{"id":37709,"date":"2025-07-22T08:51:47","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T12:51:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mbamission.com\/blog\/?p=37709"},"modified":"2026-06-02T11:52:47","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T15:52:47","slug":"gmat-gre-or-ea-which-exam-should-you-take-for-business-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mbamission.com\/blog\/gmat-gre-or-ea-which-exam-should-you-take-for-business-school\/","title":{"rendered":"GMAT vs GRE vs EA for MBA: Which Test Should You Take?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Jen Kedrowski, MBA Admissions Consultant, mbaMission and former GMAT\/GRE Instructor &amp; Curriculum Manager<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are planning to apply to MBA programs in the near future, you might be wondering which admissions exam you should take as part of the application process. You want to be sure to choose the exam that is the best fit for you\u2014the one that will most effectively showcase your abilities and add to your applicant profile.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this post, we offer insight into the different exam options for applying to business school to help you identify the best one for you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mbamission.com\/blog\/gmat-gre-or-ea-which-exam-should-you-take-for-business-school\/#gmat_versus_gre_versus_ea_comparison_chart\" >GMAT versus GRE versus EA Comparison Chart<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mbamission.com\/blog\/gmat-gre-or-ea-which-exam-should-you-take-for-business-school\/#how_the_gmat_gre_and_ea_differ_in_structure_and_content\" >How the GMAT, GRE, and EA Differ in Structure and Content<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mbamission.com\/blog\/gmat-gre-or-ea-which-exam-should-you-take-for-business-school\/#what_mba_programs_prefer%e2%80%94and_what_they_say_publicly\" >What MBA Programs Prefer\u2014and What They Say Publicly<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mbamission.com\/blog\/gmat-gre-or-ea-which-exam-should-you-take-for-business-school\/#how_to_choose_a_simple_decision_framework\" >How to Choose: A Simple Decision Framework<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mbamission.com\/blog\/gmat-gre-or-ea-which-exam-should-you-take-for-business-school\/#next_steps_preparing_for_the_right_test\" >Next Steps: Preparing for the Right Test<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mbamission.com\/blog\/gmat-gre-or-ea-which-exam-should-you-take-for-business-school\/#frequently_asked_questions\" >Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mbamission.com\/blog\/gmat-gre-or-ea-which-exam-should-you-take-for-business-school\/#final_thoughts_choosing_the_right_test_for_your_mba_goals\" >Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Test for Your MBA Goals<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"gmat_versus_gre_versus_ea_comparison_chart\"><\/span><b>GMAT versus GRE versus EA Comparison Chart<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-11\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-11\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td><th class=\"column-2\"><strong>GMAT<\/strong><\/th><th class=\"column-3\"><strong>GRE<\/strong><\/th><th class=\"column-4\"><strong>EA<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-striping row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Total Length<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">2 hours, 15 minutes<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">2 hours<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">90 minutes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Sections<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">3 sections, 64 questions (Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Data Insights)<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">5 sections, 55 questions (2 Quantitative Reasoning, 2 Verbal Reasoning, 1 Analytical Writing)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">3 sections, 40 questions (Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Integrated Reasoning)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Scoring<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Overall score: 205\u2013805<br \/>\nSubscores: 60\u201390 for each section<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Quantitative score: 130\u2013170<br \/>\nVerbal score: 130\u2013170<br \/>\nWriting score: 0\u20136<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Overall score: 126\u2013174<br \/>\nSubscores: 0\u201320 for each section<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Quantitative Section Details<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">21 questions, 45 minutes<br \/>\nQuestion types: Problem-solving <br \/>\nTopics: Number properties, algebra, arithmetic, statistics<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">2 sections (12 questions in 21 minutes and 15 questions in 26 minutes)<br \/>\nQuestion types: Quantitative comparisons, multiple choice, numeric entry, and data interpretation set<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">14 questions, 30 minutes<br \/>\nQuestion types: Problem-solving and data sufficiency <br \/>\nTopics: Number properties, algebra, arithmetic, statistics<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Verbal Section Details<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">23 questions, 45 minutes<br \/>\nQuestion types: Reading comprehension and critical reasoning<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">2 sections (12 questions in 18 minutes and 15 questions in 23 minutes)<br \/>\nQuestion types: Reading comprehension, text completion, and sentence equivalence<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">14 questions, 30 minutes<br \/>\nQuestion types: Reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Data Insights or Integrated Reasoning Section Details<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">20 questions, 45 minutes<br \/>\nQuestion types: Data sufficiency, multi-source reasoning, table analysis, graphics interpretation, and two-part analysis<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">N\/A<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">12 questions, 30 minutes<br \/>\nQuestion types: Multi-source reasoning, table analysis, graphics interpretation, and two-part analysis<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-8\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Analytical Writing Section Details<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">N\/A<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">1 question, Analyze an Issue, 30 minutes<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">N\/A<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-9\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Calculator