Many business schools accept both GMAT and GRE test scores as part of their admissions requirements. Learn the differences between both exams to decide which is best for you. When you’re applying to a graduate business program, you may notice that many schools request test scores as part of their admissions requirements. Often, you’ll have the option to submit either your Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score or your Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at each exam and why you might decide to take one test over the other—or neither—to elevate your graduate program application.

The biggest difference between the GMAT and the GRE is that the GMAT is typically used for business school admissions, while the GRE is accepted for most graduate programs (including business and law schools). Beyond that, the two tests have different formats with different types of questions, testing policies, and options for sending your scores to schools.

Here's a quick comparison of the two exams:

Location Online or at a testing center Online or at a testing center

Cost (US) $250 online or $275 in person (includes free score delivery to up to five schools) $205 (includes free score delivery to up to four schools)

Length 3 hours and 7 minutes, plus two optional 8-minute breaks 3 hours and 45 minutes, plus one optional 10-minute break

Sections Analytical Writing, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, Verbal Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning

Scores good for 5 years 5 years

The GMAT, administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), is an entrance exam widely used for admission to business schools and MBA programs. The exam measures reasoning and critical thinking skills meant to demonstrate an ability to succeed in top graduate business programs.

You can retake the GMAT at a testing center up to five times in a rolling 12-month period (no more than eight times total). For the GMAT online exam, you can retest once.

The GMAT format depends on whether you’re taking the test at a testing center or online. The in-person version comprises four sections, and you can choose to order the sections in one of three ways to best fit your strengths and testing style.

Analytical Writing: This section of the exam asks you to analyze and write a critique of a given argument in one 30-minute writing task. It is scored from zero to six points in half-point increments.

Integrated Reasoning: The Integrated Reasoning section (not found on the GRE) is designed to measure your ability to use data to solve complex problems. This portion includes one 30-minute section with 12 questions (mostly multiple choice). You’ll be asked to examine and analyze data from multiple sources, including tables and graphs, as well as solve both quantitative and verbal problems. The score ranges from one to eight in one-point increments.

Quantitative: This 62-minute section has 31 multiple-choice questions. Questions include quantitative problems and “Data Sufficiency” problems, which ask you to determine whether you have enough data to answer a given question. You can earn six to 51 points in one-point increments.

Verbal: The Verbal Reasoning section lasts 65 minutes and contains 36 questions designed to test your ability to read, understand, and evaluate written materials. The three types of questions you’ll encounter include reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction. This is scored from six to 51 points in one-point increments.

You can use a basic online calculator during the Integrated Reasoning section only. For the Quantitative Reasoning segment, you’re permitted to use a whiteboard (at-home testing) or a provided laminated notebook with dry-erase markers (testing center) to work through problems. During the GMAT, you cannot skip and return to questions or change you’re answers.

As of May 2021, you also get your unofficial scores immediately when taking the GMAT online.

Both the GMAT and GREs use a technology called adaptive testing. The GMAT determines the difficulty of each question within a section by how you did on the previous question. If you answered correctly, the next question will be harder. If you got it wrong, the next question will be easier. Since the GRE allows you to change your answers, the exam adapts the difficulty of each section based on the one before.

The GRE, administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), is used as an admissions consideration at thousands of graduate schools, including business and law schools. The exam is designed to evaluate your verbal and quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills.

You can retake the GRE up to five times in any 12-month rolling period (once every 21 days). If you take the test more than once, you can choose which scores get sent to the schools to which you’re applying.

The GRE comprises three scored portions, as well as a possible unscored or experimental section. The Analytical Writing section will always come first, but you won’t know the order of the remaining sections or which section is unscored.

Analytical Writing: This section has two separately-timed, 30-minute writing tasks. You’ll be asked to construct your argument on an issue and evaluate someone else’s argument on an issue. This section is scored from zero to six in half-point increments.

Verbal Reasoning: The Verbal Reasoning test comprises two 30-minute sections with 20 questions each. You’ll encounter three types of questions in this section: reading comprehension, text completion, and sentence equivalence. You can get a score of 130 to 170 in one-point increments.

Quantitative Reasoning: This portion of the exam, designed to test your basic math skills, features two 35-minute sections with 20 questions each. Questions might be multiple choice with one or several answers, numeric entry questions, or quantitative comparison questions. Topics include arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. You can get a score of 130 to 170 in one-point increments.

During the test, you can use an on-screen calculator during the Quantitative Reasoning section. You can move backward and forward through each section, change your answers, and mark questions for “Review” if you’d like to return to them later