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The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a standardized, computer-adaptive test that tests the skills necessary for success in business school. Notably, these are the same skills that are used in the business world every day: critical thinking, logical reasoning, and data analysis. Earning a top GMAT score can help a candidate’s application move to the top of the heap.
It’s important to understand the GMAT exam pattern so that you can be well prepared to finish a tough exam that takes more than 2 hours to complete. So, in this article, we’ll answer the question “What is the structure of the GMAT exam pattern?” and take a look at related topics, such as the selection of the section order, the topics tested, the time constraints, and the types of questions you’ll encounter.
Here are the topics we’ll cover:
- The GMAT Exam Pattern
- The GMAT Has 3 Sections
- 2 Options for Taking the GMAT
- Selecting Your GMAT Section Order
- Use Your Optional Break Strategically
- What Is Computer Adaptivity?
- The Review and Edit Feature of the GMAT
- Key Takeaways
- What’s Next?
Let’s start with a discussion of the GMAT exam pattern.
The GMAT Exam Pattern
The GMAT exam takes 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete. Before the exam starts, you will move through a series of introductory screens. Those screens will display exam instructions and will give you the option of selecting the order of your GMAT sections.
After either your first or second section, you may take a 10-minute break. During the break, you can leave the exam room to use the restroom, drink some water, eat a snack, or stretch your legs. Additionally, you may access items stored in your locker, such as food or medication. However, you are not allowed to exit the test center.
KEY FACT:
The GMAT takes 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete, plus a 10-minute optional break.
Next, let’s discuss the sections of the GMAT.
The GMAT Has 3 Sections
Overall, the GMAT consists of 3 sections containing a total of 64 questions. Specifically, the GMAT exam sections are as follows:
| Section | Number of Questions | Time Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Reasoning | 21 questions | 45 minutes |
| Verbal Reasoning | 23 questions | 45 minutes |
| Data Insights | 20 questions | 45 minutes |
Let’s look at each section in more detail.
Quantitative Section
The Quantitative Reasoning section of the GMAT tests basic math topics that you probably have studied previously, and a few that may be new to you. Specifically, the 21 questions are all multiple choice Problem-Solving (PS) questions with 5 answer choices.
Don’t assume that being an A student in Algebra or Calculus puts you in line to ace the GMAT’s Quant section! In fact, you’ll need to put in quite a few hours of study to get a great Quant score.
There are roughly 19 major GMAT Quant topics:
- Basic Arithmetic
- Ratios and Proportions
- Percents
- Number Properties
- Unit Conversions
- Linear Equations
- Quadratic Equations
- Exponents and Roots
- Inequalities
- Absolute Value
- Coordinate Geometry
- Functions and Sequences
- General Word Problems
- Rates
- Work
- Overlapping Sets
- Statistics
- Combinations and Permutations
- Probability
TTP PRO TIP:
Familiarize yourself with what’s tested in the GMAT Quantitative Reasoning section.
Verbal Section
The Verbal Reasoning section of the GMAT tests your reading comprehension and critical reasoning skills. In particular, you’ll encounter 3 or 4 Reading Comprehension (RC) passages asking a total of 13-14 questions. The remaining 9 or 10 questions will consist of short (100 words or less) Critical Reasoning (CR) passages, with one question per passage.
Let’s look at these 2 types of questions in more detail.
Reading Comprehension (RC)
An RC passage is roughly 350 words long, and each question based on the passage is a multiple-choice question with 5 answer choices. Specifically, RC questions may ask you about the following:
- What is the main idea?
- What is the inference?
- What are the relevant details of the passage?
- What is the passage’s organization?
- What is the tone of the passage?
KEY FACT:
Reading Comprehension questions ask you about the structure and analysis of the passage.
Critical Reasoning (CR)
A CR question begins with a short passage, 100 words or less, that presents an argument. Generally, the single multiple-choice question about the passage is logic-based, focusing on one of the following:
- making an inference
- identifying or resolving a paradox
- identifying the flaw in the logic used
- specifying the assumption on which the argument depends
- strengthening or weakening the argument
KEY FACT:
The Critical Reasoning section of the GMAT’s Verbal Section presents short passages with one question each.
Data Insights Section
The Data Insights (DI) section tests your ability to interpret data in tables, graphs, charts, and other formats. Thus, you will need to use both your logic and quant skills to process and analyze data quickly. In addition, many of the questions will integrate reading comprehension and critical reasoning skills. You’ll encounter 5 question types: Table Analysis, Graphic Interpretation, Two-Part Analysis, Multi-Source Reasoning, and Data Sufficiency.
KEY FACT:
The three sections of the GMAT are Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights.
Next, let’s discuss your options for taking the GMAAT.
