No official GRE-to-GMAT Focus conversion exists. GMAC, the maker of the GMAT, explicitly states that the two tests measure different skills and cannot be meaningfully compared through any conversion formula. The approximation tables below use a two-step percentile method and should be treated as rough orientation only, not as an admissions-committee equivalency.
Is there an official GRE-to-GMAT Focus conversion? (Short answer: no)
This is the question almost every applicant asks first, and the honest answer is that no official tool exists. Neither GMAC (which owns the GMAT) nor ETS (which owns the GRE) publishes a conversion between GRE scores and the GMAT Focus Edition. Any number you see online is an approximation built on percentile alignment, not an equivalency anyone official endorses.
Why GMAC says it can't be done
GMAC is unusually direct on this point. As Chris Han, GMAC's Head of Test Development and Psychometrics, puts it: "You can't convert a GRE score to a GMAT score, and vice versa. The GRE and GMAT exams are different tests, measuring different content, and no conversion table or conversion tool can ever make them equivalent" (GMAC, "Why you can't compare scores").
GMAC's official score documentation reinforces this: "The GMAT has not been equated with other tests... comparisons with scores from other tests, such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), are not appropriate. GMAT scores cannot be estimated from scores on other tests" (GMAC GMAT Focus exam scores).
The ETS comparison tool — what happened to it and why it was flawed
For years, the most-cited reference was the ETS-originated "GRE Comparison Tool for Business Schools." It was removed from the main ets.org domain around September 2022, though a version still appears on an India-hosted mirror (in.ets.org comparison tool). Treat it with caution for several reasons:
- It was built on a small, unrepresentative, self-reported sample of test-takers from roughly 12 years ago.
- Its linear regression underestimates prediction error; at the 99% confidence interval, the actual error for scores at or above 650 could reach ±200 points.
- It does not reference GMAT Focus Edition at all. Its output maps only to the retired GMAT Classic 200–800 scale.
- It cannot account for GMAT Focus's Data Insights section, which has no GRE equivalent.
- It ignores fundamental design differences: the GMAT uses question-level adaptation while the GRE uses two-stage, section-level adaptation.
In short, the one widely circulated "converter" was deprecated by the body that built it, and it never described the test schools actually receive today. That is why MBA House does not hand clients a single converted number and call it a day.
The only official score bridge: GMAT Classic to GMAT Focus concordance
There is exactly one official score comparison tool in this entire ecosystem, and it does not involve the GRE. GMAC published a Total Score Concordance Table mapping the retired GMAT Classic (10th Edition) scores to GMAT Focus Edition scores by shared percentile (GMAC concordance table PDF).
How GMAC's concordance table works
The concordance does not claim the exams are identical. It links scores that fall at the same percentile, using data collected from 2017 to 2022. Because percentile bins differ in size between the two scales, GMAC presents some figures as ranges, and the percentile values themselves are refreshed annually in the third quarter.
The "645 is the new 700" rule — what it means for applicants
GMAC's most quoted line is that "on the GMAT Exam (Focus Edition), a score of 645 is equivalent to a 700 due to the new score scale" (GMAC, "Understanding your score"). The Focus total runs from 205 to 805, so a 645 looks lower than the old 700 even though it sits at a similar competitive position. If you are comparing your Focus score to old admissions data, you have to translate through the concordance first.
| GMAT Classic (10th Ed.) | GMAT Focus Edition | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| 800 | 805 | 100.0% |
| 760 | 715 | 99.0% |
| 740 | 695 | 97.7% |
| 730 | 685 | 96.2% |
| 720 | 675 | 95.3% |
| 710 | 665 | 92.9% |
| 700 | 655 | 91.3% |
| 700 | 645 | 87.7% |
| 680 | 615 | 77.7% |
| 650 | 595 | 68.5% |
| 620 | 575 | 58.7% |
| 600 | 555 | 49.0% |
| 550 | 525 | 34.7% |
| 500 | 485 | 21.5% |
Selected rows from GMAC's official Classic-to-Focus concordance. Concordance linking was established using 2017–2022 data; percentiles update annually.
