You’re trying to figure out how your GRE score stacks up against the GMAT for your MBA applications. You’ve come to the right place. Let’s cut through the noise and get straight to what you need to know.
Why Even Bother Converting Your GRE Score?
Business schools have traditionally used the GMAT. It was designed specifically for them. The GRE is a general graduate school test. However, in a bid to attract a more diverse range of applicants, nearly all top MBA programs now accept both.
So why convert?
- Benchmarking: Most schools have years of GMAT data. Their average and median scores are published. Converting your GRE score gives you a rough idea of where you stand in their applicant pool.
- Decision Making: If you’ve taken the GRE and are considering the GMAT, a conversion can help you decide if it’s worth the effort.
- School Requirements: Some schools might still internally convert your GRE score to compare it against their GMAT benchmarks, even if they don’t explicitly state it.
How to Convert Your Score: The Official ETS Tool (and its problems)
For a long time, the most reliable method was the GRE® Comparison Tool for Business Schools provided by ETS (the creators of the GRE). This tool used data from individuals who took both tests to predict a GMAT score based on their GRE Verbal and Quantitative scores.
However, there are significant issues with this and other conversion tools:
- Outdated Data: GMAC (the creators of the GMAT) argues that the data used for these tools is old and based on a small, unrepresentative sample of test-takers from over a decade ago, before either test was updated.
- Different Test Taker Pools: The group of people taking the GMAT is almost exclusively business school applicants. The GRE pool is much broader, including applicants for various master’s and Ph.D. programs. This makes a direct percentile-to-percentile comparison misleading.
- Fundamental Design Differences: The GMAT and GRE are structured differently. The GMAT is question-adaptive, meaning the difficulty of each question changes based on your previous answer. The GRE is section-adaptive, adjusting the difficulty of the second section based on your performance in the first.
- Margin of Error: Even ETS admits there’s a margin of error. They state that the predicted GMAT score could be off by as much as 50 points.
GMAC is firm in its stance that you cannot accurately convert a GRE score to a GMAT score. They argue the tests measure different skills and content.
A Practical Conversion Chart (Use with Caution)
Despite the official warnings, you still need a way to estimate. The chart below is based on the now-removed ETS data and should be used as a general guideline only.
| GRE Total Score (V+Q) | Estimated GMAT Total Score | General Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 335+ | 760+ | Elite for any program |
| 330 | ~730-740 | Very competitive for top 10 programs |
| 325 | ~690-710 | Competitive for top 10-25 programs. |
| 320 | ~650-670 | Strong for top 50 programs. |
| 315 | ~620-640 | Baseline for many programs |
| 310 | ~600 | May need a stronger overall profile |
| Below 310 | Below 600 | Focus on other application strengths. |
Important Note: This is a rough estimation. The actual conversion depends on the specific breakdown of your Verbal and Quantitative scores. A higher quant score is generally favored for MBA programs.
Do Business Schools Prefer the GMAT?
Officially, most schools state they have no preference. They want to attract the best candidates, regardless of which test they take. However, old habits die hard.
- The GMAT is still dominant: At most top schools, a larger percentage of applicants submit GMAT scores. For example, at Harvard Business School, 69% of the class of 2023 submitted GMAT scores.
- Quant-Heavy Programs: For finance or other quant-heavy programs, a strong GMAT quant score might be viewed more favorably because the GMAT’s quant section is generally considered more challenging.
- Traditional Applicants: If you come from a traditional business background (like finance or consulting), admissions committees might expect a GMAT score.
The tide is turning, though. Some schools, like UC Berkeley’s Haas, have a majority of applicants submitting GRE scores.
So, GMAT or GRE? Which One Should You Take?
This is a personal decision, but here’s a simple breakdown:
- Take a practice test for both. This is the single best way to see which test format suits you better.
- Consider your strengths. The GRE is often seen as more vocabulary-intensive, while the GMAT is more focused on logic and critical reasoning.
- Think about your other options. If you’re considering other graduate programs in addition to an MBA, the GRE is the more versatile choice since it’s accepted by a wider range of non-business programs.
FAQs
Q: Is a 325 GRE score good enough for a top MBA program?
A 325 is a solid score and generally considered competitive for top programs. It roughly converts to the 670-690 range on the GMAT. However, “good enough” depends on the rest of your application, including your work experience, essays, and GPA.
Q: Do admissions committees actually convert my GRE score?
Some might, some might not. Many admissions officers who have been in the field for a while have developed a good sense of what a competitive GRE score is without needing a direct conversion. They look at percentiles and compare your scores to those of previously admitted students.
Q: What about the GMAT Focus Edition? Is there a conversion for that?
No. ETS has not released an official comparison tool for the GMAT Focus Edition. GMAC maintains that no such conversion is possible due to the significant differences in the tests.
Q: My GRE quant score is lower than my verbal. Is that a problem for MBA admissions?
It can be. MBA programs are quantitatively rigorous. A lower quant score might raise a red flag, especially if you don’t have a strong quantitative background from your undergraduate studies or work experience. Aim for a quant score in the 80th percentile or higher if possible.
Q: I took both tests. Which score should I submit?
Submit the score that is stronger relative to the average scores of your target schools. Use the conversion chart as a guide to see which score gives you a competitive edge.
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Conclusion
Don’t get too hung up on the exact conversion number. The GRE to GMAT conversion is an imperfect science. Use the available tools and charts as a general guide to understand where you stand. The most important thing is to achieve a score—on either test—that is competitive for your target programs. Focus on putting together the strongest overall application possible. A great test score is just one piece of the puzzle.
