If you’re applying to a master’s or MBA program abroad, one of the first practical questions is which admissions test to take — and increasingly, you have a real choice. Here’s how to decide.
Figures reflect general ranges based on current published guidance as of August 2026 and can change — confirm current fees and policy directly with ETS, GMAC, or your target program.
Cost
The GRE costs $249 per attempt. The GMAT’s base fee runs up to $300, and if you need the separate GMAT writing assessment, the total can reach roughly $330 — meaning the GRE is typically the cheaper option by a meaningful margin, which matters when you’re budgeting for multiple application costs at once. See Cost of Studying Abroad for how test fees fit into the broader application budget.
Format and what’s actually tested
The GRE covers Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing (scored 0–6), and takes roughly 1 hour 58 minutes. The GMAT covers Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights (which replaced the older Integrated Reasoning section in 2023, alongside dropping the standalone writing section), and takes about 2 hours 15 minutes. The GMAT leans more heavily into data interpretation and business-specific reasoning; the GRE has a broader, more general-academic feel.
Which one do schools actually want?
This is the part most applicants get wrong: roughly 92% of business schools now accept the GRE alongside the GMAT, including top MBA programs. So for most MBA applications, taking the GRE instead of the GMAT is a legitimate choice, not a compromise. The real difference is scope — the GMAT is accepted almost exclusively by business schools, while the GRE is also accepted for many non-MBA graduate programs: law, PhD programs, and public policy degrees. If you’re applying to more than one type of program, or you’re not fully committed to an MBA specifically, the GRE keeps more doors open with a single test.
Scoring scales (so the numbers make sense)
GRE Verbal and Quantitative sections are each scored 130–170, with Analytical Writing scored 0–6 separately. The GMAT uses a single composite score on a 205–805 scale. These aren’t directly comparable — admissions offices use their own conversion tools, so don’t try to eyeball an equivalency yourself.
How to actually decide
Take a free diagnostic test for both before committing to either one — most applicants have a noticeably stronger intuitive fit with one format over the other, particularly around the GMAT’s data-heavy Data Insights section versus the GRE’s more traditional quant style. Beyond personal fit, weigh: which programs are on your list and whether they’re MBA-only or broader, which test costs less relative to your budget, and whether your target schools have a stated preference (most now say none, but it’s worth checking each program’s admissions page directly).
This is separate from your English test
GRE and GMAT measure academic and quantitative reasoning — they don’t replace an English proficiency test. If English isn’t your first language, you’ll likely still need IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo alongside whichever of these you choose. See IELTS vs TOEFL vs Duolingo for that comparison.
Once you have a score
A strong test score gets your application read seriously, but it doesn’t write your case for you. See How to Write a Statement of Purpose and How to Get a Strong Recommendation Letter for the parts of the application that actually differentiate you once you’re past the numbers screen.