The GMAT Exam Advantage

The Test

GMAT^™ Exam

Designed for business schools by business schools to specifically assess the skills most relevant to succeed in a graduate management business program.

Over 200,000 business school candidates take the GMAT exam per year, exclusively for application to a graduate business program.

GRE^™ Test

A general admissions test for candidates applying to a wide range of graduate programs.

6% take the GRE for a graduate business program.

GMAT Advantage

The GMAT test measures the higher order skills appropriate for graduate management education. According to the latest Kaplan survey, the number of admissions professionals recognizing preference for the GMAT exam has increased 44% since 2014.

The GMAT exam shows business schools that you are serious about earning a graduate business degree. It also demonstrates your commitment and readiness for the rigors of a graduate business program.

Sections

GMAT^™ Exam

Total testing time: 3 hours and 7 minutes.

Four sections:

• One 30-minute Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) section
• One 30-minute Integrated Reasoning (IR) section
• One 62-minute Quantitative Reasoning section
• One 65-minute Verbal Reasoning section

GRE^™ Test

Total testing time: 3 hours and 45 minutes.

Seven sections:

• Two 30-minute Analytical Writing sections
• Two 30-minute Verbal sections
• Two 30-minute Quantitative sections
• One unscored “experimental” section (Verbal or Quantitative)

GMAT Advantage

Each section of the GMAT exam targets specific skills needed to succeed in a business program.

• AWA measures how to analyze an argument in written form
• IR measures the skills used to analyze and synthesize information
• Quant measures data sufficiency and problem solving
• Verbal measures reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction skills

Score Range

GMAT^™ Exam

Individual section scores + total score.

• Overall scores range from 200- 800 points in 10-point increments
• Quant section scores range from 6-51, in 1-point increments
• Verbal section scores range from 6-51, in 1-point increments
• Analytical Writing Assessment scores range from 0-6, in half point increments
• Integrated Reasoning scores range from 1-8, in 1-point increments

GRE^™ Test

Individual section scores only.

• Verbal and Quantitative scores range from 130-170 in one point increments
• Writing score ranges from 0-6 in half point increments

GMAT Advantage

Schools are more familiar and comfortable with how to build a class based on historical GMAT scores. The GMAT Total Score is an industry standard, used in rankings and even by GRE to offer a comparative score.

A comprehensive total score allows schools to look at a singular number as a measure of your ability, while still retaining the flexibility to consider individual section scores.

GRE does not have a total score, which requires schools to convert the section scores to an equivalent GMAT total score. The score conversion table offered by ETS has no proven validity and a high standard error of prediction. Many candidates score differently on both tests because they measure different abilities.

Connections

GMAT^™ Exam

As part of taking the GMAT exam, you receive highly personalized recommendations for business programs that could be a good fit for you. We leverage your preferences, and the preferences of those like you, to identify programs where your GMAT score may help you stand out.

GRE^™ Test

No such service or benefit offered.

GMAT Advantage

Only the GMAT exam offers personalized recommendations to connect you with the best fit school.

The Integrated Reasoning (IR) Section

GMAT^™ Exam

The IR section measures a candidate’s ability to evaluate information presented in multiple formats from multiple sources – skills needed to succeed in our technologically advanced, data-driven world.

GRE^™ Test

No IR or comparable section.

GMAT Advantage

Mastering IR skills gives you an advantage for both business school and the corporate world. The IR section was developed with input from business schools – and validated by corporate recruiters. Job-seeking students enrolled in programs that incorporated IR skills were more likely to have received a job offer, and the frequent use of IR skills on the job also pays off in terms of higher salaries, with an average difference of more than US$19,000.**