The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a computer adaptive test (CAT) which assesses a person's analytical, writing, quantitative, verbal, and reading skills in standard written English in preparation for being admitted into a graduate management program, such as an MBA. More than 5,400 programs offered by more than 1,500 universities and institutions in 83 countries use the GMAT exam as part of the selection criteria for their programs site. Business schools use the test as a criterion for admission into a wide range of graduate management programs, including MBA, Master of Accountancy, and Master of Finance programs. The GMAT exam is administered in secure, standardized test centers in more than 110 countries around the world. On June 5, 2012, the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) introduced an integrated reasoning section to the exam that is designed to measure a test taker’s ability to evaluate data presented in new formats and multiple sources. GMAC continues to perform validity studies to statistically verify that the exam predicts success in business school programs. According to a survey conducted by Kaplan Test Prep, the GMAT is still the number one choice for MBA aspirants despite the increasing acceptability of GRE scores.
| Section |
Duration in minutes |
Number of question |
| Analytical writing assessment |
30 |
1 |
| Integrated reasoning |
30 |
12 |
| Quantitative |
75 |
37 |
| Verbal |
75 |
41 |
The Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) is designed to measure your ability to think critically and to communicate your ideas.
The AWA consists of one 30-minute essay: Analysis of an Argument. The argument presented on the test concerns topics of general interest related to business or a variety of other subjects. Specific knowledge of the essay topic is not necessary; only your capacity to write analytically is assessed. You will be asked to analyze the reasoning behind a given argument and write a critique of that argument. You are not being asked to present your own views on the subject.
Consider the following when developing your essay:
- What questionable assumptions underlie the thinking behind the argument?
- What alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion?
- What sort of evidence could help strengthen or refute the argument?
What Is Measured
Analysis of an Argument tests your ability to formulate an appropriate and constructive critique of a specific conclusion based on a specific line of thinking.
Sample Question
For an example and directions for answering, go to the Sample Analysis of an Argument Question.
Current Analytical Writing Assessment Topics
You may download the complete list of current Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) Analysis of an Argument Topics used during the administration of the GMAT exam.
AWA Rescoring Service
Independent readers will rescore your essays for a fee of US$45. The Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, and Verbal sections of the test cannot be rescored.
Requests for rescoring must be made within six (6) months of your test date. A request received after six (6) months will not be honored.
Rescoring Results
Rescoring may result in an increase or decrease in your AWA score. Either way, the rescoring results are final. Revised results will be sent to you and to the graduate management programs you designated as score recipients approximately 20 days after your request is received. Once your rescoring request has been processed, the fee will not be refunded.
How to Request Rescoring
You may request this service by sending a request to GMAT Customer Service
Integrated Reasoning Section
Showcase your highly valued integrated reasoning skills, which are keys for success in the classroom and workplace.
Today’s business world is rich in data. To succeed, you’ll need to analyze information from a variety of sources, and develop strategies and make decisions based on that information. Integrated reasoning is designed to measure your ability to evaluate information presented in multiple formats from multiple sources – skills you already use, and skills you need to succeed in our data-rich world.
Skills Measured
The 30-minute Integrated Reasoning section tests skills identified by management faculty worldwide as important for you, as a prospective incoming graduate management student, to know, including:
- 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 to solve complex problems that depend on information from one or more sources
The Integrated Reasoning section consists of four question types, which require you to analyze and synthesize data in different formats and from multiple sources.
- Almost all question formats require multiple responses. Questions are designed to measure how well you integrate data to solve complex problems, so you must answer all parts of a single question correctly to receive credit.
- All answer choices for a single question are presented on the same screen. You must submit responses to all parts of the question before moving on to a new question on another screen. Once you answer a question, you may not go back and change the answer.
- Data presented in text are approximately 300 words or fewer.
- Answer options don’t provide information or clues that will help you solve other questions.
- One set of data is used for several Multi-Source Reasoning questions, but the questions are independent of one another—you won’t have to answer one question correctly to be able to answer another.
Graphics Interpretation: Interpret the graph or graphical image and select the option from a drop-down list to make the
Quantitative Section
Two types of multiple-choice questions are used in the Quantitative section of the GMAT® exam – Problem Solving and Data Sufficiency.
The Quantitative section of the GMAT exam measures the ability to reason quantitatively, solve quantitative problems, and interpret graphic data.
Problem-Solving and Data-Sufficiency questions are intermingled throughout the section. Both types of questions require knowledge of:
- Arithmetic
- Elementary algebra
- Commonly known concepts of geometry
Problem-Solving Questions
The Quantitative section of the GMAT exam measures the test taker's ability to:
- Reason quantitatively, solve quantitative problems, and interpret graphic data
- Understand problems involving arithmetic, elementary algebra, and common geometry concepts
- Evaluate the amount of information needed to solve quantitative problems
For an example of this type of question and directions for answering, go to Sample Problem-Solving Question.
