official prep books) is the most commonly recommended starting resource. Third-party providers like Magoosh, Kaplan, and Manhattan Prep offer GRE-specific courses as well.
General preparation guidance that applies to both exams:
- Timeline: Plan for 8–12 weeks of preparation if you are starting from scratch. If you have recent academic experience, 4–6 weeks of focused study may be sufficient.
- Diagnostic first: Take a full-length practice test before you begin studying. Your diagnostic score tells you where you are, how far you need to go, and which sections need the most work.
- Official materials first: Start with official prep from GMAC or ETS. Third-party resources are useful supplements, but official materials most accurately reflect the current exam format.
- Timed practice: Simulate real test conditions regularly. Untimed practice builds knowledge; timed practice builds test-day performance.
The exam you choose matters less than how well you prepare for it. A strong score on either the GMAT or GRE will serve your application. The advantage of choosing the right test is that preparation feels more natural and your score ceiling is higher.
Frequently Asked Questions About GMAT vs. GRE
Neither exam is objectively harder than the other—difficulty depends on your individual strengths. The GMAT is often perceived as harder by students who struggle with Data Sufficiency questions and the absence of a calculator on the Quant section. The GRE is often perceived as harder by students who find the vocabulary demands of Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions challenging. The best way to determine which is harder for you personally is to take a full-length practice test for each exam under timed conditions and compare both your scores and your comfort level.
Yes, if the program accepts both exams, you can submit scores from both. However, there is rarely a strategic advantage to doing so. Admissions committees will typically focus on whichever score is stronger. Sending a weaker score alongside a strong one does not hurt you in most cases, but it also does not help. If you have taken both exams, send the score that best represents your abilities and aligns with the program’s expectations.
Both GMAT and GRE scores are valid for five years from the test date. If you took either exam more than five years ago, you will need to retake it if your target programs require a standardized test score. This five-year window applies to score reporting — even if your score is still visible in your account after five years, programs generally will not accept expired scores.
Online MBA and business master’s programs broadly accept the GMAT, and many prefer it. Outside of business, however, the GMAT is rarely accepted. Online master’s programs in education, healthcare, engineering, computer science, public administration, and most other fields typically require the GRE if they require a standardized test at all. If you are applying to non-business online master’s programs, the GRE—or a test waiver—is almost always the appropriate path.
You can retake the GRE once every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous 365-day period. You can retake the GMAT Focus Edition up to five times total in a lifetime, with at least 16 calendar days between attempts. The GRE’s retake policy is more permissive—the rolling 365-day window resets, whereas the GMAT’s five-attempt lifetime cap is permanent. Both exams allow you to use Score Select or score cancellation features so that programs only see the scores you choose to send.
Yes, both exams offer at-home testing options. The GMAT Online exam is proctored through Pearson VUE and administered on your own computer. The GRE at Home is proctored through ProctorU (now Meazure Learning) and also administered on your personal computer. Both require a private room, a working webcam and microphone, and a stable internet connection. The content and scoring are identical to the test center versions. At-home testing has expanded access significantly for online master’s students who may not live near a Pearson VUE center, though some test-takers prefer the controlled environment of a physical test center to minimize technical risk.