The GMAT quantitative section is probably the most notorious and daunting section of the exam. There are many myths surrounding the quant section of the GMAT, such as that it tests extremely advanced math concepts or that it’s impossible to achieve a perfect score. However, by building your understanding of the quant section through careful preparation, it’s more than possible to do well on this challenging part of the GMAT.

In this complete GMAT quantitative review, I’ll be giving you an in-depth look into the format of the section and what skills are tested on it. I’ll also take you through a detailed look at the two types of GMAT quant questions (data sufficiency and problem solving). Finally, I’ll give you tips that’ll help you achieve success in your test preparation and on test day.

GMAT Quantitative Overview

The GMAT quant section tests your ability to analyze data and draw conclusions using reasoning skills.  There are 31 multiple choice questions on this section that test your abilities in these areas, and you’ll have 62 minutes to complete the section. The quant section is the third section of the test, after the analytical writing assessment and integrated reasoning sections.

Like the two previous sections on the GMAT, you’ll take the quant section on a computer. However, unlike the integrated reasoning and analytical writing assessment, the quant section is adaptive. What that means is that the difficulty of the questions you get will be adjusted as you get questions right or wrong. If you’re struggling, you’ll receive easier questions. If you’re doing well, you’ll receive more difficult questions. Your score on the quant section is determined by three things: the number of questions you answer, the number of questions you answer correctly, and the difficulty of the questions you answer.

Quant scores technically range from 0 to 60, but the range in which people actually score is 6 to 51. Your quant score also contributes to your GMAT total score, which ranges from 200 to 800.

What’s Tested on the GMAT Quantitative Section?

The quant section tests your content and analytical knowledge of basic math concepts, such as arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. Contrary to popular belief, the GMAT quant section doesn’t test on advanced math concepts. In fact, you only need to know high-school-level math for the GMAT quant section. You’ll see the following concepts on the test:

• algebraic equations and inequalities
• arithmetic
• decimals
• percentages
• ratios
• exponents and square roots
• geometry and coordinate geometry
• integers
• factors
• multiples
• number lines
• variable operations

Rather than testing your knowledge of complex mathematical concepts, the GMAT wants to see how you apply your knowledge of basic math concepts on two types of questions: data sufficiency and problem solving. While both question types will require you to do the same kinds of math, they’re testing very different skills. The problem solving questions test how well you can figure out the answers to different kinds of numerical problems, such as knowing how much commission to give on the sale of a good. The data sufficiency questions test your ability to determine whether information is adequate enough to solve problems. We’ll talk more about these two types of questions in the next section.

The 2 Types of GMAT Quant Questions

There are two types of GMAT quantitative questions: data sufficiency and problem solving. In this section, I’ll go into more detail about the format of each question type and give you an example problem and solution for each.

If you’d like to get more in-depth information about strategies for either of these sections, check out our detailed data sufficiency and problem solving guides (coming soon).

Data Sufficiency

Data sufficiency questions are multiple choice questions that come with two statements of data. Your job is to figure out whether or not the statements provide sufficient data to answer the question. Then, you’ll have to decide whether one or both statements, by themselves or together, give you enough information to answer the problem. You’ll have the same five answer choices for every data sufficiency question:

1. Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient.
2. Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient.
3. Both statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.
4. EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.
5. Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.

Let’s look at what a data sufficiency question looks like in practice.

Data Sufficiency Sample Question

Here’s an example of a data sufficiency sample question that’s retired from an actual GMAT.

First, let’s look at the features of this data sufficiency question. Notice how the question comes first (“Is the average (arithmetic mean) of x and y greater than 20?”). After that, the two statements are listed. Your job is to figure out whether each of those statements is enough to solve the question, either by themselves or together. Let’s look at the solution for that problem.

Data Sufficiency Sample Question Explanation

The first step for any question on the quant section is to understand what the question is asking you to find. This question is asking you to determine the mean of x and y. The mean (or average) can be expressed as the sum of both numbers divided by 2. So, you can express the mean of x and y in either of these equations:

(x + y)/2 > 20

x + y > 40

Now, you’ll want to turn your attention to each statement. Let’s look at statement 1 first. For this statement, you’ll need to express the statement as an equation and then simplify to solve for x + y. First, let’s figure out your equation. The statement says that the average of 2x and 2y is 48. That information yields this equation:

(2x + 2y)/2 = 48

Next, you can simplify to isolate x and y.

2x/2 + 2y/2 = 48

x + y = 48

Think back to the first inequalities. We said that we can express the mean of x and y as either (x + y)/2 > 20 or x + y > 40. In the math we just did for statement 1, we simplified the equation to show that x + y = 48. 48 is greater than 40, which satisfies the requirement that x + y > 40. That means that the information is sufficient.

Now, let’s look at our second statement. Whenever you’re solving a data sufficiency question, you want to first solve the statements by themselves before considering them together. We solved statement 1 by itself, now we’re solving statement 2 by itself.

Statement 2 says that x = 3y. That means that we can substitute for x in our original inequality.

x + y > 40

3y + y > 40

Remember, x = 3y. So, in my second equation I substituted in 3y for x. Now, I can combine like terms.

4y > 40

y > 10

So, solving this inequality shows us that y is greater than 10. But let’s think back to what the question is asking us. The question is asking us if x + y > 40. From solving this inequality, we don’t have enough information about y or about x to see if x + y > 40.

You can also solve statement 2 by substituting values for x and y that satisfy the condition x = 3y. For instance:

If y = 7 and x = 21 then (x + y)/2 = 14, which is NOT greater than 20.

If y = 40 and x = 120, then (x + y)/2 = 80, which IS greater than 20.

Because there’s the possibility to get an answer greater than OR less than 20 for statement 2, we’ll need more information to solve the problem.

The correct answer to this sample question is, then, is A: Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient.

Problem Solving

Problem solving questions are multiple-choice questions that test high school math skills. These questions are much more traditional and straight-forward than data sufficiency questions. For these questions, you’ll need to use basic math concepts from topics like arithmetic, algebra, and geometry to solve math problems. Let’s take a look at a problem solving sample equation.

Problem Solving Sample Question

Here’s an example of a problem solving sample question that’s retired from an actual GMAT.

Notice how the problem solving sample question looks much more like a question that you would see in your math class or on another standardized test. All problem solving questions have five multiple choice answers.

Problem Solving Sample Question Explanation

The first step to solving this problem is to figure out what it’s asking you and what it requires that you know. You’re trying to figure out the total cost of food for 7 adults on a 5-day trip. In order to do that, you need to figure out the cost of food per day for each adult. You can find that by looking at the costs of the 3-day trip.

In order to determine the food costs per person per day, divide the total food cost ($60) by the total number of adults (4), and then divide that by the number of days (3). Your equation should be: (60/4)/3 = x, when x is the food cost per person per day.

(60/4)/3 = x

(15)/3 = x

5 = x

The food cost per person per day is $5. Let’s plug that into an equation to determine the cost of food on the 7-day trip: $5 (food cost per person per day) * 7 (number of adults) * 5 (number of days) = y (total cost of food on a 7-day trip)

5 * 7 * 5 = y

5 * 7 * 5 = 175

Total food cost per day on a 7-day trip is $175. So the correct answer is B.

10 Tips for Mastering the GMAT Quantitative Section

In this section, I’ll give you some tips that’ll help you as you practice and get ready to take the GMAT and some tips that’ll help you succeed on test day.

Overall GMAT Quant Study Tips

In your GMAT quantitative review, keep in mind these overall tips that’ll help you build your speed, accuracy, and confidence in solving data sufficiency and problem solving questions.

Master the Fundamentals

The GMAT quant section only tests high school math concepts. That means that you’ll have likely seen every skill you need to master the test. The key, then, lies in mastering these fundamentals. You won’t be able to use a calculator on the GMAT, so you’ll have to be fast with your basic calculations. Practice multiplying and dividing decimals and fractions. Memorize the exponent rules. Memorize common roots and higher powers. These simple tips will build your confidence and save you time on test day.

Use What You Know

GMAT quant questions are designed to look very complex and intimidating. However, no matter how difficult the question may look, remember that you’ll only need to use high school level math to answer it. Start small on these questions by using what you know. If you break the problem down into small steps, beginning with what you know, you’ll be able to work towards an answer.

Plug-in Smart Numbers

Plugging-in numbers is a useful strategy for solving questions. If a question gives you only variables and doesn’t ask you to solve for a number, you can pick values for the variables to make them easier to work with or to test statements.

However, you want to make sure you’re using smart numbers. -1, 1, and 2 are good numbers to plug in if you don’t have any confines, because they’re easy and manageable. If the question asks you to use a specific type of number (e.g., a multiple of 3), make sure you’re using one that’ll be easy to do basic calculations with (e.g., use 6 instead of 54).

Data Sufficiency Tips

The data sufficiency section is different than any other math test section you’ve seen before. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you’re preparing for and taking the GMAT.

Evaluate the Statements Individually First

Evaluating each statement individually will help you answer data sufficiency questions quickly and more easily. Evaluate statement 1 first, then evaluate statement 2 by itself. When you do evaluate statement 2, you’ll need to forget everything you did for statement 1. Pretend that they’re two different questions. Once you’ve determined whether each statement is sufficient on its own, you’ll be able to put them together. This strategy will also save you time. For instance, if neither statement is sufficient on its own, you’ll be able to eliminate answers A, B, and E. If both statements are sufficient on their own, you’ll be able to eliminate A, B, C, and E right away.

Memorize the Five Answer Choices

Every single data sufficiency questions has the same 5 possible answers:

1. Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient.
2. Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient.
3. Both statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.
4. EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.
5. Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.

The 12TEN mnemonic can help you remember those answers and save you time:

• 1: only statement 1
• 2: only statement 2
• T: both statements together
• E: either statement
• N: neither statement

Know the Two Types of Questions

There are two basic kinds of data sufficiency questions: value questions and yes/no questions. By learning to identify which type a given question is, you can be sure you understand what it’s asking and how to answer it.

Value questions ask you to find a numerical value (e.g., what’s the value of 5x?). For value questions, if you’re able to find a specific value using the information in either statement, then that statement is sufficient.

Yes/no questions ask you whether or not something is true (e.g., is y an even number?). For yes/no questions, a definitive yes or a definitive no answer are both considered sufficient. An answer that is sometimes yes or sometimes no is not sufficient.

Remember: a definitive answer is always sufficient. An answer that may or may not be correct is not sufficient.

GMAT Quantitative Test Day Tips

Here are some tips that’ll help you ace the quant section on test day.

Spend time reviewing the information in graphs, charts, and tables

There will be a number of questions on the GMAT quant section that require you to interpret charts, graphs, and tables. Try to spend at least 30 seconds reviewing the information on these. It’s extremely important that you read the axis labels, the key, and the units of measurement so that you’re correctly interpreting the information contained in the graph, chart, or table and using the right information to make your calculations.

Read questions carefully

One of the most common mistakes you can make on the GMAT is to answer the wrong question. The people who write the GMAT will purposefully include questions that ask things like “Which of the following may not be true?” which can be commonly misread or misunderstood as “Which of the following may be true?” Make sure that you read every question carefully so you’re finding the correct answer to the correct question.

use your scrap paper

Even though the GMAT quant section test on high school math skills, use your scrap paper as much as possible. Writing down your calculations will help you see any mistakes and force you to make sure you’re thinking through every step of the question, especially since you can’t use a calculator on the GMAT quant section.

work backwards

If you’re not sure where to start on a question that asks you to solve for a specific value, remember that the test has already given you the right number — you just have to find it among the wrong ones. You can work backwards by plugging in the possible answers until you find one that works.

Moreover, the GMAT normally arranges answer choices in the ascending numerical value, so you can save time by starting with the middle answer. Then you can determine whether you need to go higher or lower with your answer and eliminate multiple incorrect answers at once.

GMAT Quantitative Review: What You Need to Know

The GMAT quant section can be daunting, but with careful preparation and attention-to-detail on test day, you’ll be able to master it. Spend time during your practice developing a deep familiarity with the two types of questions on the quant section (data sufficiency and problem solving) and mastering the basic math fundamentals tested on this section and you’ll be well on your way to achieving your goal score.

What’s Next?

If you think you’ve gotten a good handle on the quant section, check out our guide on mastering the three questions of the GMAT verbal section.

Still confused by data sufficiency? Check out our in-depth guide to learn more about this unique test question type.

Find out more about what makes up your GMAT total score and how business schools weight it against your quant score.

The post GMAT Quantitative: 10 Tips to Master the Math Section appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.

The GMAT verbal section presents a unique challenge. While many test-takers spend hours and hours mastering the strategies and formulas necessary to do well on the quant section, the verbal section can often seem more opaque and intimidating. In this guide, I’ll give you concrete, actionable strategies that you can use to demystify and master the GMAT verbal section.

First, I’ll talk about what’s on the GMAT verbal. Next, I’ll talk about the three question types on the GMAT verbal section, and give sample questions for each. Finally, I’ll give you some strategies for preparing for the GMAT verbal and for acing the verbal section on test day.

What’s on the GMAT Verbal Section?

The GMAT is designed to show your skills to prospective business schools. The verbal section is an important part of evaluating your capabilities as a candidate because it shows how well you’ll be able to understand and communicate ideas. The GMAT verbal section tests your ability to read and understand written material, to evaluate arguments, and to correct sentences so that they conform to standard written English.

The verbal section is the fourth section on the GMAT. You’ll take the verbal section right after your second 8-minute break. You have 65 minutes to complete the 36 multiple-choice GMAT verbal questions.

The GMAT verbal test is computerized and adaptive. What that means is that you’ll take the test on a computer (as you will with the rest of the GMAT) and that the difficulty of the questions you get will be adjusted as you get questions right or wrong. If you’re struggling, you’ll receive easier questions. If you’re doing well, you’ll receive more difficult questions. The questions you get right or wrong on the GMAT verbal section contribute to your GMAT total score.

Verbal scores range from 0 to 60. Your verbal score contributes to your GMAT total score, which ranges from 200 to 800, and is made up of your scaled verbal and scaled quantitative scores.

The 3 Types of GMAT Verbal Questions

The GMAT verbal section has three question types: reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction. I’ll explain what skills each question type tests and walk you through a sample question for each type.

Reading Comprehension

The reading comprehension questions test your ability to understand, analyze, and apply information and concepts presented in written form.

What does this mean? Basically, you’ll be reading passages and answering questions based on what’s directly stated or implied within the passage. These questions are designed to show business schools how well you are able to understand written material.

Sample Question

Directions: After reading the passage, choose the best answer to each question. Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.

Transnational cooperation among corporations is experiencing a modest renaissance among United States firms, even though projects undertaken by two or more corporations under a collaborative agreement are less profitable than projects undertaken by a single corporation. The advantage of transnational cooperation is that such joint international projects may allow United States firms to win foreign contracts that they would not otherwise be able to win.

Which of the following is information provided by the passage?

1. Transnational cooperation involves projects too big for a single corporation to handle.
2. Transnational cooperation results in a pooling of resources leading to high-quality performance.
3. Transnational cooperation has in the past been both more common and less common than it is now among United States firms.
4. Joint projects between United States and foreign corporations are not profitable enough to be worth undertaking.
5. Joint projects between United States and foreign corporations benefit only those who commission the projects.

Correct Answer: C

Explanation

The question asks us to determine which information is provided in the passage. For this question, we’ll need to find textual evidence that supports our answer, because the question stipulates that the information is “provided in the passage.” For each of the answer choices, ask yourself whether or not you can find textual support.

Answer A is incorrect because the passage doesn’t directly discuss or imply anything about the size of the projects the companies are working on. Make sure that you only focus on answers that are supported by the text.

Answer B is incorrect because the passage directly states that the value of transnational cooperation is in winning foreign contracts. The passage doesn’t talk about any results regarding high-quality performance.

Answer D is incorrect because while the passage does state that transnational projects are less profitable than single projects, it doesn’t imply that they aren’t profitable.

Answer E is incorrect because the passage suggests that joint projects benefit the United States firms, since they are awarded new contracts (“may allow United States firms to win foreign contracts that they would not otherwise be able to win”).

Answer C is correct because the phrase “experiencing a modest renaissance” implies that the transnational projects are coming back into favor after being out of style for a while.

Critical Reasoning

Critical reasoning questions focus on arguments. Critical reasoning questions measure your skills in crafting and evaluating arguments, as well as making or evaluating a plan of action based on an argument. These questions are designed to show business schools how well you’re able to present and defend information.

Sample Question

Directions: Select the best of the answer choices given.

The interview is an essential part of a successful hiring program because, with it job applicants who have personalities that are unsuited to the requirements of the job will be eliminated from consideration.

This argument logically depends on which of the following assumptions?

1. A hiring program will be successful if it includes interviews.
2. The interview is a more important part of a successful hiring program than is the development of a job description.
3. Interviewers can accurately identify applicants whose personalities are unsuited to the requirements of the job.
4. The only purpose of an interview is to evaluate whether job applicants’ personalities are suited to the requirements of the job.
5. The fit of job applicants’ personalities to the requirements of the job was once the most important factor in making hiring decisions.