Understanding GRE vs. GMAT Focus section by section
Before you trust any conversion, it helps to see how differently the two exams are built. The GRE reports two 130–170 scores plus a separate writing score; the GMAT Focus reports three equally weighted 60–90 section scores rolled into a 205–805 total (GMAC GMAT vs GRE).
GRE Quant (130–170) vs. GMAT Focus Quantitative Reasoning (60–90)
GRE Quant allows an on-screen calculator and includes geometry. GMAT Focus Quantitative Reasoning gives you no calculator and leans on algebra, arithmetic, and number properties under tight timing. A strong GRE Quant score does not automatically translate to a strong Focus Quant score, because the skills being stressed differ.
GRE Verbal (130–170) vs. GMAT Focus Verbal Reasoning (60–90)
GRE Verbal weights vocabulary heavily through text completion and sentence equivalence. GMAT Focus Verbal Reasoning is built around reading comprehension and critical reasoning, with no standalone vocabulary questions. Applicants who memorize word lists for the GRE often find the Focus Verbal section rewards a different muscle.
The Data Insights problem — why GRE has no equivalent
This is the single most important reason any GRE-to-Focus table is structurally incomplete. GMAT Focus's Data Insights section fuses the old Integrated Reasoning section with Data Sufficiency, and it contributes a full third of the total score. The GRE has no analog. So every "conversion" silently assigns zero weight to one-third of the Focus exam, which is a material distortion, not a rounding error.
| Structural factor | GRE General Test | GMAT Focus Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Total score scale | 260–340 (V + Q) | 205–805 |
| Section scales | 130–170 each (V, Q); Writing 0–6 | 60–90 each (Quant, Verbal, Data Insights) |
| Adaptation | Section-level (two-stage) | Question-level |
| Calculator | Allowed on Quant | Data Insights only |
| Data Insights analog | None | One-third of total score |
Curious how you would actually do on GMAT Focus, including the Data Insights section the GRE never tests? Bring your scores to a free strategy call and we will map them against your target schools together.
A two-step approximation method (with caveats)
If you still want a rough orientation, the honest way to estimate is a two-step method, the same approach used by reputable prep sources who acknowledge it is approximate. Step one converts your GRE combined score to an old GMAT Classic estimate; step two runs that Classic estimate through GMAC's official concordance to reach a Focus figure.
Step 1 — GRE to GMAT Classic (using old ETS data with cautions)
The first hop relies on the deprecated ETS-derived mapping from GRE combined scores to GMAT Classic. Its acknowledged prediction error is roughly ±50 points at 68% confidence, and that error grows for high scorers above 600 Classic. Treat this step as the weak link in the chain.
Step 2 — GMAT Classic to GMAT Focus (via official concordance)
The second hop is the only defensible part: it uses GMAC's official concordance table to move from a Classic estimate to a Focus estimate by shared percentile. The output is only as good as the Step 1 input, so any error from the first hop carries through.
Where this method breaks down
Stack both steps together and the combined uncertainty is substantial. Use the table below for rough self-orientation only.
| GRE Combined | GRE V / Q | Approx. GMAT Classic | Approx. GMAT Focus | Approx. Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 340 | 170 / 170 | 800 | 805 | ~99th+ |
| 336 | 168 / 168 | 780 | 785 | ~99th |
| 332 | 166 / 166 | 740 | 695 | ~98th |
| 330 | 165 / 165 | 730 | 685 | ~96th |
| 328 | 164 / 164 | 710 | 665 | ~93rd |
| 326 | 163 / 163 | 690 | 645 | ~88th |
| 324 | 162 / 162 | 670 | 625 | ~79th |
| 322 | 161 / 161 | 660 | 615 | ~78th |
| 320 | 160 / 160 | 640 | 595 | ~68th |
| 318 | 159 / 159 | 620 | 575 | ~59th |
| 316 | 158 / 158 | 610 | 565 | ~52nd |
| 314 | 157 / 157 | 590 | 555 | ~49th |
| 312 | 156 / 156 | 570 | 545 | ~43rd |
| 310 | 155 / 155 | 550 | 525 | ~35th |
Treat all figures as ±30–50 Focus points in practice. This assumes equal GRE Verbal and Quant; imbalanced profiles produce different equivalents.
