GMAT or GRE: Which to Choose? Making the Clearest Choice Based on Score Advantages and Test Trends
Applying to business school: GMAT or GRE, which has the relative advantage? Today, we’re cutting straight to the chase and looking at the latest data from GMAC and ETS (the official governing bodies for the two exams) to get the fastest answer.
1. GMAT: Under the New System, Taiwan Has a Score Advantage Over China, and Competition Pressure Decreases
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Score Aspect: Under the old system, the average score for Taiwanese test-takers was lower than that of the three major business school applicant groups: China, the US, and India. However, under the new system, the average total score for Taiwanese test-takers is 569; China is 562, the US is 558, and India is 566. Taiwan actually scores higher than the main competitive markets. Not only do scores win, but percentile rankings also win, clearly showing how friendly the new GMAT system is to Taiwanese test-takers.
Trends and Competitor Changes: The same data also shows a decrease in the number of GMAT test-takers in mainland China. This means that even though mainland China was originally a huge competitor, for Taiwanese applicants who want to use GMAT scores to directly compete with mainland Chinese test-takers, your competition has decreased.
Interpretation: Under the new GMAT system, Taiwanese applicants not only score relatively better than those in major test regions (especially China and the US), but also face a decreasing number of Chinese mainland competitors (especially those who predominantly use GMAT), creating a very favorable strategic window.
GRE: Business School Applicants Concentrated in Mainland China, Taiwan Lacks Score Advantage on GRE
Average Score Comparison: From the GRE VQ (Verbal + Quant) data, Taiwan’s average VQ total score is 313 (V approx. 149.4, Q approx. 164.0), while mainland China’s is 317.4 (V 151.7, Q 165.7). Numerically, mainland China clearly has a slight edge.
Changes in Applicant Origin: The chart shows a significant increase in the proportion of applicants from China using the GRE for business programs. Conversely, the proportion of non-Chinese applicants (e.g., Taiwan, local US) using the GRE for business programs has decreased (“fewer non-Indian/non-American applicants are using GRE for business school”).
This means:
- The GRE business school applicant pool is becoming dominated by China, with concentrated competition and growing numbers.
- If Taiwanese applicants choose the GRE, they face more numerous and higher-scoring mainland Chinese competitors (and fewer overall non-Chinese opponents taking the GRE for business school), leading to unfavorable competitive conditions.
Interpretation: Taiwanese applicants lack a score advantage on the GRE and face increased difficulty competing with a concentrated group of mainland Chinese test-takers who score slightly higher on this exam.
Taiwanese Applicants’ Choice Formula: When to Choose GMAT? When to Consider GRE?
| Aspect | GMAT (New System) | GRE |
|---|---|---|
| Taiwan vs. China Average Score | Taiwan 569 > China 562 (Score Advantage) | Taiwan 313 < China 317.4 (Score Disadvantage) |
| Major Competitor Changes | Fewer Chinese GMAT test-takers (relatively lower competition density) | Increased proportion of Chinese GRE test-takers for business school (more concentrated competition) |
| Competitive Landscape | Relatively Favorable: Higher scores + fewer competitors | Relatively Unfavorable: Facing a Chinese group that is both more numerous and higher scoring |
| Marketing / Application Positioning Points | Emphasize “Taiwan’s new GMAT average score is higher than major regions” and “fewer Chinese test-takers” | Lacks clear regional comparative advantage |
| Exam Choice Reminder | Suitable for business school applicants who want to compete directly with high-credibility scores | Requires very clear personal differentiation (e.g., GRE preferred by a certain school, particularly strong verbal/quant combination) |
Conclusion: For most Taiwanese business school applicants, the GMAT (especially the new system) offers a more strategic advantage than the GRE.
If you are preparing, or want this advantage to be visible in your application materials, you can: Consult Dustin immediately to recommend the most suitable exam based on your personal application situation.
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