Correct Answer: C

Explanation

Start by considering the argument. The argument of this passage statements that the interview is an essential part of the hiring program. That means that we are looking for the answer that a.) focuses on the interview, and b.) focuses on what or how the interview is made successful.

Answer A is incorrect because the passage states that the interview is “an essential part” of a successful hiring program. The word “part” indicates that the hiring program is only one piece of a successful hiring program, which means that the hiring program must contain other pieces in order to be successful.

Answer B is incorrect because the passage doesn’t discuss developing a job description. In fact, the passage doesn’t even imply anything about a job description. You can rule out this answer because it talks about something that’s not part of the passage. Always stick to the information that’s actually contained or implied in the passage, rather than extrapolating.

Answer D is incorrect because, while the argument does state that the interview evaluates applicants’ personalities, it doesn’t suggest that that’s the only purpose of the interview. Note the word “only” in the answer choice. Be careful of categorical words like “only,” “all,” “always,” “never,” and “exclusively.”

Answer E is incorrect because the argument focuses on how to find people who don’t fit to the program, not how to find people who fit with the program. It doesn’t imply that an applicant’s personality is the most important part of the hiring process, either.

Answer C is correct because the argument focuses on eliminating candidates whose personalities are unsuited to the job. The ability to eliminate unsuited candidates assumes that interviewers are able to determine what makes a candidate’s personality suited or unsuited.

Sentence Correction

Finally, sentence correction questions test you on conventions of standard written English. In these questions, you’ll be asked to correct sentences that may contain grammar or word usage errors in order to show your ability to present a clear, concise, and grammatically correct argument.

Sample Question

Directions: This question presents a sentence, part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

Executives and federal officials say that the use of crack and cocaine is growing rapidly among workers, significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, which already are a cost to business of more than $100 billion a year.

1. significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, which already are a cost to business of
2. significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, which already cost business
3. significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, already with business costs of
4. significant in compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, and already costing business
5. significant in compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, and already costs business

Correct Answer: B

Explanation

Answer A is incorrect because the phrase “are a cost to business” is in the passive voice. The conventions of standard written English consider the passive voice to be unclear and inexact.

Answer C is incorrect because the phrase “already with business costs of” is awkward and wordy. The GMAT prefers sentences to use clear, simple language that is logical and easy to understand.

Answer D is incorrect because the phrase “significant in compounding should modify effects of drug and alcohol abuse” is unclear and wordy. The use of the word “and” incorrectly suggests that the sentence is referring to the “drug and alcohol abuse,” instead of the “effects.”

Answer E is incorrect because the phrase “significant in compounding should modify effects of drug and alcohol abuse” is unclear and wordy. The use of the word “and” incorrectly suggests that the sentence is referring to the “drug and alcohol abuse,” instead of the “effects.”

Answer B is correct because the word “which” correctly correlates to the subject (“effects”) and the phrase “already cost business” simplifies and clarifies the language in the original sentence.

GMAT Verbal Tips

In this section, I’ll take you through some tried-and-true GMAT verbal tips for acing each question type.

Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension Strategies

The reading comprehension questions on the GMAT verbal section measure how well you understand a text. The critical reasoning questions measure how well you can analyze an argument. Though these GMAT verbal questions are fairly different form each other, I’ve grouped them together here because there are a lot of similarities in how you should approach them.

These questions might seem intimidating, but the GMAT verbal tips I’ve outlined below will help you read and understand more easily.

Ask Yourself Questions

Active reading is an important skill for achieving a good score on the GMAT verbal section. The passages on the GMAT aren’t designed to be particularly interesting. However, by continuously asking yourself questions, you can engage yourself in the passage and make sure you’re focusing on important ideas. Think about asking yourself the following questions:

• What’s the main focus of the passage? (What’s the passage mostly about?)

• What’s the purpose of this passage? (Why did the author write this passage? What’s the author trying to convince the reader of?)

• How is the passage organized? (Think about the introduction, body, and conclusion – what happens in each of those sections?)

• What evidence is used to support the main idea or argument in this passage? (Once you’ve figured out the main idea or main argument, think about what the author is saying to support those ideas).

Understand the Basic FormulaS

For both the critical reasoning and the reading comprehension, there are just a few basic question styles you’ll see again and again. Figuring out what kind of question you’re answering will help you determine what kind of answer to look for, because you’ll be able to hone in on the specific parts of the text that will help you find the answer.

There are three general types of reading comprehension questions:

• Questions about the main idea of the article, which require you to think about overall ideas.

• Questions about specific details, which ask you to find and paraphrase a specific claim.

• Questions about inferences, for which you’ll have to understand ideas not explicitly stated in the passage.

Similarly, there is a limited set of question styles you’ll see on the critical reasoning:

• Questions about strengthening or weakening the argument, which require you to determine the evidence that would bolster or undermine the passage’s main point.

• Questions about assumptions and paradoxes, which ask you to identify the ideas underlying the argument.

• Questions about inferences, which ask you draw logical conclusions from the argument.

Pick a Reading Strategy and Stick to It

It’s important to have a solid reading strategy when approaching the GMAT verbal. Reading on the GMAT is different from reading in your daily life. The texts on the GMAT verbal test are purposely dense and hard to read. It can be easy to get lost in these passages, or waste time focusing on insignificant details. Having a reading strategy will help you target your reading to find the most important information from the passage. You’ll also be able to better budget your time because you’ll have a specific way you’re approaching each text and question set. Having a reading strategy ensures that you’ll be able to immediately be able to dive in and dissect a passage, without wasting time trying to figure out your approach.

There are few different approaches to reading for the GMAT. Some ask you to read the passage in full first before turning to the GMAT verbal questions. Some ask you to read the questions first before searching for information in the passage. Some ask you to skim the passage first, then look at the questions, then go back to the passage. Each of these strategies has its own pros and cons. I’m not going to recommend a specific strategy here, because a lot of this recommendation depends on what you’re good at as a reader. During your practice, try out each of these strategies. Find the one that feels the best to you and yields the best results, and then stick to that. That way, you’ll get faster and better as you keep working.

Don’t Draw on Outside Knowledge

Everything you’ll need to know to answer the questions will be found in or directly inferred from the passage. You’re not required to know anything special, and you’ll find all the information you need to learn in the passage itself.

If the passage’s topic seems confusing or obscure, don’t worry! That’s the point. Even if you do know something about the topic, resist the temptation to rely on that knowledge to answer the question. Stick to what’s in the passage and you’ll have all the information you need.

Focus on the Argument

Critical Reasoning passages are all about the argument. The GMAT critical reasoning section tests your ability to analyze an argument. The arguments cover the types of topics that you’ll be likely to see during and after business school. You’ll be expected to be able to analyze the validity of the argument, even if you’re not at all familiar with the overall topic.

While you may be worried that you lack the background information to understand an argument, the GMAT doesn’t require you to have any prior knowledge. You’ll be able to learn everything you need to adequately answer critical reasoning questions by reading each passage. To make sure that you’re drawing the right conclusions, keep your focus on the argument itself, without getting distracted by extraneous information. What is the main argument of the passage? What details support or weaken the main argument? By finding the main argument of the passage, you’ll be able to clearly work through the details in the passage and decide whether or not each detail supports or detracts from the argument.

Sentence Correction Strategies

The sentence correction questions on the GMAT can be tricky, especially for non-native English speakers or those who don’t have a strong command of standard English grammar conventions. Check out my tips below to help you succeed in your prep.

Review Grammar Topics

The grammar tested on the GMAT is very different than grammar you use in everyday life. For instance, many people use the word “this” in everyday life to refer to a nebulous idea. For the GMAT, the word “this” needs to clearly refer to a noun in the text.

Most people don’t talk with the kind of formality tested on the GMAT, so review the rules tested on the exam to make sure you know what to look for.

Look for Multiple Grammatical Errors

On sentence completions questions, many answer choices have more than one grammatical error. Before you mark an answer as correct, make sure every part of the answer is actually correct.

Don’t “Rely on Your Ear”

Like I mentioned before, the GMAT follows esoteric grammar rules that we rarely use in day-to-day speaking. Don’t go on what “sounds right” for grammar questions (with the exception of idiom questions). Make sure you’re figuring out what actually follows the grammatical rules, not what you’d say when talking to your friends.

Overall GMAT Verbal Tips for Test Day

Even the most prepared test-takers can feel some anxiety on test day. Here are some GMAT verbal tips that you can use across the GMAT verbal test to help you succeed.

Find The Evidence

For the reading comprehension and critical reasoning questions, make sure you can find the evidence to back up your answer. You should be able to point to a direct part of the passage that explains why your answer is right. Even in the case of inferences, you’ll be able to find parts of the text that imply why your answer is correct. If you can’t find any evidence, then your answer is likely wrong.

Break Down the Questions

The questions on the GMAT verbal section follow specific question patterns, meaning that they often ask about the same kinds of things.

For instance, many critical reasoning questions ask you to “find an assumption” made in the text. To answer these questions, you’ll need to determine what assumptions strengthen the passage’s main argument. You’ll also be asked to find answers that either strengthen or weaken an article’s conclusion. For these questions, you want to make sure you know the article’s main argument so that you can figure out what will best support it or detract from it.

On the other hand, many reading comprehension questions may ask you to decide what an author would agree with. For these questions, you’ll want to find evidence in the text that supports a potential perspective. By spending some time figuring out what the question is actually asking you, you’ll know what to look for in the passage.

REPHRASE INTO YOUR OWN WORDS

The GMAT verbal uses long-winded phrases and esoteric language to try to intimidate test-takers. You’ll be asked to read passages about boring topics that you know and care little about. The GMAT verbal section purposely uses complex language and potentially dull topics to try to confuse you as a reader. One of the ways that you can combat the difficulty of the passages is by rephrasing into your own words. Find the parts that you understand and translate it into clear phrases that make sense to you.

Save Energy (and Take the Breaks)

The verbal section is the last section of the GMAT, and it’s a doozy, with the most questions of any section. It also requires a lot of reading. You’ll need to conserve some energy through the first three sections to ensure you aren’t totally burnt out when you get to the verbal.

Make the most of the eight-minute break you’ll get before this section. It’ll refresh you and help you get back in the swing of things after you’ve finished the quant section.

What’s Next?

Looking for GMAT quant tips? Check out our guide to the GMAT quant section.

Wondering what makes up your GMAT total score? Learn all about it in our comprehensive guide.

Find the best online practice materials using our guide to the best GMAT online practice materials.

The post GMAT Verbal: How to Master the 3 Question Types appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.

While it’s impossible to know exactly what questions you’ll get on the GMAT, you can predict the structure of the test. Everybody gets a slightly different version, but each test taker sees the same GMAT pattern.

This guide will go over the GMAT exam pattern so you know exactly what to expect. After reading this article, you won’t have any surprises when it comes to format.

To start, let’s go over what you need to know about the GMAT before taking this unique test.

GMAT Logistics: What You Need to Know

The GMAT is always a computer-based test with four sections, Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, and Verbal, in that order. Each section is strictly timed, and you’re responsible for answering all of the questions in a section before time runs out.

If you don’t get to all of the questions in a section, then your score will take a serious hit. You can only answer one question at a time, and you can’t skip or return to any questions.

The Quantitative and Verbal sections of the GMAT are adaptive, meaning that questions are selected based on your performance as you go along. The adaptive sections rely on an algorithm that matches questions to your ability level.

This adaptive format is meant to gain an accurate measure of your skills. It also allows GMAT scores to be comparable to one another across different versions of the test.

There are experimental questions scattered throughout the Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative and Verbal sections. These experimental questions test out material for future tests, and they don’t count toward your final scores. You won’t have any idea which questions are experimental, though, so you should treat all tasks as equally important.

Now that you have a general sense of how the GMAT works, let’s look more closely at the GMAT exam pattern and format of each section.

What Is the GMAT Exam Pattern? Overall Structure

The GMAT is a three hour exam, plus you can take two optional eight-minute breaks. You’ll also spend between 15 and 20 additional minutes entering score recipients, confirming your personal information, reading instructions, and deciding whether you want to keep or cancel your scores.

The AWA and Integrated Reasoning sections are 30 minutes each, while the Quantitative and Verbal sections are 62 minutes and 65 minutes, respectively.

You can choose one of three orders for the GMAT sections:

• Option 1: Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Break, Quantitative, Break, Verbal
• Option 2: Verbal, Break, Quantitative, Break, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment
• Option 3: Quantitative, Break, Verbal, Break, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment

This chart shows how many questions you get in each section, along with an estimate of how much time you have per question. Remember that each estimate is just an average. It’s often a better practice to spend more time on certain question types than to divide your time up equally.

Again, you’re responsible to getting to all of the questions in each section. Developing an efficient test-taking rhythm is essential for doing well on the GMAT. Now let’s take a closer look at the GMAT test pattern within each section, starting with AWA.

GMAT Pattern: Analytical Writing Assessment Section

The Analytical Writing Assessment is 30 minutes long and asks you to respond to an essay question.

Before you get to your essay, you’ll have 10 minutes to read a tutorial with instructions on the essay and how to navigate the text box. You can find this same tutorial on GMAT practice tests, so you should go into the test already familiar with what it says.

Once you start the section, you’ll see an essay prompt in the form of a short excerpt of an argument. You can actually find the full list of GMAT AWA prompts here. Here’s just one example:

After the prompt, the instructions will say the following:

In your essay, your job is to critique the argument, not to talk about your own opinion or views on a subject. You can find sample essays online, as well as look over the rubric that graders use to score your essay. Your AWA score will fall between 1 and 6, and you’ll get it about 20 days after you take the GMAT.

How to Prepare for the AWA Format

In the AWA section, you need to write a well-structured and well-organized essay in 30 minutes. To prepare, you should read plenty of highly scored sample essays, as well as the rubric that graders will use to score your essay.

You should also set aside time to write your own practice essays. You might use the first three to five minutes to plan your response, the next 20 to draft, and save three to five minutes at the end to edit and revise.

By dividing your time among planning, drafting, and revising, you can take a structured approach to the AWA section and ensure that you produce a solid response before time is called.

GMAT Pattern: Integrated Reasoning Section

After you write your essay, you’ll move onto a screen with instructions for the Integrated Reasoning (IR) section. Again, you should already be familiar with these instructions. You’ll only get one minute to read them on test day, or you can click through before the minute is up to start working.

The IR section was introduced to the GMAT in 2012. You’ll answer 12 questions in 30 minutes. Unlike the Quantitative and Verbal sections, IR is not adaptive. The questions don’t change based on your performance. This section is scored between 1 and 12.

IR is the only section on the GMAT where you can use a calculator. You can’t bring your own, but rather will use the on-screen calculator tool. You’ll also use drop-down menus to manipulate data. For instance, you might reorganize a chart by its different columns.

So, what’s tested in the IR section? This relatively new GMAT section asks you to evaluate data in multiple formats. This data may be presented in a passage, chart, graph, or other graphic. Your job is to interpret and synthesize information and evaluate statements.

While IR questions are multi-part, you can’t get partial credit. You must answer all parts of an IR question correctly to get points.

There are four question types in the IR section. Read on for a description and sample of each question type.

Integrated Reasoning: 4 Question Types

The four question types in the IR section are table analysis, graphics interpretation, multi-source reasoning, and two-part analysis. Let’s take a closer look at each type, starting with table analysis questions.

Table Analysis Questions

These questions will present you with a table of data. You’ll sort the data to help you evaluate the accuracy of four to five statements. Each statement will have opposing answers, like yes/no, true/false, inferable/not inferable, and you’ll have to select one answer.

Here’s a screenshot of a table analysis question. If you download the GMAT Prep Software, you can practice answering sample questions that are sortable, just like you’ll get on the real exam.

Graphics Interpretation Questions

These questions ask you to interpret a graph or image and then use drop-down menus to complete various response statements. Your job is to choose the answer that makes the answer statements accurate.

Check out this official sample question to get a clearer sense of what graphics interpretation questions are all about.

Multi-Source Reasoning Questions

With these questions, you’ll get a set of tabs that you can click through. Each tab will have information on a certain topic. This information might be presented in the form of a passage, graphic, or chart. You’ll have to use all data from all three tabs to determine the accuracy of various statements.

Here’s a screenshot of a multi-source reasoning question from the GMAT Prep Software.

Two-Part Analysis Questions

Finally, two-part analysis questions present you with a table of answer choices. You have to select one answer from each column to solve a problem. Check out this sample question to see how two-part analysis questions work.

Tips to Prepare for Integrated Reasoning Format

There are a couple of features unique to the Integrated Reasoning section. One is the various drop-down menus that let you reorganize data. You’ll need to practice with GMAT Prep Software to become adept at sorting data in a useful way.

The second feature you should practice using is the on-screen calculator. You won’t be able to bring your own calculator, so you should make sure you can use the computer-based one. There aren’t any special tricks to it, but you may want to practice so you don’t lose time here.

Finally, you’ll need to develop your skills of reading graphs, charts, and other graphics. You’ll find information presented in a huge variety of formats, so you’ll want to be comfortable interpreting and evaluating data in different forms and switching quickly from one to the next.

GMAT Pattern: Quantitative Section

The Quantitative section is one of two adaptive sections on the GMAT. Questions are selected depending on your performance. Basically, adaptive testing works like this — if you get a question right, then your next question will be more difficult. If you get a question wrong, then you will move on to an easier question. It’s not always as straightforward as this, but you get the idea.

