Here’s a quick look at what each of the four timed test sections covers.

Analysis of an Issue (1 Essay, 30 Minutes)

This 30-minute section tests your ability to present a position on an issue effectively and persuasively. Your task is to compose an essay in which you respond to a brief (1–2 sentence) opinion about an issue of general intellectual interest. You should consider various perspectives, and take a position on the issue and argue for that position. Your essay will be evaluated based on content, organization, writing style, and mechanics (grammar, syntax, word usage, etc.).

Analysis of an Argument (1 Essay, 30 Minutes)

This 30-minute section is designed to test your critical-reasoning and analytical-writing skills. Your task is to compose an essay in which you critique a paragraph-length argument based on the strength of the evidence presented in support of it and on the argument’s logic (line of reasoning). You can also indicate what additional evidence would help you evaluate the argument and how the argument could be improved. Like your Issue-Analysis essay, your Argument-Analysis essay will be evaluated based on content, organization, writing style, and mechanics.

Quantitative Ability (37 Questions, 75 Minutes)

This 75-minute section consists of 37 multiple-choice questions designed to measure your basic mathematical skills; understanding of basic mathematical concepts; and ability to reason quantitatively, solve quantitative problems, and interpret graphical data. The Quantitative Ability section covers the following topics:

• Arithmetical operations
• Integers, factors, and multiples
• The number line and ordering
• Decimals, percentages, ratios, and proportion
• Exponents and square roots
• Descriptive statistics (mean, median, mode, range, standard deviation)
• Basic probability, permutations, and combinations
• Operations with variables
• Algebraic equations and inequalities
• Geometry, including coordinate geometry

Algebraic concepts on the GMAT are those normally covered in a first-year high school algebra course. The GMAT does not cover more advanced areas such as trigonometry and calculus.

Each Quantitative question appears in one of two formats (any of the topics listed above is fair game for either format):

PROBLEM SOLVING questions require you to solve a mathematical problem and then select the correct answer from among five answer choices. Some of these questions will be “story” problems—cast in a real-world setting.

DATA SUFFICIENCY problems each consist of a question followed by two statements labeled (1) and (2). Your task is to analyze each of the two statements to determine whether it provides sufficient data to answer the question and, if neither suffices alone, whether both statements together suffice. Every Data Sufficiency question includes the same five answer choices. As with certain Problem Solving questions, some of these questions will be so-called “story” problems— cast in a real-world setting.

Verbal Ability (41 Questions, 75 Minutes)

This 75-minute section consists of 41 multiple-choice questions. Each question will be one of the following three types (each type covers a distinct set of verbal and verbal-reasoning skills):

CRITICAL REASONING questions measure your ability to understand, criticize, and draw reasonable conclusions from arguments. Each argument consists of a brief one-paragraph passage.

SENTENCE CORRECTION questions measure your command of the English language and of the conventions of Standard Written English. Areas tested include grammar, diction, usage, and effective expression (but not punctuation). In each question, part (or all) of a sentence is underlined. Your task is to determine which is correct—the original underlined part or one of four alternatives.

READING COMPREHENSION questions measure your ability to read carefully and accurately, to determine the relationships among the various parts of the passage, and to draw reasonable inferences from the material in the passage. You’ll encounter four sets of questions; all questions in a set pertain to the same passage. The passages are drawn from for a variety of subjects, including the humanities, the social sciences, the physical sciences, ethics, philosophy, and law.

Back to GMAT Preparation Home