Compare the GRE at Home vs. GMAT Online
Chances are, your checklist for applying to business school includes the GRE or GMAT. Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, test centers have been forced to suspend operations. In response, ETS introduced an at-home option for the GRE and TOEFL in late March. Subsequently, GMAC started offering the GMAT online.
Now, current MBA applicants, who had plans to take the GRE or GMAT at a test center, can take either exam online. Of course, there are conditions and restrictions to ensure fair testing. For example, both require a camera and a microphone to be able to speak to the proctor and show a 360-degree view of the testing room. There are also restrictions on food and drink during the test, and candidates must stay on camera except during breaks.
See more in the chart below, which compares both options, to help you decide which admissions exam to complete.
Also, see our running list of admissions updates related to COVID-19 here.
| GRE at Home | GMAT Online | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $205 | $200 |
| Content Adjustments | None | No AWA |
| Country Restrictions | Not available in Iran and mainland China | Not available in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Slovenia, and mainland China |
| Operating System | Windows 10, 8, or 7 | Windows 10 or 8.1, Mac OS 10.13 and above |
| Browser | Chrome or Firefox | Microsoft Edge, Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer 11 |
| Live Proctor | Yes | Yes |
| Breaks | One scheduled 10-minute break; 1-minute breaks between sections | One scheduled 5-minute break |
| Food/Drink | None | Water in clear glass |
| Whiteboard | Physical Whiteboard allowed; must be erased in view of proctor after test | No physical whiteboard, online whiteboard provided |
| Score Preview After Test | Yes | No |
| Cancel Score After Test | Yes | No |
| Official Scores | Via ETS portal 10-15 days after test date | Via email within 7 days of test date |
| Retake Availability | Can take within 21 days, up to 5 times | No |
About the Author
Lauren Wakal
Lauren Wakal has been covering the MBA admissions space for more than a decade, from in-depth business school profiles to weekly breaking news and more.
Featured Schools
Goizueta Business School - Emory University
| CLASS SIZE | 110-150 |
| % Women | 33% |
| 80% GMAT Range | 640-740 |
| % International | 50% |
Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management - Cornell University
| TWO-YEAR CLASS SIZE | 303 |
| FEMALE | 39% |
| MEDIAN GMAT | 710 |
| MEDIAN GPA | 3.30 |
The Paul Merage School of Business - University of California, Irvine
| Class Size | 51 |
| FEMALE | 47% |
| Mean GMAT | 660 |
| Mean GPA | 3.47 |
Lauder Institute of Management & International Studies
| Class Size | 75 |
| % Women | 43% |
| % International or Dual Citizens | 64% |
