From the course: Preparing for the GMAT

Deciding between the GMAT and the GRE

From the course: Preparing for the GMAT

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Deciding between the GMAT and the GRE

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- [Instructor] In this video, we'll discuss whether to take the GMAT or the GRE. You do have a choice, 'cause most business schools now accept both tests. So if we look at this table, most business schools obviously take both the GMAT and the GRE. However, the GMAT is kind of the traditional test that business schools accept. So a lot of times when you look online and you see what the average scores are for a certain business school, a GMAT score will be listed, 'cause the GRE really has only been accepted in terms of business schools for the past several years or so. So both tests have an essay. The GRE has two of 'em. GMAT just has one. They both have a verbal section and a math section. One of the biggest differences between the tests in terms of the verbal section, however, is that the GMAT tests grammar skills and the GRE does not. The GRE, however, will test your vocab. And I think grammar's a lot more predictable than vocabulary is. In the GMAT, we know exactly what rules are going to be tested. On the GRE, they don't give you a master list of vocab to memorize, so it's a little more unpredictable in terms of which words will appear. That's why sometimes studying for the GRE and really getting a super high vocab score can take longer. So if we look at the tests in terms of the GMAT has integrated reasoning, which is that section that kind of combines verbal and math skills, the GRE doesn't have anything like that. Again, it has two essays. On the GMAT, you have to answer every question in order. There's no option to skip, you have to at least guess. Whereas on the GRE, you have a 20 question section and you can skip back and forth as much as you want, you can mark questions. A little more user-friendly for some people. Likewise, the GMAT adapts per question. It gets harder or easier, depending on the last question you answered. Whereas on the GRE, it adapts per section. So after you submit a section on the GRE, then the test will adapt to you. And then one final note that I think kind of gives the GMAT an advantage over the GRE, at least in this area, is for the GMAT, there's way more practice tests available and practice questions available. So the GRE is a little bit stingy with how many they give us in terms of official, official materials. And the GMAT does give us a ton. We have to pay for them, but there are so many compared to the GRE, which is useful for people who are kind of preparing for a good amount of time. So, in summary, the GMAT tests grammar but not vocab. The GRE tests vocab but not grammar. And the GRE is a little more user-friendly in terms of the interface, things like skipping and bouncing around compared to the GMAT. But there is more official practice material available for the GMAT.

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