The Quantitative section asks you 31 math questions in 62 minutes and is scored between 0 and 60. Even if you haven’t taken math for years, you should be able to do well in this section, because the tested concepts aren’t particularly advanced.

You don’t need to know advanced calculus or statistical analysis. The Quantitative section mainly focuses on arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and logic.

There are two main question types, problem solving and data sufficiency, and they are interspersed throughout. Read on for a description and sample question of each type.

Problem Solving Questions

Problem solving questions are straightforward math problems. You’ll solve these questions and come up with one answer. All of them are multiple choice and feature five answer choices.

Here are a few sample problem solving questions that you could see in this section.

Data Sufficiency Questions

Data sufficiency questions are a bit more unusual. They present you with a formula or graphic, followed by a problem and two statements. It’s your job to figure out whether the statements, alone or together, give you enough information to solve the original problem.

You don’t actually have to solve the problem. You just have to indicate whether one of the statements, both, or neither gives you “sufficient data.”

Check out the example problem below. All data sufficiency questions will feature these same five answer choices.

Quantitative Section Format: How to Prepare

The Quantitative section is adaptive, but you shouldn’t worry about that. Some people get in their heads and think that easy-seeming questions mean they’re doing poorly.

However, there’s really no way of understanding the progression of questions as you go, and trying to do so will only sap your precious mental energy. Focus on solving the problems, and you’ll get your scores soon enough.

There isn’t anything particularly unusual about the problem-solving question types in the GMAT Quantitative section. They probably resemble problems on most other math tests you’ve taken. Your main mode of getting ready for these should be reviewing relevant concepts.

The data sufficiency questions are a little more unusual, and you should go into the test familiar with your answer choices. They will always look the same on every data sufficiency question, but they can be confusing if you’re reading them for the first time on test day.

Finally, you should make the most of the note boards and markers you’ll get at the testing center. These are entirely for your own use, and you should fill them up during the Quantitative section as you work out the problems. The note boards won’t be graded, and you’ll return them at the end of the test.

GMAT Pattern: Verbal Section

The Verbal section is 65 minutes long, asks 36 questions, and is adaptive. Like the Quantitative section, it’s scored between 0 and 60. As its name implies, this section tests your verbal skills, including your reading comprehension, understanding of grammar, and critical reasoning.

As in the other three sections of the GMAT, your critical reasoning skills come into play here. You’ll have to evaluate arguments and pinpoint their strengths and weaknesses.

There are three main question types in the Verbal section: reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction. Read on to learn more about each type, as well as to see a sample question.

Reading Comprehension Questions

You should get about four passages in the Verbal section. You’ll read through the passages and then answer three or four questions about each one. These questions might ask about meaning, logic, or central premise. You might interpret the passage’s main idea, supporting details, structure, or tone.

Here’s an example of a reading comprehension passage and question on the GMAT.

Critical Reasoning Questions

About one-third of the questions on the Verbal section will be critical reasoning questions. These questions are reminiscent of your AWA essay, since they present a short argument and ask you to evaluate it.

Rather than writing an entire 30-minute essay about each prompt, though, you’ll answer a multiple choice question. These questions often present statements and ask you which one would weaken, strengthen, or complete the argument. They might also ask you to evaluate structure, find an assumption, make an inference, or evaluate a conclusion.

To see what critical reasoning questions look like, check out this sample question.

Sentence Correction Questions

Here’s where your understanding of English grammar comes into play. Sentence correction questions present a sentence, often long and wordy, with a certain word or phrase underlined. Your job is to figure out whether the underlined portion has an error, and if it does, how it should read instead.

You’ll get five answer choices with suggested revisions. The first answer choice will always be the same as the underlined portion. You’ll choose this first version if there’s no error in the original sentence.

The instructions will remind you that your answer “should be clear and exact, without awkwardness, ambiguity, redundancy, or grammatical error.” Here’s an example of a sentence correction question on the GMAT.

How to Prepare for the Verbal Section Format

With 36 questions and several long passages, the Verbal section demands that you work fast. You should develop your speed reading skills as you get ready for the GMAT.

You might focus on big picture issues, like organization, tone, and main point, rather than spending too much time reading each and every word. Time-saving strategies like this one will help you do well in this section.

As you can see, there’s a lot that you can learn about the GMAT exam pattern before actually taking the test. While you won’t know exactly what questions you’ll get, you can know how many questions you’ll get, what they’ll look like, and how much time you have per section.

As you get ready for the GMAT, what can you do to specifically prepare yourself for the format of the test?

Getting Ready for the GMAT Exam Pattern: 6 Essential Study Tips

To do well on the GMAT, you definitely need to immerse yourself in reviewing content and developing your skills in math, reading, grammar, critical reasoning, and data interpretation. These study tips, however, are focused specifically on how to prepare for the GMAT pattern and structure.

What can you do to get ready for the format of this strictly timed test? Check out the six tips below to find out!

#1: Familiarize Yourself With the Format

First and foremost, you should take time to learn all about the GMAT test pattern. If you’ve made it to the end of this guide, then that mission is already accomplished!

While there’s a lot you can’t know about the exam, you should minimize surprises as much as possible. That way, you can focus all of your energy on solving problems, and you won’t have to waste time reading through instructions screens or trying to figure out how those tricky data sufficiency questions work.

Understanding the format will also help you start to develop a sense of timing. You know how many questions and how much time you have per section, so you can start to divide up your time in a way that will maximize your efficiency.

#2: Memorize the Instructions

When you take the real GMAT, you’ll get instruction screens between each section. Apart from the AWA tutorial, you’ll only have a minute to glance over these instructions.

Rather than rushing through these screens on test day, take the time to learn all the instructions before test day. You can see them all on practice tests on the GMAT Prep Software.

When you actually take the GMAT, you can use these screens to take a deep breath and switch focus between subject matter, confident that you already know what you need to do know next.

#3: Develop a Test-Taking Rhythm

Unlike a lot of other tests, the GMAT doesn’t let you skip or return to any questions. Plus, it requires you to get to all of the questions in a section before time runs out.

To deal with this format, you should take timed practice tests to develop a rhythm. You’ll find yourself getting more efficient and improving with practice.

As you work on pacing, you should try your best to focus solely on the question in front of you at any given time. If the previous question stumped you, just try to forget about it. You can’t return to it, so continuing to think about it will only make it harder to do well on the next one.

To excel on the GMAT, you need to develop a mindset that focuses only on the question at hand and forgets about questions that have already gone past.

#4: Strive to Answer All of the Questions

Again, you’re responsible for answering all of the questions in each section and will face a severe score penalty if you don’t. On average, you should only spend about two minutes per question. However, you might find yourself spending longer on some question types than on others.

For instance, you’ll probably devote more time to reading a passage and relatively less time to answering the questions that follow. Similarly, you might spend more time on reading comprehension questions overall than on sentence corrections.

As you practice and take the real test, keep an eye on the timer and make sure that you’re working at a pace that will help you get to all of the questions in time. If, conversely, you find yourself rushing, then you might want to slow down to prevent careless errors. You can’t return to any questions, so there’s no point finishing a section with 10 minutes left to spare.

#5: Forget About the Adaptive GMAT Pattern

As you learned above, the Quantitative and Verbal sections are adaptive. An algorithm selects questions for you that match your ability.

If you get one or more questions wrong, then the subsequent questions should become easier. If you’re acing all the questions, then the difficulty level should increase.

The algorithm that selects these questions is a complex one, and there’s no advantage to trying to gauge your performance as you go along. For one, it’s difficult to evaluate the difficulty level of a question accurately. A question may feel easy just because you recently studied the concept, not because it’s actually easier than others.

Second, there are several experimental questions thrown into the mix. These won’t be scored, but you have no way of telling which ones they are.

Some people take the GMAT and freak out when they feel like the questions are getting easier. They assume this means they’re doing badly. There’s really no way of knowing how you’re doing until the end, so trying to crack the code would just distract you.

Use your mental energy on solving problems, and wait until the end to see your scores.

#6: Make the Most of Your Breaks

Finally, you should take advantage of your optional breaks to get up, move around, and stretch. You can also drink water and eat snacks. The GMAT is a long and demanding test, and these breaks will help you get reenergized between sections.

Plus, if you don’t take them, people could be moving in and out of the test room while you’re trying to concentrate. All of this movement could get distracting and make you lose precious time.

If you follow all of these tips, then you’ll be familiar with the GMAT exam pattern and ready to handle the format of this important exam. In closing, let’s go over the key takeaways you should remember about GMAT structure.

GMAT Exam Pattern: Final Thoughts

Whatever version of the GMAT you take, you’ll get a test with the same format as everyone else. You’ll have four sections – Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, and Verbal – and each will be strictly timed.

You’ll be taking a computer-based test, and the Quantitative and Verbal sections will be adaptive, meaning questions change to match your ability level.

Besides studying content, you should prepare for the GMAT test pattern by developing time management skills and reading all of the instructions before test day.

By familiarizing yourself with the GMAT exam pattern and question types, you can make sure you don’t get any surprises on test day.

What’s Next?

Have you drawn up a study plan for the GMAT yet? Whether or not you’ve started preparing, you should check out this full GMAT syllabus for tips on how to design a personalized study plan that will help you achieve your goals.

Do you know exactly how the GMAT is scored? This guide will tell you everything you need to know about scoring on the GMAT.

Have you chosen a date to take the test? Check out this article on GMAT test dates and how to choose the best one for you.

The post GMAT Exam Pattern: Learn the Test Format appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.

To truly understand the GMAT, you need to break it into pieces. There are four sections in the exam, each with its own challenges and demands.

There are some shared themes throughout the GMAT sections, but each stands on its own and requires unique preparation. This guide will go over the four GMAT sections in full so you know exactly what to expect from each one and how to get ready for exam day.

To start, let’s go over a general overview of the four GMAT test sections.

What Are the 4 GMAT Sections?

The four sections of the GMAT are Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA), Integrated Reasoning (IR), Quantitative, and Verbal, always in that order. The AWA and Integrated Reasoning sections are 30 minutes each, and the Quantitative and Verbal sections are 75 minutes.

Altogether, the four GMAT sections take three and a half hours to work through. This chart shows the length of time, number of questions, and average time per question in the four sections of the GMAT.

The AWA section asks you to write an essay in response to a prompt, but the remaining GMAT sections are multiple choice. The Quantitative and Verbal sections are unique because they are both adaptive.

On an adaptive section, questions are selected as you go to match your ability level. If you’re getting questions wrong, then the subsequent ones should be a little easier. If you’re acing everything, then the questions should get progressively more difficult.

This adaptive format means that no two versions of the GMAT are exactly the same. It also means that it’s important to answer all of the questions in each section so that the scoring algorithm can get the most accurate measure of your skills.

The GMAT sections are unique, but they all draw on your critical reasoning and problem solving skills. As the GMAT is a test for business school, the exam often asks you to examine evidence, draw conclusions, and evaluate solutions. All in all, the GMAT tests the writing, math, verbal, and data interpretation skills you need to succeed in business school.

Now that you have a general sense of the GMAT test sections, let’s take a closer look at each one, starting with AWA.

GMAT Section #1: Analytical Writing Assessment

The Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) section asks you to write an essay in response to a short prompt. You’ll get an excerpt featuring an argument and then be asked to evaluate the strength of that argument.

You will be given a set of instructions, followed by the short argument you need to assess. Your instructions will always say this:

You’ll also be reminded that your job is to evaluate the argument, not to present your own opinion on the topic.

Helpfully, GMAC published a comprehensive list of most of the AWA prompts it’s ever used. Below is one example, but you can practice writing essays from this full list of GMAT AWA prompts.

Your essay will be graded between 0 and 6 in half-point intervals, and you’ll get the score on your official GMAT score report about 20 days after you take the test. Your essay will be graded by one person and one machine. A third grader may offer input if the two scores differ by more than a point.

You can check out the rubric that graders use to score the essays. An essay with a top score of 6 “clearly identifies and insightfully analyzes important features of the argument” and “effectively supports the main points of the critique,” along with other requirements.

Beyond familiarizing yourself with the AWA rubric, what can you do to get ready for the AWA section of the GMAT?

Tips for the AWA Section

How can you write an essay that will earn you a high AWA score? There are several challenges in this GMAT section, not the least of which is time. Since you only have 30 minutes, you should be strategic about how you divide up your time.

You might spend three to five minutes at the beginning familiarizing yourself with the prompt and writing a quick outline of your essay. Then, you should spend the majority of your time, perhaps 20 to 24 minutes drafting and leave three to five minutes at the end to proofread and revise.

Structure is very important for the AWA essay. You don’t want to go off on a rambling narrative, but instead should stick to a four to five paragraph essay with a clear introduction, two to three supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Since the arguments are brief, most will have some assumptions and blind spots. It’s your job to pick out the two to three major flaws and describe them with specificity. You should also bring in effective supporting examples that support your analysis. As mentioned in the prompt, these may be counterexamples that would weaken the argument in the excerpt.

As you strengthen your AWA essay writing skills, you should read highly scored sample essays and familiarize yourself with the AWA rubric. Write timed practice essays from real AWA sample prompts and grade them yourself or with a friend. Above all, aim to write an essay with a clear structure and specific examples.

GMAT Section #2: Integrated Reasoning

Integrated Reasoning is the newest of the GMAT sections. It was introduced in 2012 to bring skills of data interpretation and evaluation into the GMAT.

This 30-minute section asks 12 questions, each of which integrates your verbal, math, and reasoning skills. The questions are multi-part, so in reality, you have quite a few more than 12 questions to answer in Integrated Reasoning.

There are four main question types in Integrated Reasoning. They are graphics interpretation, multi-source reasoning, two-part analysis, and table analysis questions.

Graphics interpretation questions feature a graph, chart, or other kind of graphic. Below the graphic, you’ll have two fill-in-the-blank statements. To choose your answer, you’ll use a drop down menu, as in the sample question below.

This sample question includes a rather unusual graphic. Other graphics interpretation questions might feature more typical graphics, like bar graphs, scatter plots, or pie charts.

Multi-source reasoning questions present three tabs of information, and you’ll need to click through each one to get the full picture. These tend to the be the most time-consuming question types, as they have several questions that accompany the same information.

This sample question shows a multi-source reasoning question and one of three accompanying questions. On the real test, you’ll be able to toggle between the three tabs.

Two-part analysis questions contain two columns, and you’ll choose one answer for each. The questions may be entirely math, entirely verbal, or a mix of both.

Finally, table analysis questions present a table of information that you must manipulate to find the answers to a series of questions. You can sort the table by column to answer the accompanying questions. When you sort a column, it will rearrange itself in alphabetical or numerical (low to high) order.

The question will include three statements, and each statement will appear next to a dichotomous answer choice, like true/false or yes/no. To find your answer, you’ll need to consider each statement in relation to the information in the table.

This sample question asks you to select “Yes” if the statement can be proved true with the information in the table. If it can’t, then you would select “No.

Throughout the Integrated Reasoning section, you’ll get information in a variety of formats, like passages, tables, charts, graphs, or other unusual graphics. Your job is to interpret the data, draw conclusions, and evaluate statements.

Beyond familiarizing yourself with the four question types in Integrated Reasoning, what else can you do to get ready for this challenging section?

Tips for the Integrated Reasoning Section

One of the biggest challenges of the GMAT Integrated Reasoning section is figuring out what a question is asking you. You should practice answering all four IR question types. The problems are not very intuitive, so having seen and solved these question types before will automatically help.

In most cases, you should read the question before spending much time looking at the graphs or passages. You might glance over a graph or passage to get your bearings, but then you should read the question to figure out what you’re looking for. Once you understand your assignment, then you can look more closely at the data to locate your answer.

The reason it usually helps to read a question first is because each graphic, table, or passage will have a lot of extraneous information. You don’t need to know everything about each information source. Instead, you need to sift through the data to find specific information.

As mentioned above, tables will have sorting functionality, so you can rearrange columns to help you answer a question. You could arrange a column in alphabetical or numerical order. If a question is asking you to compare a car with a high speed versus a car with a low speed, to give one example, then you could sort the chart by speed from lowest to highest. That way, you can make sure you’re looking just at the cars with the highest and lowest speeds.

As you look at the data, make sure to pay close attention to units. A graphic may show speed in hours while a question asks about speed in minutes, to give one example.

Not only do you need to be comfortable reading various types of graphs and charts, but you also need to be comfortable using the on-screen calculator.

Finally, keep in mind that the Integrated Reasoning section calls for an integration of your math and verbal skills. In addition to data interpretation, you’ll need the same reading comprehension and fundamental math skills in this section that you will in Verbal and Quantitative.

You’ll need to work efficiently, know when to guess and move on, and divide your time in a way that will allow you to answer all of the questions before the timer runs out.

GMAT Section #3: Quantitative

The Quantitative section is all about math. It’s your first adaptive section on the GMAT, and it asks 31 math questions in 62 minutes. There are two question types in the GMAT Quantitative section, problem solving and data sufficiency.

Problem solving questions are typical multiple choice math questions that you must solve for one correct answer. Here’s one example of a problem solving question involving algebra.

