The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is essentially designed to assess your critical and logical reasoning skills, in order to test your aptitude and potential in securing a position in a good business and management program.
GMAT helps Business Schools analyze your determination towards undertaking the program. Graduates from all around the world prepare very hard to appear in these exams, so they can score a degree in their dream College.
GMAT EXAM PATTERN
The GMAT exam is a computer-adaptive test. It includes both subjective and objective questions. You will be given 80 questions in total, with a time limit of 3 hours and 7 minutes.
Students are given a set of questions based on multiple topics, with no set syllabus. They need to complete these within the time limit allotted to them.
Primarily, the exam pattern for GMAT is based on four separate categories,
- Analytical Writing Assessment
- Integrated Reasoning
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Verbal Reasoning
| SECTION OF THE EXAM | NUMBER OF QUESTIONS | TYPES OF QUESTIONS | TIME LIMIT |
| Analytical Writing Assessment | 1 essay prompt | Argument Analysis | 30 minutes |
| Integrated Reasoning | 12 MCQ | Multi-Source Reasoning Graphics and Table Interpretation Two-Part Analysis | 30 minutes |
| Quantitative | 31 MCQ | Data Sufficiency Problem Solving | 62 minutes |
| Verbal | 36 MCQ | Reading Comprehension Critical Reasoning Sentence Correction | 65 minutes |
Candidates appearing are given the option of choosing amongst three combinations of the order in which they can attempt the GMAT Exam.
- Integrated Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning related questions are computer adaptive. Hence, they cannot be skipped, the page cannot be returned or refreshed to re-attempt. The answer you give is permanent and cannot be changed.
- Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning sections include MCQs.
- Analytical Writing Assessment consists of an essay question. Integrated Reasoning consists of non-MCQs.
To keep in mind– 8-minute optional breaks given between the exam, the timing for which has to be selected prior to the beginning of the examination.
1.) Analytical Writing Assessment
You will be given an essay comprising of an argument. You need to thoroughly assess and analyze this argument critically and evaluate it according to your critical reasoning abilities. You will need to back up your claims with logical answers and organize your argument accordingly. You get 30 minutes for this 1 question.
Not only your critical reasoning skills but also your communication skills are examined here. How you consolidate your argument, form sentences and your ability to elaborate and explain will be subject to scrutiny. Your writing structure must be strong and how you present your ideology matters to the examiner.
Your argument must be organized in a way that that shows credibility in your point, demonstrating the important factors and analyze what makes most sense with the incident in focus. What needs to be seen is your cognitive ability and authenticity of your argument.
2.) Integrated Reasoning
This section assesses the candidate’s ability to process a lot of information and use it to solve problems. It comprises of questions of every kind. Whether they are based on graphs, word problems, or anything that requires the candidate to use that information to answer the questions.
There are 12 questions in total, that need to be solved in 30 minutes. This needs to be done very quickly. Be precise and spontaneous while tackling this section.
There are four types of questions in the Integrated Reasoning Section-
- Multi-Source Reasoning– Measures your ability to examine data from multiple sources text passages, tables, graphics. These questions require you to study the data accurately and judge any deviation of the subject. You must be able to discern whether the data is correct or not.
- Table Analysis– To be able to interpret how you read and segment data from a table or a spreadsheet. This is conducted to govern what is relevant and what needs to be blocked out in terms of relevance and accuracy. You need to identify the information that is most important and answer questions as per that after calculating the data in comparison and evaluating the correct solutions logically.
- Graphics Interpretation– This test estimates your ability to interpret the given information in the form of a graph or a graphical image and draw inferences from them, to draw final conclusions. They should be able to differentiate between statistical data or in the form of x/y graphs or other mathematical charts.
- Two-Part Analysis– Measures your communication skills and the ability to solve complex problems, whether they are quantitative or verbal. This covers a wide array of subjects.
3.) Verbal Reasoning
There are three types of categories of questions in this section:
Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, and Sentence Correction. The first two is to assess your verbal skills. 36 questions with a time limit of 65 minutes.
- Reading Comprehension- Your general ability to comprehend language and break down the information measures how you apply statements and draw comparisons to explain your point. You will be asked to discuss social sciences and humanities, physical and biological sciences, and many other subjects. Your skills will be observed to evaluate different points and follow the development of quantitative concepts.
- Critical Reasoning
This segment is fully focused on your ability to make and decipher arguments and come up with a plan to resolve the same.
Critical Reasoning questions are based on a short reading passage, usually fewer than 100 words. You are presented with a question that asks you which of the five answer options supports a particular argument or goes against it.
- Sentence Correction
This test defines how good you are with the language. It analyzes your grammatical accuracy, expression, and ability to express anything in a structured and clear manner.
You will be presented with five ways of phrasing a sentence. Pick the correct answer on basis of the word choice, grammar, the entire phrasing, and logical appropriation.
4.) Quantitative Reasoning
This segment tests the mathematical ability of the candidate as well as the reasoning ability. You have to attempt 31 MCQs within 62 minutes. The questions include basic concepts of algebra, geometry and mathematical equations.
The two types of questions include-
- Problem Solving
Usage of calculator is prohibited while working on the quantitative section. This shows your ability to solve problems, using logic and math.
- Data Sufficiency-
Calculates how you use relevant and correct data to solve a problem. You will be presented with data to decide whether you have been provided with enough data to solve it.
The pattern of GMAT is very reliable and is accepted by 90% of the world’s Business Schools. These exams are available all around the year and you can take your time and prepare whenever suitable. The questions are presented based on the concept of cumulative distribution.
