Choosing between the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) and GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is a significant decision for individuals seeking admission to graduate business programs or other graduate programs. Understanding the differences between these two exams is essential for selecting the one that aligns best with your strengths and academic goals.

Goal and Target Audience:

GMAT: Mainly intended for candidates seeking admission to graduate business programmes, like Master of Business Administration (MBA) programmes.

GRE: Generally recognised by graduate programmes outside of business schools, such as MBA programmes and those in psychology, education, and engineering.

 Parts and Structure:

GMAT- Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA), Integrated Reasoning (IR), Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning are the four portions that make up the GMAT.

GRE-The GRE consists of six sections: research or unscored, analytical writing, quantitative reasoning (two sections), verbal reasoning (two sections)

 Content and Skill Evaluation:

GMAT: Places greater emphasis on mathematical and analytical abilities pertinent to business and management courses. places a strong emphasis on critical thinking, adequate data, and problem-solving skills.

GRE: Places less focus on material unique to businesses and assesses a wider range of verbal and quantitative reasoning abilities. includes difficult math principles, reading comprehension, and vocabulary.

 Point Structure:

GMAT: The combined results from the Verbal and Quantitative portions yield a total score that varies from 200 to 800. AWA and IR section scores are given separately.

GRE: Analytical writing scores range from 0 to 6, while verbal and quantitative section scores range from 130 to 170.

Admissions Preferences: 

 GMAT: Many traditional MBA programmes, especially those with high rankings in business schools, prefer the GMAT. The GMAT may be mandatory or highly recommended for some programmes.

GRE: Increasingly graduate programmes and business schools around the world accept the GRE. Certain universities permit candidates to submit their GMAT or GRE results.

Preparation Resources: 

 GMAT: The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) offers official GMAT preparation materials, such as study guides and practice exams. GMAT preparation materials and courses are also provided by a large number of test-prep businesses.

 GRE: Official GRE preparation materials, such as study guides, practice exams, and test-taking advice, are offered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Also, a number of test-prep businesses provide GRE preparation resources and classes.

Policies for Retake and Cost:

GMAT: Compared to the GRE, the GMAT requires a larger registration price. GMAT retake regulations are also stricter, permitting a maximum of five attempts throughout the course of a rolling 12-month period, with a maximum of eight attempts allowed altogether.

GRE: Compared to the GMAT, the GRE registration cost is typically less. Test-takers may repeat the GRE once every 21 days, up to five times in a continuous rolling 12-month period, according to the exam’s more forgiving criteria.