The GMAT vs. GRE: Show your strengths
Teddy K. is a food systems and consumer goods professional with a background in management consulting and applied nutrition research. He currently leads operations and growth at a mission-driven food manufacturing business, bridging strategy, operations, and impact in the future of food.
Making the switch from the GMAT to the GRE is a personal decision that requires courage, clarity, and trust in yourself. For Teddy, that choice opened the door to new opportunities in his business school applications. Even while running a small business with an unpredictable schedule, he stayed focused, organized, and committed to his goals. With the support of Achievable’s GRE course, he turned ambition into results, and you can do the same.
What motivated you to take this exam?
I decided to take the GRE as part of my business school application. Initially, I pursued the GMAT and took it twice, but despite significant effort, I only scored in the high 70th percentile—solid, but not competitive for the programs I was targeting. Out of curiosity, I took a GRE practice test and immediately performed better than I had on the GMAT. At the same time, I realized the GRE would keep more program options open. That combination made the decision clear: I pivoted to the GRE.
What was the biggest challenge you faced during your prep?
The GMAT experience itself was the biggest challenge of my prep journey. I had assumed business schools strongly preferred it, which turned out to be overstated. Beyond that, I struggled to find consistent time during an 8-10 week study window to take full practice tests, and many prep platforms felt both expensive and rigid. When I switched to the GRE and found Achievable, the process became far more manageable.
Did you use any strategies, habits, or tools that helped?
What ultimately worked was consistency and simplicity. I committed to completing one verbal and one quant section per day, about four days a week, using Achievable. Nothing replaces repetition. Over the course of prep, I completed 30+ verbal sections, 30+ quant sections, and 5-7 writing sections. I supplemented this with the free Magoosh vocabulary flashcards, using them whenever I would otherwise be scrolling on my phone. I genuinely enjoy learning vocabulary, and I made a point of using new words in daily conversation, which helped retention. The combination of Achievable’s structured practice and Magoosh’s flashcards was extremely effective.
Did your background or life circumstances shape how you approached prep?
My background shaped how I approached studying. I run a small business, so my schedule isn’t always predictable. While I don’t have family obligations competing for time, balancing work demands still made long study blocks unrealistic. In the end, just a few focused hours per week, done consistently, were enough.
How did you feel going into test day?
By test day, I felt far more confident than I ever had with the GMAT. When I used Target Test Prep for the GMAT, the questions felt noticeably different from what appeared on the actual exam, and others I’ve spoken to have reported similar experiences. With Achievable, the GRE felt familiar. I took the test once and scored a 170 in Quant and a 168 in Verbal.
What role did Achievable play in your prep?
Achievable played a critical role in that outcome. I’m not affiliated with them in any way, but it is genuinely the best value I’ve seen in test prep. It’s affordable without feeling like a “discount” product, and the flexibility made it possible to fit studying into real life.
Looking back, what would you do differently, if anything?
If I were starting over, I would have gone straight to the GRE and used Achievable from day one. My advice to anyone beginning this process is simple: take the GRE over the GMAT, buy the Achievable one-year program, read through the digital study guide first, and then start working through quant and verbal sections consistently.
What’s next for you now that you’ve finished the exam?
Now that the exam is behind me, I’m enjoying the win. A 338 combined score is a massive improvement from where I started, and instead of being a liability, my test score is now a clear strength in my application. Most importantly, it’s a huge load off my shoulders. I've applied to business school programs and feel confident that I'll get into one of my top choices.