Usage<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Available on-screen for Data Insights section only<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Available on-screen for Quantitative section<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Available on-screen for Integrated Reasoning section only<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-10\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Flexibility within Sections<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Review and edit up to three questions per section, if time allows<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Skip, go back, and review any questions within active section<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Limited ability to review and change answers at specific points within each section<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-11\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Exam Attempts<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Five attempts permitted in a rolling 12-month period; eight attempts in a lifetime<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Five attempts permitted in a rolling 12-month period; no lifetime limit<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Four attempts in a lifetime; two maximum attempts at a test center, and two maximum attempts online<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-11 from cache -->\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The reality is that the majority of MBA programs require a standardized test as part of the application process, typically either the GMAT or the GRE. A smaller number of programs accept the Executive Assessment (EA) exam.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A number of U.S. MBA programs have begun offering <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1c8iIp2e-23bw7MRmRf_WeWd6kekkaSEvsEi__YkX9q0\/edit?usp=sharing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">test waivers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in recent years, but which schools do so vary from one application season to the next, so be sure to contact the programs you are interested in directly to verify whether applying for a test waiver is an option. Test waivers are typically granted on a limited basis, and the admissions committees will need to see solid alternate evidence of quantitative, analytical, and academic strengths before issuing a waiver to an applicant.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For most applicants, however, an exam is required. Business schools use your exam score, in combination with your academic performance as an undergraduate, in predicting your ability to manage the academic rigor of their MBA program. Exam scores alone do not get applicants \u201cin\u201d to specific programs, but scoring well below a school\u2019s average can hold a candidate back and become a roadblock to acceptance. In addition, at schools that are particularly competitive, many candidates will submit strong test scores, so you need to score as high as possible on your test to maximize your chances.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_the_gmat_gre_and_ea_differ_in_structure_and_content\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How the GMAT, GRE, and EA Differ in Structure and Content<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mba.com\/exams\/gmat-exam\/scores\/understanding-your-score\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GMAT<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> exam is administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) and tests Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights. The GMAT has an extensive history in the business school world. The exam\u2019s first iteration was established more than 70 years ago.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ets.org\/gre\/test-takers\/general-test\/about.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GRE<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> exam is administered by ETS and was initially an admissions test for a broad range of graduate school programs. It tests Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Analytical Writing. Business schools began accepting the GRE almost two decades ago, and over time, GRE submissions for MBA programs have been steadily increasing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A third admissions exam, the EA, is accepted by a small but growing number of full-time MBA programs (including Columbia Business School, NYU Stern, UVA Darden, Duke Fuqua, Texas McCombs, and Georgetown McDonough). The EA was created by the same organization that created the GMAT, initially for applicants to executive MBA (EMBA) programs. It tests a similar range of skills as the GMAT, including Quantitative, Verbal Reasoning, and Integrated Reasoning\u2014which involves data interpretation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With respect to differences in content, be aware of the following:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">T<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mbamission.com\/blog\/gmat-score-chart-a-comprehensive-guide-for-test-takers\/\">he GMAT prioritizes data analysis and quantitative reasoning most extensively.<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The GRE includes vocabulary, geometry, and analytical writing\u00a0 (the GMAT and EA do not).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The EA includes Sentence Correction (grammar) questions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The EA is the shortest of the three exams (by a small margin; see chart later in this post).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Generally, all three exams test a similar range and level of quantitative facts, concepts, and formulas (with the exception of some geometry on the GRE).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All three are adaptive exams, meaning that the difficulty level adjusts based on your performance while you are in the process of taking the test.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All three exams also test your time-management and strategic decision-making abilities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_mba_programs_prefer%e2%80%94and_what_they_say_publicly\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What MBA Programs Prefer\u2014and What They Say Publicly<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many applicants worry that even though a school says it will accept several different exam options, it might <\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">prefer<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> one test over another. However, this is simply <\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">not<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> true. Programs want you to take the exam that will best showcase your strengths and ability to handle the business school curriculum!