GMAT/GRE Information – Difference Between the Exams

Deciding to take the GRE or GMAT can be tricky especially depending on what kind of program you are applying to.  While some schools may make it easy for you by accepting only one or the other, some schools will accept scores from either test. In order to asses which test is a better fit for your individual strenths it is vital to understand the differences between the test make up. The GRE is traditionally required for a graduate program in the following programs: Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, Biology, Chemistry, Computer, Science, Literature, English, mathematics, Physics, Psychology. The GMAT is the traditional entrance test accepted for Business schools; however, there are a number of B-Schools that will accept the GRE including Harvard, Stanford, and Yale.

For a good high-level analysis of the core differences between the GRE and GMAT we turned to GMAT or GRE: What is the Difference an article from TopUniversities.com.  In it the authors explain that the architectural differences between the GMAT and GRE are a result of what each test strives to measure.

“The GMAT measures verbal, mathematical and analytical skills that the candidate has developed in education and at work. The GMAT has for some time been the established test for getting into business schools. It measures verbal, mathematical and analytical skills that the candidate has developed in education and at work. It does not measure specific knowledge of business, job skills, or subjective qualities such as motivation, creativity, and interpersonal skills. Even if a test taker’s first language is not English, he or she may still perform well on the exam.

The GRE measures the extent to which undergraduate education has developed a student’s verbal and quantitative skills in abstract thinking. For non-native speakers, the GRE requires a far broader knowledge of vocabulary, writing skills and general subjects than the GMAT. Without good English and writing skills it is impossible to get a good score in the GRE. So, for non-fluent English speakers, our advice in this case is to stick with the GMAT.”

So when deciding which test to take it is pramount to first determine how your experience has prepared you, and what your specific strengths might be as a result.  For more context on the ongoing GRE vs. GMAT debate check out this New York Times article that drills a little further into the way that admissions view the differences between the tests.