Data sufficiency questions are more unusual. They present a problem followed by two pieces of information. Then you need to decide whether the first statement, the second statement, both together, or neither give you enough information to solve the original problem.

Here’s an example of a data sufficiency problem involving geometry. All data sufficiency problems will have these same five answer choices.

Quantitative questions are challenging, but you might be relieved to hear that they don’t test especially advanced math. The main concepts tested are arithmetic, algebra, and geometry, plus you’ll get word problems that will call on one or more of these skill areas.

You won’t have to do particularly advanced calculations either, as you can’t use a calculator in this section. On average, you have about two minutes per question.

You’ll have to work quickly and efficiently to do well in the GMAT Quantitative section. What else can you do to meet your goals?

Tips for the GMAT Quantitative Section

To prepare for the GMAT Quantitative section, you should review fundamental math concepts in arithmetic, algebra, and geometry, as well as practice answering word problems. Once you’ve reviewed concepts, you should drill these skills by answering lots of practice questions and taking timed practice tests.

Timed practice tests will help you develop a test-taking rhythm, so you can get to all of the questions in time. You’ll also know when you’re wasting too much time on a question and would be better off guessing and moving on.

Beyond answering lots of practice questions, you should also memorize the answer choices for data sufficiency questions. These will always be the same, and you don’t want to waste time figuring out what they’re asking on test day.

You don’t have to write out a full solution to data sufficiency questions. Instead, you should do just enough to know whether you have enough information to solve a problem.

You won’t get a calculator here, but you can use provided note boards and markers. Take advantage of these materials to write out your work. Writing out problems will help you keep your thinking straight, plus there’s enough arithmetic in this section that mental math will only take you so far.

GMAT Section #4: Verbal

Like the Quantitative section, the Verbal section of the GMAT is adaptive. The difficulty levels of the questions fluctuate as you go along to match your ability level. The Verbal section tests your reading, reasoning, and grammar skills with 36 multiple-choice questions.

The GMAT Verbal section has three question types: reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence corrections.

Reading comprehension questions are probably the most time-consuming, because you’ll have a passage to read along with three to five accompanying questions.The questions might ask about main point, specific details, tone, purpose, organization of ideas, or other features of the passage.

Here’s one example of a passage and two of its five accompanying reading comprehension questions.

The second question type, critical reasoning, is reminiscent of the essay prompt in the AWA section. It gives you a few factual statements or a short excerpt of an argument, followed by a multiple choice question. This question type asks you to consider evidence, draw a conclusion, or evaluate the statements in some way.

Here’s one example of a critical reasoning question in the GMAT Verbal section.

Finally, sentence corrections mainly ask about grammar. You’ll get a (typically wordy) sentence with a word or phrase underlined. If the underlined portion has a grammatical error, you’ll choose an answer that shows what it should say instead.

If the underlined portion is correct, then you’ll go with the first answer choice, which will always look identical to the underlined portion.

As you can see, the Verbal section tests your reading comprehension and grammar skills. What can you do to set yourself up for success in this GMAT section?

Tips for the GMAT Verbal Section

To prepare for Verbal, you should approach each question type separately.

For reading comprehension questions, you need to sharpen your speed reading skills. Rather than wasting time reading each and every word of a passage, skim the paragraphs with an eye on structure, tone, point of view, and purpose.

Critical reasoning questions require the same critical eye as the AWA prompt. You’ll want to practice evaluating and analyzing arguments with an eye on assumptions, flaws, and unfounded claims.

Finally, you should study rules of grammar to get ready for sentence corrections. You might get tested on parallel structure, subject-verb agreement, or other common rules.

The sentences in these questions are often extremely wordy, so it can help to break them up into their component clauses and mentally cross out the superfluous ones. On a sentence with a subject-verb agreement error, for instance, there may be a long clause between the subject and the verb to distract you. Try blocking out the extra clause so you can focus on the important parts of the sentence.

Now that you have a sense of all four sections of the GMAT and how to approach them, let’s consider how they function during the admissions process. Do admissions officers look at all four section scores equally, or do they care about some GMAT sections more than others?

How Important Are GMAT Section Scores in Business School Admissions?

While GMAT section scores are used in business school admissions, they actually take a backseat to the GMAT total score. As mentioned above, the total score is based on Quantitative and Verbal scores, and it ranges from 200 to 800. When applying to business school, your GMAT total score is the most important value on your score report.

While admissions officers remain relatively close-lipped about how they evaluate applications, it seems that they use the total score in their initial review of an application. If the score is up to scratch, then they move on to review section scores as a secondary factor.

Since the total score is based on Quantitative and Verbal scores, this means that the Quantitative and Verbal sections are more important in business school admissions than AWA or Integrated Reasoning.

That doesn’t mean you should ignore these other two sections, as an extremely low score could stand out as a red flag. However, they’re not your top priority when studying for the GMAT.

The one exception is for non-native English speakers taking the GMAT. The AWA score becomes more important when admissions officers are assessing your English level, particularly in writing. If an applicant sends a strong essay but a low AWA score, then this discrepancy could cause concern.

It’s also useful to note that Integrated Reasoning is new, but it’s been growing in importance from year to year. In 2012, only 22% of business schools said it was important, as opposed to 59% in 2015 according to a Kaplan survey. As time goes on, the IR score will likely continue to take on weight in the admissions process.

Essentially, your GMAT total score is more important than your individual section scores, and your Quantitative and Verbal scores are given more weight than AWA or IR scores. As for these two major sections of the GMAT, is one more important than the other?

Quantitative Vs. Verbal GMAT Scores: Which One’s More Important?

When it comes to Quantitative and Verbal scores, is one more important than the other? Some admissions officers suggest that section scores take on more weight depending on your educational background.

If you majored in the humanities, then officers may pay more attention to your Quantitative score to make sure you have the math chops to do well in business school. If you were a math major, then they may look at Verbal scores to ensure your reading comprehension skills are up to scratch.

Because of the math-heavy curriculum at many business schools, some officers have suggested that the Quantitative score is the more important section score.

In a Poets and Quants interview, Dee Leopold, the former managing director of admissions and financial aid at Harvard Business School, said, “people have to be able to do the analytics. Not everyone has to be an Excel monkey and build models, but you do have to be numerate and not phobic about numbers. When you don’t see evidence to do the guts of the work here, you realize you are putting this person at risk unnecessarily.”

The Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley similarly emphasizes the importance of math skills in its admission requirements, stating that, “the Admissions Committee looks carefully at quantitative proficiency when making its admissions decisions.”

Both Quantitative and Verbal scores are important, but some schools emphasize that they need to see evidence of proficiency in math to make sure that prospective students can handle a math-heavy business school curriculum.

This shouldn’t affect your test prep a great deal, as you should spend time getting ready for both the Quant and Verbal GMAT sections. However, it does mean that a high Verbal score may not be enough to balance out a low Quantitative score.

If you’re uneasy about your Quantitative performance, then it may be worth retaking the GMAT so you can send off an application that shows evidence of your proficiency in math. In closing, let’s go over some final thoughts about the GMAT sections and how to prepare for each of them.

GMAT Sections: Final Thoughts

There are four distinct GMAT test sections, each with its own demands and idiosyncrasies. What the sections have in common is an emphasis on problem solving and critical thinking.

Whether you’re writing an essay, interpreting a graph, solving a math problem, or reading a passage, you’ll need to keep a critical eye, evaluate information in front of you, and sift through a large amount of data to identify what’s most important and discard what’s not.

While each section calls for specific preparation, any studying you do will likely help you across the entire test. By developing your critical thinking skills and efficiency as a test-taker, you’ll be better prepared to tackle the challenging GMAT sections and to focus throughout a long, demanding test.

While you should study for all four sections, you should prioritize the Quantitative and Verbal sections, as they are most important in the business school admissions process. By achieving your target scores in these sections, along with solid AWA and IR section scores, you can show the admissions committee your commitment to joining the business school community.

What’s Next?

The GMAT is a tough test, but it’s definitely possible to achieve your target scores. Check out this guide to learn just how difficult the GMAT is and how to tackle the challenge.

Have you come up with your GMAT study plan? This guide gives you 23 essential tips for designing a customized GMAT study plan that will help you achieve your goals. (coming soon)

Taking GMAT practice tests is an essential part of any study plan. Check out this full list of free practice tests you can take online!

The post The 4 GMAT Sections: What to Expect on the Test appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.

Do you want to know what’s on the GMAT? Do you have a general idea of the sections, but want to get a better idea of what to expect on test day? Are you confused about this whole ‘adaptive testing’ thing?

In this article, I’ll go over the GMAT structure and timing, the fundamentals of CAT (computerized adaptive testing),  and a breakdown of the question types in each section of the test. Finally, I’ll discuss what the GMAT format means for you and offer tips on how to prepare for exam day.

Article Roadmap

• What is On the GMAT?: The Basics
• The GMAT is a Computerized Adaptive Test
• Breaking it Down: GMAT Sections and Question Types
  • Analytical Writing Assessment
  • Integrated Reasoning
  • Quantitative Section
  • Verbal Section
• Tips: How to Make the GMAT Format Work for You
• Review: GMAT Format

What Is on the GMAT? The Basics

The GMAT has four timed sections, with two optional eight-minute breaks. Here’s a breakdown of the sections.

As you can see from the chart, the actual GMAT is just over three hours long. With breaks and sign-in time, ‘exam day’ usually takes about 3.5 to 4 hours.

As of July 2017, you can choose the order in which you complete the GMAT sections. Find out more about this change to the GMAT here.

What Is a Computerized Adaptive Test?

The GMAT is a CAT (Computerized Adaptive Test). This means that all parts of the GMAT are computerized, including the writing assessment. However, you only need basic computer know-how to take the GMAT. The exam is not technologically complicated.

You don’t need to learn any new skills if you can use a basic word processor/text editor (for the writing assessment), a standard calculator, and basic computer software. Essentially, you only need to know how to point, click, type, cut, and paste to successfully take the GMAT.

Note that there is no paper version of the GMAT. The GMAT is only delivered at Pearson VUE testing centers in a computerized adaptive format.

Computerized GMAT Exam Format: What to Expect

As I noted above, the computerized GMAT format is pretty straightforward overall: you type up your essay and then use drop down menus and simple multiple choice forms to select your answers for the other sections. Nonetheless, there are a couple of unique features and quirks you should be aware of.

A timer at the top righthand corner of your screen will keep track of how much time you have left in each section. You won’t get any other notifications about the time as you go along.

You will need to confirm each of your answers before you move on to the next question. When you’re satisfied with an answer, you’ll click ‘Next’ at the bottom righthand corner of your screen. A screen popup will ask if you are OK with your answer; you’ll click ‘yes’ or ‘no’ before moving on. This can throw some test-takers off at first, so it’s a good idea to practice with computer simulated tests to get the hang of it.

You can’t go back to previous questions once you’ve answered them. Even within the same section, you cannot go back to a previous question once you’ve confirmed your answer. This means you’ll have to be especially aware of the time as you complete each question.

Adaptive Testing: The Fundamentals

Adaptive testing is one of the major points of confusion for the average GMAT test-taker, but it’s not as complicated as it sounds. In a nutshell, ‘adaptive testing’ means that each test is individualized based on an algorithm that calculates a student’s ‘level’ as they answer questions of varying difficulty.

The GMAT begins each section by ‘assuming’ that the student is of average skill level and able to answer questions of medium difficulty. If the student answers most easy and medium questions correctly, the test adjusts to offer more difficult questions to place the student in his/her appropriate score range. If the student answers medium-level questions incorrectly, the test will adjust to offer the student easier questions.

This algorithm ultimately determines the student’s GMAT score for all the multiple-choice sections (Integrated Reasoning, Verbal, and Quantitative). The Analytical Writing Assessment is scored by live graders after the day of the test, so it’s not adaptive.

It is nearly impossible to determine how you’re doing as you go along and strategize accordingly, so it’s better not to try. It’s much harder than you might think to guess the difficulty of any given test question, especially under exam pressure and a time crunch. Even if you could tell whether a question is hard or easy, that knowledge is unlikely to make much difference in your ability to answer the question correctly.

The bottom line: It’s good to understand the basics of adaptive testing so you know the fundamentals of how your scores are calculated, but don’t obsess over it. It’s better to prepare well and do your best on every single question, no matter how easy or difficult it seems.

Breaking Down the GMAT Format: Sections and Question Types

Now let’s get into the details about each section and the question types in each one. Remember that there are four GMAT sections: Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, and Verbal.

Analytical Writing Assessment

You’ll receive one essay prompt in the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) and will have thirty minutes to complete it. The prompt will present an argument and ask you to critique it. This section assesses your critical reasoning and writing skills and your ability to communicate effectively in the English language.

Analysis of Argument Prompt

Each AWA prompt will begin with an argument, as in this example from a previous GMAT:

Arguments will be related to advertising, marketing, management, and other areas that are relevant to a business student, but no prior knowledge of the topic is necessary to succeed on the essay. You won’t be asked to provide your own opinion, but to critique the underlying assumptions and the evidence presented by the argument in the prompt.

After the argument, you’ll see this prompt, asking you to critically analyze the argument you’ve been provided:

Tips for Succeeding on the Analytical Writing Assessment

1. Below the prompt will be a basic text editor that allows you to type, cut, and paste. You will write and submit your essay here.
2. You can and should use your erasable notepad (provided by the testing center) to write an outline of your critique as you read the prompt and before you start writing. Don’t include notes or outlines in the provided text editor; they will be read as part of your essay.
3. You can’t indent paragraphs using the text editor, but you can hit ‘enter’ between paragraphs to separate them. This will help you organize your ideas.
4. When you’re finished, click ‘Finish’ and you’ll be asked to confirm your answer. If you click ‘Yes,’ you’ll move on to the Integrated Reasoning section without a break.
5. You can find more sample AWA prompts here to help you prepare here.

Integrated Reasoning

Integrated Reasoning (IR) is the second section of the GMAT. You will have 30 minutes to complete 12 questions. This section tests your ability to integrate and analyze data from various sources and to make sound inferences and come to logical conclusions based on that data. There are four question types in the IR section, and they may appear in any order.

Multi-Source Reasoning

In Multi-Source Reasoning questions, you will be asked questions about a set of information organized by tabs. Here’s an example:

Information may include historical background, statistics, or charts. Note that in this example, you could find out more about ‘Techniques,’ ‘Artifacts,’ or ‘Budget.’ Clicking each tab will display a different set of information.

For these question types, remember that you will be asked more than one question about the same set of data.

In Multi-Source Reasoning, you are being tested not only on your ability to integrate different kinds of information, but also to discern which information is relevant to a given question. Choose wisely. Not all the tabs will be important for every question, and some questions will require you to refer to multiple tabs to synthesize information from different sources.

Graphics Interpretation

Graphics Interpretation questions will require you to answer questions about a table, graph, or chart, like this one:

In these questions, you’ll see incomplete statements about the information presented in the graphic. You will use a drop down menu like the one above to make the statements complete and accurate. Choose an answer from each drop down menu. There is no partial credit if you choose only one of the drop-down items correctly.

Two-Part Analysis

Two-Part Analysis questions will ask you to read a passage and solve a two-part ‘word problem’ using two multiple-choice columns:

Here, you would choose one option from the ‘Must not happen in the location’ column and one option from the ‘Must happen in the location’ column.

Read two-part analysis questions carefully; while they may appear simpler than the other question types, they often require you to make inferences based on subtle details in the passage.

Choose only one answer in each column. You cannot choose the same answer for each column. Both must be correct to receive credit.

Table Analysis

In Table Analysis questions, you’ll be asked questions based on tables with a variety of data, like this one:

Each Table Analysis question will ask you if certain statements are True/False or Inferrable/Not Inferrable based on the information available in the table. Choose one answer for each statement.

All of your answers must be correct to get credit for a Table Analysis question. As in the rest of the IR section, there is no partial credit.

Take advantage of the ‘Sort By’ button. This button allows you to organize the table horizontally or vertically based on whatever piece of information you want to highlight. This is a great tool to give you a quick visual shorthand and will help you zero in on the relevant information for the question at hand.

On-Screen Calculator

An onscreen calculator with basic functions is provided for you in the IR section. You can access it by clicking “Calculator” on the upper lefthand corner of your screen.

The calculator will then appear in the center of your screen:

Besides standard arithmetic and square root operations, the IR calculator also includes four memory buttons on the lefthand side:

1. MC, Memory Clear, which clears and resets the memory.
2. MR, Memory Recall, which ‘remembers’ and displays whatever is in recent memory.
3. M+, Memory Addition, which adds the current entry to the current stored memory.
4. MS, Memory Store, which stores in the current memory whatever is displayed on the screen.

The top row has three buttons: Backspace, CE (Clear Entry), and C (Clear All).

The IR calculator doesn’t follow order of operations.

Tips for Succeeding on the Integrated Reasoning Section

1. You must answer all parts of IR questions correctly to get credit for them. This can’t be reiterated enough. There is no partial credit for any IR question. If there’s a three-part question and you only get one part incorrect, the question as a whole is marked ‘wrong.’ So, if you’re trying to hurry, don’t guess on the last part of a question just to move on.
2. Don’t be tempted to use the calculator too often. It may save you time for basic calculations, but you really don’t need to use it for most of the IR section. Integrated Reasoning doesn’t test your math skills; it tests your ability to make sound decisions and think logically, and you have to do so in quite a time crunch. Don’t let the calculator distract you.