- This table assumes equal GRE Verbal and Quantitative performance, which is rarely the case.
- The GRE-to-Classic step has acknowledged error of ±50 points at 68% confidence, ballooning for high scorers.
- Data Insights, a third of the Focus total, has no GRE equivalent, so any comparison is structurally incomplete.
- Business schools do not use conversion tables to compare applicants.
- Do not use this table for application strategy. Use it only for rough self-orientation.
How MBA admissions committees actually compare GRE and GMAT scores
Here is the part that matters most for your application: adcoms do not convert anything.
Schools compare percentiles, not converted scores
Admissions committees read each test on its own percentile scale. A GRE submitted at the 90th percentile and a GMAT Focus submitted at the 90th percentile are read as comparably strong, without anyone running a conversion formula. That is why obsessing over a single converted number is the wrong focus.
What top programs are saying
The major programs are consistent and on the record. Harvard: "We do not have a preference toward one test or the other" (HBS class profile). MIT Sloan: "We view scores from both tests equally. We have no preference." Chicago Booth: "We truly have no preference… just take whichever one you'll think you'll do best at." Wharton: "We don't have a preference for one test over another." NYU Stern accepts the GMAT, GRE, EA, and test waivers, and Columbia Business School accepts the GMAT (Focus and Classic), GRE, and EA (Columbia application requirements).
GMAT vs. GRE: who is still taking what at top schools?
Across the top 10 US MBA programs in 2025, the GMAT accounted for about 51% of applicants and the GRE about 37% (MBA.com GMAT vs GRE). Recruiter recognition of the GMAT is also rising: the share of Global Fortune 500 companies that "almost always" or "sometimes" consider GMAT scores climbed from 25% in 2020 to 64% in 2025, per GMAC's Corporate Recruiters Survey. The takeaway is not that one test wins, but that both are firmly accepted.
| NYC-area program | GMAT Focus | GRE (V / Q) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard Business School (Class of 2027) | 685 median (645–735 mid-80%) | 164 / 164 median | 44% submitted GRE |
| Columbia Business School (Class of 2027) | 690 avg (615–805 range) | ~163 / ~163 (≈326 combined) | Accepts EA |
| NYU Stern (recent class) | 682 avg (645–725 mid-80%) | 163 / 164 | 27% GRE; also EA + waiver |
Sources: HBS class profile, Columbia, NYU Stern class profile.
GRE, GMAT Focus, EA, or test waiver — which should you submit?
The right test depends on your strengths, timeline, and target schools. Here is a quick decision frame; for a deeper walkthrough see our GMAT, GRE, EA, or waiver guide.
Take the GMAT Focus if...
You are comfortable with quantitative reasoning, logic, and data interpretation, you want the test recruiters increasingly recognize, or your target programs skew GMAT-heavy. Our GMAT Focus overview explains the format in depth.
Take the GRE if...
You have a stronger vocabulary than data-sufficiency instinct, you are also applying to non-MBA graduate programs, or a diagnostic shows you perform better on the GRE's section-adaptive structure.
Consider the Executive Assessment if...
You are an experienced professional. The EA is a 90-minute exam scored 100–200 across Integrated Reasoning, Verbal, and Quantitative, with a lifetime limit of four attempts. It is accepted for full-time MBA at Columbia, NYU Stern, Duke Fuqua, Michigan Ross, Georgetown, UCLA Anderson, CMU Tepper, and UVA Darden, among others (Wharton EMBA: GMAT vs GRE vs EA).
Apply for a test waiver if...
Your transcript, professional credentials, or work history already prove quantitative readiness. Waivers are a growing segment: in NYU Stern's recent class, 23% of admits used some form of waiver.
