Over five thousand business and graduate management programs at more than 1800 schools around the world factor an applicant’s score on the Graduate Management Admission Test into the admissions process. Statistics demonstrate that GMAT scores are generally better indicators of first-year grades in these programs than are undergraduate grade point averages. Admissions officers at leading business schools worldwide recognize the GMAT as the most effective predictor of success.

---

Test Format

The GMAT consists of three sections:

• Data Insights – 20 questions of various types, 45 minutes total
• Quantitative – 21 multiple-choice questions, 45 minutes total
• Verbal – 23 multiple-choice questions, 45 minutes total

When you arrive at the test center, you can choose your exam’s order from among three options:

• Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, Verbal
• Verbal, Quantitative, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment
• Quantitative, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment

The total testing time is 2 hours and 15 minutes, with one optional 10-minute break that can be taken after the first or second section.

When you arrive at the test center, you can choose your exam’s order, allowing you to take the sections in the sequence that best suits your strengths.

As you work through each section, you can bookmark any questions you’d like to revisit. Once you've answered all the questions in a section, you’ll be taken to a Question Review & Edit screen-provided there is still time remaining. If time expires before you finish the section, you will not see the review screen.

On the review screen, you’ll see a numbered list of every question from that section, with your bookmarked questions clearly indicated. You can click on any number to return to that specific question. You're free to review as many questions as you’d like, but you may change the answers to no more than three.

---

Data Insights

The Data Insights section tests many of the same fundamental skills that are tested on the Verbal and Quantitative sections, but requires students to synthesize information from a variety of sources. Questions may require math, data analysis, verbal reasoning, or all three.

Test-takers have 45 minutes to answer 20 questions on the Data Insights section. The questions on this section are of five different types:

• Data Sufficiency
• Multi-source Reasoning
• Table Analysis
• Graphics Interpretation
• Two-part Analysis

The format for selecting the correct answer choice depends on the type of question.

Data Sufficiency questions are unique to the GMAT. Each question of this type is followed by two numbered statements, and students must determine whether the two statements provide enough information to answer the question. Because Data Sufficiency questions test the ability to analyze information for content and relevance in addition to general mathematical skill, they require a systematic approach. The Two-Three Elimination Technique™ and The Yes/No Stratagem™ help TestMasters students navigate even the most complex Data Sufficiency questions with precision and clarity.

A Multi-source Reasoning question presents two or three separate tabs of information on the left-hand side of the screen and a question, which requires test-takers to compare, combine, synthesize, or apply this information, on the right-hand side. The information in the tabs may consist of short text passages, charts, tables, graphs, or a combination of two or more types.

Multi-source Reasoning questions can be either standard multiple-choice questions or multiple-dichotomous choice questions. Multiple-dichotomous choice questions present three statements; students must choose one of two options (e.g., true or false) for each statement, and must respond to all three statements correctly in order to get credit for the question.

Table Analysis questions present a sortable spreadsheet on the left-hand side of the screen and a single multiple-dichotomous choice question. Test-takers must use the table (and the sorting feature, if necessary) to select the correct response to each of the three statements.

A Graphics Interpretation question presents a chart or graph on the top half of the screen. The bottom half of the screen consists of two statements about the chart or graph. Each statement contains a blank; test-takers must select the option from a drop-down menu that best completes that statement, and must select the correct answer choice for both blanks in order to receive credit for the question.

A Two-part Analysis question presents a short piece of information (e.g., a short paragraph or a mathematical problem) followed by five or six answer choices. Test-takers are presented with two criteria. Test-takers must select one answer choice that meets the first criterion and one that meets the second from among the answer choices provided, and must make both selections correctly in order to get credit for the question.

An on-screen calculator is available for the Integrated Reasoning section, but not for any other section of the test.

---

The Quantitative Section

The Quantitative section measures the ability to reason quantitatively, solve mathematical problems, and interpret data presented visually. It includes questions on arithmetic, algebra, and geometry, but does not test trigonometry or calculus. Success on this section depends more on logic and analytical reasoning than on advanced math skills. Test-takers have 45 minutes to complete 21 multiple-choice Problem Solving questions. Calculators are not permitted.

• Problem Solving
• Data Sufficiency

---

The Verbal Section

The Verbal section measures the ability to understand and analyze written material and the ability to recognize and conform to the conventions of standard written English. Test-takers have 45 minutes to answer 23 multiple-choice questions, which come from two distinct categories:

• Critical Reasoning
• Reading Comprehension

A Critical Reasoning question presents a short passage followed by a question designed to measure a student’s ability to evaluate the information in that passage. This question category may require test-takers to support or weaken an argument or a plan of action, provide a possible explanation for a phenomenon, or identify the viewpoint presented in the passage.

Reading Comprehension questions are always presented in clusters of at least three questions. Each cluster of questions is based on the content of a single passage, which can be up to 350 words long. Reading Comprehension questions test a student’s ability to identify reasons, spot distinctions and similarities, and make inferences based on the information presented in the passage.