Quantitative Section

The Quantitative (Quant) section of the GMAT test format is 62 minutes long and consists of 31 questions. This section tests your ability to use basic math and quantitative reasoning skills to draw conclusions from given data. There are two question types in the Quant section: Data Sufficiency and Problem Solving.

Data Sufficiency

Like the other sections of the GMAT, the Quant section contains a strong logic component. In that vein, Data Sufficiency questions ask you to consider an initial question and two statements, labeled (1) and (2), and decide whether the statements are sufficient to answer the question asked. Take a look at this example:

Note that the five choices listed under the question and two statements in this example will be the same for every Data Sufficiency question, so they’re easy to spot.

You should memorize the five Data Sufficiency answer choices before you take the GMAT. This will save you a great deal of time so you only have to consider the given question and two statements, instead of wrestling with the answer choices on top of those, too.

In this context, ‘sufficient’ means ‘I could answer this question fully with ONLY the information in this statement or these statements.’ That means, for example, that the first two choices ask you if, given each statement separately, you could answer the question correctly.

Problem Solving

Problem Solving questions will ask you to choose one multiple choice answer to complete an equation or solve a word problem. Here’s an example:

Problem Solving questions draw from basic knowledge (such as the number of days in a month) and common secondary-level education math skills. In contrast to Data Sufficiency questions, Problem Solving questions are similar to the kinds of questions you might see in the Quantitative section of the GRE, SAT, or ACT.

Tips for Succeeding on the Quantitative Section

1. There is no calculator on the Quantitative section. Only the Integrated Reasoning section allows you access to a standard calculator. You can use your erasable notepad to do calculations, but if you review number properties in your preparation for the GMAT, you shouldn’t need to use it much.
2. You have about two minutes for each question in the Quant section. Keep track of the time as you go along, and don’t spend too long on any one question.
3. The Quant section draws from secondary level math skills like arithmetic, geometry, and algebra. They’re not overly difficult, but you may have forgotten some of the details. A review of these skills will be helpful to you in your exam preparation.

Verbal Section

The GMAT Verbal Section takes 65 minutes and consists of 36 questions. The Verbal section tests your ability to read critically, to make sound inferences and draw accurate conclusions from those readings, and to correct errors in grammar and sentence structure. There are three question types in the Verbal section: Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, and Sentence Correction.

Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension questions will present you with a brief passage and questions that ask you about its tone, main idea, details, or structure. Questions may also ask you to draw inferences from the information in the passage. Here’s a sample Reading Comprehension passage:

Reading Comprehension passages are always nonfiction; there is never a fiction/literature passage in the bunch. They might draw from humanities, business-related topics, or the natural or social sciences. However, the exact subject doesn’t that much since you don’t need any outside knowledge to be successful on Reading Comprehension questions.

Generally speaking, there will be one or two longer Reading Comprehension passages (around 350 words) and around three shorter passages (around 250 words). Each Reading Comprehension passage is accompanied by a series of several questions. You will be shown the same passage alongside each one (usually around four).

Critical Reasoning

Critical Reasoning questions ask you to evaluate, unpack (break down), or draw conclusions from a given argument or short passage, like this one:

Pay close attention to what you’re being asked. Are you being asked to make an inference, for example, or to discern the main idea? Knowing will help you choose what to focus on and select a strategy.

Read each answer choice fully before you choose one of the five. There could be subtle missteps that you’ll overlook if you don’t read every answer choice.

Sentence Correction

Sentence Correction questions present a sentence with an underlined portion. Your job is to choose, out of five answer choices, the choice that would best replace the underlined portion of the given sentence:

As in this example, the first answer choice is always a direct repetition of the original underlined portion. The other four answer choices all differ from the original in some way.

In Sentence Correction, you’ll be tested on grammar concepts like punctuation, adjectives and adverbs, phrases and clauses, run-ons and fragments, dangling and misplaced modifiers, and the like. But if you don’t know what some of those are, it’s OK! You need to know about the concepts, not the terms.

Incorrect answers might be grammatically incorrect, redundant, ambiguous, illogical, or otherwise awkwardly written or ineffective. You won’t be tested on spelling.

Tips on Succeeding in the Verbal Section

1. You have about a little over a minute and a half for each question in the Verbal Section. Move as quickly as you can without sacrificing accuracy.
2. Every question type in the Verbal section requires only one multiple choice answer.
3. Read each sentence all the way to the end, particularly in Sentence Correction questions. Sometimes an answer choice will seem fine at the start, but the ending is what’s incorrect. It can be tempting to skim, but if there’s one section where you don’t want to do this, it’s the Verbal section.

Tips: How to Make the GMAT Format Work for You

Whew! Now that we’ve gone through a breakdown of each section, you should have a much better idea of what the GMAT test format will look like onscreen. Familiarity with the question types is a great start on your road to GMAT prep. Here are some other ways to make the GMAT exam format work for you rather than overwhelm you:

1. Take a simulated computerized adaptive test. For this kind of a test, doing practice questions on your own probably won’t be enough. Instead, you’ll want to be more familiar with test day conditions so you feel more relaxed the day of the test. You can simulate the real GMAT exam format using the free GMATPrep software, offered by the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) to everyone with an account at mba.com (also free).
2. Familiarize yourself with the format of each section and question type. Recognizing each question type quickly will empower you to approach each question with more confidence and a more effective strategy.
3. Don’t be afraid of guessing. There are no penalties for incorrect answers on the GMAT, so don’t be afraid to take a guess and move on to the next question if you’re taking too long. However, if you prepare sufficiently, you will almost always be able to eliminate one or more of the answer choices, which increases your chances of getting the question correct.
4. You should always take the optional breaks on exam day. This will refresh your mind and help you mentally ‘reset’ before the next section.

Review: GMAT Format

In this article, we’ve covered the GMAT structure and format, some logistics for test day, the fundamentals of computerized adaptive testing, and a few tips on how to make the most of the GMAT test format. Let’s recap some of the main takeaways:

• There are four sections of the GMAT: Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, and Verbal. Each one has a different set of question types. You’ll encounter the same question types in each section no matter when you take the test or how well you do on each question.

• You can choose the order in which you want to take the GMAT sections.

• The GMAT is a computerized adaptive test, which means that the test adapts to your skill level as you go along in order to compute your score.

• But on test day, you shouldn’t worry about figuring out whether each question is difficult or easy. Instead, you should focus on answering every question to the best of your abilities.

• Reread this article whenever you need to and take an official computerized test to make sure you’re fully prepared for the GMAT exam format. Familiarity is power!

What’s Next?

Ready to sign up for the GMAT? Read our step-by-step guide on how to register for the GMAT.

Worried about the GMAT section will be too difficult for you? We break down how hard the GMAT actually is.

Curious about how to prepare? Check out our sample GMAT study schedules and tips on building your own prep plan.

The post GMAT Format: What to Expect On The Test appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.

Can you use a calculator on the GMAT? Yes, but probably not as much as you’d like.

In this article, I’ll ago over which sections of the GMAT have an onscreen calculator, the functions of the GMAT calculator, and how to use it most effectively on test day.

Is There a GMAT Calculator?

So, can you use a calculator on the GMAT? The short answer is sometimes.

There is an onscreen calculator on the Integrated Reasoning (IR) section, but there is no calculator on the Quantitative (Quant) section. On that section, you’ll have to do all your calculations by hand.

No GMAT Calculator on the Quant Section?!

If that last sentence scared you, don’t panic. There are several reasons not to worry:

1. The GMAT Quantitative section is not designed to test you on complicated mathematical skills or specific calculations. Instead, the Quant section draws from secondary-level math skills like basic algebra and geometry. In fact, the majority of Quant questions can be answered without any calculations beyond estimation.
2. You will have a notepad with plenty of space provided to you by the proctor on test day. If you absolutely need to do some calculations, you can complete them manually there.
3. Even if you feel uncomfortable doing arithmetic without a GMAT calculator, it won’t take long for you to improve with practice.

Working without a calculator may take some getting used to, but it’s not as scary as it sounds.

How to Succeed Without a Calculator in the GMAT Quant Section

While you shouldn’t be overly concerned about not having a calculator during the Quant section, there are ways to prepare effectively so you can do your best come exam day.

#1: Practice, Practice, Practice

If you don’t feel comfortable doing arithmetic quickly in your head, you should start practicing now. Of course, you should complete all your Quant practice tests without a calculator, but you can also add, multiply, subtract, and divide when you pay bills, check out at the grocery store, or calculate a tip. Try to use a calculator as rarely as you can in preparation for the GMAT.

#2: Estimate

The key to completing many Quant questions efficiently is estimation. You should always try to round up or down to find more manageable, less unwieldy numbers (often ones that end in zero or 5) for the purpose of calculations. If a problem or answer choice requires you to multiply 44.6 by 11.15, for example, you can multiply 45 by 10 instead and still end up with the correct answer.

#3: Use Halving and Doubling to Simplify Calculations

Another useful skill when completing the Quant section without a GMAT calculator is called ‘halving and doubling,’ which doubles (or otherwise multiplies) one number in a calculation and halves (or otherwise divides by the same factor) the other to result in a friendlier pair of numbers for someone without a calculator. Let’s take 25 times 24, for example. Divide 24 by 6 to get 4–easy enough–and multiple 25 by 6 to get 150. What you’re left with is 4 times 150, a much easier calculation (600).

GMAT Calculator: What It Does and How to Use It

Unlike the Quant section, the Integrated Reasoning (IR) section does have an onscreen calculator available. You’ll simply click on “Calculator” at the top lefthand corner of the screen, and the calculator will appear in the middle:

As you can see, the GMAT calculator has standard basic functions. The fairly self-explanatory top row of the calculator consists of Backspace (which clears only the last digit you typed), CE (clear entry, or what you entered in the line), and C (clear all, or everything that is stored in previous operations).

The right column of the IR calculator contains a few other basic functions. The ‘sqrt’ (square root) button will calculate the square root of any number you just typed.

The % percentage button will help you if you want to increase or decrease a number by a certain percentage: for example, typing 100 + 10% will result in 110.

The ‘1/x’ button calculates the reciprocal of the entry currently on the screen. For example, typing “5” and then the 1/x button will show you .2, which is the decimal equivalent of ⅕.

The left column consists of the ‘memory’ functions. These are especially helpful for calculations that require several steps.

1. MS (memory store) stores the current entry in the calculator’s memory for subsequent use.
2. MR (memory recall) displays the latest number stored in memory on the screen so you can use it for the next step of your calculation.
3. M+ (memory addition) adds the current entry to whatever is in the current memory. This button is helpful when you need to add a long series of numbers and don’t want to retype each one.
4. Finally, MC (memory clear) erases whatever is in the current memory. You should click this button before every new calculation scenario.

While the IR GMAT calculator can be a helpful tool, you don’t want to use it too often or you’ll waste more time than you save. You can use many of the same tips and tricks on the IR section that you’ll use on the Quant section, where you don’t have a calculator. The same skills you practice to prepare for the Quant section will also help you on the IR section.

Review: Can You Use a Calculator on the GMAT?

There is no calculator available on the Quantitative section of the GMAT, but there is one on the Integrated Reasoning. The GMAT calculator has the same functions as a standard four-function calculator with square roots.

Though the idea of taking a math test with no calculator can be intimidating, you shouldn’t panic. The GMAT Quant section doesn’t test your ability to do complex arithmetic — you’ll only need to do basic calculations and can rely on estimation for anything more complicated.

What’s Next?

For more information on how to make effective use of the scratch pad you’ll be provided with during the GMAT, read our article on GMAT scratch paper.

Wondering what topics you need to review before trying to master the Quant section? Our guide to the math you need for the GMAT can help.

To delve more deeply into GMAT Math strategies, check out our guide to mastering the Quant section.

The post GMAT Calculator: What Is It? When Can You Use It? appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.

Is the GMAT hard? That’s a common question MBA hopefuls have, and one that’s not easy to answer. In this article, I’ll go over the bad news and the good news about the difficulties of the GMAT, who might have the most difficulty in certain areas, and how to overcome any possible challenges of the exam.

Is the GMAT Hard?

So, how hard is the GMAT? Let’s start with the bad news: the GMAT is definitely challenging. It’s meant to be, in order to predict your performance in business school.

Some students find the timing of the GMAT difficult; you’ve got a lot to accomplish in a few hours, and you’ll have to move efficiently through each question in order to answer them all. Some students are stressed by the format of the test itself: Some questions, like on the Integrated Reasoning section, have several parts that need to be answered. This confuses some students and can seem overwhelming at first.

But never fear! The GMAT is certainly not impossible, and not a reason for panic, especially if you stay informed. You can learn to do well, particularly if you know what to expect and prepare accordingly. You don’t need any business know-how to do well on the GMAT. Instead, it tests basic critical thinking, writing, and logic skills and high school level math concepts. And the GMAT is standardized, which means it’s highly learnable.

We designed PrepScholar GMAT’s comprehensive online course to take advantage of this fact. The program includes more than 50 lessons that explain exactly how to tackle every part of the GMAT and over 1,000 realistic questions for you to practice these strategies on. If you’re worried about taking on the GMAT, consider checking it out!

How Hard Is the GMAT? 7 Major Challenges

Let’s begin by going over some of the factors that contribute to GMAT difficulty.

1. It’s Long

The four sections of the GMAT take about three hours, and test day usually takes 3.5 hours or more if you factor in break time, sign-in, and receiving your unofficial score report.

The GMAT takes stamina. There are two optional eight-minute breaks, so you’ll definitely want to take advantage of those to save your mental strength.

2. Timing Is Everything

The time limits on the GMAT may be challenging for you. You’ll have 30 minutes to complete your Analytical Writing Assessment, 30 minutes to answer 12 multi-part Integrated Reasoning questions, 62 minutes to finish the 31 questions on the Quantitative section, and 65 minutes to complete the 36 questions on the Verbal section. Not answering every question on a given section will affect your score significantly.

Make sure you know how long to spend on each question beforehand, and keep track of your timing as you go along. The timer at the top righthand corner of your screen will help you.

3. The Verbal and Analytical Writing Sections Require Strong English Skills

International students and non-native English speakers often find the Verbal and Writing sections extremely challenging.

These students can struggle with the Analytical Writing Assessment difficult because of its complexity and open-ended nature. Some non-native English speakers might feel uncomfortable writing at length in English due to spelling and grammar difficulties or timing issues. Those who do should begin practicing timed AWA sections at home right away and read sample essays to get comfortable with the format.

While you should obviously do your best, don’t stress about it too much: Business schools are advised by the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) to take into consideration and be sensitive to the fact that a student may not be a native English speaker.

The high-level vocabulary on the Verbal section can also be challenging for international students. If you think you might struggle with the Verbal section, look up any unfamiliar terms in your practice tests and make a glossary for yourself early on in your GMAT prep.

Finally, the grammar questions on the Verbal section may be a struggle for non-native English speakers. If you are nervous about this, begin studying basic English grammar concepts right away, and prioritize grammar in your prep.

4. It’s a Computerized Adaptive Test (CAT)

The computerized adaptive structure of the GMAT confuses some students, but informing yourself about the format can help. Computerized adaptive tests tailor questions to the skill level of each student. If a student answers easier questions incorrectly, he or she won’t be given many more difficult questions. Your score will be determined both by the number of questions you answer correctly and by the difficulty of the questions you answer.

This structure can cause issues for some students who may be tempted to ‘game’ the system or evaluate how they’re doing as they go along. Don’t! It’s best to stay focused on the task at hand, and it’s much more difficult than you might think to guess at the relative difficulty or ease of a given question.

Also, because of the CAT format, you can’t go back to previous questions once you’ve confirmed your answers. You have to keep it moving and shift gears mentally every time you confirm an answer, or you run the risk of spending too much time on a single question.

5. Questions Are Often Complicated and Involve Multiple Steps

Many questions on the GMAT have several parts, all of which must be answered for full credit. You may have to determine whether four different statements about a passage are true or false, for example, and you’ll have to classify each statement accurately. This is especially true of the Integrated Reasoning section: All questions on the IR section have multiple parts, and no partial credit is given.

Secondly, the phrasing of various GMAT question types can be confusing. On Data Sufficiency questions in the Quantitative section, for example, you’ll be asked to determine whether a certain given piece of information (such as a value of x or an if/then statement) is enough to solve a problem or equation. The best way to prepare for these kinds of strangely worded questions is simply to familiarize yourself with them and to devote a great deal of prep time to the kinds of questions that confuse you most.

6. You May Have Forgotten Most of the Math

The Quantitative (Quant) section consists of primarily high school level math concepts that you may not have reviewed in a while.

If you haven’t used secondary (high school) level math skills like trigonometry, algebra, and geometry in a while, or if they were especially challenging for you, you might be worried about the Quant section. Luckily, they should come back to you with practice and review.

