1. What is the structure of the gmat exam? GMAT FAQ

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Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the structure of the GMAT exam?

4GMAT
What is the structure of the GMAT exam?
1. What are the sections in the GMAT exam?
2. What is the duration of the exam?
3. What is the duration of each section of the exam?

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6
What are the sections of the GMAT exam?

7
Start
30
min
AWA
Analytical Writing
Assessment is the first
section of the GMAT
test.

8
Start
30
min
AWA Integrated Reasoning
Analytical Writing
section of the GMAT
test.
30
min

9
Start
30
min
AWA Integrated Reasoning Quantitative Reasoning
Analytical Writing
section of the GMAT
test.
30
min
Optional
Break
75
min

10
Start
30
min
AWA EndIntegrated Reasoning Quantitative Reasoning Verbal Reasoning
Analytical Writing
section of the GMAT
test.
30
min
Optional
Break
75
min
Optional
Break
75
min

11
Start
30
min
AWA EndIntegrated Reasoning Quantitative Reasoning Verbal Reasoning
Analytical Writing
section of the GMAT
test.
30
min
Optional
Break
75
min
Optional
Break
75
min
4 3.5
Sections
Hours total duration. Excluding
optional breaks of 8 minutes each

Analytical Writing Assessment
Duration: 30 minutes. Scoring Range: 0 to 6 in intervals of 0.5

13
1. Analytical Writing Assessment – A snapshot
AWA – Analysis of an Argument

14
?
What is the AWA section all about?
You will have to write an essay – Analysis of an argument. Your
essay should critique an argument presented to you.

15
?
What is tested?
1. Your ability to identify the main fallacy(ies) in reasoning found in
the argument.
2. Your ability to write effectively adhering to standard rules of
written English.

16
?
What is tested?
the argument.
written English.
How is the section scored?
Scoring Range: 0 to 6 in intervals of 0.5
Competitive Score: 5 and above.

17
?
What is tested?
the argument.
written English.
How is the section scored?
Scoring Range: 0 to 6 in intervals of 0.5
Competitive Score: 5 and above.
Preparation Outlook
• Visit http://www.mba.com for a list of topics that appear in the
AWA section of the GMAT test.
• List down points identifying fallacies in reasoning for each of
these arguments.
• Write essays for at least 5 to 10 of the topics and get it evaluated
by a tutor.

Duration: 30 minutes. Scoring Range: 1 to 8 in intervals of 1
Integrated Reasoning

19
2. Integrated Reasoning – A Snapshot
4 variants of questions appear in this section. Total of 12 multiple choice questions. You will not be able to skip any question nor will you be
able to go back to a question after you have confirmed your response to the question.
Multi Source Reasoning

20
4 variants of questions appear in this section. Total of 12 objective type questions. You will not be able to skip any question nor will you be
able to go back to a question after you have confirmed the answer to the question.
Data is presented in the form
of a pie chart or a line
diagram or a bar chart or a
scatter diagram. One to two
questions per graph.
Graphic Interpretation

21
Data is presented in tabular
form. One or two questions
per table.
Table Analysis

22
per table.
Table Analysis
Data from 2 or 3 sources.
A graph, a table and a
paragraph or any
combination. 1 to 3
questions.

23
per table.
Table Analysis
Data from 2 or 3 sources.
A graph, a table and a
paragraph or any
combination. 1 to 3
questions.
A question has two parts.
You response to both parts
should be correct. No partial
credit for getting only one of
the two parts right.
Two Part Analysis

24
Scoring Range
Scoring Range: 1 to 8 points in intervals of 1
Competitive Score: A score of 5 to 8 points is competitive
B School evaluation criteria
The integrated reasoning section was introduced in the GMAT
since July 2012. B schools use this score in conjunction with your
scores in the quant and in the verbal sections. While an 8 on 8
may not be reason enough for a school to give you an admit, a 3
on 8 could be a strong reason to deny you an admit.

25
Scoring Range Preparation Outlook
Competitive Score: A score of 5 to 8 points is competitive
B School evaluation criteria
The integrated reasoning section was introduced in the GMAT
since July 2012. B schools use this score in conjunction with your
scores in the quant and in the verbal sections. While an 8 on 8
may not be reason enough for a school to give you an admit, a 3
on 8 could be a strong reason to deny you an admit.
The Official Guide to the GMAT has a companion website that
provides 50 questions from across the 4 variants. Solve all of
these questions and familiarize yourself with the different question
types.
Invest adequate time in this section to score over 5.
However, do not spend disproportionately high amount of time to
max your scores in this section. There may not be too much of a
difference a B school may perceive between a 6 and an 8 in this
section.

are NOT computer adaptive sections
The AWA and the IR sections

You have the option to take a break before proceeding to the next
section. It might be a good idea to take the break to sip water, use
the rest room and stretch a bit and come back rejuvenated.
Optional Break (8 minutes)

📅
Duration: 75 minutes. Scoring Range: 0 to 60.
Quantitative Reasoning

3. Quantitative Reasoning – A Snapshot
37 Questions
Multiple Choice Questions
75 Minutes
ℹ

37 Questions
75 Minutes
ℹAbout 2/3rd of the questions
Problem Solving
5 choices per question
Only 1 choice is correct

37 Questions
75 Minutes
Problem Solving
Remaining 1/3rd of the questions
Data Sufficiency
Question followed by 2
statements

37 Questions
75 Minutes
Problem Solving
Remaining 1/3rd of the questions
Data Sufficiency
Question followed by 2
statements
This one is a Computer Adaptive Section
The level of difficulty of each question shown to you is determined by your
response to the preceding question. A correct response could result in a tougher
question; an incorrect one an easier question.