Competitive score targets for NYC-area MBA programs
If you are applying in or near New York, anchor your goal to real class data rather than a converted number.
| Program | GMAT Focus target | GRE V / Q | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard Business School | 685 median (645–735 mid-80%) | 164 / 164 median | 44% submitted GRE |
| Columbia Business School | 690 avg (615–805 range) | ~163 / ~163 | Accepts EA |
| NYU Stern | 682 avg (645–725 mid-80%) | 163 / 164 | 27% GRE; EA + waiver |
| Wharton | ~685–700 target | ~163–165 | 64% GMAT |
| MIT Sloan | ~680–700 | 162 mid (159–170 Q mid-80%) | Equal preference stated |
Working with a GMAT tutor or MBA admissions consultant in NYC
This is exactly the kind of decision MBA House is built for. Our NYC-based GMAT tutors and MBA admissions consultants have helped hundreds of applicants at Columbia, NYU Stern, and top programs nationwide decide whether to submit GRE or GMAT Focus, then build the prep plan to hit the target. If you want a tutor in Manhattan, start with our GMAT Focus tutor NYC page; if the bigger question is your application, our MBA admissions consultant NYC and application strategy pages explain how we work. For a broader local roadmap, see our NYC GMAT and MBA admissions guide.
Not sure whether to submit GRE or GMAT Focus? Our NYC-based GMAT tutors and MBA admissions consultants will look at your scores, target schools, and timeline together, and tell you honestly which path gives you the best shot.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official GRE to GMAT Focus Edition converter?
No. Neither ETS nor GMAC has released an official conversion tool between GRE scores and GMAT Focus Edition scores. GMAC explicitly states the two tests measure different content and cannot be meaningfully compared through any conversion formula.
What is the GMAT Focus equivalent of a 330 GRE score?
Using a two-step approximation method, a 330 GRE (165V / 165Q) corresponds to roughly a 730 on the old GMAT Classic, which maps to approximately 685 on GMAT Focus. This is a rough estimate with significant uncertainty, not an official conversion.
What is the GMAT Focus equivalent of a 320 GRE score?
Approximately 595 to 615 on GMAT Focus, using a two-step approximation. This maps to roughly the 68th to 78th percentile. Treat it as rough self-orientation only.
What is the GMAT Focus equivalent of a 325 GRE score?
Roughly 635 to 655 on GMAT Focus, approximately the 83rd to 88th percentile range, based on a two-step percentile approximation rather than an official conversion.
What is 700 on GMAT Classic equivalent to on GMAT Focus?
GMAC's official concordance table shows that a 700 on the old GMAT (10th Edition) is equivalent to approximately 645 to 655 on the GMAT Focus Edition. GMAC itself states that 645 is the new 700.
Do MBA admissions committees convert GRE scores to GMAT?
No. Business schools evaluate each test on its own score scale and percentile distribution. They do not use conversion tables to compare applicants who submitted different test types.
Is GMAT Focus harder than GRE for MBA admissions?
They test different skills. GMAT Focus is generally considered more quantitatively intensive, especially its Data Insights section, and offers no calculator on Quant. GRE Quant allows a calculator and includes geometry. Neither is universally harder.
Do Harvard, Wharton, and Columbia prefer GMAT over GRE?
All three officially state no preference. Harvard's Class of 2027 had 44% GRE, 34% GMAT Focus, and 28% GMAT Classic submitters. Columbia and NYU Stern also accept all three plus the Executive Assessment.
What is the Executive Assessment (EA) and when should I take it?
The EA is a 90-minute GMAC exam scored 100 to 200, designed primarily for EMBA applicants but accepted for full-time MBA at schools like Columbia, NYU Stern, and Duke Fuqua. It suits experienced professionals who can demonstrate a strong quantitative background.
Can I get an MBA without submitting GMAT or GRE scores?
Many schools, including NYU Stern and Duke Fuqua, offer structured test waiver processes for applicants who can demonstrate quantitative readiness through coursework, professional credentials, or work experience. In Stern's recent class, 23% of admits used a waiver.
What GRE score do I need for NYU Stern MBA?
NYU Stern's recent class averaged 163 GRE Verbal and 164 GRE Quant (combined about 327), with an 80% range of roughly 158 to 170 Verbal and 160 to 170 Quant.
What GRE score do I need for Columbia Business School?
Columbia's Class of 2027 averaged about 163 in both GRE Verbal and Quant (combined roughly 326), with a range of 150 to 170 in both sections.