GMAT vs GRE vs EA: Which do I take in 2023?

Unfortunately, there’s no way around it. For better or for worse, test scores MATTER and if you want a competitive application for business school, you’ll want to do well on whichever exam you wish to take. Standardized test scores provide admissions committees an objective indicator to assess applicants because grades can mean different things across universities. For those who haven't been in the classroom for some time, it helps them understand how likely you are to succeed in their program. For those who maybe had less than stellar grades in college, this is a chance to redeem yourself and prove that you are capable of handling the rigor of their program. There are multiple tests you can take so we’ll break down the differences between the three choices.

What does the GRE, GMAT or EA consist of?

Generally speaking, all three tests contain multiple choice questions and are computer-adaptive. This means that as you answer questions, whatever you answer (so whether your answer is right or wrong) determines the difficulty level of the following questions or sections. All tests are designed to assess your quantitative and analytical skills, as well as your analytical writing and verbal abilities. You will have a time limit on all sections so time management is a skill you’ll need to learn and practice with all three exams. Below is a brief overview of the structure of each exam. 

GMAT

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) consists of four sections: Analytical Writing Assessment, Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Integrated Reasoning. The Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning scores make up the majority of your GMAT score and is what schools focus on. The Quantitative Reasoning section is 62 minutes long and the Verbal Reasoning section is 65 minutes long. The Integrated Reasoning and Analytical Writing sections are 30 minutes long each. You are allowed to choose your preferred section order from three options that are given on test day. The GMAT takes about 3.5 hours to complete (including two optional 8-minute breaks). There is a new shorter version of the exam that will be released in 2023.

GRE

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) has 6 sections, one of which is unscored and used for research purposes. It starts with the scores Analytical Writing Portion, which consists of two 30-minute sections. You will then have five sections, four of which are scored. You will not know which of these are scored (or not) so perform your best on all of them. You could have two Verbal Reasoning sections and three Quantitative Reasoning sections, OR three Verbal Reasoning sections and two Quantitative Reasoning sections (the order of them are randomized). The Verbal Reasoning sections are 30 minutes long and the Quantitative Reasoning sections are 35 minutes long. The GRE takes about 3.75 hours to complete (a 10-minute break following the third section). 

EA

The Executive Assessment (EA) can be characterized as a shorter version of the GMAT. It consists of three sections: Integrated Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning, totaling 40 questions (half the amount from the GMAT). The Integrated Reasoning section comes first, and then performance on that section determines the difficulty level of the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections. The EA takes 1.5 hours to complete. 

How Do GMAT, GRE, and EA Differ?

Obviously, all three tests are unique on their own so there will be many differences. For the purpose of helping you decide which exam to take, here are the main ones to take note of:

Content of Questions and Skills Assessed

Although all three exams test roughly the same quantitative and verbal skills, there are some slight differences to take note of. The quantitative questions on the GMAT and EA are harder because the questions require more critical thinking and analysis. The GRE contains more straightforward, textbook math, which can be easier for some. The GRE contains more Geometry questions whereas the GMAT does not, which some might find harder. In terms of verbal reasoning, the EA and GMAT emphasize grammar in their verbal sections while the GRE emphasizes vocabulary more. 

Adaptivity and Flexibility in Answering Question

The GMAT is adaptive by question while the GRE is adaptive by section. On the GMAT, you can’t go back and reanswer questions; once you’ve answered the question, you’re married to it (can’t turn back now!). However, on the GRE, you can flag questions, save them for later, and go back to change answers within the same section.

Costs

The GMAT costs $300

The GRE costs $220

The EA costs $350

How Do I Decide Which to Take? 

Deciding which exam to take is an important decision to make early on in the process. Studying for the exams can be a frustrating and expensive process. Many people find themselves retaking the test more than once to get their desired results so don’t underestimate how much work is involved, especially if you’re working while you study. If you’re trying to figure out which test to take, ask yourself some questions. 

What schools or programs do I want to apply to?

Historically, the GMAT was considered the test to take for business school. Today, most schools that accept the GMAT will also accept the GRE. Almost all of the top schools say that they don’t prefer one over the other. The EA was originally developed as an option for Executive MBA applicants, who tend to be older and out of school for longer. Nowadays, some full-time MBA and specialized master’s programs accept the EA (hard emphasis on the SOME). In the future, the list of full-time programs that accept the EA exam might increase. You need to check every school website to see what types of scores they accept. If you’re aiming for a full-time or part-time business program, and they don’t accept the EA, the decision is clear to take the GMAT or GRE. Make a list, narrow it down to the schools you are considering, and if ALL accept the EA, go for it. The EA is shorter and averages aren’t typically reported by schools (we’ll get into that later) so there is some advantage here. For now, if you’re aiming for traditional MBA programs, chances are…you’re deciding between the GRE or GMAT. 

