Last Updated on November 23, 2023
As you may already know, the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a standardized, computer-adaptive test (CAT) that tests the skills necessary for success in the business world, skills such as critical thinking, logical reasoning, data analysis, and basic math and English skills.
Business schools evaluate GMAT scores as a measure of how an MBA hopeful will perform in their programs, and earning a top GMAT score can be a huge gold star on a candidate’s application. Although most MBA programs now also accept the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the GMAT remains the more commonly taken exam for admission to business school.
Although most MBA programs now also accept the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the GMAT remains the more commonly taken exam for admission to business school.
KEY FACT:
Although most MBA programs now accept either the GMAT or the GRE, the GMAT remains the more commonly taken exam for admission to business school.
It’s important to understand the GMAT format, so that you can be prepared to withstand the rigors of a challenging exam that takes nearly 3.5 hours to complete. So, in this article, I’ll provide a detailed breakdown of the GMAT exam structure, everything from section order and time constraints to computer-adaptivity and question types.
It’s important to understand the GMAT format, so that you can be prepared to withstand the rigors of a challenging exam that takes nearly 3.5 hours to complete.
To start, let’s review how the GMAT is administered.
- How the GMAT is Administered
- The GMAT Exam Structure
- GMAT Question Formats
- What Is the Format of the GMAT Questions?
How the GMAT is Administered
Although the GMAT is offered as both a paper-based exam and a computer-based one, the vast majority of GMAT test-takers take the computer-based exam (which is the one we’ll be focused on in this article).
The computer-based GMAT is generally administered at a designated GMAT test center. A proctor administers the exam in a testing room where each test-taker sits at a computer station. Prior to entering the exam room, you’ll have the opportunity to store your belongings in a locker.
Test-takers undergo a roughly 15-minute check-in process to verify their identities with the proctor before the start of their GMAT and are monitored by the proctor throughout the exam, to ensure that they comply with the strict rules and procedures of the GMAT. The proctor also assists any test-takers who may have questions during the exam, need additional scratch paper or pens, or experience a technical difficulty related to the computer presentation of the exam.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the computer-based GMAT is currently also available in an online format that allows students to sit for the GMAT at home, rather than at a test center, under the monitoring of a remote proctor. The format of the online exam differs from that of the in-person exam in a few key ways, which you can read about in this guide to the online GMAT.
Now that we know how the exam is administered, let’s look at an overview of the GMAT exam structure.
The GMAT Exam Structure
As I already mentioned, the GMAT exam takes about 3.5 hours to complete. At the beginning of the exam, before you are presented with any test questions, you will navigate through a series of introductory screens on your computer. Those screens will display some instructions for the exam, give you the opportunity to select up to 5 programs to which you’d like to send your GMAT score (should you accept it), and allow you to select the order in which you see the sections of the GMAT (we’ll talk more about that later).
The test questions are broken down into 4 sections consisting of a total of 79 multiple-choice questions and 1 essay, with a total run time of 3 hours 7 minutes. The multiple-choice questions are not subject to individual time limits, but each section is.
The default GMAT exam format is as follows:
GMAT Test Format
| Section | Number of Questions | Time Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) | 1 essay | 30 minutes |
| Integrated Reasoning (IR) | 12 questions | 30 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 31 questions | 62 minutes |
| Verbal Reasoning | 36 questions | 65 minutes |
Either before or after (depending on your section order) the Quantitative and Verbal sections of the exam, there are two optional 8-minute breaks, when you can leave the exam room to use the restroom, get a drink of water, have a snack, or simply stretch your legs. During those breaks, you are allowed to access certain items that you may have stored in your locker (such as food or medication), but you are not allowed to exit the test center to, say, grab something from your car, run to a coffee shop, or make a phone call.
After you finish your exam, the computer will present you with a preview of your GMAT scores that will include your Total Score and your scores for all sections except the AWA section, which is scored later (by both a human and a computer).
When you preview your scores, the computer will give you 2 minutes to decide whether to accept or cancel those scores. If you accept your scores, they will be added to your Official Score Report and sent to any score recipients you selected at that beginning of your exam. Additionally, the exam proctor will give you a printout of your Unofficial Score Report before you leave the test center. If you cancel your scores, they will not be added to the score history that appears on your Official Score Report or sent to any schools.