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although the GMAT has a long history of being the primary exam for MBA programs, that does not mean it is \u201cpreferred.\u201d And the percentage of MBA applicants who submit GRE scores has continued to increase over the years. At many top programs, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/poetsandquants.com\/2024\/05\/15\/gmat-vs-gre-which-schools-prefer-which-test-and-which-still-dont-require-any\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">40% or more<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of candidates submit GRE scores.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rather than feeling compelled to take the GMAT simply because it has a longer history with business schools, do your research to determine which of the exams is truly the best option for you, your skills, and your test-taking abilities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_choose_a_simple_decision_framework\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to Choose: A Simple Decision Framework<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You will need to consider many different factors as you compare the GMAT, GRE, and EA. Business schools have generally had more consistent GMAT averages over time and strive to ensure that those averages do not dip much. GRE averages have a wider range of variability, and Quant and Verbal subscores are still looked at separately. In addition, the percentage of candidates who submit a GRE score has historically been smaller than the percentage who submit GMAT scores at most programs. Given all of these factors, until recently, at least, some schools were able to be slightly more flexible in accepting applicants with below-average GRE (or EA) scores\u2014but <\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">not<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> below-average GMAT scores\u2014if the rest of their profile was strong.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Jeremy Shinewald, founder\/president of mbaMission,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSchools are protective over their GMAT averages. If you are naturally a strong-test taker and can see yourself lifting a program\u2019s average, you might want to take the GMAT. If you\u2019re not a natural test taker, you might want to pursue the GRE. That doesn\u2019t mean that business schools will accept any old GRE score, though; test takers should still seek to perform at or near the school averages.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some scenarios when each exam might be particularly suited for certain applicants:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You might be best suited for the GMAT exam<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if you consider yourself particularly strong in quantitative reasoning and data analysis, because these are very prevalent across the GMAT.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if you are a strong test taker in general and feel confident that you can achieve a GMAT score that could benefit programs with respect to their averages.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if you are a non-native English speaker and\/or feel the GRE vocabulary or EA grammar questions would be difficult or time intensive for you.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if you have taken a GMAT practice test and feel you could excel with this exam!\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You might be best suited for the GRE exam<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if you consider yourself particularly strong in verbal reasoning and complex vocabulary.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if you feel you are not the strongest standardized test taker but prefer GRE questions to EA questions (or your target programs do not accept the EA).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if you feel your quantitative and\/or data analysis skills are on the weaker side.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if you are applying for any specialized master\u2019s degree programs that require the GRE.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if you have taken a GRE practice test and feel you could excel with this exam!\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You might be best suited for the EA exam<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if you are applying to EMBA programs and\/or other MBA options that accept the EA.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if you consider yourself particularly strong in grammar and data analysis.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if you feel you are not the strongest standardized test taker and prefer EA questions to GRE questions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if you prefer the shortest possible exam length available.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if you have taken an EA practice test and feel you could excel with this exam!\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How should you decide which exam to take for MBA admissions?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After considering the advice we have presented thus far and confirming which exams your target programs accept, the simplest way to decide which exam is best suited to you is to<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">take practice tests.<\/span><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taking a practice test enables you to experience that particular exam to see how you feel about the experience, structure, and\/or question types and determine whether you prefer it to any of the other exams. Practice tests also offer you a very rough diagnostic test score, which might not necessarily reflect what your final score will be after you have spent the appropriate amount of time preparing but will allow you to compare your performance on different exams, thereby providing some insight into which test you might have the most potential with.