7. You Can’t Use a Calculator on the Quantitative Section

Some students get nervous about not being able to use a calculator on the Quant section, especially if calculations worry them. The good news is that complex arithmetic (such as multiplying 171.24 by 86.935, for example) is not required in order to answer any questions on the Quant section. If you practice estimation skills at home, such as substituting numbers that end in zero for variables in an equation or rounding unwieldy numbers up or down to make them more manageable, you can build your calculation-in-your-head muscles in no time.

Also, take heart: There is an onscreen calculator on the Integrated Reasoning section.

How Hard Is the GMAT? 3 Pieces of Good News

While the GMAT is challenging for many reasons, there are also several reasons not to worry:

1. The GMAT Is Predictable

The single most important thing to remember about the GMAT is that it’s standardized. You can learn exactly what to expect and how to approach it so you’re fully confident on test day.

The questions in all sections except the Analytical Writing Assessment are multiple-choice, so almost nothing is open-ended. This makes it easy to prepare for the GMAT and easy to know what to expect.

2. The Math Doesn’t Require Complex Calculations

The math concepts tested on the GMAT are fairly basic: remember, secondary level (primarily trigonometry, algebra, and geometry). So even if you don’t remember much of it now, your Quant prep should be like riding a bicycle: a little rocky at first if you’re rusty, perhaps, but you’ll regain your confidence quickly.

Also, the required arithmetic isn’t likely to make you sweat. The calculations are primarily simple and can all be estimated or quickly computed in your head.

3. All Answer Choices Are Objectively Correct or Incorrect

In the Verbal section, for example, all the answers can be found directly in the corresponding passage. This means you can easily use the process of elimination to determine your answer choices. Remember to look for evidence: Every question will have direct textual evidence that makes the answer clear.

Remember, the GMAT is standardized, so the answer to each question can’t be ‘iffy’ or subjective. It has to be inarguable (or the test-makers would get a lot of complaints!). Once you start preparing, you’ll learn to spot the necessary evidence in the given texts more quickly and confidently.

How to Prepare for GMAT Difficulty

Though the GMAT is hard, there is a lot you can do to make the test easier for you. Check out the tips below to make your studying more effective and ensure you’re fully prepared for exam day.

1. Learn the Format

The key to managing your stress before the GMAT is to familiarize yourself with the format. Using the GMAT prep software from the Graduate Management Admissions Council will help you simulate test conditions as closely as you can, particularly if you’re nervous about the computerized adaptive format. When you take practice tests, note not just the content that’s most difficult for you (such as trigonometry-based questions, for example), but question types and formats that challenge you (like graphic analysis Integrated Reasoning questions, for example). Prioritize these question types in your prep.

2. Start Reading

If you’re nervous about the Verbal section, begin reading high-level material as soon as you can. Academic journals (spanning business, the humanities and arts, social sciences, physical sciences, and natural sciences), newspapers, nonfiction articles, and legal and business documents will all give you a head start on the kind of reading you’ll be expected to do on the GMAT. Your time on the test will be limited, and you’ll have to pick out main ideas, find textual evidence, and make accurate inferences quickly. Reading high-level material will help you to do this and to synthesize complex information more efficiently.

3. Review Basic Math Concepts

Review trigonometry, algebra, arithmetic, and geometry skills as early as possible during your preparation. No math skills beyond what you would learn in a high-level secondary math course will be required of you, but extensive review is key.

4. Practice Calculations Without a Calculator

Begin preparing for the Quant section now by doing calculations in your head as often as possible. Learning how to estimate, round, and do arithmetic quickly in your head will make your life much easier during the test. If you build these skills, you won’t be bogged down with tedious manual calculations on scratch paper and will be able to move through the questions much more quickly and accurately.

5. Make Sure to Rest, Both Before and During the Test

Since the test takes stamina, make sure you’re well rested not just the day of the test, but the week before if possible. Take the two optional breaks, and bring snacks and water to keep in your locker at the testing location. You can also bring ‘comfort items’ like cough drops and a light sweater or jacket. Comfort is key to avoid distractions.

Review: How Hard Is the GMAT?

Let’s review: Is the GMAT hard?

The GMAT is challenging. In particular, the length of the test and the phrasing of some of the questions may seem overwhelming or confusing at first. Non-native English speakers may find the Verbal and Analytical Writing Assessment sections intimidating, and students who haven’t reviewed basic math concepts in a while might struggle with the Quantitative section at first.

To prepare for the GMAT difficulty, you should familiarize yourself as much as possible with the format of the test, including timing, question types, and structure, by taking computerized adaptive practice tests. You should also practice doing estimation and arithmetic in your head if you’re nervous about not having access to a calculator during the Quant section. If you are worried about the Verbal section, begin reading high-level material such as newspaper and academic journal articles as soon as possible.

Remember, the GMAT is standardized. And that makes it learnable! Empower yourself by learning as much as you can about what to expect on exam day, and you’ll feel much more confident as you prepare to take the GMAT.

What’s Next?

Reading our article on the GMAT format is a good first step in familiarizing yourself with what to expect from the GMAT.

If you’re worried about the Quant section, check out our complete guide to how to prepare for GMAT Math.

Concerned about your grasp of sophisticated vocabulary? Our guide to GMAT vocabulary can help you prepare for the Verbal section.

The post Expert Guide: How Hard Is the GMAT? appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.

When it comes to taking the GMAT, preparation is key. On average, students who scored a 700 or above prepared for an impressive 121 hours before taking the exam.

This full GMAT syllabus will help you join that group of well-prepared high scorers. You’ll learn everything you need to know about the GMAT, plus get some key tips on how to design an effective study plan.

Let’s start with a general introduction to the GMAT.

Meet the GMAT: What You Need to Know

Before getting to the complete GMAT exam syllabus, there are a few things you should know about the test. The GMAT is a computer-based test administered at test centers throughout the world. It doesn’t have set test dates, but rather is given on an on-demand basis almost every day of the year.

The entire test is multiple choice, with the exception of the first section, which asks you to write a 30-minute essay. You’ll get one question at a time and can never skip or return to questions.

Each section is strictly timed, and you’ll see a timer counting down how many minutes and seconds you have left. You’re responsible for getting to all of the questions in time, or you’ll face a severe score penalty.

Two of the four GMAT sections are adaptive, meaning that the questions you get are tailored to your ability level. You’ll start out with some medium level questions, and subsequent ones will get easier or harder depending on how you’re doing. Because of this adaptive format, everyone gets a slightly different version of the GMAT.

Before you start the GMAT on test day, you’ll agree to a nondisclosure agreement and choose up to five score recipients. After you take the test, you’ll get to see most of your scores and can decide whether to keep or cancel them. If you decide to cancel them, they won’t show up on any score reports.

Now that you have a general sense of GMAT logistics and what to expect on test day, let’s take a closer look at the structure of the exam itself.

GMAT Syllabus: Full Structure of the Test

The GMAT has four sections: Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA), Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, and Verbal. The AWA and Integrated Reasoning sections are 30 minutes each, Quantitative is 62 minutes, and Verbal is 65 minutes.

In total, the GMAT is just over three hours, plus you have the option of two eight-minute breaks. To break it down for you, the chart below shows the length of each GMAT section, how many questions it contains, and how much time you have, on average, to answer each question.

This average time per question is just an estimate for your benefit. You’re responsible for getting to all of the questions in time and can divide your time however you see fit. That being said, you don’t want to waste too much time on a single question and then find yourself rushing through the remaining ones.

You get to choose one of three orders for the GMAT sections:

• Option 1: Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, Verbal
• Option 2: Verbal, Quantitative, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment
• Option 3: Quantitative, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment

We’ve covered the overall structure of the GMAT, but what do you need to know about each section? Let’s delve into the skills, content, and question types of each section. We’ll use the standard GMAT section order (option 1 above), starting with the syllabus for GMAT AWA.

GMAT Section 1: Analytical Writing Assessment

Your first section on the GMAT exam syllabus is the Analytical Writing Assessment, or essay. First, you’ll get a tutorial with a 10-minute limit that gives you instructions for writing your essay and using the text box.

You can click through at any time to start the essay, at which point the 30-minute timer will start ticking. You’ll get a short prompt that features an argument. Here’s one example of an AWA prompt, but you can find the full list of AWA prompts here.

After the prompt, you’ll get the following instructions:

As you can see, your job is not to present your own opinions, but rather to evaluate critically a given argument. What else should you keep in mind as you prepare for the AWA section of the GMAT?

Tips for the AWA section

As with all sections of the GMAT, time management on the AWA section is crucial. You’ll have just 30 minutes to produce a well-structured essay. It can help to divide your time up among planning, drafting, and revising.

For instance, you might spend three to five minutes reading the prompt and outlining your essay. Then, you could spend between 20 and 24 minutes drafting the essay. At the end, leave three to five minutes for editing and revising.

Rather than starting to write immediately, you should take a few minutes to write down your two to three main points and supporting examples. Writing a well-structured, well-organized essay is essential for getting a high score, so taking some time to plan before you start drafting is an important first step.

Before the test, you should also learn the 10-minute tutorial so you don’t have to read it too closely on test day. The tutorial gives you useful tips about writing your essay, as it reminds you to,

• Evaluate the argument and plan a response before you begin writing
• Organize your ideas and develop them fully
• Provide relevant supporting reasons and examples
• Remember that you’re not providing your own opinion, but rather evaluating the strength of an argument and what evidence could strengthen or weaken it

You should further familiarize yourself with the rubric that graders (one human, one machine) use to score your essay between 1 and 6. Plus, you can read sample essays to see which ones are successful and which ones fall flat.

Finally, writing your own practice essays under 30-minute time limits will help you sharpen your skills. You can practice with official GMAT prompts and get better at writing well-reasoned, clearly structured essays in just 30 minutes.

Next up is the syllabus for GMAT Integrated Reasoning.

GMAT Section 2: Integrated Reasoning Section

The Integrated Reasoning (IR) section is the most recent addition to the GMAT. It was introduced in 2012 as a way to bring skills of data interpretation into the test.

This 30-minute section asks 12 questions, and it’s not adaptive like the Quantitative and Verbal sections. Each question is multi-part, but there’s no partial credit for IR questions. You must get all parts of a problem correct to get credit.

There are four types of questions in the IR section: table analysis, graphics interpretation, multi-source reasoning, and two-part analysis. You’ll find a variety of graphs, charts, tables, and other graphics throughout the section, as well as short to medium-length passages.

Many of the questions call on you to sort and organize information. You’ll get a variety of drop-down menus that let you rearrange data.

Some questions require you to crunch some numbers, so you’ll have use of an on-screen calculator in this section. IR is the only section on the GMAT where you can use a calculator.

Let’s look at a few sample questions of each of the four types of IR questions.

Integrated Reasoning Sample Questions

As you just read, there are four types of questions in the IR section. Here’s an official sample of each one. Note that the examples below are screenshots of official practice questions. On the real test, you’ll be able to click through tabs, use drop-down menus, and reorganize data to answer the questions.

As you can see, each question type has several parts, and you’ll need to be comfortable interpreting and comparing data from a variety of sources and graphics. What else can you do to prepare for the IR section?

Tips for Integrated Reasoning Section

The IR section is all about data interpretation. You need to be able to read tables, charts, graphs, and passages, to pick out relevant points, and to synthesize data from multiple sources.

To get ready, you should first review how to analyze different types of graphics, like bar graphs, scatter plots, and pie charts. You should become comfortable with these graphics and sharpen your speed-reading skills.

You should also try sample IR questions and take practice tests to familiarize yourself with the unique format of this section. You’ll have to learn how to click through tabs, organize data, and use the on-screen calculator.

These questions ask you to look at multiple sources, analyze evidence, discern main points, and make inferences. The more you practice with realistic IR practice questions, the more prepared you’ll be to tackle this tricky section.

Now that you know the basics of the IR section, let’s move on to the GMAT quant syllabus.

GMAT Section 3: Quantitative Section

The Quantitative section asks 31 math questions in 62 minutes. It’s your first adaptive section, so the difficulty levels of the questions will go up and down along with your performance.

GMAT math questions mainly ask about arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. You’ll also get some word problems. Unlike the IR section, you can’t use a calculator here. You will get note boards and markers to write out your work.

There are two types of questions in the Quantitative section, problem solving questions and data sufficiency questions. Problem solving questions are typical math problems that you’ve probably seen on dozens of math tests in or after high school. Here’s one example of a problem solving question that involves fractions and percentages.

Data sufficiency questions are a bit more unusual, as they ask you whether or not you have enough information to solve a problem. You don’t actually have to come up with an answer, but rather have to determine whether you have “sufficient data” to answer a problem.

The following example is a typical data sufficiency question.

All data sufficiency questions will have these same exact five answer choices, so you should go into the test already knowing what your task is. What else should be on your GMAT maths syllabus?

Tips for the Quantitative Section

The GMAT math section is daunting to a lot of people, especially those who haven’t taken a math class in years. If you’re one of those people, you should rest assured that GMAT math doesn’t test very advanced concepts. In fact, you probably learned most of these topics in high school.

The first step in your GMAT maths syllabus, then, is to review the fundamentals of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and word problems. You should review concepts and reinforce your understanding with lots of GMAT practice problems. Official practice problems are the best ones, and they will teach you how to apply your knowledge specifically to GMAT questions.

You should prioritize practice tests as part of your GMAT Quant syllabus, as working quickly and efficiently is half the battle. The more you practice, the more skilled you’ll become at managing your time.

As you take the test, try not to worry about the adaptive format. You can’t really game the system or get a handle on how you’re doing as you go along. If questions feel like they’re getting easier, don’t freak out!

Just keep working on the problem in front of you, and forget about ones that have already gone past. You’ll see your scores at the end of the test, so you should waste mental energy trying to evaluate your performance as you go along.

Finally, let’s go over the syllabus for GMAT Verbal.

GMAT Section 4: Verbal Section

The Verbal section is your final section on the GMAT, and like the Quantitative section, it’s also adaptive. You’ll get 36 questions in 65 minutes.

There are three types of Verbal questions, reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence corrections. They all call on your understanding of English language and grammar and ability to evaluate arguments.

Reading comprehension questions ask you to read a passage and answer several questions about its meaning, logic, and argument. They may also ask you what kind of evidence would strengthen or weaken its central point. Here’s one example of a reading comprehension passage and sample question.

Critical reasoning questions are similar, except instead of a passage, they just present a brief argument. You’ll have to analyze the argument, as well as look closely at its logic, premise, conclusion, and assumptions. The following is an example of a critical reasoning question.

Finally, sentence corrections are grammar questions. You’ll get a wordy sentence that has a certain word or phrase underlined. Your job is to decide whether it has an error and if so, what it should say instead.

As in the sample question below, the first answer choice will always match the underlined portion of the sentence. You would choose the first answer if there’s no error and the sentence is correct as is.

Besides reviewing grammar rules, what else can you do to get ready for the GMAT Verbal section?

Tips for the Verbal Section

The Verbal section tests your ability to interpret and simplify complex information. You’ll need to have solid reading skills. Since you have a lot of work to do and not a lot of time to do it in, you should strengthen your speed reading skills. You might do better looking for big picture issues, like main point, tone, and structure, rather than paying close attention to each and every word in a passage.

For critical reasoning questions, you may find that process of elimination is helpful. Look for answer choices that are unrelated to the line of reasoning in the excerpt. All of the answer choices may be true in some way, but only the right one will be relevant to the line of reasoning that the author uses in her argument.

For sentence corrections, you should try decluttering the wordy sentence. Try to mentally cross out extra phrases and words that are only there to distract you from the task at hand.

You may also find process of elimination a useful strategy here. If two answer choices serve the same exact grammatical purpose, then neither can be the correct answer.

As you get ready for the Verbal section, review grammar rules, read widely, answer sample questions, and take timed practice tests. Develop your verbal skills and practice applying them to GMAT questions.

Beyond these study tips specific to GMAT section, what do you need to know about designing your full GMAT syllabus? Read on to find out.

GMAT Exam Syllabus: How to Design a Personalized Study Plan

The GMAT is a challenging test, and preparation is key for achieving your goals. There’s no one size fits all study plan. Instead, the best study plan is customized to your individual strengths and weaknesses.

People who struggle in math will benefit from focusing most on math review and sample questions. The same goes for those who need to grow their verbal skills.

Your study plan also depends on your particular goals for business school, as well as the amount of time you have to study. As you design a customized GMAT syllabus, keep the following 10 tips in mind.

#1: Do Some Research on Business Schools

First and foremost, you’re taking the GMAT to get into business school. Knowing where you want to apply, then, is a key factor in designing your GMAT study plan.

Write down your application deadlines, and determine whether you’re applying for Round 1, Round 2, or Round 3 admissions. Round 1 is usually best, unless you feel that waiting will significantly strengthen your application.

Once you know your deadline, you can choose a test date that ensures your scores will arrive in time. You want to take the GMAT at least a month before your first application deadline. If you think you might need to retake the GMAT, then you should leave yourself even more time.

Once you’ve chosen a date, you’ll know how much time you have to study. Try to set aside a certain amount of time each week for GMAT studying and make a routine of it. If you’re aiming to study a total of 120 hours, then you could do 10 hours a week for three months.

In addition to figuring out your deadlines, you should also look for the average scores of accepted students. Most business schools don’t set a GMAT score cutoff, but they do share data on the average GMAT score of students who they accept into their programs. Once you have this information, you know what GMAT scores you’re working towards.

