What is on the GMAT Exam?
Updated for the new GMAT in 2024
The GMAT Focus Edition consists of three, 45-minute sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights.
Keep reading for a full breakdown of the GMAT Focus structure and content.
THE GMAT FOCUS QUANTITATIVE REASONING SECTION
The 45-minute GMAT Focus Quantitative Reasoning section consists of 21 questions. All 21 of these questions are Problem Solving, and are similar to multiple choice questions seen on the “math” section of other standardized exams -- they require students to solve a problem and choose from five possible answer choices.
The GMAT Focus quant section is rooted in the same fundamental mathematics concepts that are taught in high schools. This does not mean, however, that the exam is easy -- GMAT Focus quant questions may not require calculus or trigonometry, but they often demand a creative approach that you can’t find in any textbook. To succeed on the GMAT Focus quant section, students must have a solid understanding of basic math and a flexible mindset that allows them to adapt to unexpected problems.
The following are the most common math topics that appear on the GMAT Focus quant section:
Arithmetic
Algebra
Exponents
Percents
Ratios
Rates
Probability
Combinations and Permutations
Statistics
Number Properties
For more, check out this article on mastering GMAT Problem Solving, or our free GMAT quant course on YouTube.
THE GMAT FOCUS VERBAL REASONING SECTION
The 45-minute GMAT Focus Verbal Reasoning section includes 23 questions. There are two question types on this section:
1) Reading Comprehension (RC)
The verbal section typically has 3-4 RC passages of varying lengths, each followed by 3-4 questions. These account for roughly half of all questions seen on the verbal section. Common topics include economics, science, art, and history.
The point of these Reading Comprehension passages is not to test subject-specific knowledge. Rather, they test the ability to read and comprehend written material, even when it may cover an unfamiliar subject. On RC questions, test-takers are often required to:
Identify primary purpose and main idea
Infer conclusions
Discern logical structure
Recognize style and tone
For more, check out this article on how to study for GMAT Focus Reading Comprehension, or our free GMAT RC course on YouTube.
2) Critical Reasoning (CR)
CR questions make up roughly half of the questions seen on the GMAT verbal section. They consist of a short passage that presents an argument. After reading this argument (typically less than 100 words), GMAT test-takers are commonly asked to:
Strengthen the argument
Weaken the argument
Identify the role of different pieces within the argument
Identify assumptions underlying a conclusion
Resolve an apparent paradox or discrepancy
Infer a conclusion based on given facts
For more, check out this article on how to prepare for GMAT Focus Critical Reasoning, or our free GMAT Critical Reasoning course on YouTube.
THE GMAT FOCUS DATA INSIGHTS SECTION
The GMAT Focus Data Insights section (DI) requires test-takers to use a combination of quantitative and verbal reasoning skills to solve multifaceted questions. It often provides students with superfluous data in order to test their ability to sort through this data and identify relevant information.
The 45-minute section consists of 20 questions, and includes the following five question types:
1) Data Sufficiency (DS)
DS problems consist of a question followed by two statements, each of which may or may not be helpful in answering the question. Test-takers must decide which of the statements (if any) are sufficient to answer the question.
DS questions cover the same topics seen on the quant section.
They have a strong logic component, and typically do not require extensive calculations.
The Data Insights section generally includes 4-8 DS questions.
2) Graphical Interpretation (GI)
GI questions include a graph and possibly accompanying text, followed by a question with one or more blanks to fill.
Typical graphs include bar charts, scatter plots, line graphs, flow charts, and other, hard-to-categorize graphs.
GI questions may or may not have a quant component. The most common quant topics covered include percentages, correlation, and rates of change.
The Data Insights section generally includes 4-6 GI questions.
3) Table Analysis (TA)
TA questions include a table whose columns can be sorted according to their values, much like an Excel table.
Each TA problem is followed by a three-part question.
The Data Insights section generally includes 2-4 TA questions.
4) Multi-Source Reasoning (MSR)
MSR questions consist of two or three tabs of information, each of which may include either a data display, a text, or both.
Each MSR passage is followed by three questions, some of which may include more than one sub-question. These questions may resemble either quant or verbal questions.
The DI section generally includes 1-2 MSR passages, yielding a total of either 3 or 6 MSR questions.
5) Two-Part Analysis (TPA)
TPA problems typically resemble either Critical Reasoning questions or quant word problems. They generally require the same skills and content tested on the quant and verbal sections.
TPA questions include a multiple choice question with two separate columns. Test-takers must choose an answer for each of these columns.
The Data Insights section generally includes 2-4 TPA questions.
For an overview of how to approach the Data Insights section, check out this video:
The big picture
As you begin your GMAT studies, here are a couple of key things to keep in mind:
To perform well on the quant section, you’ll also need both a methodical approach and creative problem-solving skills. Mastering the core topics is essential, but it’s only the beginning.
The verbal section does NOT test your knowledge of any particular topic. It tests your ability to read precisely and think logically.
To excel on the Data Insights section, you’ll need the exact same skills required for quant and verbal, plus the ability to read graphs carefully and sort through excess information.
Aside from the central quant topics, the GMAT is not terribly concerned with content knowledge. It’s more about reading precisely, thinking logically, and avoiding careless mistakes.
Above all, the GMAT is a reasoning test. Focus on developing a flexible approach and mindset.