GMAT vs GRE – Why is the GMAT More Popular for MBA Admissions?
Taking an admissions test such as the GMAT can help you stand out in a competitive business degree applicant pool.
Admissions tests such as the GMAT are a vital part of the business school admissions process. They form a part of the holistic review, in which admissions teams consider all of your application to gain a complete picture of you, and your fit for their program.
These tests are also the only part of the admissions process that’s standardized. This helps schools to make comparisons between applicants from different professional, academic, and geographical backgrounds. The tests also help promote fairness and eliminate bias in the admissions process.
So, earning a top test score in your GMAT or GRE can be a great way to boost your chances of being accepted, and to elevate your standing among other qualified applicants. A good result can even help you land a scholarship. But how do the two tests compare?
GMAT vs. GRE: Which is Better?
The two most popular admissions tests for MBA and business master’s admissions are the GMAT and the GRE General Test. Let’s compare the two.
First and foremost, more business schools accept the GMAT. The GMAT is accepted by more than 2,400 business schools all over the world. The GRE, meanwhile, is accepted at around 1,300 business schools.
- The GMAT is the admissions exam of choice at the world’s top business schools. At the top 10 business schools in the USA, according to the most recent U.S. News & World Report rankings, the GMAT was taken by 51% of applicants versus 37% for the GRE. The GMAT was the top choice at Harvard Business School, where 62% of the Class of 2027 submitted scores. At Stanford Graduate School of Business 58% of the Class of 2027 submitted GMAT scores, while 64% of Class of 2026 at The Wharton School submitted a GMAT score (the Class of 2027 figures have not been released).
- Top recruiters are increasingly looking at your GMAT score. According to GMAC’s annual Corporate Recruiters Survey, the share of Global Fortune 500 companies who “almost always” or “sometimes” consider the GMAT scores of job seekers rose from 25 percent in 2020 to 64 percent in 2025.
- The GMAT is the best exam for non-native English speakers. New research shows that the GMAT exam may be easier to prepare for than the GRE exam for candidates who do not have a large vocabulary.
Let’s take a closer look at why the GMAT is more popular for MBA admissions.
Taking the GMAT can Boost Your Chances of Admission
Because the GRE General Test is a general graduate school exam—accepted by a wide variety of non-business graduate programs—it means that taking it could leave business schools guessing whether or not you’re truly committed to graduate business education. In fact, just 12% of GRE test takers intend to go to business school.
On the other hand, taking the GMAT sends a clear, unambiguous signal to your target programs that you’re committed to enrolling at a graduate business school. Schools appreciate that, because they want to admit applicants who are more likely to enroll in their programs. They also like to see that you have a clear vision for your education and how it will support your professional goals.
What b-school candidates think about the GMAT
“I didn't think I stood much chance [of being accepted],” says Mun-Ting, a Malaysian student who started an MBA in France in September 2025. “But I do think that having passed the GMAT, it certainly boosted my candidate profile to get into the business school that I wanted.”
It can Predict Academic Performance
In repeated research studies, GMAT scores have been found to be an accurate predictor of academic success in graduate management education programs. In other words, it can be a strong indicator of how well you’re likely to perform in your MBA or business master’s program.
The GMAT Measures Skills Relevant to a Career in Business
Each of the three sections of the GMAT target specific skills that are relevant to the career path you aspire to. When you prep for the GMAT, you are investing time not only in earning your best score, but also in sharpening your skills for business school and your career.
That’s illustrated in the fact that the five GRE test sections are not related to any specific field of study—unlike the business-focused questions found in the GMAT.
“The GMAT is a lot more than just applying to business school,” says Enrico Tritto, an Italian student who sat the GMAT in 2024. “I learned a lot of practical stuff from a verbal perspective. For example, reading a complex text, understanding it, and being able to read it in a structured way. So it's really helpful for me now in work and also in university.”
The GMAT Testing Experience Offers More Flexibility
On test day, you can choose the order in which you complete the exam sections. You’ll also have the choice of using a physical whiteboard, an online whiteboard with a keyboard, or both. The GRE requires that you complete the test sections in a fixed order that they dictate, and they do not provide the option of an online whiteboard with keyboard.
You’ll get Your Score Back Quicker With the GMAT
After finishing the GMAT, you’ll be able to preview your unofficial scores right away. You’ll typically receive your official scores in 3-5 days. You can then choose which schools to send them to. Your scores are good for five years, so no rush if you’re not ready to send them! But you only have 48 hours after receiving your official score to send your five free score reports.
For the GRE you can send your scores to four programs at no cost. After that, you’ll have to pay an additional US$40 per institution. You’ll receive your official scores after 8-10 days. Also, you’ll have to choose your schools before taking the GRE.
You’ll also have the option to retake your GMAT after just 16 days. The GRE requires you to wait 21 days to retest.
GMAT vs. GRE: Differences Between the Two Exams
| GMAT | GRE | |
| Purpose |
The only test designed specifically for admissions to graduate business programs, validated to predict performance in the first year of an MBA program. |
General graduate school exam – accepted by a wide variety of non-business graduate programs. |
| Online Time |
2 hours 15 minutes |
1 hour 58 minutes |
| Sections |
3 test sections which target specific skills relevant to your career path. |
5 test sections not related to any specific field of study. |
| Tools |
You can choose the order of test sections and use a physical or online whiteboard with a keyboard. |
Sections must be completed in a fixed order. No option for an online whiteboard with a keyboard. |
|
UnofficialScores |
View unofficial score instantly; official score typically in 3-5 days. |
Wait 8-10 days to receive your official score. |
| Sending Scores |
Send scores to 5 programs for free; $35 per additional institution. Choose schools after receiving score. |
Send scores to 4 programs for free; $40 per additional institution. Choose schools before taking the test. |
| Retesting |
Wait 16 days; 5 attempts permitted in a 12-month period. No lifetime limit. |
Wait 21 days; 5 attempts permitted in a 12-month period. No lifetime limit. |
Take the GMAT to Show You Mean Business
So, why the GMAT over the GRE for your business school applications?
The GMAT is built specifically for business school admissions, so your target programs know you’re serious about pursuing a degree from their school. Business school admissions committees trust what your GMAT score says about your ability to succeed in their classrooms.
Because the GMAT is designed specifically for business, your prep time is an investment in not only earning your best score, but also in sharpening your skills for business school and your career. Taking the test means you are showcasing your business school readiness and it can also elevate your standing in competitive MBA and business master’s applicant pools.