#2: Set a Goal Score

Once you’ve found the average scores of accepted students at business schools you’re interested in, you can set your own target scores. What would make you a competitive candidate? What do you need to score to send off a strong application?

Setting a goal score is also important when you eventually take the test. You’ll see your Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, Verbal, and total scores right in the testing center, and then you have a couple of minutes to decide whether you want to keep or cancel your scores. By going in with a set goal, you’ll know right away whether or not you’re satisfied with your results.

#3: Collect Study Materials

What are the best GMAT study materials? The best ones come from the test makers themselves. GMAC offers a useful and free GMAT Prep Software with a bunch of sample questions and two full-length practice tests.

Since the practice tests are adaptive and draw from a big pool of questions, you can actually take each one more than once. However, you might start to see some repeat problems, so the first time you take a practice test will be your most realistic experience of the GMAT.

GMAC also sells GMAT prep books that are useful for content review. Some high-quality third party companies are Kaplan and Manhattan Prep, though third party questions can never be quite as realistic as official ones.

As you prep, look for full length practice tests that you can take on the computer and have the same timing and format as the real test. You should also think carefully about how you learn best to decide whether self-study, an online prep program, a class, or a private tutor would be the best approach for you.

#4: Take a Diagnostic Practice Test

Before you can figure out your study plan, you need to know your current scoring level. You should set aside three hours to take a GMAT practice test, perhaps one of the tests offered for free by the GMAT Prep Software.

Head to a quiet place and follow the time limits, perhaps even giving yourself two eight-minute breaks as you would on test day. Once you’ve finished the test, you’ll see your IR, Quantitative, Verbal, and total scores.

Since you’ve already set your target score, this initial practice test will tell you how many points you need to improve and how long you should study.

#5: Write Down Your Study Schedule

If you don’t find a way to make yourself accountable, you might find yourself doing more procrastinating than studying. One way to motivate yourself is to actually write down your GMAT exam syllabus.

Whether you use a calendar or a planner, set aside the amount of time on the same day each week. Think about when you have time, when you’re most alert, and how much time you need to study each week to meet your target number of study hours.

Not only will writing down your study schedule help you develop a routine and stick to it, but you can also look back on it to see all the progress you’ve already made.

#6: Review Fundamental Concepts

While the GMAT is largely a reasoning and problem-solving test, you still need to have certain base knowledge. For instance, you need to understand fundamental concepts in algebra, geometry, and arithmetic. You have to know parallel structure, subject-verb agreement, and other rules of grammar, and you must be able to read a bar graph or scatter plot.

The best GMAT prep materials will present lessons in fundamental concepts for each section of the GMAT. You should spend time reviewing all of these lessons, especially any ones that you haven’t encountered in a long time.

Many test takers take the GMAT a few years after graduating college, and their academic skills have gotten rusty. Take time to review core concepts to make sure you can apply them to solving GMAT problems.

#7: Keep an Error Log

One of the best ways to improve your skills is to pay close attention to what you’re getting wrong. You should take notes on any concepts that confuse you or any practice questions you get wrong.

Once you’ve logged your error, think about the source of your confusion. Are you unclear on a certain concept? Did you make a careless mistake? Did you run out of time in a section?

Once you understand why you made an error, you can take specific steps to fix it.

#8: Try Out Test-Taking Strategies

Doing well on the GMAT isn’t just about having great verbal, math, and critical thinking skills. You also need to be a strategic and efficient test-taker. With only two minutes per question, you’ll need to show up on test day with seriously sharpened test-taking skills.

One of the best ways to improve your skills is to take practice tests. You should also try out various strategies, like speed-reading and process of elimination, to boost your efficiency. With enough practice, you’ll be able to train your laser focus and work both quickly and carefully throughout the test.

#9: Assess Your Progress As You Go Along

While you should write down your GMAT syllabus and stick to it, you also shouldn’t be afraid to adjust your approach as time goes on. You may have initially thought you needed mostly math review but then found that the verbal section is also quite challenging.

As you go along, you should reflect on your progress. Pay most attention to your weak areas, even if they’re not where you expected they’d be.

One good way to gauge your progress is to take a GMAT practice test every few weeks. You can see your score improvement (or lack thereof) and figure out what to do next. If progress has stalled, try to identify what’s going on.

You can keep altering your approach to make it most effective for you in the months leading up to your test.

#10: Get Ready for Test Day

Once you’ve reached the finish line and test day is almost upon you, hopefully you feel confident that you’ve done all of the studying you can to this point. Don’t spend the night before the GMAT cramming. Instead, take a break, relax, and get a good night’s sleep.

Head to the test center early, and make sure you know the route. Showing up late or getting lost would just add more anxiety to an already stressful day!

Try to eat a nutritious breakfast, avoid excessive caffeine, and wear comfy clothes. You might also bring healthy snacks and water to reenergize during the breaks.

Finally, you should go in with clear target scores in mind. That way, you’ll know right away whether you want to keep or cancel them at the end of the test. If you do end up disappointed, you can figure out where you fell short this time around and design a more effective study plan for next time.

As long as you spend time getting ready, you’re fully capable of meeting your GMAT goals. As we finish up, let’s go over some of the key takeaways you should remember about your GMAT syllabus.

GMAT Syllabus: Key Takeaways

The GMAT is a three hour computer-based exam that measures your math, verbal, and critical reasoning skills. You’re responsible for managing your time so that you answer all of the questions in each section.

The GMAT a challenging test, and many students spend months getting ready for it. If you have time before your test date, then just a few hours each week can add up to a significant amount of study time.

Before you get going, you should take time to think about your strengths and weaknesses and design a personalized GMAT syllabus. Set specific goals and figure out what steps you can take to achieve them.

By sticking to your study plan and using high-quality practice materials, you can make progress toward your target scores. By the time test day rolls around, you’ll be well acquainted with the structure, concepts, and question types on this challenging exam.

What’s Next?

Have you chosen a GMAT test date yet? Before you register, check out this guide on choosing the best test date and time of day to take the GMAT. Once you’ve decided on a date, check out our article on how to register for the GMAT.

Do you know how the GMAT is scored? Check out our guide to the GMAT scoring system and our article on percentiles to learn all about how your score is calculated and what it means.

The post Best GMAT Syllabus 2018: What’s On the Test and How to Prepare appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.

In this GMAT study guide, I’ll walk you through the GMAT study process from start to finish. First, I’ll talk about why studying for the GMAT is worth the time and effort. Next, I’ll talk about the GMAT itself – the format of the test and what it covers. Then, I’ll give a brief overview of each of the sections of test, discussing the content and format of each.

After that, I’ll move into talking about how to set a goal score, create your GMAT study plan, and stick to it. Finally, I’ll talk about the practice itself. I’ll tell you where to find study materials and give you some tried and true study strategies for both the test as a whole and each individual section.

By the end, you’ll have a clear idea of where to start to study for the GMAT.

Why Should I Study for the GMAT?

Studying for the GMAT is a big commitment. Why should you do it? What will studying accomplish? Here are three important ways that studying for the GMAT can help you achieve your goals.

#1: Raise Your Score

Using a GMAT study guide with clear goals and objectives is the best way to raise your GMAT score. If you’re looking to achieve a certain goal score, setting up a clear and achievable GMAT study plan will help you reach your goals. Without a clear GMAT study guide, you’ll likely struggle to find time to study amongst all of your responsibilities. It’ll also be hard to ensure that you’re covering all the topics you need to improve on.

#2: Build Your Skills in Different Areas

When you study for the GMAT, you help to build your skills in different areas. The GMAT tests many different skills across a wide variety of content areas. Very few test-takers are good at every single skill when they start thinking about taking the GMAT. By studying, you’ll be able to improve in areas of weakness and strengthen the areas that you’re already doing well on.

#3: Feel Confident on Test Day

Using a GMAT study guide to plan out your GMAT prep will help you feel more confident on test day. You’ll walk into the test center knowing what types of questions will be on the test, what the test format will be like, and how much time you’ll have, so that you’re comfortable and ready to go.

What’s on the GMAT, Anyway?

The GMAT is made up of four total section and has a total exam time of three hours and 30 minutes. Let’s look at what’s covered on each section of the test.

*Total Score is made up of the scaled scores from your Verbal and Quantitative sections. For more info, check out our GMAT Total Score guide.

Analytical Writing Assessment

The GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment tests your ability to think critically and clearly communicate your ideas.

During this section, you’ll be asked to analyze the reasoning behind a given argument and write a critique of that argument.

Integrated Reasoning

The GMAT Integrated Reasoning section is the newest section of the GMAT. It’s designed to measure skills that you’ll need to do well in today’s advanced, data-driven world.

The Integrated Reasoning tests your ability to evaluate information given in multiple formats and from multiple sources with four question types: graphics interpretation, two-part analysis, table analysis, and multi-source reasoning.

Quant Section

The GMAT Quant section tests your ability to analyze data and draw conclusions using reasoning skills. It covers basic math concepts, such as arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. Contrary to popular belief, the GMAT quant section doesn’t test advanced math concepts.

There are two types of questions on the GMAT quant: data sufficiency and problem solving.

Verbal Section

The GMAT Verbal section tests your ability to read, understand, evaluate, and edit different types of written material.

There are three types of questions on the GMAT verbal: reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction. The reading comprehension question type tests your ability to read and understand written material. The critical reasoning question type tests your ability to reason and evaluate arguments. The sentence correction question type tests your ability to identify errors and correct material to standard written English.

Creating Your GMAT Study Plan

Now that you know more about the GMAT, let’s talk about how you can create the best GMAT study plan to meet your goals.

Step 1: Set Your GMAT Goal Score

First, put together a list of all the business school programs that you’d like to attend. When you’re putting together your list, think about why you would like to attend each of these programs.

Next, research the average GMAT scores of the business schools that you want to apply to. You can find this information in a number of places. Most schools share this information on the program’s admissions page. You can also try calling the admissions department if you can’t find the info there. Other third party sources, like US News, also list the average GMAT scores of many schools.

Add the average GMAT scores for each school to your list of business school programs that you’re interested in. Find the highest average GMAT score of all the programs.

You want to set a score goal that’s about twenty points higher than the highest average GMAT score. This helps make sure you’ll be above the acceptable score range for all of your programs.

Step 2: Take a Practice Test

Your next step is to take a GMAT practice test if you haven’t already done so. Taking a GMAT practice test helps you get an idea of where you’re currently scoring and helps you understand what taking the test is actually like.

The best way to do this is to download the free GMATPrep software so you can take an official practice test.

Try to replicate the exam day as closely as possible. So, make sure you’re taking the test timed, in one sitting, and in a quiet place with few interruptions. This helps ensure you get the most accurate practice score.

You’ll automatically receive all of your scores, except for the score for you Analytical Writing Assessment. For more information about what a GMAT total score is, check out our guide (link).

Step 3: Analyze Your Weaknesses

Understanding your weaknesses is a great way to make substantial gains to your GMAT score.

Use your practice test scores to get a better picture of your strengths and weaknesses as a GMAT test taker. Try to identify patterns: did you miss every sentence correction question? Are you better at the Verbal section than the Quant section? Did you miss every single Integrated Reasoning question? Asking and answering these questions will help you focus your prep by highlighting the sections you need to spend the most time on.

Step 4: Figure Out How Many Hours You’ll Need to Study

Now that you’ve figured out your baseline score, compare that to your goal score. Figure out how many points you are away from meeting your goal score.

I’ve included estimates of approximately how many hours you need to study in order to increase your score by a certain number of points.

• 0 – 50 points, 100 hours
• 51 – 100 points, 120 hours
• 101 – 150 points, 160 hours

Step 5: Create Your GMAT Study Schedule

Now that you’ve figured out how many hours you need to study total, figure out how many hours each week you can study.

Be realistic about this. You want your study time to be productive. You also want to make sure you’re not neglecting your other work or responsibilities. If you set a practice schedule that’s too packed, you might end up frustrated and burned out.

Divide the total number of hours you need to study by the number of hours you can study each week. That’s the number of weeks you need to study.

So if you need to study 120 hours and you can study for 10 hours each week, you will need to study for 12 weeks.

You may also want to build in time for retakes. You can take the GMAT up to five times in a 12 month period, but you have to wait for at least 16 days between exams.

If you choose which schools to send your test scores before you take the GMAT, the schools will receive your scores in less than 20 days. To be safe, schedule your GMAT at least three weeks before application deadlines.

Step 6: Set Goals for Your Study Periods

Setting small goals for yourself is a great way to keep yourself on track and to make yourself feel good about your accomplishments.

You can set daily, weekly, or monthly goals (or all of the above). These goals might be simple (practice 50 math questions per week) or more complex (master graphics interpretation strategies).

Goal-setting will keep you accountable and will keep you on the right path with your practice.

Step 7: Track Your Progress

Scheduling and taking regular practice GMATs is a great way to monitor your progress.

Compare your scores to your original test. What sections did you improve on? Did you do worse on any section? What section is slipping through the cracks of your study plan?

Adjust your goals as needed based on your progress on practice tests. Maybe you were doing great on sentence corrections one week, but started to struggle the next. You could add a goal to your study plan that’ll remind to focus on that topic.

Finding GMAT Practice Materials

An important part of any GMAT study guide is great practice materials.

There are two main types of GMAT practice materials. Official GMAT prep materials are written by GMAC, the company that writes the GMAT. Unofficial GMAT prep materials are written by third-party companies that have extensively studied the GMAT and write their own test prep materials and questions. Official GMAT materials are the best practice tools, since they include actual retired GMAT questions, but unofficial materials can be helpful as well, especially for learning strategies and review content.

To get you started, we’ve rounded up some of the best options for both types of prep materials.

Official GMAT Prep Materials

Official practice materials should be an important part of your prep. Practicing with official materials ensures that you’ll be working on questions that are just like what you’ll be seeing on test day.

GMATPrep Software

This free, online software gives you access to two full-length CATs, with the option to purchase up to four more. The “Exam Mode” of this software realistically simulates test day, which is great for building up your comfort with the exam. While the free product doesn’t have many practice questions, you can purchase additional question packs or use another resource in conjunction with this software.

The Official Guide for GMAT Review Set

This three-book set contains guides for the Verbal and Quantitative sections, as well as an overview of the entire test. It comes with access to over 900 official practice questions, which makes it an invaluable resource. Official practice questions are the best type of question you can practice, as they’re written by GMAC, who also writes the GMAT. While these guides don’t offer particularly comprehensive content reviews, they’re a great resource to use during your practice.

Unofficial GMAT Practice Tests

There are plenty of options for other unofficial GMAT practice tests if you’ve used up the official options. It’s important to take online tests whenever possible so that you can keep building your familiarity with the test. Here are two great resources for free CATs:

Veritas Prep

Veritas Prep offers one free GMAT practice test with explanations. If you’d like, you can purchase 6 more tests for $49. You can take the test with normal time, or you can add extra time. Veritas Prep is known for having accurate GMAT questions and in-depth explanations.

Kaplan

Kaplan offers two types of free online GMAT practice tests: self-proctored and instructor-proctored. For the self-proctored test, you’ll receive your scores and answer explanations to peruse at your leisure. For the instructor-proctored exam, you’ll get your scores, and then work with an instructor in real-time online to get answer explanations. Kaplan is generally fairly accurate, but does have some problems with having questions that are either a little different in format or a little off from GMAT core content.

Other GMAT Practice Resources

There are tons of different GMAT study resources out there, besides the ones offered online. In this section, I’ll offer some recommendations about other resources you can use in your GMAT prep.

GMAT Prep Books

One of the most popular options for GMAT books is the Manhattan Prep series, which provides a comprehensive overview of all topics seen on the GMAT. The 10 books that make up this bundle are designed to provide a substantial learning impact for students by helping them develop the knowledge, skills, and strategic thinking they need to do well on the test. These books are great for developing deep knowledge of the content on the GMAT, and come with a year-long subscription to high-quality online practice tests.

If those aren’t right for you, there are a ton of other options for GMAT test prep books. Check out our complete guide to the best GMAT books for more ideas.

Forums

There are lots of GMAT forums out there. These online message boards provide a place for past, present, and future test-takers to gather, share tips and tricks, and pool resources. Beat the GMAT and GMAT Club are great places to find information on strategies, reviews of prep materials, and access to other free resources, like downloadable question banks or flash cards.

The 4 Most Important GMAT Study Tips

Even if you have the best tools in the world, studying for the GMAT won’t get very far if you don’t put in the time and effort to study well. In this section, I’ll offer some tips for how you can study well for the GMAT, maximizing your time and effort to achieve your goal score.

Practice as Realistically as Possible

Simulate real test conditions as much as possible. This means doing practice on the computer to familiarize yourself with the test’s format. It also means practicing without a calculator, since using one isn’t allowed on the test. Try to always work in a quiet place with few distractions. Along the same lines, make sure you’re practicing with real (or accurate) questions that mirror the content you’ll see on the test.

Eliminate Distractions

Try to eliminate distractions while you study. Turn your cell phone to silent. If you’re like me and find yourself compulsively checking Facebook every five minutes, use a blocker like SelfControlApp to make sure you turn off access to social media during your studying.

