Drishti Jain Study Abroad Content Specialist
Study Abroad Content Specialist | Updated On - Sep 4, 2025
If anyone plans to pursue an MBA in 2025 from top business schools, the first question that arises is whether to opt for the GMAT or the GRE. While both exams are widely accepted, choosing the right one can impact your admissions. GMAT is specifically created and used for graduate management programs around the globe, like MBA, EMBA, MiM, Master's in Marketing, Master's in Finance, etc. Preparing for the GMAT exam makes you ready for success in an MBA classroom. More than 2,400 universities and organizations in 110 countries accept GMAT, whereas 1,000+ universities across 160 countries accept the GRE entrance exam. GMAT is the entrance test for Postgraduate and MBA programs. The GRE is an exam for postgraduate programs.
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Difference Between GMAT And GRE
GMAT is specifically designed for business schools, whereas the GRE is a general test accepted for a wider range of graduate programs, along with the MBA. The table below shows the basic differences between GMAT and GRE
| Feature | GMAT 2025 | GRE General Test 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Test Structure | 3 sections (64 questions):Quant, Verbal, Data Insights essay. | 5 sections (55 questions):2 Quant, 2 Verbal, 1 Essay (Analytical Writing). |
| Who Accepts It? | Accepted by 7,700+ programs at 2,400+ business schools. | Accepted by about 1,300 business schools. |
| Scoring | Total score: 205–805.(Old GMAT: 200–800 scale) | Verbal & Quant: 130–170 each.Essay: 0–6 scale. |
| Section Order | Flexible – choose your section order. | Fixed – sections follow a set order. |
| Availability | Book 7 days/week (test center or online). Schedule up to 6 months ahead. | Book 7 days/week (test center or online).Schedule up to 6 months ahead. |
| Duration | 2 hours 15 minutes + optional 10-min break. (More time per question than GRE) | 1 hour 58 minutes. |
| Score Report Timing | Scores available in 3–5 business days. | Scores available in 8–10 days. |
| Number of Attempts | Up to 5 times per year, no lifetime attempts. | Up to 5 times per year, no lifetime limit. |
| Cost | USD 275 (INR 23,479) | USD 251 (INR 22,000) |
GMAT Exam Overview
The GMAT exam is 2 hours and 15 minutes long (with one optional 10-minute break) and consists of 64 questions in total.
| Section | Number of Questions | Time Allotted |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Reasoning | 21 Questions | 45 Minutes |
| Verbal Reasoning | 23 Questions | 45 Minutes |
| Data Insights | 20 Questions | 45 Minutes |
Also check GMAT Practice Papers
Top Universities Accepting GMAT Scores
GMAT is a standardised which is accepted by universities for their MBA and other postgraduate degree programs worldwide. More than 7,700 programs at over 2,400 business schools accept GMAT scores. Here are some Top Universities that accept GMAT.
| Business School | QS Rank 2026 | Average GMAT Score |
|---|---|---|
| Stanford Graduate School of Business | 1 | 735 |
| The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania | 3 | 730 |
| Harvard Business School (HBS) | 2 | 730 |
| MIT Sloan School of Management | 4 | 724 |
| London Business School | 5 | 708 |
| HEC Paris | 6 | 700 |
| Columbia Business School | 7 | 726 |
| Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern Univ. | 9 | 724 |
Also check List of Top Colleges in India Accepting GMAT
GRE Exam Overview
GRE is for 1 hour and 58 minutes, with certain sectional timings for each section. There are 5 sections in total. The Analytical Writing section will always be first. The Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections may appear in any order after the Analytical Writing section.
| Measure | Number of Questions | Allotted Time |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Writing | 1 "Analyze an Issue" task | 30 minutes |
| Verbal Reasoning – Section 1 | 12 questions | 18 minutes |
| Verbal Reasoning – Section 2 | 15 questions | 23 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning – Section 1 | 12 questions | 21 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning – Section 2 | 15 questions | 26 minutes |
Also Check GRE Sample Papers
Top Universities Accepting GRE
The maximum total score you can get on the GRE is 340 (170 each in Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning, with a 6 in Analytical writing). The GRE subject test yields a total score on a 200 to 900 scale, in a 10-point increment. The list below shows the average GRE scores of Top Universities.
| University | QS Rank 2026 | Average GRE Scores (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | 1 | Verbal: 158; Quant: 159; AW: 5.3 |
| Stanford University | 3 | Verbal: 159; Quant: 158; AW: 4.8 |
| University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) | 12 | Verbal: 153–156; Quant: 167; AW: 4.5 |
| The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | 42 | Verbal: 155; Quant: 167; AW: 5.0 |
| University of Michigan – Ann Arbor | 44 | Verbal: 160; Quant: 167; AW: 5.0 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | 114 | Verbal: 158; Quant: 167; AW: 4.3 |
Also check List of Colleges in India Accepting GRE
GMAT vs. GRE: Which admissions exam is more popular?
When it comes to business school admissions, the GMAT remains the more widely accepted and preferred test. Currently, over 7,700 programs at more than 2,400 business schools globally accept GMAT scores, in comparison to GRE, which is recognized by roughly 1,300 business schools.1,15,286 students took the GMAT according to 2024 data.
Why Choose GMAT Over GRE?
Both the GMAT and GRE are popular and widely accepted. Here are some reasons why students choose GMAT over GRE.
- Boosts Your Application: The GMAT is the only admissions test designed exclusively for today’s graduate business programs, while the GRE is a general test.
- More Program Options: More than 7,700 programs at over 2,400 business schools accept GMAT scores, whereas the GRE is only accepted by 1,300.
- More Time Per Question: On the GMAT, you have more than 2 minutes to answer each question. That's 25% more time per question than the GRE on average.
- Better Score Sending: In GMAT, you can send your scores to up to 5 programs for free, with an additional charge of USD 35 (INR 3059) per institution. You also have the advantage of selecting your schools after you receive your score, giving you more flexibility and control over your application process. On the other hand, the GRE allows you to send scores to 4 programs for free, with an additional cost of USD 27 (INR 2360) per institution for extra reports. In the GMAT exam, schools can now be chosen after the test and once your score is released, offering greater flexibility.
- Order of Answering: In the GMAT, you have the flexibility to choose the order in which you answer sections, unlike GRE. This significantly impacts your performance and strategy on exam day.
- Vocabulary: The GMAT’s verbal section is generally less vocabulary-intensive compared to the GRE, making it somewhat more approachable in terms of language proficiency.
GMAT is an entrance test that is designed for graduate business schools, whereas GRE is a test for postgraduate programs, not limited to MBA. But these exams are just part of your admission & selection process. There are various other factors that business schools look into while accepting students, like their academic strengths, SOPs, achievements, work experience, etc. Students must keep in mind their profile, strengths, and the exam syllabus, and then choose which exam to take.
FAQs
Ques 1: How many days should be there between 2 attempts of GMAT or GRE?
Ans: You can give both the GMAT and the GRE as many times as you want to. But you must wait 16 days between the attempts of GMAT, whereas for GRE it is 21 days.
Ques 2: Which is easier, GMAT or GRE?
Ans: This depends on the strengths of the student. The quantitative section on the GRE is considered to be easier than the GMAT. On the other hand, the GRE verbal section features more difficult vocabulary than the GMAT
Ques 3: Can I appear for both GMAT and GRE and send better scores to the business schools?
Ans: Yes, you can appear for both GMAT and GRE and send your best scores. But this is not ideal as it will be more time-consuming and expensive. It is better that you evaluate your strengths on different subjects like Quants and Verbal, and then choose which suits you best.
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