Last year, Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad announced that it will accept GRE scores for admission into its flagship MBA programs. Earlier, the programs such as ISB EEO, ISB PGP, and ISB YLP were open only for those taking the GMAT. But, with acceptance of GRE scores at ISB, it will open the doors of opportunities to many more MBA aspirants in the country.
It is not difficult to understand why ISB started accepting GRE scores. ISB prides itself to be a premier destination for MBA applicants. Hence, just like leading b-schools across the world, it was natural that ISB accepted both GRE and GMAT scores for admission. Moreover, the GRE gives ISB access to a wider pool of applicants since more students take the GRE than the GMAT in India. This will help the institution attract more quality applicants for both its Hyderabad and Mohali campuses.
Rules Related To Acceptance Of GMAT And GRE Scores At ISB:
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As a leading B-school in the country, ISB has set higher standards of education for MBA students. It has a stringent screening process for admissions. Rules regarding GRE and GMAT scores at this prestigious institute are as follows:
- It is mandatory to provide GMAT or GRE scores at the time of application.
- These scores will be valid for 5 years from the date of test.
- Within 3 weeks, these scores should reach ISB.
- Under no circumstances, GMAT and GRE scores will be waived off at ISB.
Average GRE Scores for ISB
ISB is one of the few b-schools that reports the official GRE scores for enrolled students. For its PGP class of 2018, its range of GRE scores for its Hyderabad campus was 315-334. The corresponding figure for its Mohali campus was 303-335. The overall GRE score range was 303-335. Similarly, the average GRE scores for ISB’s PGP program were 323 and 325 for its Hyderabad and Mohali campus respectively. The average GRE score for ISB was 324.
Looking at the average GRE score, the bar for admission is set pretty high at ISB. Applicants will need some solid amount of GRE preparation to crack the average GRE score of 324 at ISB.
Which Test For Admission to ISB programs?
Just like other b-schools across the globe, there is no way to ascertain whether ISB has a preference among GMAT and GRE for its candidate pool. ISB is also pretty new to accepting students with GRE scores and it is highly likely that these average numbers will see some variance for the class of 2019. If you apply with good scores and an outstanding profile, any exam should help you make the cut.
If you want a general guideline, this decision should completely depend on the selection of the management programs. If you prefer applying to a dual degree or any other master’s program along with ISB, it is better to take the GRE. However, if you are solely preparing for a management program with Quant being your strength area, GMAT should be your ideal choice. Similarly, if you are looking forward to applying only for PGP program of ISB and you have an impressive mastery over the verbal section, take GRE. At the end, it all depends on your skills, strengths and priorities. If you are unsure about either exam, we’d say take the GMAT!
Here Are Some Key Points To Remember Before Taking Any Of These Tests:
GMAT has a tricky Integrated Reasoning section. Hence, if you struggle with concepts like data synthesizing, you may find it really challenging. In this context, you can opt for GRE but remember that GMAT scores in Integrated Reasoning are considered a significant selection parameter by many organizations.
If you are good in vocabulary and love reading, GRE may be a simpler choice for you because GRE is more focused on grammar than vocabulary.
While GMAT is a computer-adaptive test selecting questions based on your performance in the previous question, GRE is a section-adaptive test. It means that difficulty level of sections depends on your performance in the first sections completed by you.
The course structure and test format largely differ for both these exams. So, if you are preparing for admission in ISB, it is better to analyze every factor carefully to ensure a better selection.
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