You're sitting there with a GRE score report and a dream of getting into Wharton or INSEAD, but every forum you visit is screaming about "conversions." It’s stressful. You wonder if your 165 Quant is actually "good enough" compared to the person next to you who just dropped a 730 on the GMAT.
The truth? GRE to GMAT conversion is less of a hard science and more of an educated guess that admissions committees (AdComs) use to keep their sanity.
ETS, the folks who make the GRE, actually provide an official tool for this. They call it the Comparison Tool for Business Schools. It uses a specific regression formula to predict what your GMAT Total score would have been based on your GRE Verbal and Quant scores. But here’s the kicker: most top-tier MBA programs know this formula is a bit optimistic.
The Math Behind the Curtain
The official formula is basically $GMAT = 6.38 \times GRE_{Verbal} + 10.62 \times GRE_{Quant} - 2023.27$.
If you do the math on a perfect 170/170 GRE score, the formula spits out an 800. Simple, right? Not really. The GMAT Focus Edition—the only version of the GMAT available since early 2024—has completely changed the scoring scale. The old 200-800 scale is dead. Now we’re looking at 205 to 805, where a 645 is roughly equivalent to an old 700.
This makes GRE to GMAT conversion even more chaotic.
When you use the old ETS tool, you’re getting a "Classic" GMAT score. To find out where you stand today, you have to convert your GRE to Classic GMAT, then use the GMAC concordance tables to find your Focus Edition equivalent. It’s a triple-jump of data interpretation that leaves plenty of room for error. Honestly, it’s a mess.
Why Schools Care (and Why They Don't)
Business schools care about rankings. For years, the U.S. News & World Report only factored in GMAT scores. This created a loophole. If a school accepted a student with a lower GRE score, it didn't hurt their average GMAT ranking.
That changed.
Rankings now often incorporate GRE scores by converting them. However, AdComs at places like Harvard Business School or Stanford GSB aren't just looking at a single number. They look at your percentiles. If you’re in the 90th percentile for GRE Quant, they know you can handle the rigor of a first-year Finance core, regardless of what a conversion calculator says.
The Quantitative "Penalty"
There is a nagging rumor in the MBA world. People say the GRE is the "easier" test. Is it?
Well, the GRE allows a calculator. The GMAT doesn't. The GRE's math is generally considered more straightforward, focusing on geometry and number properties, whereas the GMAT Quant section is a logic test disguised as a math test. Because of this, many experts—including those at Manhattan Prep and Kaplan—suggest that a 167 Quant on the GRE might be viewed slightly less favorably than a 50 on the old GMAT Quant (or an 85+ on the Focus Edition).
If you are applying to a "quant-heavy" program like MIT Sloan or Chicago Booth, they might look past the GRE to GMAT conversion and dive straight into your transcript. They want to see those A's in Multivariable Calculus or Linear Algebra. A high conversion score won't save a weak math background.
Verbal Is a Different Beast
On the flip side, the GRE Verbal section is a vocabulary marathon. If you don't know what "equanimity" or "lugubrious" means, you’re in trouble. The GMAT Verbal (now focused on Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension) is much more about the mechanics of an argument.
If you’re a non-native English speaker, you might find the GRE Verbal significantly harder. Ironically, a lower GRE Verbal score might convert to a decent GMAT score because the formula doesn't account for how much harder the GRE's vocabulary is for many test-takers.
What the Data Actually Says
Let’s look at real numbers from the most recent class profiles.
- Harvard Business School: The median GRE is typically around 163 Verbal and 163 Quant.
- Stanford GSB: Often sees averages closer to 165 for both sections.
- Wharton: Frequently reports a 162/162 split.
If you plug these into a GRE to GMAT conversion tool, you’ll see they often map to scores in the high 600s or low 700s (Classic). Yet, the average GMAT at these schools is often 730+.
Why the gap?
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It’s simple: schools use the GRE to attract "non-traditional" candidates. Poets, non-profit leaders, and artists. These candidates often have lower standardized test scores but bring immense value to the classroom. If you're coming from McKinsey or Goldman Sachs, your "converted" score likely needs to be higher than the school's average to be competitive. You don't get the "non-traditional" discount.
Navigating the GMAT Focus Edition Era
The GMAT Focus Edition removed Sentence Correction and Geometry. It added a Data Insights section.
This change has made the GRE to GMAT conversion even more speculative. Since the GRE still includes Geometry and hasn't fundamentally changed its structure, the two tests are drifting apart.
Comparing them now is like comparing a decathlon to a triathlon. Sure, both involve running, but the specialized skills are different.
If you’re deciding which test to take, don't pick based on a conversion chart. Pick based on your strengths.
- Do you have a massive vocabulary? Take the GRE.
- Are you a logic puzzle wizard? Take the GMAT.
- Does mental math make you sweat? Take the GRE.
Actionable Strategy for Your Application
Stop obsessing over whether your 325 is a 710 or a 720. It doesn't matter as much as you think.
First, check the specific class profile for your target schools. Look at the GRE range specifically. If the school doesn't publish a GRE range, use the 80% range of their GMAT scores as a benchmark for your converted score.
Second, focus on percentiles. Aim for 80th percentile or higher in both sections if you’re looking at a Top 15 program. If you are below that, your work experience or essays need to be spectacular.
Third, if you’ve taken the GRE multiple times and your score is plateauing, don't switch to the GMAT just because a conversion table looks greener on the other side. The "switching cost" in terms of study time is huge.
Finally, remember that the GRE to GMAT conversion is just a tool for the school to report data to ranking agencies. Once you're past the initial screening, the AdCom is looking at you, not a calculated estimate of a test you didn't even take.
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To maximize your chances, ensure your quantitative readiness is proven elsewhere in your application—through your GPA, professional certifications like a CPA or CFA, or even a supplemental course like MBA Math if your converted Quant score is on the lower side. Your goal is to remove any doubt that you can handle the curriculum. Keep your focus on the holistic package. One number, converted or otherwise, will rarely be the reason you get a "yes" or a "no."