GMAT Test Information

GMAT Test Information

1) Analytical Writing Assessment Instructions

Analysis of an Argument : Time – 30 minutes

In this section, you will be given one prompt and asked to write a critique of the argument presented. You are not being asked to present your own views on the subject.

Before you begin writing, take a few minutes to evaluate your argument and plan a response. Be sure to organize and fully develop your ideas, but leave time to reread your response and make any revisions you think are necessary. There is no minimum or maximum length for your response. You will have 30 minutes to complete this section.

Some test center keyboards do not have the American/English layout but do support American/English characters. For the GMAT test, please use ONLY standard American/English characters when entering your response. Please ask the Test Administrator if you need assistance.

Response Evaluation: All responses are scored at least twice to evaluate the overall quality of your reasoning and writing – once by a trained reader and once by an automated essay scoring engine. In some rare cases, a response may be scored a third time by a trained reader if there is a high discrepancy between the first two scores. The scoring will consider how well you:

  • Identify important features of the argument and analyze them;
  • Organize your analysis of the argument presented;
  • Provide relevant support reasons and examples; and
  • Control the elements of standard written English.

2) Integrated Reasoning Instructions

12 questions : Time – 30 minutes

In this section, several question types are presented involving the use of text, graphics, and tables in different formats.

In the Integrated Reasoning section, an on-screen calculator will be available. To access the calculator, click “Calculator” on the blue bar at the upper left of the screen (this may not work if you are accessing this tutorial from a mobile device). The calculator can also be dragged to any part of the screen. Note that the calculator in this tutorial is an image only. Actual calculator functionality will be available on the calculator you see at the test center during your GMAT exam.

Review the different questions types for the Integrated Reasoning section below:

Multi-Source Reasoning:

You will be presented with data and information on the left side of your screen. This information will be on multiple tabs, and may include text, charts, and tables. Click on each tab to examine all the relevant information, then answer the question on the right side of the screen.

Table Analysis:

You will be presented with a table of data similar to a spreadsheet, which you can sort by column. Analyze the data in the table to determine whether statements presented meets a certain condition (for example, if a statement is true/false or if a numerical value would be consistent with the data presented in the table).

Graphics Interpretation:

You will be presented with a graph or diagram, followed by statements that contain two blanks that must be filled via options in a drop-down menu. Select the values from the drop-down menu that create the most accurate statements based on the information shown in the graph or diagram.

Two-Part Analysis:

You will be presented with a brief written scenario or problem, and asked to make two choices related to the given information. The two choices are connected to each other in some way; for example, proportions for two components in a mixture, or a gain/loss trade-off, or the maximum number of two different products within a certain budget. Make only two selections; one in each column.

3) Quantitative Reasoning Instructions

31 questions : Time – 62 minutes

In this section, there are two types of questions: Problem Solving and Data Sufficiency.

For each problem solving question, solve the problem and select the best of the answer choice given.

For each data sufficiency question, evaluate the problem and two statements, labeled (1) and (2), which contain certain data or information. Using the information provided in the two statements and your knowledge of mathematics and everyday facts (such as the number of days in July or the meaning of the word counterclockwise) decide whether the information given is sufficient to answer the question and then select one of the following answer choices:

  • Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient; but statement (2) ALONE is not sufficient to answer the question asked.
  • Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient; but statement (1) ALONE is not sufficient to answer the question asked.
  • BOTH statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question asked, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question asked.
  • EACH statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question asked.
  • Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient to answer the question asked, and additional data specific to the problem are needed.

These five answer choices will be exactly the same for all data sufficiency questions in this section.

In data sufficiency questions that ask for the value of a quantity, the data given in the statements are sufficient only when it is possible to determine exactly one numerical value for the quantity.

4) Verbal Reasoning Instructions

36 questions : Time – 65 minutes

In this section, there are three types of questions: Critical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Sentence Correction.

