If you are applying to business school, you can usually choose between the GMAT and the GRE. Here is how the two tests compare, using ETS's and GMAC's own numbers, and a quick way to decide.
Facts from ETS and GMACGRE fees effective August 1, 2026Checked October 23, 2026
Question 1 of 3
Which programs are you applying to?
Question 2 of 3
Do all of your business schools accept the GRE?
Question 3 of 3
Which is stronger for you?
My suggestion
GMAT vs. GRE side by side
| GRE | GMAT | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 1 hour 58 minutes | 2 hours 15 minutes |
| Sections | Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning (2 sections), Quantitative Reasoning (2 sections) | Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Data Insights |
| Questions | 54, plus one essay | 64, no essay |
| Section order | Writing first, then Verbal and Quant in either order | You choose the order |
| Break | None | One optional 10-minute break |
| Changing answers | Skip, return, and change any answer within a section | Bookmark questions and change up to 3 answers per section |
| Calculator | On-screen calculator in Quant | No calculator in Quant; on-screen calculator in Data Insights only |
| Verbal content | Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, Sentence Equivalence | Critical reasoning and reading comprehension |
| Scores | Verbal and Quant 130 to 170; Writing 0 to 6 | Total 205 to 805 in 10-point steps; each section 60 to 90 |
| Retakes | Every 21 days, up to 5 times in 12 months | 16 days between tests, up to 5 times in 12 months |
| Score validity | 5 years | 5 years |
| Free score reports | 4 | 5 |
| Cost in the U.S. | $249 | ETS lists it at up to $300; GMAC shows your fee when you register |
The biggest practical differences: the GRE tests vocabulary and gives you a calculator in Quant, while the GMAT has no vocabulary questions, no calculator in Quant, and a Data Insights section built around tables, graphs, and data sets. For the full GRE breakdown, see my GRE format, length, and cost guide.
Sources: GRE: ETS Test Structure, ETS GRE Information Bulletin 2026-27, and ETS fees. GMAT: GMAC exam structure, GMAC exam overview, and GMAC In-Depth GMAT Presentation 2025. The GMAT cost is from ETS's GRE vs. GMAT page.
Who accepts which test
- The GMAT is accepted by more than 2,400 graduate management programs, according to GMAC. It is built only for business school.
- The GRE is accepted by most business schools. ETS says 92% of business schools accept it alongside the GMAT. It is also the standard test for graduate programs in many other fields.
Those are each company's own figures. What matters is your list: check every program's admissions page before you pick a test.
Sources: GMAC, Register for the GMAT and ETS, GRE vs. GMAT.
How to choose
- Check your programs. If any school you want requires the GMAT, take the GMAT.
- If you are applying to business and non-business programs, take the GRE. One test can cover everything.
- If you are only applying to business school and they all take both, take a free official practice test of each: ETS's PowerPrep tests (here is my guide to PowerPrep) and the two free practice exams in GMAC's Official Starter Kit. Pick the test you scored better on, compared with each program's typical scores.
To see where a GRE score stands, use my GRE score percentiles and averages by major, which shows your percentiles and compares you with the average for business and nearly 200 other intended fields.
Need help with either test? Blake Jensen tutors both the GMAT and the GRE online, at $275 an hour. See GMAT tutoring with Blake. If you choose the GRE, my Personalized GRE Study Plan is $495 and includes a 45-minute planning call and weekly plan updates.
Frequently asked questions
Is the GRE or GMAT easier?
Neither is easier for everyone. The GRE Verbal section tests vocabulary through Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions, and GRE Quant lets you use a calculator. The GMAT has no vocabulary questions, does not allow a calculator in Quant, and adds a Data Insights section. Take a free official practice test of each and compare.
Do business schools accept the GRE?
Most do. ETS says 92% of business schools accept the GRE alongside the GMAT. Check each program's admissions page, because a few programs still prefer or require the GMAT.
How long is the GMAT compared with the GRE?
The GMAT takes 2 hours and 15 minutes with an optional 10-minute break. The GRE takes 1 hour and 58 minutes with no break.
Does the GMAT have an essay?
No. The current GMAT has no writing section. The GRE has one 30-minute Analyze an Issue essay, scored 0 to 6.
Can you use a calculator on the GMAT?
Only in the Data Insights section. Calculators are not allowed in GMAT Quantitative Reasoning. On the GRE, you get an on-screen calculator in Quantitative Reasoning.
How long are GRE and GMAT scores valid?
Five years for both tests.
Should I take the GRE if I am applying to an MBA and other programs?
Usually, yes. The GRE is accepted by most business schools and by graduate programs in many other fields, so one test can cover all your applications.
GRE facts come from ETS and GMAT facts come from GMAC. I am a GRE tutor and am not affiliated with either. Last checked October 23, 2026.