Online MBA Application | GMAT, GRE, or Neither?

The online MBA application process can differ widely across colleges and universities.  Because of the substantial investment of time and money, one key topic of conversation for many current students in their online MBA search is, “what entrance exam should I take and why”?

Many schools prefer the GMAT over the GRE; others vice versa – still yet, some schools are completely dropping the testing requirement altogether.  Here is a quick guide to everything you need to know about online MBA testing requirements and choosing a format that is the best fit for you.

The GMAT | Online MBA Testing

The GMAT is typically taken by people who plan to attend business school, and it is used almost exclusively for business-related programs.  There are four primary sections of the test – The Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrate Reasoning, The Quantitative, and The Verbal.  Each section receives a score, but the most important score is the composite score, which ranges from 200 to 800.  The composite score does not include Analytical Writing or Integrated Reasoning.

The test is administered digitally, and it is an adaptive test, meaning, the difficulty of the questions is based on how correctly you answer previous questions.  Many experts say that the math skills required on the GMAT are more strenuous than those required for the GRE, so if math is your strength, the GMAT is the test for you.

The GRE | Online MBA Testing

The primary difference between the GMAT and GRE is that the GRE is accepted as part of the application for a wide range of graduate programs, not just business schools.  There are three sections to this test – Analytical Writing, Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning.  For the GRE, each section score is usually reported separately and not combined into a composite score.

Like the GMAT, the GRE is administered digitally and is adaptive in question difficulty based on performance in previous test sections, and experts say that the GRE verbal section is generally more difficult than that of the GMAT.  The GRE also allows students to save and return to questions, which is not an option for the GMAT.  Of the two tests, the GRE is typically less expensive.

Online MBA Application | No Testing Required

As you work through online MBA applications, there are typically a wide range of requirements – references, essays, test scores, transcripts, and more.  However, many colleges and universities are making the decision to simplify the application process for MBA students in a major way – waiving the testing requirement.  Rather than spending $200-$300 and 3-4 hours on a standardized test, online MBA applications are considering other qualifications to evaluate the potential of prospective students.

Though standardized tests can be a quality measure of aptitude, many online MBA applications are shifting toward evaluating work experience and academic performance in your bachelor’s program.  For example, at Limestone, if you have five years of management experience or an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher, you can continue in the application process without a GMAT or GRE test score, saving you lots of time and money.

As you evaluate your online MBA options, consider applying to a school that waives the testing requirement.  If your work experience and previous academic successes meet the minimum requirements, you will be able to progress through the enrollment process more quickly and efficiently, giving you a head start and moving you even closer to achieving your career goals.

Interested in a no testing requirement MBA option?  Speak with one of our enrollment experts today.