Between check-in, breaks, and the exam itself, you can expect to spend up to 4 hours or so at the GMAT test center on test day. So, you can see why both mental and physical stamina are important components of GMAT success!
KEY FACT:
Between check-in, breaks, and the exam itself, you can expect to spend up to 4 hours or so at the GMAT test center.
Now that we know the basic format of the GMAT, let’s take a look at the types of questions you’ll encounter in each GMAT section.
What Is the Format of the GMAT Questions?
Each of the 4 GMAT sections are designed to test different skills and thus feature different question formats and types. Of course, there is some crossover among the sections. For instance, the Integrated Reasoning section tests many of the same skills needed for both the Verbal and Quantitative sections, and the skills you’ll use to answer questions in the Verbal section will also come in handy during the Analytical Writing Assessment.
Nevertheless, the various GMAT sections test these skills in different ways — not only in terms of the content tested but also in terms of how the content is presented. So, let’s take a look at the different question types and formats you’ll see in each section, starting with the GMAT “heavy hitter”: the Quant section.
Quantitative Reasoning
Quant questions fall into two basic categories: Problem Solving and Data Sufficiency.
Problem Solving questions may be in the format of a word problem, present an equation and ask you to solve for certain values, or involve geometric shapes, for example. For each of these questions, you’ll select 1 answer from 5 choices.
Here is one example of a Problem Solving question:
Data Sufficiency questions will present you with a problem followed by two statements that provide further information related to that problem. You will need to determine whether the information in Statement 1 only is sufficient to answer the question, Statement 2 only is sufficient, both statements taken together are sufficient, each statement taken on its own is sufficient, or both statements taken together are still not sufficient (i.e., more information would be needed to solve the problem).
Here is an example of what a Data Sufficiency question looks like:
(Get the answers to these questions and see more GMAT Quant examples here.)
In general, all GMAT Quant questions test your ability to use logic to apply your knowledge of math rules and formulas in the most efficient way possible. The Quant section does not test your ability to perform lengthy calculations. For that reason, you do not have access to a calculator during the Quant section of the GMAT. Any calculations that you do need to perform will be done on the dry-erase scratch pad given to you before the start of your exam, and if you are well-versed in GMAT Quant concepts and content, that scratch pad should be all you need.
KEY FACT:
GMAT Quant questions fall into two basic categories, Problem Solving and Data Sufficiency. Both question types test your ability to use logic to apply your knowledge of math rules and formulas in the most efficient way possible.
Concerned about solving GMAT Quant questions without the use of a calculator? These strategies can help.
Verbal Reasoning
The Verbal section consists of 3 types of questions: Sentence Correction, Critical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension. While, again, all three types are multiple-choice, each type has a different format.
Sentence Correction questions present a sentence that is either partially or entirely underlined. You will have to choose between 5 different ways of phrasing the underlined portion of the sentence (answer choice A always repeats the phrasing in the original sentence). These questions test you on your knowledge of grammar rules, sentence structure, and word choice, as well as your ability to identify illogical, ambiguous, or redundant meanings within a sentence.
Check out an example of a Sentence Correction question here.
Critical Reasoning questions present a short argument or set of statements and ask you to evaluate some aspect of what is presented, for instance, what assumption the argument makes or which statement must be true if all of the statements in the question stem are true. You will select 1 of 5 answer choices for each question.
Check out an example of a Critical Reasoning question here.
Reading Comprehension questions present you with a passage and 2 or 3 questions about that passage. For each question, you’ll select 1 of 5 answer choices. These questions test your ability to read carefully, accurately interpret information, and identify relationships between ideas.
Integrated Reasoning
There are 4 different types of IR questions: Multi-Source Reasoning, Two-Part Analysis, Table Analysis, and Graphics Interpretation. These questions test your ability to analyze data presented in common formats such as graphs and charts and may require Quant concepts, Verbal concepts, or logical reasoning to solve.
Multi-Source Reasoning questions ask you to evaluate data presented in multiple formats, such as charts, tables, and text, in order to answer a single question.
Two-Part Analysis questions present you with a written scenario and 2 columns of choices. You will have to select 1 choice from each column (2 choices total) to answer the question based on the scenario.
