EdMIUMGraduate Management Aptitude Test also known as GMAT, is an entrance exam as a part of the application process for business school. The exam is a multiple-choice, computer-based and computer adaptive standard exam to study business programs such as MBA, globally.
In this article let us look at:
- GMAT Syllabus
- Analytical Writing Assessment
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Integrated Reasoning
- Verbal Reasoning
- GMAT Exam Pattern
- GMAT Vs GRE
- GMAT Vs CAT
- Preparing for GMAT
1. GMAT Syllabus
GMAT is a three and half hour exam which is divided into four sections with a total of 91 questions. GMAT syllabus includes Analytical Writing, Quantitative, Integrated reasoning and verbal reasoning.
2. Analytical Writing Assessment
Analytical Writing Assessment measures critical thinking and communication skills. It is also called the essay section, 30 minutes writing task. The writing section will have topics on which the candidate has to write an essay or a passage may be given on which questions will be asked. The syllabus is vast and varied as it could be any topic of interest. The main idea is to focus on the structure not the arguments.
Argument Essay
This section is to analyze the reasoning and then presents the argument. You will be judged on how well reason was found in an argument.
Issue Essay
In this section, you have o write on the issue given to you. The opinion has to be given in around 600 words. It can be supportive to the statement given or you can give your own opinion. However, make sure to give an opinion in a structured manner.
Remember! This is not a test of your opinion but the writing style.
3. Quantitative Reasoning
The quantitative section comprises of two sections which are Data Sufficiency and Problem solving. The questions will be objective and have multiple choice answers. The section is designed to test content and analytical knowledge. The quantitative syllabus includes the basic math concepts.
Data Sufficiency
The questions consist of a question and two statements of data. You are required to identify the information needed to solve the problem and identify the data required to solve the problem and eliminate the answer choices. It measures your ability to examine the quantitative problem.
Problem Solving
It is a standard question with five possible answer choices. It measures your skills to use logic and analytical reasoning for solving quantitative problems.
The GMAT math syllabus is divided into these categories:
- Geometry
- Elementary Algebra
- Arithmetic
- Ratio Proportions
- Properties of Integers
- Permutations and Combinations
- Exponents and Roots
- Linear equations
4. Integrated Reasoning
This section is the latest addition to the GMAT exam syllabus. It examines your ability to evaluate the data presented in graphs, passages, tables, or a combination of three. There are four different types of questions in this section:
Two-part Analysis
The questions are in the form of 2 questions that relate to same information. Five or six answer choices are given and the answer can be same or different to both the questions. This part measures the skills to solve complex problems which can be verbal, quantitative or a combination of both.
Table analysis
You are presented with a table with three questions. You must be able to differentiate between useful and non-useful data. It measures the ability to sort and analyze a table or a spreadsheet to determine the important information.
Graphics Interpretation
You must analyze the information on a graph or a chart to find out relationships, make inferences and solve the questions.
Multi-Source Reasoning
These questions have multiple tabs that have inputs in them. These are more like critical reasoning questions which measure the skills to examine data from multiple sources like tables, graphs, texts and combination of all these and analyze each source of data.
5. Verbal Reasoning
The verbal section is designed to test the command of English, skills in analyzing an argument and ability to read critically. The verbal syllabus is used to test the English language skills of the candidate. Here are three types of questions which you can expect in this section;
Critical Reasoning
The questions test the ability in making and evaluating arguments and formulating the plan of action. These are multiple choice questions.
Sentence Correction
This part includes questions that present a problem with a sentence. This measures your language proficiency in identifying the mistakes which can be grammatical mistakes, for example.
Reading Comprehension
The questions include short or long passages where you need to infer answers. They test your critical reading skills and your ability to summarize the main idea.
The GMAT English syllabus topics can be specified as below:
- Subject verb agreement
- Modifiers
- Idioms
- Parallelism
- Comparison
- Verb Tenses
- Evaluate
- Inference
- Bold Face
- Pronoun
- Assumptions
- Paradox
- Strengthen and weaken
6. GMAT Exam Pattern
GMAT pattern includes Analytical Writing, Quantitative, Integrated reasoning and verbal sections. Here is the GMAT exam format:
| Section | Time | No. Of Questions | Score |
| Analytical writing Assessment | 30 min | 1 Topic(Essay) | 0-6 |
| Integrated Reasoning | 30 min | 12 | 1-8 |
| Quantitative | 62 min | 31 | |
| Verbal | 65 min | 36 | 6-51 |
| Optional Breaks | 16 min | 6-51 | |
| Total approximate Time | 203 min(3Hrs 30 mins) |
7. GMAT Vs GRE
The major difference between GMAT and GRE is that the GMAT is used by Business School as a part of their admission where as GRE is used for admission into a several graduate programs.
GMAT and GRE have a primary difference in terms of the section of the test. GRE doesn’t have Integrated Reasoning but GMAT does.
There are other parameters by which GRE and GMAT are differed which are namely Fee, Test Duration, Test Pattern, Scoring format and the no. of schools accepting them.
8. GMAT Vs CAT
The primary difference between CAT and GMAT is the Analytical writing Assessment section which is only present in GMAT. There are no descriptive questions in
CAT Syllabus includes topics like Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension.
GMAT complete syllabus includes components as Analytical Writing, Quantitative, Integrated reasoning and verbal.
9. Preparing for GMAT
Preparing for GMAT isn’t the impossible task. All you need is to focus. You can choose to study on ypur own or choose to join a training center.
Firstly check out the syllabus and the criteria and decide upon the best method to prepare for GMAT. GMAT preparation requires ample time and effort to prepare for the exam. The time taken to prepare for an exam depends on various factors such as the preparation level and targeted score.
Approach in a right manner with a robust study plan and learn to manage the time as it is critical for the exam!
