Taking the GMAT or sticking with the GRE?

Hello,

I took the GMAT a year ago and got a 329. High 160s in quant and low 160s in verbal. I'll be applying to business schools in a few years and wanted to know if it was worth taking the GMAT. I'll be targeting T25 schools mostly. Should I prepare and take the GMAT?

My goal is to go to IB afterwards. Do banks look at test scores and if they do, do they accept GRE scores as well?

Thanks.

6 Comments
 

A 329 GRE score is competitive for admission at T25 schools.

However, I've heard that some investment banks do look at GMAT scores when reviewing resumes, and will prefer GMAT over GRE. However, I haven't been through the full MBA recruiting cycle, so I can't comment from personal experience.

 

Likewise, I haven't been through the B-School process but I have a very strong feeling that banks would rather see a GMAT score than a GRE score. GRE scores are hard to translate unless your apart of an adcom, but GMAT's are easy to read and compare.

You could definitely get into a T25 school with your GRE score, but I would suggest knocking the GMAT out of the park to slap on your resume.

 

Every bank has asked for GMAT scores. Unsure of the assigned weight that it holds in regard to your profile. I would assume that the school to which you matriculate serves as a signal to most banks though.

 
 
Most Helpful

Top MBA programs (with the exception of INSEAD) is test agnostic and welcomes applicants to take the test on which they will perform best.

Take a look at these articles for more insight: https://stratusadmissionscounseling.com/mbanalysis-gmat-gre-take/</a">GMAT or GRE, Which Should I Take? https://stratusadmissionscounseling.com/five-things-need-know-taking-gm…</a">Five Things You Need to Know about Taking the GMAT/GRE

You might go ahead and take the GMAT but submit your applications with your GRE scores if those are stronger.

Good luck!

Susan Cera Director of MBA Admissions Stratus Admissions Counseling - www.stratusadmissions.com FREE Profile Evaluation - www.stratusadmissions.com/consult
 

Eius saepe eveniet ipsum architecto unde minus. Mollitia aut sit et eos maxime impedit quia quis. Sit nisi sed aperiam nihil voluptates omnis. Nam minus harum dolore neque ratione quibusdam.

Molestias accusantium et quam voluptate. Architecto architecto corporis laborum totam commodi vero. Ipsum pariatur tempora deserunt eligendi veritatis dolores.

Iusto dolores numquam rerum quia ducimus. Maxime quis dolores non. Saepe at atque eos. Saepe et aut omnis neque non.

Ut iste eum nam vero eum quia provident. Voluptates autem fugiat nesciunt. Reprehenderit natus sunt architecto sit. Atque error molestiae nemo aut. Excepturi et ab provident nihil aspernatur voluptatibus hic.

Susan Cera Director of MBA Admissions Stratus Admissions Counseling - www.stratusadmissions.com FREE Profile Evaluation - www.stratusadmissions.com/consult

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 04 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (17) $409
  • Associates (58) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (77) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”