Data-Sufficiency Questions
Data-Sufficiency questions are designed to measure your ability to:
- Analyze a quantitative problem
- Recognize which information is relevant
- Determine at what point there is sufficient information to solve a problem
Data-Sufficiency questions are accompanied by some initial information and two statements, labeled (1) and (2). You must decide whether the statements given offer enough data to enable you to answer the question. You must choose one of the following answers:
- Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) is not sufficient
- Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) is not sufficient
- BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient
- EACH statement ALONE is sufficient
- Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient
For an example of this type of question and directions for answering, go to
Sample Data-Sufficiency Question Verbal Section
Three types of multiple-choice questions are used in the Verbal section of the GMAT® exam – Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, and Sentence Correction.
The Verbal section of the GMAT exam measures your ability to:
- Read and comprehend written material,
- Reason and evaluate arguments, and
- Correct written material to conform to standard written English.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Reading Comprehension passages are up to 350 words long. Topics contain material from the social sciences, physical or biological sciences, and business-related areas (marketing, economics, human resource management, etc.).
Because the Reading Comprehension section of the GMAT exam includes passages from several different content areas, you may be generally familiar with some of the material; however, no specific knowledge of the material is required. All questions are to be answered on the basis of what is stated or implied in the reading material.
Reading Comprehension passages are accompanied by interpretive, applied, and inferential questions.
What Is Measured
Reading Comprehension questions measure your ability to understand, analyze, and apply information and concepts presented in written form.
This section evaluates the following abilities:
Understanding words and statements in reading passages: Questions of this type test your understanding of and ability to comprehend terms used in the passage and your understanding of the English language.
Understanding the logical relationships between significant points and concepts in the reading passages: Questions of this type ask you to determine the strong and weak points of an argument or to evaluate the importance of arguments and ideas in a passage.
Drawing inferences from facts and statements in the reading passages: Questions of this type ask you to consider factual statements or information and, on the basis of that information, reach a general conclusion.
Understanding and following the development of quantitative concepts as they are presented in verbal material:
Questions of this type involve the interpretation of numerical data or the use of simple arithmetic to reach conclusions about material in a passage.
Sample Question
For an example of this type of question and directions for answering, go to
Sample Reading Comprehension Question.
Critical Reasoning Questions Critical Reasoning questions are designed to test the reasoning skills involved in making arguments, evaluating arguments, and formulating or evaluating a plan of action. Questions are based on materials from a variety of sources. No familiarity with the specific subject matter is needed.
What Is Measured
This section measures your ability to reason effectively in three areas:
Argument construction: Questions of this type may ask you to recognize the basic structure of an argument, properly drawn conclusions, underlying assumptions, well-supported explanatory hypotheses, or parallels between structurally similar arguments.
Argument evaluation: Questions of this type may ask you to analyze a given argument, recognize factors that would strengthen or weaken an argument, reasoning errors committed in making an argument, or aspects of the methods by which an argument proceeds.
Formulating and evaluating a plan of action: Questions of this type may ask you to recognize the relative appropriateness, effectiveness, or efficiency of different plans of action; factors that would strengthen or weaken a proposed plan of action; or assumptions underlying a proposed plan of action.
Sample Question
For an example of this type of question and directions for answering, click
Sample Critical Reasoning Question. Sentence Correction Questions
Sentence Correction questions ask you which of the five choices best expresses an idea or relationship. The questions will require you to be familiar with the stylistic conventions and grammatical rules of standard written English. You must also demonstrate your ability to improve incorrect or ineffective expressions.
What Is Measured
This section tests two broad aspects of language proficiency:
Correct expression: A correct sentence is grammatically and structurally sound. It conforms to all the rules of standard written English, e.g., noun-verb agreement, pronoun consistency, pronoun case, and verb tense sequence. A correct sentence will not have dangling, misplaced, or improperly formed modifiers, unidiomatic or inconsistent expressions, or faults in parallel construction.
Effective expression: An effective sentence expresses an idea or relationship clearly and concisely, as well as grammatically. This does not mean that the choice with the fewest and simplest words is necessarily the best answer. It means that there are no superfluous words or needlessly complicated expressions in the best choice. In addition, an effective sentence uses proper diction—the standard dictionary meanings of words and the appropriateness of words in context. In evaluating the diction of a sentence, you must be able to recognize whether the words are well chosen, accurate, and suitable for the context.
Sample Question
For an example of this type of question and directions for answering, click
Sample Sentence Correction Question.