Analyze Your Performance and Adjust Accordingly

As I mentioned before, set goals and stick to them. Use goals as a way to monitor your day-to-day progress, while using practice tests to assess larger arcs of performance. After you take a practice test, or meet or fail to meet a goal, make adjustments to your study schedule to make time for sections you need more work on and lessen the time you’re spending on sections that you’ve already mastered.

Learn the Test

Spend time familiarizing yourself as much as possible with the GMAT. Learn the question types asked on each section. Know the format of the test and the time you’ll have on each section. Use CATs to practice using the tools and functions that the real test will have. Doing these things will increase your confidence with the GMAT and reduce your anxiety on test day.

Review: The Best GMAT Study Guide

The GMAT is a long and difficult test, with four separate sections testing different types of content. However, you can increase your chances of achieving your goal GMAT score by crafting and executing a strong GMAT study guide.

Part of creating the best GMAT study guide for your testing needs is using high quality practice resources, so make sure to vet your practice materials to ensure their quality before you invest in them. Finally, make sure that you are preparing effectively by following my tips about how to study for the GMAT.

What’s Next?

Ready to craft your ultimate GMAT study plan? In our guide to writing a GMAT study plan, we offer four sample study plans designed to boost your score based on your individual test goals. Check out our guide to GMAT study plans to get started on yours.

Looking for those high quality GMAT practice books? There are tons of materials out there for you to peruse. You can choose GMAT prep books based on your strengths, weaknesses, and preferences as a test taker. Use our best GMAT Books guide to decide what prep books to buy.

Registering for the GMAT can be more complicated than you anticipate. If you’re ready to sign up for the GMAT, our step-by-step guide for registering for the GMAT will help walk you through the process.

The post The Best GMAT Study Guide: Format, Tips, and Practice appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.

If you’re applying to business school, you’re probably going to have to take the GMAT, or the Graduate Management Admissions Test. Preparing for the GMAT requires a lot of time and effort, but you can’t create a successful study plan without knowing exactly what topics it tests you on.

So if you’re just beginning your GMAT prep, you’re probably wondering: what are the major GMAT subjects? What skills does the GMAT test, and what’s the basic format of the exam? What kinds of questions will I see? What topics should I be studying, and do I have to memorize anything? In short: what is on the GMAT?

Luckily, you’ve come to the right place! In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what you need to know for each section of the test, explain the different types of questions and skills they focus on, and then wrap up with some general tips on how to prep.

GMAT Subjects: What You Need to Know Overall

Each section is different, but what does the GMAT test you on as a whole? In a sentence, the GMAT tests your academic preparedness and readiness to succeed in MBA and other graduate business degree programs. It’s the most widely used test by both business schools and their applicants (read our guide to the GMAT versus the GRE for more), as it has proven to be a highly accurate metric for predicting how well someone will do in an MBA program.

Note that the GMAT tests your preparedness for business school: not your intelligence, and not whether you already have business skills and knowledge.

More specifically, the GMAT tests your analytical, writing, quantitative, verbal, and reading skills—in other words, what you’ve learned how to do throughout your academic career thus far.

Exam Format Basics: The 4 Sections of the GMAT

Now that you’ve gotten the broad strokes of GMAT subjects, let’s quickly go over the basic structure and the four different sections that you’ll see on the test. Then we’ll get into the exact subjects, question types, and skills for each section.

First, you should know that all four sections of the GMAT are timed, and all are taken consecutively on a computer at one of many testing locations around the world. In every section, you can only see one question at a time, and you cannot go back to re-answer or view previous questions: once you’ve answered and clicked “submit” for that question, it’s final.

The sections of the test are always in the same order, as laid out below:

The first section is the Analytical Writing Assignment. Here, you’ll get a short prompt that makes some kind of argument, and you’ll have 30 minutes to write a brief essay analyzing the given argument.

The second section is the Integrated Reasoning section. Here, you’ll get 30 minutes to complete 12 multi-part questions.

The third section is the Quantitative section. This is the big math section of the GMAT, and you’ll have 62 minutes to complete 31 multiple-choice questions, each with five different answer options. The Quantitative section is computer adaptive, meaning that the computer adjusts to your skill level as you go: starting from the very first question onward, subsequent questions are adjusted to an easier level if you answer incorrectly, or they are adjusted to a more difficult level if you answer correctly.

After Quant, you’ll hit the fourth and final section of the GMAT: the Verbal section. This is the big reading and grammar section of the test, and you’ll have 65 minutes to complete 36 multiple-choice questions, each with five different answer options. Like the Quant section, it is computer adaptive.

This information is distilled in the table below:

Now that we know the basic structure and format of the GMAT, let’s dive right into what skills, subjects, topics, and question types are in each section.

What Is on the GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment?

The AWA is the “essay” portion of the GMAT; however, it likely differs greatly from most of the academic essays you’ve written thus far.

GMAT Topics and Skills Covered

According to the official GMAT website, the Analytical Writing Assessment (or AWA) measures “your ability to think critically and to communicate your ideas.” You will be given a single one-paragraph prompt containing some kind of argument. The prompts often center on debates from the business or political worlds and are sourced from the editorial and op-ed sections of magazines and newspapers, annual company reports, memorandums, proposals and beyond.

Question Types

You have only one task here: to write a critique of the given argument. The critique should contain an in-depth analysis of the underlying reasoning of the argument—including any flaws in reasoning that the author makes. Do not present your own views on the argument; stick to deconstructing the prompt.

The directions are always the same for the AWA. I’ve pasted them for you below:

Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.

Though a formal understanding of logic is not required, it’s helpful to be well-versed in persuasive writing and to understand concepts like counterargument and rebuttal, faulty reasoning, and claims and evidence.

What Is on the GMAT Integrated Reasoning Section?

The challenging Integrated Reasoning section tests multiple skills at once—hence the name Integrated Reasoning!

GMAT Topics and Skills Covered

According to the official GMAT website, the Integrated Reasoning (or IR) section measures “your ability to evaluate information presented in multiple formats from multiple sources—skills you need to succeed in our technologically advanced, data-driven world.” It’s a relatively new section that was added to the GMAT in 2012 as a way of better assessing the kinds of complex reasoning skills that you’ll need both in business school and in your career afterward.

Here is the official list of the four skills tested:

• Synthesizing information presented in graphics, text, and numbers
• Evaluating relevant information from different sources
• Organizing information to see relationships and to solve multiple, interrelated problems
• Combining and manipulating information from multiple sources to solve complex problems

Essentially, you will have to integrate data from different sources to solve complex, multi-step problems. The vast majority of the actual concepts tested in the Integrated Reasoning section are covered in the Quant and Verbal sections, which we get into below. The only additional concepts you’ll be tested on in IR are:

• The interpretation of different kinds of charts and graphs, and
• The basic functionality of column-sorting in spreadsheets.

In IR, unlike any other section of the GMAT, you have access to a very basic, click-operated calculator that is available on your screen. You probably won’t need to use it for every question, but it’s there for you when you do need it.

Question Types

The Integrated Reasoning section is a new and unique part of the GMAT; as such there are four very specific types of questions that you’ll encounter.

#1: Graphics Interpretation

In these questions, you’re given a graph or chart and some statements that pertain to it, and you have to select the option from one or more drop-down menus to make each statement accurate. It’s similar to a “fill in the blank” style question, but with drop-down menus limiting the number of options.

#2: Two-Part Analysis

Here, you’re given a paragraph of information and a two-column table that represents a two-part solution. Each column has a question and several answer options. You have to select one answer from each column to solve the problem.

#3: Table Analysis

Here, you’re given a table of data that you can sort by data type, like in an Excel or Google Sheets spreadsheet. You have to organize the data to figure out whether certain conditions are met. Each question will have several statements with opposing answers (e.g., yes/no, true/false, inferable/not inferable) and you have to select one answer for each statement in the question.

#4: Multi-Source Reasoning

These questions have a split-screen format. On the right side of the screen, you’re given multiple “tabs” that you can navigate among. Each tab contains different data—most often a few paragraphs of verbal information (with perhaps a chart). On the left side of the screen, multiple-choice questions are presented one by one, and you have to figure out what information from which tabs you need to answer each question.

An important note: even though most Integrated Reasoning questions have more than one part to them, there is no partial credit given. You have to answer all parts of a single question correctly to receive credit. If, for example, you correctly answered one “true/false” statement on a table analysis question but missed another statement, you would not receive any credit for the question.

What Is on the GMAT Quant Section?

The Quant section is the main math section of the GMAT, and marks the start of the multiple-choice portion of the exam.

GMAT Topics and Skills Covered

According to the official GMAT site, the Quantitative (or Quant) section measures “your ability to analyze data and draw conclusions using reasoning skills.” The actual math subjects tested are all from what you learned in middle and high school math: algebra, arithmetic, geometry, and word problems within these three areas. You don’t need trigonometry and you certainly don’t need calculus.

Here are all the math topics that are covered in the Quant section, organized by subject area:

Arithmetic

• Properties of Integers
• Fractions
• Decimals
• Real Numbers
• Ratio & Proportions
• Percents
• Powers & Roots of Numbers
• Descriptive Statistics
• Sets
• Counting Methods
• Discrete Probability

Algebra

• Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
• Equations
• Solving Linear Equations with One Unknown
• Solving Linear Equations with Two Unknowns
• Solving Equations by Factoring
• Solving Quadratic Equations
• Exponents
• Inequalities
• Absolute Value
• Functions

Geometry

• Lines
• Intersecting Lines and Angles
• Perpendicular Lines
• Parallel Lines
• Polygons (Convex)
• Triangles
• Quadrilaterals
• Circles
• Rectangular Solids and Cylinders
• Coordinate Geometry

Word Problems

• Rate Problems
• Work Problems
• Mixture Problems
• Interest Problems
• Discount
• Profit
• Sets
• Geometry Problems
• Measurement Problems
• Data Interpretation

Question Types

There are two types of questions on the Quant section: problem solving questions and data sufficiency questions.

Note that there is not a fixed number of questions in either category—it varies from GMAT to GMAT. You’ll also never tackle all of one and then all of another: they are interspersed with each other randomly throughout. With that said, let’s dive into what you’ll see in each type.

Problem Solving

Each problem solving question gives you a problem followed by five multiple-choice answer options, and you have to work to solve the problem and pick the correct answer from among the options.

Data Sufficiency

Each data sufficiency questions consists of a question followed by two statements, labeled 1 and 2. Your task is to determine whether the information provided in either each statement alone or the two statements together is sufficient (or enough) to answer the question.

This is also then followed by five multiple-choice answer options; however, unlike in problem solving questions, the five answer options for data sufficiency questions are always exactly the same. We have copied them below:

(A) Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient.
(B) Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient.
(C) BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.
(D) EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.
(E) Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.

What Is on the GMAT Verbal Section?

If the Quant section can be described as the main math section of the GMAT, the Verbal can be described as the main reading and writing section.

GMAT Topics and Skills Covered

According to the official GMAT site, the Verbal section measures “your ability to read and understand written material, to evaluate arguments, and to correct written material to conform to standard written English.” You’ll have to identify logical relationships between ideas and concepts, summarize and paraphrase passages, draw inferences, point out flaws in assumption and reasoning, and correct improper grammar or syntax.

Question Types

There are three different kinds of question types on the Verbal section: reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction.

Reading Comprehension

The reading comprehension portion of the GMAT consists of four short (250-350 word) passages, each with three to four questions associated with it. They are sourced from textbooks, journals, periodicals, scholarly articles, and the like, centering on topics from the natural and social sciences, the humanities, and the business world. Note that no outside knowledge is expected in any of these domains—all of the information you will need to answer the questions is in the passages themselves.

There are several different kinds of reading comprehension questions:

• Main idea: asks you to accurately summarize the main idea or main purpose of the passage.
• Supporting ideas: asks you about supporting details, facts, or descriptions.
• Inferences: asks you about what is implied but not explicitly stated in the passage.
• Analyze logic and organization: asks you about how the passage is constructed; how the author persuades the reader; to identify underlying assumptions, strengths and weaknesses of the argument; or to point out potential counterarguments.
• Apply info from passage to a context outside of passage: asks you to identify hypotheticals, similar examples, or if the author would agree with a given statement.
• Style and tone: asks you to deduce the author’s attitude toward a specific idea or describe the overall tone of the passage.

Occasionally, you may encounter a question asking you to identify quant concepts as presented in writing in the passages, but the quant concepts that appear on such questions are fairly simple compared to what you see on the Quant section itself.

Critical Reasoning

Critical reasoning questions measure the reasoning skills you use when forming arguments, evaluating arguments, and forming or evaluating a plan of action. As with reading comprehension, you are given a passage drawn from a variety of subject areas and sources, and you are not expected to have any prior knowledge of any of them. The passages will always be making some kind of argument, and the questions you encounter will test how well you understand this argument. The three sub-categories these questions fall into are:

• Argument construction: asks you to recognize basic structure, conclusions, assumptions, well-supported hypotheses, or parallel situations.
• Argument evaluation: asks you to analyze reasoning and methodology, point out errors, or identify what would strengthen or weaken the argument.
• Form/evaluate a plan of action: asks you to compare the effectiveness of different plans of action, identify what would strengthen or weaken success of a plan of action, or discern assumptions underlying a plan of action

As with the AWA, you don’t need to know the rules or terminology of formal logic to answer these kinds of questions, but it helps to be well-versed in the tactics of persuasive writing.

Sentence Correction

Sentence correction questions test your proficiency in the English language—namely your ability to correct a given sentence to make it clear, concise, and grammatically correct.

In these questions, you’re given a sentence, part or all of which is underlined. You have five multiple-choice answer options for re-phrasing the underlined portion, and you must pick the answer that makes for the best sentence.

The broad categories of grammar and syntax rules that the GMAT tests are:

• Agreement (noun-verb and pronoun-antecedent)
• Diction (standards/conventions and commonly misused words—EG, “among” versus “between”)
• Sentence construction (independent and dependent clauses; phrases; what counts as a noun/subject and what counts as a verb/predicate; conjunctions; fragments and run-ons; punctuation)
• Idioms (prepositions, correlatives, and forms of comparison)
• Modifiers (dangling and misplaced)
• Verb tenses and moods
• Verbals (noun and adjective uses of verbs)

Command over grammar is the most vital skill to have for sentence correction questions, but grammar is still just one part of what you’re being tested on: you will encounter sentences that are grammatically correct but are still awkward or redundant and need to be reworded for more clarity and concision.

4 Tips for Key GMAT Subjects to Study

Now that we’ve gone over the topics and question formats covered on the GMAT, let’s dive into the key subjects to study for each section.

Study Persuasive Writing for the Analytical Writing Assessment

As stated above, though a formal understanding of logic is not required for the AWA, you can see that it’s important to be well-versed in persuasive writing and to understand concepts like counterargument and rebuttal, faulty reasoning, and claims and evidence.

Here’s a useful one-pager on Toulmin Analysis to get you started. Toulmin Analysis is a great academic entry point into basic tenets of creating and rebutting an argument, particularly if you’re unfamiliar with foundational terms like “counterargument” and “rebuttal.” You should also read mba.com’s sample top-scoring AWA essay and list of real AWA prompts to familiarize yourself with the kinds of arguments presented and the responses that will score highly.

Study Graphs and Charts for Integrated Reasoning

When you study for the GMAT Quant and Verbal sections, you’re already learning the basic academic knowledge needed for IR section. In addition to those subjects, you should make sure to study up on the fundamentals of graphs and charts, tables, and spreadsheets so that you’re not surprised by any data presentation format on the test.

Memorize the Fundamental Rules, Values, and Properties for Quant

The key to mastering Quant is to memorize the key equation rules, values, properties and shortcut within the subject areas listed in the Quant subsection above, because you’ll need to do quick mental math and you will not have access to a calculator.

Above all, the absolute most important math topics to know inside and out are:

• Number properties (especially the properties of integers)
• Factors and multiples
• Fractions, decimals and ratios
• Statistics
• Properties of sets
• Percentages
• Rates
• Exponents and powers
• Geometric properties of basic shapes and coordinate geometry
• Systems of equations/isolating and solving for a variable
• Inequalities

Read and Memorize GMAT Grammar Rules for Verbal

The most important method for studying for the Verbal is to read. While there is no outside knowledge expected in any of the key subject areas that you’ll see on the Verbal section, you should get in the habit of reading one article a day from the kinds of magazines and periodicals from which they source arguments and passages. This strategy has a variety of benefits, including familiarizing yourself with the subjects, increasing your critical reading skills, and honing your intuitive grasp of grammar and syntax. Some great sources we recommend to get you started are National Geographic, The Economist, and Scientific American.

For sentence correction questions, the grammar rules that you’ll be tested on are a bit particular, so you should just go ahead and memorize them. Here is a comprehensive PDF of all of the grammar you’ll need to know for the GMAT for exactly that purpose (coming soon).

What’s Next?

The next step is to learn how each section on the GMAT is scored to complete your foundational knowledge of the exam. If you still have questions about GMAT subjects or other fundamentals of the test, check out our guides to what the GMAT actually is, how hard it is, and how much time you should budget to prepare for it too.

Unsure which test to take for business school? We can help you compare and contrast the GMAT with the GRE as well.

Happy studying!

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