For critical reasoning questions, you will be presented with a short argument, a set of statements, or a plan of action. Select the best answer from the answer choices given.

For reading comprehension questions, you will be presented with a passage on the left side of the screen. After reading the passage, answer all questions pertaining to it on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage. Each passage will have multiple questions associated with it.

For sentence correction questions, you will be presented with a sentence, part or all of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence, you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of the answer options will always be the original underlined phrasing; the other four will be different. Pay attention to grammar, word choice, and sentence construction to select the answer that best makes the sentence clear, exact, and free of grammatical error. The best answer should also minimize awkwardness, ambiguity, and redundancy.

Select GMAT Test: Any of the following Order

At test center, after you review the Tutorial screens, you will be prompted to select one of three options for the section order for your exam:

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

You will have one minute to make your selection at the test center. We highly recommend you think through your preferred section order prior to your exam day.

GMAT Exam Questions

Please review the following information regarding the GMAT exam questions:

  • You must select an answer to each question before moving on to the next question – no skipping. You cannot return to a previous question or change your answer once you have moved on to the next question.
  • If you do not finish all the questions in the allotted time for a section, you will receive a score, but it will reflect a penalty for not finishing the test.
  • After you complete all sections of the exam, you will have the chance to preview your score and decide to accept or cancel your score.
  • If you choose to end the exam early, raise your hand to notify the Test Administrator. In this case, the exam will not be scored and you will not receive an Unofficial or Official Score Report. However, if you sit for the exam again, your score report will show that you sat for the exam and that your score was not reported.
  • Use the pens and erasable noteboards provided to you by the Test Administrator to work out your answers. All pens and erasable noteboards must be returned to the Test Administrator at the end of the test session.

Timing and Optional Breaks

During the GMAT exam, you will have 2 optional breaks scheduled between certain sections of the exam. A prompt will be displayed on your computer screen during these scheduled break times; if you choose to take a break during these scheduled times, notify the Test Administrator by raising your hand.

  • You are not allowed to leave the test center premises during your break. Policies may vary depending on the test center location; it is your responsibility to ask the Test Administrator where you are permitted to go.
  • Each break will be up to 8 minutes. If you exceed the allotted time, the extra time will be deducted from the next exam section. Official time will be kept by the computer.
  • As a Reminder: While on break you are not allowed to access any electronic devices, including cell phones. If you want to know the time during your break, please consult your Test Administrator.

If you wish to leave your seat during any other time during the exam (not during the scheduled breaks), notify the Test Administrator by raising your hand. This will count as an unscheduled break; the exam clock will continue during this time, giving you less time to answer questions in that section.

Accept or Cancel Your Score

Once you have completed all sections of the GMAT exam, you will see a preview of your GMAT Total Score, as well as the section scores for Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative and Verbal sections. Score Preview is not available for the Analytical Writing Assessment section because of the additional time required for scoring an essay.

After you preview your GMAT scores, you will have two (2) minutes to decide if you want to Accept or Cancel your scores. We highly recommend you think through your accept/cancel strategy prior to test day, including what your target score is and what scores you would be comfortable accepting or cancelling.

  • If you Accept your score, you will receive an Unofficial GMAT Score Report from the front desk when you exit the test center, and you will have online access to your Official GMAT Score Report (which includes your AWA score) within 21 days following your exam. Your Official GMAT Score Report will be sent to the schools/programs you selected prior to your exam, and you will also have the opportunity to send Additional Score Reports after leaving the test center.
  • If you Cancel your score, you will NOT receive an Unofficial or Official GMAT Score Report. Your GMAT scores will NOT be sent to any schools, and no record of the exam will show on any future score reports sent to schools.
  • If you Accept your score at the test center, you will have 72 hours to cancel your scores online, for a $25 fee. Cancelled scores can be reinstated online for up to 4 years and 11 months after the exam, for a $50 fee.

IMPORTANT: If you do not make a selection to Accept or Cancel, your score will be automatically cancelled.