2 Options for Taking the GMAT
You can take the GMAT year-round at a designated test center, or you can take it online at home. There are GMAT test centers located in 114 countries around the world, and the GMAT Online is currently available to test-takers in almost any location. With that in mind, you can identify your desired test center location at mba.com. Additionally, you can check the list of countries in which students can take the online GMAT.
Regardless of where you take the GMAT, you must complete your GMAT registration at mba.com by creating your online account. Then, you’ll be able to register for your exam. The cost of taking the exam at a test center is $275, and the GMAT Online costs $300. Furthermore, you can learn about how the at-home and in-person GMAT compare in this article.
KEY FACT:
You can take the GMAT year-round at a test center or online at home.
Let’s examine the 2 test-taking options in more detail.
Taking the GMAT at a Test Center
At the test center, you will undergo a check-in process to verify your identity and your registration details. In addition, you’ll be able to store your belongings in a locker before you enter the exam room. At all times, you’ll be monitored by a test proctor to ensure you follow all GMAT rules and procedures. In addition, the proctor will assist you if you have questions during the exam, need an additional scratch pad or pen, or experience a technical difficulty.
Taking your exam at one of the GMAT test centers has some advantages. In particular, the environment will be controlled, so there will be no interruptions, noise, or other environmental issues. Additionally, you’ll be using test-friendly computers provided by the test center, and you’ll have immediate assistance with any technical issues.
TTP PRO TIP:
A GMAT test center provides a quiet environment, test-friendly computers, and responsive test center employees.
Taking the GMAT Online at Home
If you take the GMAT Online exam, you’ll have more flexibility in scheduling your test date and time. Specifically, you may schedule your exam 24/7 to fit your needs. So, no matter if you’re an early bird or a night owl, or if you have a nontraditional work schedule, you’ll be able to choose a date and time that works for you.
If you opt for the online GMAT, you must provide your own computer that meets all technical specifications mandated by GMAC. You’ll need to have a quiet location, and you’ll have to clear your space. The remote proctor will oversee your exam via your webcam. First, you’ll verify your identity at check-in. Then, you’ll show the proctor that your workspace follows the online GMAT rules and regulations. Note that the proctor will oversee your actions while you’re taking the exam and can help with any technical issues you might have. To learn more about taking the GMAT online, check out our guide to the online GMAT.
TTP PRO TIP:
The GMAT Online allows you to take the exam in the comfort of your own home.
Regardless of which option you choose, the GMAT allows you to choose your section order. Let’s discuss.
Selecting Your GMAT Section Order
A new benefit of the GMAT is that test-takers may choose the order in which the sections are presented on test day. This option allows you to tailor it to your skills and preferences. The Select Section Order screen is the final screen that you will see just before the start of your GMAT test. Incidentally, you will have just 1 minute to choose from 6 possible section orders:
- Data Insights → Quant → Verbal
- Data Insights → Verbal → Quant
- Quant → Verbal → Data Insights
- Quant → Data Insights → Verbal
- Verbal → Data Insights → Quant
- Verbal → Quant → Data Insights
Be sure to know ahead of time which section order you intend to choose. If you don’t make a choice, the section order will be assigned to you by the computer.
KEY FACT:
You may choose from 6 different section orders for your GMAT.
Next, let’s discuss how to choose the optimal GMAT section order.
Which Section Order Is Best for Me?
There is no single “best” section order. Each test-taker is different, so the best section order for you might not be good at all for someone else. Also, note that there is no “official” best section order. GMAC researched the association between section order and GMAT total score and found no statistical differences. Therefore, carefully consider which section order is best for you. Let’s examine a couple of factors that you’ll want to consider.
Anxiety
One aspect of considering your section order is test anxiety. If Data Insights makes your blood pressure rise, you might consider choosing it first. In this way, you’ll get it out of the way first, thus clearing your head for the two less stressful sections that follow. Conversely, you could instead choose DI as your final section, allowing yourself to get your 2 best sections done early, while you still have confidence and energy.
Test Fatigue
In addition to anxiety, you should consider test fatigue. While anxiety addresses your emotional state, test fatigue refers to your mental (and sometimes physical) state. You know the test fatigue feeling: your brain is slower to process information, you don’t feel as sharp as you normally do, and you may even experience physical symptoms such as muscle aches or headache. You just want the test to be over!
If you are concerned about test fatigue, you might consider scheduling the section you find easiest as your last one. Here’s why: just as your mental and physical faculties are waning, seeing easy questions might just give you the pick-me-up needed to finish strongly.
Alternatively, you could choose your worst section as the final one. In this case, you could use your early positive energy to finish your strongest sections.
TTP PRO TIP:
There is no “best” section order. Before test day, take some time to decide which order will be best for you.