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some links to get you started:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mba.com\/exams\/gmat-exam\/prep-for-the-exam?utm_campaign=americas_All_Dec_gfocusprep_cenarm_prep-for-the-exam&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=paidsearch&amp;utm_keyword=mba%20gmat%20practice%20test&amp;c3api=693220593112,mba%20gmat%20practice%20test&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=&amp;utm_campaign=&amp;utm_content=s%7Cpcrid%7C693220593112%7Cpkw%7Cmba%20gmat%20practice%20test%7Cpmt%7Cp&amp;utm_term=mba%20gmat%20practice%20test&amp;hsa_acc=4534211383&amp;hsa_cam=20656829423&amp;hsa_grp=167391919908&amp;hsa_ad=693220593112&amp;hsa_src=g&amp;hsa_tgt=kwd-308512294523&amp;hsa_kw=mba%20gmat%20practice%20test&amp;hsa_mt=p&amp;hsa_net=adwords&amp;hsa_ver=3&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjw9vqyBhCKARIsAIIcLMFaT1-Lt-bxvzQIKj388GwWUSODVPbKQdQbj5fo7iZ2xCo3Q_g_UUEaAsVlEALw_wcB\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try a free online practice GMAT exam<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gre\/free-gre-practice-test\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try a free online practice GRE exam.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mba.com\/exams\/executive-assessment\/prepare\/free-prep-resources\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try free online practice EA questions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Note: You will need to pay a fee to access a full-length practice EA exam.)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have taken several practice exams and still are not sure which one to focus on\u2014or if you would like additional advice on test preparation\u2014feel free to reach out for a free 30-minute <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mbamission.com\/consult\/mba-admissions\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">consultation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with one of our MBA admissions experts. We offer these complimentary advice consultations on a weekly basis across multiple time zones.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"next_steps_preparing_for_the_right_test\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Next Steps: Preparing for the Right Test<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most candidates prepare for the GMAT for somewhere between two and six months. Taking a targeted <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/gmat\/courses\/gmat-courses\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">prep course<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and\/or working with a tutor can further strengthen your quantitative and verbal foundations and maximize your score.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"frequently_asked_questions\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Should you take the same exam multiple times?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mbamission.com\/blog\/mission-admission-taking-the-gmat-multiple-times\/\">Retaking an exam<\/a> will not negatively affect your chances of admission, because business schools will consider your <\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">highest <\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">score in their evaluation of your candidacy. We therefore recommend considering a retake if you feel you could improve your score and\/or you are below your desired target for your intended business school(s).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Should you take multiple <\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">different<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> exams?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some applicants take more than one of the three admissions tests (if accepted by their target programs). Why might you choose this approach? A large proportion of the preparation you do for any one exam will carry over and apply to the other exams, as well. If you struggle to reach or surpass the score averages at your target programs after several attempts, you might want to consider trying a different exam, even before devoting extensive prep to it, just to see whether you might perform better on it instead.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What qualifies as a \u201cgood\u201d GMAT\/GRE\/EA score?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two key considerations determine a \u201cgood\u201d test score. These are the (1) percentiles and (2) average scores at your target school(s). Do your research on both to get a sense of how your score would compare. Feel free to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mbamission.com\/consult\/mba-admissions\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reach out to us<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with questions about your scores and candidacy anytime.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"final_thoughts_choosing_the_right_test_for_your_mba_goals\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Test for Your MBA Goals<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our expert admissions consultants can answer any questions you might have. Sign up for a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mbamission.com\/consult\/mba-admissions\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">complimentary 30-minute consultation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> today.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Jen Kedrowski, MBA Admissions Consultant, mbaMission and former GMAT\/GRE Instructor &amp; Curriculum Manager If you are planning to apply to MBA programs in the near future, you might be wondering which admissions exam you should take as part of the application process. You want to be sure to choose the exam that is the &hellip; <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mbamission.com\/blog\/gmat-gre-or-ea-which-exam-should-you-take-for-business-school\/\">Read&nbsp;More&nbsp;&nbsp;<i class=\"fal fa-sm fa-angle-right\"><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":37710,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[125,126],"tags":[462,389,104,105],"class_list":["post-37709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gmat","category-gre","tag-application-profile","tag-ea","tag-gmat","tag-gre"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>GMAT vs GRE vs EA for MBA: Which Test Should You Take?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Compare GMAT vs GRE vs EA for MBA applicants with a breakdown of differences, scoring, school preferences, and how to choose the right exam for your goals.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mbamission.com\/blog\/gmat-gre-or-ea-which-exam-should-you-take-for-business-school\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"GMAT vs GRE vs EA for MBA: Which Test Should You Take?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Compare GMAT vs GRE vs EA for MBA applicants with a breakdown of differences, scoring, school preferences, and how to choose the right exam for your goals.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.mbamission.com\/blog\/gmat-gre-or-ea-which-exam-should-you-take-for-business-school\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"mbaMission - 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