GMAT vs. GRE: Video

The GMAT’s longstanding dominance as the test for MBA admissions has led to it being nicknamed the ‘gatekeeper of the MBA’. It celebrated its 60th year in 2014, and there are now around 250,000 taking the test annually (the figure was closer to 300,000 in 2012 – a record year) with a view to gaining admittance to approximately 6,000 business and management programs around the world. It is viewed as one of the key hurdles in the MBA admissions process and, as such, has given rise to its own not inconsiderable industry of blogs, forums, organizations dedicated to test preparation and other resources (like right here on TopMBA.com). 

However, it is no longer the only test in town when it comes to MBA admissions. More and more programs – over 1,000 around the world – are accepting the rival GRE, a more general test for graduate level education. Of 200 schools in the US surveyed by Kaplan Test Prep, 85% accepted the GRE score as part of their MBA admissions process, a stunning rise from only 24% in 2009.

This is reflected in the numbers of people taking the GRE as part of the MBA admissions process, a figure which increased 38% in 2013/14. However, despite this increase, only 10% of MBA applicants to US schools submitted a GRE score in the admissions cycle covered by the aforementioned Kaplan survey. The GMAT still leads the way, it seems, but it can certainly no longer claim a monopoly.

Below, Christie St. John, director of MBA admissions at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management, discusses the differences between the two tests.  

GMAT or GRE: Which is right for you?