3. Quantitative Reasoning – Topics Tested

Arithmetic
Number Properties & Theory, Descriptive
Statistics, Sets, Counting Methods, Probability

Arithmetic
Algebra
Linear & Quadratic equation, Inequalities,
Functions, Absolute value, Exponents

Arithmetic
Algebra
Geometry
Triangles, Circles, Quadrilaterals, Coordinate
Goemetry, Solids – Volume, Area

Arithmetic
Algebra
Geometry
Triangles, Circles, Quadrilaterals, Coordinate
Goemetry, Solids – Volume, Area
Word Problems
Rate Problems, Work Problems, Sets,
Mixtures, Interest, Data Interpretation

Scoring Range
Maximum Possible: A score of 51 is the maximum
Competitive Score: A score of 50 is competitive for Asian test
takers. Settle for nothing less than 49 points (79th percentile in
TY2015).
B-School evaluation criteria
A good number of B-Schools expect a student to exhibit a
balanced performance in the quant and in the verbal section.
While the higher ranked B-schools might expect a 90th percentile
in both sections, many good schools will expect their students to
have over 80 percentile in each section.

Competitive Score: A score of 50 is competitive for Asian test
takers. Settle for nothing less than 49 points (79th percentile in
TY2015).
While higher ranked B-schools might expect a 90th percentile in
both sections, many good schools will expect their students to
It is relatively easier to get a higher score in the quant section of
the GMAT than the verbal section. The flip side to the argument is
that it therefore, becomes imperative to have a high score in the
quant section.
If you are one of the students who fares better in the quant
section compared to the verbal section, invest adequate effort to
maximize your quant score and keep your head above water in the
verbal section.
Many test takers invest disproportionately high fraction of time in
improving their verbal scores and ignore the quant section (which
is their strong area). Do not let that happen to you if you are better
at quant than at the verbal.

Duration: 75 minutes. Scoring Range: 0 to 60.
Verbal Reasoning

4. Verbal Reasoning – A Snapshot
Number of
Questions
o 41 questions
o Multiple choice questions
with 5 choices each

Number of
Questions
Time Duration
o 41 questions
with 5 choices each
o 75 minutes

This one is also a
Computer Adaptive
Section:
The level of difficulty of each
question shown to you is
determined by your response to
the preceding question.
A correct response could result
in a tougher question; an
incorrect one an easier question.
Number of
Questions
Time Duration
o 41 questions
with 5 choices each
o 75 minutes

45
4. Verbal Reasoning – Types of Questions

46
01 About a third of the
questions are of this type.
Sentence Correction
A part of the sentence or the entire sentence is
underlined. You need to select from the 5 choices the
one that best fits the underlined part of the sentence.

47
02 About another third of the
questions are of this type. Passages
from a wide spectrum of topics
Sentence Correction
Reading Comprehension
Passages not exceeding 350 words. 2 to 4
questions per passage. Answer the questions
solely based on what is given in the passage.

48
03 Another third of the questions are of this
type. Based on logically valid arguments.
02 About another third of the
questions are of this type. Passages
from a wide spectrum of topics
Sentence Correction
Reading Comprehension
Passages not exceeding 350 words. 2 to 4
questions per passage. Answer the questions
solely based on what is given in the passage.
Critical Reasoning
Short arguments of about 80 to
100 words. Strengthen / weaken
an argument type of questions.

Scoring Range
Competitive Score: A score of 40 (91st percentile in TY2015) in
the verbal section is competitive. Settle for nothing less than 36
points in this section.

Competitive Score: A score of 40 (91st percentile in TY2015) in
the verbal section is competitive. Settle for nothing less than 36
points in this section.
It is relatively tougher to get a high score in the verbal section of
the GMAT than the quant section. The brighter side to the scenario
is that even a score of 36 is competitive in the verbal section.
Of the three types of questions that appear in the GMAT verbal
section, preparing for the Sentence Correction and Critical
Reasoning is more structured than the preparation for Reading
Comprehension.
Widen your reading habit. Invest in a subscription to an online
magazine such as Scientific American and or the Economist and
read at least three articles from each every day to crack the RC in
the GMAT.

What counts towards your 800 in the GMAT?

Quant Score
Your score in the quant
section counts to the
computation of your GMAT
score out of 800

Quant Score
score out of 800
Verbal Score
Your score in the verbal
score out of 800

Scoring Range
200 to 800 in intervals of 10
700+ is a competitive score.
Quant Score
score out of 800
Verbal Score
score out of 800

AWA score and Integrated Reasoning sections do not contribute to the computation of your
GMAT score as reported on the scale of 200 to 800. The scores in AWA and IR are reported
as stand alone scores.
Scoring Range
200 to 800 in intervals of 10
700+ is a competitive score.
Quant Score
score out of 800
Verbal Score
score out of 800

4GMAT
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1. What is the structure of the gmat exam? GMAT FAQ