Table Analysis questions present data in a spreadsheet-like format that you can sort by column and ask you to analyze the data to evaluate statements presented alongside the data. For example, you might have to analyze the data in the table to determine whether a particular statement is true or false.
Graphics Interpretation questions require you to analyze a graph or diagram in order to fill in the blanks in 2 statements. Each statement contains one blank for which there is a drop-down menu containing 3 or 4 answer choices. You will have to select 1 answer for each blank, so a total of 2 answers per question.
Such a variety of question types can make the IR section seem overwhelming and intimidating to students starting their GMAT preparation, but the truth is, if you are thoroughly prepared for the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the GMAT, preparing for the IR section will be relatively simple. In fact, most of your IR preparation will involve getting comfortable with the various question formats rather than learning new content. Furthermore, unlike on the Quant section, an on-screen calculator is provided for the IR section.
KEY FACT:
Unlike on the Quant section, an on-screen calculator is provided for the IR section.
Analytical Writing Assessment
The AWA section presents a written argument that you must respond to in an essay of any length. Your response should critique the given argument’s reasoning, can include examples supporting your critique, and does not have to include your personal views on the subject matter addressed by the argument.
While “technical” aspects of your essay such as grammar, spelling, and word choice are factored into how your essay is scored, your ability to organize and clearly communicate your ideas, and the overall structure of your essay, is weighed more heavily.
KEY FACT:
Your AWA score mainly takes into account your ability to organize and clearly communicate your ideas, and the overall structure of your essay, with issues such as grammar, spelling, and word choice playing a secondary role.
Now that we know the format of the questions you’ll see in each GMAT section, let’s talk about the order in which those sections can be seen.
GMAT Section Order
GMAC allows test-takers to choose the order in which they see the sections of the GMAT on test day. This option gives test-takers the flexibility to tailor the test-taking experience to their skills and preferences. For instance, if Verbal is your strongest area and you tend to get tired toward the end of the exam, you may want to choose the section order that allows you to see the Verbal section last, so that your mind is fresher for the sections that present more of a challenge for you.
KEY FACT:
GMAC allows test-takers to choose the order in which they see the sections of the GMAT on test day.
The Select Section Order screen is the final introductory screen that you will see right before you start your GMAT exam. On that screen, you will have 1 minute to choose from 3 possible section orders:
GMAT Section Order Options
GMAT Section Order Options
If you don’t make a selection within 1 minute, the default section order will be selected for you by the computer. For that reason, it’s essential that you decide on your preferred section order before you sit for your GMAT. Every test-taker is different, so the best section order for one person may not be preferable for someone else. Meanwhile, for some GMAT test-takers, section order does not noticeably affect how they perform on the test.
Now that we know the structure of the GMAT sections and the various formats of its questions, let’s take a look at the GMAT’s particular “brand” of computer-adaptivity and how that adaptivity affects the rules of the exam.
Question-Level Adaptivity on the GMAT
A key aspect of the GMAT is that its Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning sections are computer-adaptive on a question-by-question basis, meaning that the questions you see are selected by the computer on the basis of your answers to the previous questions.
For example, both the Quantitative and Verbal sections start off with a medium-difficulty question; if you answer that first question correctly, the second question in the given section will be a bit harder, but if you answer the first question incorrectly, the second question will be a bit easier.
As you answer more questions in the section correctly or incorrectly, the difficulty of the next questions you see increases or decreases, respectively (or remains roughly the same, depending on your performance as you progress through the section). This computer-adaptivity applies only to the Quant and Verbal sections and does not “cross-pollinate.” In other words, your performance on the Quant section has no effect on the difficulty level of the Verbal questions you see, and vice versa.
Because GMAT Quant and Verbal are adaptive on a question level, you are not allowed to skip questions or go back to previously answered questions to change your answers. You are presented with one question at a time, and you must select an answer to that question in order to see the next question. Otherwise, the question-level adaptivity of the exam would not be able to function.
Interestingly, although the Integrated Reasoning section is not computer-adaptive, you still cannot skip questions or go back to previously answered questions in that section. There is no “going back in time” on the GMAT.
KEY FACT:
You are not allowed to skip questions or go back to previously answered questions to change your answers on the GMAT.
Now that you know all there is to know about the GMAT exam format, you may find it helpful to read this article about how long it takes to study for the GMAT.
