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Here is some useful information on GMAT test pattern/format. Read about information on GMAT exam pattern/format.


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GMAT Test Pattern

The GMAT tests the fundamental skills-Reasoning and Comprehension included-and does not require any subject-specific theoretical study. The test has three distinct sections : Analytical Writing Ability (AWA), Quantitative, and Verbal. The Quantitative section has two types of questions, Problem Solving and Data Sufficiency, mingled throughout the section. The Verbal Section has three types : Sentence Correction, Critical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension; here too, the questions of each type appear in no set sequence. There are a total of 78 questions, 37 in Quantitative and 41 in Verbal. These have to be done in 75 minutes each.






Format of GMAT
Questions Time Allotted
Analysis of an IssueAnalysis of an Argument 1 Topic1 Topic 30 minutes30 minutes
Optional Rest Break NA 5 minutes
Quantitative (Problem Solving & Data Sufficiency) 37 75
Optional Rest Break NA 5 minutes
Verbal (Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, & Sentence Correction) 41 75 minutes
78+2 Essays 4hours (approx)

Analytical Writing Assessment: The analytical writing section consists of two short essays to be written in thirty minutes each. The first is the Analysis of an Issue, in which you need to analyze the issue presented and explain your views on it. The second essay is Analysis of an Argument, in which a given argument has to be critically analyzed and evaluated. For both the essays, the emphasis is on the "Analytical" part, and not on the "Writing" part.

Quantitative Section: The 37 questions in this section comprise two kinds of questions : Problem Solving (PS) and Data Sufficiency (DS). This section contains questions on Mathematics. The difficulty level of the questions is comparable to Class X.

Verbal Section: The verbal section in GMAT test requires the basic skills of English coupled with reasoning and analysis. The 41 questions, to be attempted in 75 minutes, consist of three types : Sentence Correction (SC), Critical Reasoning (CR), and Reading Comprehension (RC). The three types are intermingled, with no fixed number for each type.