What are my strengths and weaknesses?

Many people ask the WRONG question, which is “which test is the easiest?”. We wish it was that simple too but alas, it’s not. The GRE, GMAT, and EA all use different scoring systems and have subtle differences in the content asked. Depending on your strengths and weaknesses, you might score better on one exam or the other. Choose the test that plays to your strengths.

If you know you’re much better at quantitative reasoning, then choose the GMAT. Similarly, if you know that you hate memorizing thousands of words but you understand grammar fairly well, choose the GMAT. Are you good at mental math? If you are not or you are prone to making arithmetic errors often (no shame or judgment here), then note that the GRE allows a calculator while the GMAT does not for the quantitative sections. 

Do you know whether you have issues with time management or whether you get anxious when you see a question that stumps you? If so, you might want to consider the GRE. With the GRE and EA, you can skip questions if you’re stumped, come back to them later, change answers, or answer questions in whatever order you want. For the GMAT, since it’s adaptive on a question by question basis, you have to answer each question in a fixed order and you can’t go back. If you know that you are someone that wavers a lot when you’re taking any test and you want to have the flexibility of going back to double check answers, then choose the GRE. 

If you’re unsure of what your strengths and weaknesses are because it’s been a minute since you’ve taken any standardized tests, then take some practice tests for each exam and see how you do. We recommend spacing the practice tests a bit (maybe several days in between) - you don’t want to get burnt out before you even start studying! Reflect on which exam felt the easiest for you and why. Hopefully, that’s the one you performed the best on. Once you know which test suits your strengths, focus your energy on that one. You can always change your mind later on so don’t stress yourself out about choosing the right exam. 

Do I want to apply to non-MBA programs…at some point?

If you’re thinking about applying to other graduate programs before or after your MBA, or you’re thinking about applying to non-MBA programs at the same time you apply for your MBA (hey, we’re not judging if you don’t really know what you want to do), then you might want to take the GRE. The GRE is designed for students applying to other graduate programs in other subjects while the GMAT is really only used for business school applications. If you don’t want to limit yourself to just business school applications or you know you want to attend other graduate programs at some point in your life, then take the GRE (just keep in mind that the scores expire after 5 years).

The EA is similar to the GMAT in that it is designed as a test for business school. The EA is even more limiting as not all business programs accept it, so if you’re considering a traditional business school program, the EA should be your last resort.

Do I test well?

Hey, not everyone does and that’s okay! 

Even though all top business schools currently take the GMAT and GRE without preference for one or the other…business schools care about their GMAT averages. Why? So they can flip their hair and boast about how they have the best of the smartest students. In other words, these affect their rankings. Schools might not say it but they really care about their rankings and that can mean a slight advantage to candidates who can score high on the GMAT.

Take-home message? If you are just the best test-taker ever (show me your ways, please), then you should take the GMAT. If you know yourself and you know test taking has always been a struggle for you for whatever reason, it might be smart to take the GRE so you don’t risk bringing down the school’s GMAT average. Many programs either don’t report their GRE averages or don’t care that much about the scores being dragged down, so that gives you a slight advantage if you don’t do well. With all that said, do try your best on every exam and aim at least for the average published score (and obviously higher if you can).

Do I want to work in an industry that considers the GMAT?

In certain industries and companies, employers might ask for your GMAT score. MBB and other top consulting firms will often use GMAT score as a factor in their hiring process. Think about your future jobs and where you want to be. If you have a dream company, check to see if this is something they care about before you make your final choice. 

Can I take both?

If you have the time, you can take BOTH and submit the highest score. However, we realize that not everyone has the time…and not everyone wants to study for both. Studying for one exam is hard enough, but studying for two while working might be overkill. We’ll let you decide!

In summary, take the EA if you’re only applying for EMBA programs or if you know for sure your programs accept it. Chances are, you’re going to be taking the GMAT or GRE. Reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, and goals to decide which is the best fit. If you’re completely in the middle between taking the GRE and GMAT, and need one more data point to make your decision…we can help. If you love the idea of having a shorter exam like the EA (I mean, who’s honestly complaining about less test time), check out the new GMAT Focus Edition when it is released.