As mentioned earlier, the GMAT offers an optional 10-minute break. Let’s discuss how to take advantage of that time.
Use Your Optional Break Strategically
At this point, it’s important to remind you of your “hidden weapon:” the 10-minute optional break, which you may take after you’ve finished the first or second section of the test. Thus, if you have concerns about anxiety or test fatigue, the 10-minute break could be your saving grace. If you feel anxiety or test fatigue symptoms coming on, take your optional break immediately after you finish the section you’re currently working on.
During your break, do some deep breathing or other calming activities to eliminate or mitigate those feelings. As a result, you may find yourself refreshed and ready to tackle the next section!
TTP PRO TIP:
Use your optional 10-minute break to re-center and eliminate anxiety or test fatigue.
You may be aware that the GMAT is a computer-adaptive exam. Let’s discuss what that means for your test-taking experience.
What Is Computer Adaptivity?
A key feature of the GMAT is that all 3 sections are computer-adaptive at the question level. In short, this means that each question’s difficulty level is determined by whether you answered previous questions correctly or incorrectly. Let’s look at the process in more detail.
When you begin a section, you will be given a medium-difficulty level question. If you answer it correctly, then the next question will be a bit more difficult. On the other hand, if you answer the first question incorrectly, the next question will be a little easier. Then, as you continue through the section, the difficulty level of succeeding questions will increase or decrease, depending on your answers.
Do note that the harder questions are score-enhancing, so it is in your best interest to answer as many questions correctly as possible! In other words, if you miss 6 hard questions, that’s not a disaster. After all, you were scoring well enough to be offered hard questions. Getting them wrong will not penalize you as much as missing 6 easy questions. In that case, you might never be presented with the score-enhancing hard questions. So, your score will be much lower than that of the test-taker who missed 6 hard questions.
The bottom line is this: It’s not how many questions you get right or wrong. Rather, it’s how many of each type of question you get right or wrong. We are not privy to the exact scoring algorithm for the GMAT, but that fact is crystal clear.
KEY FACT:
The GMAT is question-adaptive: each question’s difficulty level is determined by your performance on previous questions.
The Review and Edit Feature of the GMAT
Historically, GMAT test takers have never been able to edit answers to previous questions. However, you are now allowed to change up to 3 answers in each GMAT section.
As you work through each section, you’ll be able to mark questions for review. Then, if you have time remaining when you reach the end of the section, the Question Review and Edit screen will appear. The screen will show all questions in the section and which ones you bookmarked earlier. At that point, you may click on any question to review it, and you may change up to 3 answers.
Caution! Don’t think this option is a cure-all. Remember, you can change a maximum of only 3 answers. Also, you must have enough time remaining in the section to rework the questions about which you are unsure. So, a good strategy is to bookmark only the questions that you feel you have a good probability of answering correctly.
You might wonder how question adaptivity can work if you are allowed to change answers after the fact. The answer is that since you are allowed to change only a maximum of 3 answers, the adaptive nature of the GMAT is still valid. The scoring algorithm takes changed answers into account.
KEY FACT:
The review and edit feature allows you to rework questions and change up to three answers.
While you can return to questions and change your answers, you are not allowed to skip questions during the section. Let’s discuss.
Skipping Questions Is Not Allowed
Because of the question-adaptive design of the GMAT, the difficulty level of the next question is dependent on your response to the previous question. In order for the GMAT algorithm to select the appropriate difficulty level of the next question, you must answer each question before moving to the next one.
Thus, you have no option to skip a GMAT question, even if you’re completely stumped by it. To move to the next question, you must select an answer. Thus, if you are completely stuck on a particular question, make an educated guess, mark it for review, and continue to the next question. Then, if you have time at the end of the section, the review and edit screen will easily give you access to the question and you can work on it then.
KEY FACT:
You must answer each GMAT question before moving to the next one.
Key Takeaways
This article has presented several key points about the GMAT exam format and pattern:
- The GMAT has 3 sections: Quantitative, Verbal, and Data Insights. In total, you will answer 64 questions in 2 hours and 15 minutes.
- The Quantitative section assesses your ability to apply math concepts logically and efficiently.
- The Verbal section tests your ability to analyze information and apply logical reasoning.
- The Data Insights section tests your ability to analyze and interpret graphs, charts, and written information.
- You may choose the section order of the GMAT.
- Use the 10-minute break strategically to re-energize.
- The GMAT is question-adaptive; the difficulty level of each question is based on your response to previous questions.
- The review and edit option allows you to rework questions, and you may change up to 3 answers.
- You may not skip questions.
What’s Next?
Now that you know about the GMAT exam pattern, you may want to read this article about how long it takes to study for the GMAT.
To learn more about each GMAT section, check out these articles about the Quant, Verbal, and Data Insights sections.
