The short answer
- GRE General Test: about 1 hour 58 minutes. Verbal and Quant are scored 130–170 each, and Analytical Writing 0–6. From India it costs US$249 (ETS, effective 1 August 2026).
- GMAT exam (formerly the GMAT Focus Edition): 2 hours 15 minutes, in three 45-minute sections with no essay. Total scores run from 205 to 805.
- Scores from both tests are valid for five years.
- For MBAs, GMAC says the GMAT is accepted by over 7,700 programs at 2,400 business schools. ETS says over 1,300 business schools accept the GRE for MBA programs.
- Requirements vary program by program, even within one university. The admissions page is the only reliable answer.
The two tests at a glance
| GRE General Test | GMAT exam | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | About 1 hour 58 minutes, five sections | 2 hours 15 minutes, three sections, 64 questions |
| Sections | Analytical Writing (one Issue task, 30 min) · Verbal Reasoning (two sections) · Quantitative Reasoning (two sections) | Quantitative Reasoning (21 questions) · Verbal Reasoning (23) · Data Insights (20), 45 minutes each |
| Scores | Verbal and Quant 130–170 each · Writing 0–6 in half points | Total 205–805 · each section 60–90 |
| Where | Test centre or at home | Test centre or online |
| Official scores | 8–10 days after the test | See mba.com |
| Validity | 5 years | 5 years |
| Retakes | Once every 21 days, up to 5 times in any 12 months | Limits are set by GMAC, see mba.com |
| Choosing scores | ScoreSelect lets you choose which test dates to send | Once you know your score, you can send it to 5 schools free |
What each test feels like
The GRE was shortened in September 2023. It’s a general graduate test: vocabulary-heavy reading, school-level maths and one essay. Verbal and Quant adapt by section, so how you do in the first section decides the difficulty of the second.
The GMAT is built for business school. There’s no essay, and the Data Insights section tests how you read charts, tables and multi-source data. GMAC lets you take the sections in any order, bookmark questions, and change up to three answers per section. In July 2024 it dropped the “Focus Edition” label and went back to calling it the GMAT exam. The older 10th edition has been retired, but its scores can still be sent until January 2029.
Who needs which
| Your plan | What to expect |
|---|---|
| MBA in the US, UK or Canada | The GMAT is the traditional test, and many schools also accept the GRE. Some offer waivers based on work experience or earlier study. |
| MS in the US (CS, engineering, data science, sciences) | The GRE if the department asks for it. Some programs require it, some list it as optional, and some don’t consider it. |
| Business Master’s (finance, management, analytics) | Varies widely. Some selective programs in each country ask for the GMAT or GRE, while others don’t. |
| Taught Master’s in the UK or Canada (non-business) | Usually neither: admission rests on your degree, grades and English test. Still, check the program page. |
| PhD in the US | Set by each department. Check every program you apply to. |
Test-optional policies and waivers
Requirements have shifted in recent years. Some programs dropped the GRE or GMAT, some made it optional, some offer waivers, and others still insist on a score. Policies can change between application cycles, so check the admissions page for the year you’re applying to, not an old forum post.
When you read a program page, look for three things:
- whether the test is required, optional, waivable or not considered
- whether the program accepts both tests or names one
- whether scholarships or assistantships ask for a score even when admission doesn’t
That last point is easy to miss. A test you don’t need for admission can still matter for funding, so read our scholarships guide alongside the program page.
Fees, booking and retakes from India
GRE fees (ETS India, effective 1 August 2026)
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| GRE General Test | US$249 |
| Rescheduling | US$55 |
| Changing test centre | US$55 |
| Each additional score report | US$40 |
| Analytical Writing score review | US$60 |
| Reinstating cancelled scores | US$50 |
ETS charges in US dollars, so the rupee amount on your card statement depends on your bank’s exchange rate and charges. The at-home GRE is offered wherever the test is normally available, based on your account address.
GMAT fees
GMAC sets GMAT fees in US dollars, and the price differs between the test centre and online exam. Check the current India price on mba.com before you book, along with the rescheduling and cancellation fees and the retake limits.
GMAT Superscore
In June 2026, GMAC announced the GMAT Superscore, which builds a total from your best section scores across attempts at no extra cost. It said the feature was expected to roll out from August 2026. Check mba.com for how it applies to your attempts, and whether your target schools use it.
How to decide in an evening
- List your programs. Pick six to eight realistic targets. You can search by subject and country in Explore programs.
- Check each test policy. Note “required”, “optional”, “waiver” or “not considered” for both tests, and whether funding asks for a score.
- If all your schools accept both, take an official practice test of each. ETS and GMAC both publish official practice material. Go with the test where you start stronger.
- Plan backwards from deadlines. GRE scores take 8–10 days, and you can only retake after 21 days. Leave room for a second attempt before your first deadline.
For subject-specific advice, see Business & MBA, Computer Science & AI and Data Science & Analytics. If you’re weighing US business analytics, read programs with STEM OPT. Your test score is only part of the application, so give your statement of purpose the same attention.
Sources
- ETS, GRE General Test structure (checked Oct 2026)
- ETS, Getting your GRE scores (checked Oct 2026)
- ETS India, GRE General Test fees (checked Oct 2026)
- ETS India, GRE tests overview (checked Oct 2026)
- ETS, GRE at-home testing (checked Oct 2026)
- GMAC, GMAT exam overview (checked Oct 2026)
- GMAC, GMAT exam scores (checked Oct 2026)
- GMAC, GMAT Focus Edition naming update (checked Oct 2026)
- GMAC, About the GMAT exam (checked Oct 2026)
- GMAC, GMAT exam security (checked Oct 2026)
- GMAC, GMAC introduces GMAT Superscore (June 2026) (checked Oct 2026)
