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If you are planning to go to business school, you will certainly need to make a few tough decisions like choosing which admission test you want to take. Oftentimes, the admissions process in the undergraduate program from how it is done in graduate school can be quite different.
If you are looking to go to a business school, there are two main exams that you are going to have to think about taking. These are known as Graduate Management Admission test, better known as GMAT, and the Graduate Record Examinations or GRE. Both are basically the key to getting into different grad school programs. As a student, you get to pick which exam to take. This can be easier said than done though.
Luckily, this article can help you decide what path to take to achieve your ultimate goal.
The Difference In The Actual Exam
There are actually key differences in the way that the exams are set up. Here is where you are going to begin to see why certain top schools prefer GMAT testing. More so, you will begin learning what it takes to start preparation for GMAT.
The GRE is section adaptive. This means that the questions that you get in section 2 will be influenced by the answers that you gave the test in section 1. Yet, the exam is going to allow you to skip hard questions and come back to them if you have time when you are done with the rest of the exam. Much like most of the standardized tests that you have taken all of your life work.
That, on the other hand, is not the way that the GMAT works. This particular difference is one of the reasons why people label the GMAT as harder. The GMAT is question adaptive. This means that the question that you get is going to be directly influenced by the previous answer that you gave. This also means that you are not going to be able to skip any questions on the test and get back to them later. This can prove excessively stressful for a lot of people. If you feel that you are going to struggle regardless of the path you chose you may want to seek help from Kaplan courses.
English And Math Testing Differences
Besides the difference in format, there are also noticeable differences in the way that the particular sections on the test are set up. In English testing, for example, the GRE focuses on vocabulary questions. The GMAT will focus more on grammar questions. Hence, how to prep for GRE English sections differs from the ways you need to prepare for the GMAT.
Also, this section holds a higher value in the overall testing scores on the GRE than it does on the GMAT. That is why foreign students that are strictly considering business school admission will be recommended to take the GMAT.
As far as math testing goes since the GMAT is much more specialized to cater to the knowledge of business students the math section tends to be a lot tougher. The GRE is also taken by people who are looking to get into different types of courses. This has molded the math section in a fashion that can be more “student” friendly. You are less likely to see overly complex math concepts tested in the GRE. On a side note, the GRE will allow you to use a calculator. The GMAT won’t.
What Is Your Ultimate Goal?
If you are still struggling to figure out which test you should take maybe this will help! One of the first differences that you are going to be able to find between the GRE and the GMAT is the doors that they can open. GRE scores can serve as a way to apply to a wide variety of programs. Your GMAT scores are only going to be helpful if you are directly trying to get into business school. Also, around 90% of the schools in the United States are going to accept GRE scores. Therefore if you have a lower budget GRE could be the better way to go to be able to apply for a wider array of programs.
Although certain schools may accept your GRE scores to apply to business school, they may actually prefer GMAT scores. If you have a specific school and program that you are looking to apply into then their particular requirements may end up making this tough decision for you.
Prepare Accordingly For Both Tests
Whichever test you end up choosing, be sure that it is the one that fits your particular needs or testing style the best. Having said this, a big benefit that you are going to have regardless of the test that you decide to take is the fact that there is so much information about these tests all over the place. If you do your research the right way there is no reason why you should come in unprepared. Use this advice to get into the top business schools with your assessment scores.
