250,000+ students take the GRE every year
Same business schools. More paths forward.
Test from anywhere.
The GRE is available at home or at a test center, year-round. No fixed test dates. No mandatory commute.
One test, multiple programs.
A GRE score works for many graduate and professional programs, including business, law, public policy, PhD programs and more. One test covers it all.
A complete view of your skills.
The GRE includes Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning, skills valued by business schools.
Accepted where it counts.
1,300+ business schools accept the GRE, including many of the nation’s top-ranked programs.
GRE vs. GMAT: side by side
Compare factors that matter most, including flexibility, testing experience, and program acceptance.
| GRE General Test | GMAT | |
|---|---|---|
| Business school acceptance | Accepted by 1,300+ business schools and 20,000+ graduate programs worldwide. | Only accepted by business schools |
| Sections | Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Analytical Writing | Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Data Insights + a separate writing assessment |
| Test duration | ~1 hour 58 minutes | ~2 hours 15 minutes + 30 minutes for the writing section. |
| Scores | Unofficial scores available immediately, with official scores sent within 8-10 days | Unofficial scores available immediately, with official scores sent within 1-3 days |
| Scores reporting | With ScoreSelect® — choose which scores to send after testing | With Score Preview — view scores before deciding to send, per session |
| Program flexibility | Accepted by MBA programs as well as law, PhD, and policy programs. | Accepted primarily by business schools. |
| Registration fee | $249 | Up to $300 + $30 GMAC writing assessment if required |
| Score Validity | 5 years | 5 years |
Business students who chose the GRE.
Your questions,
answered
Yes. The vast majority of top MBA programs accept the GRE alongside the GMAT. Most programs evaluate both tests equally through a holistic review process. Applicants should confirm acceptance policies with each school before applying.
Neither test is objectively easier. The GRE and GMAT assess overlapping but distinct skill sets. The GMAT emphasizes quantitative reasoning and data interpretation; the GRE measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. Which is more manageable depends on the individual applicant’s strengths.
Policies vary by school. Most programs that accept both will evaluate whichever score(s) you submit. Some applicants submit both. Check each school’s specific requirements before applying.
ETS does not publish a GRE–GMAT score conversion table. Because the two tests serve different applicant populations, direct comparisons aren’t straightforward. Business schools evaluate GRE scores using their own frameworks. The most useful benchmark is the median GRE scores published in your target schools’ class profiles — or contact admissions directly.
Yes. The GRE includes an Analytical Writing section scored 0–6. The GMAT removed its writing component in the 2023 redesign; however, some schools are beginning to require a separate 30-minute GMAC writing assessment at an additional $30 cost. Whether a writing score influences admissions decisions varies by program — applicants should check individual school criteria.
GRE scores are valid for five years from the test date. GMAT scores are also valid for five years, though individual school policies may vary. The five-year window gives applicants flexibility to use a score from undergraduate years or earlier in their career.
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