GMAT Syllabus 2024 – Section-wise Syllabus, Exam Pattern & Books
Graduate Management Admission Test or GMAT is a standardized test conducted by GMAC for admission into graduate programs like MBA. This exam evaluates candidates’ knowledge and thinking capacity related to prerequisites and essentials of management and business success. The GMAT 2024 syllabus includes different sections like verbal reasoning, analytical reasoning, integrated reasoning, and quantitative reasoning.
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GMAT Syllabus 2024
Quantitative Reasoning
This section of the GMAT exam syllabus includes 32 multiple-choice questions on problem-solving and data sufficiency. The duration to complete this section is 62 minutes.
There are two main question types in this section, which are as follows:
Data Sufficiency
Candidates are asked questions about their ability to study systematically. There are two statements and five answer choices in the question. Throughout this section, the answer options remain the same, so memorizing them and their order is a good idea. This will help in saving time in the exam. Questions in this section do not focus on finding the answer but rather on determining whether the provided data is sufficient to arrive at the answer through logical and quantitative reasoning. The aspirants can expect 13-14 data-sufficiency questions in the quants section.
Problem-Solving:
The problem-solving questions are arithmetic problems that are asked in standardized tests. Aspirants will be presented with five possible answers to mathematical problems. Candidates should know various arithmetic concepts to score well on these questions. There will be questions based on high school arithmetic concepts. The candidates can anticipate 17 -18 problem-solving questions in the GMAT test. The quant section will include questions from both question types in a randomized order.
Verbal Reasoning
This section of the GMAT Syllabus comprises 36 multiple-choice questions on critical reasoning, reading comprehension, and sentence correction. The duration to complete the verbal section is 65 minutes.
There are three different types of questions asked in this section:
Sentence Correction:
GMAT Sentence Correction questions test students’ grammatical skills. The candidate is presented with an underlined section and five answer choices. The aspirant should choose the right option according to the standard written English rules. As soon as the candidate has selected the option, they should revise the statement to ensure that the sentence construction is correct or the meaning has been restored.
Reading Comprehension:
The questions of this type are based on a passage of around 350 words. The multiple-choice questions are based on the passage with 5 answer choices each. A critical or analytical understanding of the passage is not required, but a grasp of the subject matter is.
Critical Reasoning:
This type of question includes a passage and five possible answers. The aspirant has to read through the passage and identify the relevant information provided. After this, it will be used to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the argument.
Analytical Writing Assessment:
The analytical writing assessment section comprises one essay question with a 30-minute time limit. Graduate Management Admission Test.
Integrated Reasoning (IR):
This section of the GMAT syllabus comprises 12 multiple-choice questions, which can be multi-source reasoning, two-part analysis, graphic interpretation, and table analysis type of questions. The duration to complete is 30 minutes.
This section comprises four different question types:
Table Analysis:
The table analysis question requires the aspirant to examine the data presented in a table format and answer objective questions like yes/no or true/false. The multiple statements should be answered under every question.
Multi-Source Reasoning:
This question type requires students to gather information by going through various tabs that are presented to them. Students are usually given two or three tabs. Charts, text, or tables are used to present the data. Using the collected data, multiple yes/no, multiple choice, and true/false questions must be answered.
Graphical Interpretation:
The aspirants are presented with data through a graphical representation. Choose the appropriate option from the drop-down menu to complete the statement using the data.
Two-part analysis:
The two-part analysis questions provide the aspirants with questions and multiple-choice answers in four columns. The aspirant has to find the combinations and permutations of these four columns’ options. The candidate should choose one answer from each column to arrive at a final answer.
GMAT Exam Paper Pattern
The GMAT exam primarily tests quantitative ability, analytical writing skills, verbal ability, and integrated reasoning skills.
Below is the time breakdown for the GMAT exam.
- 3 hours 30 minutes
- Analytical writing= 30 minutes
- Integrated reasoning= 30 minutes
- Quantitative= 62 minutes
- VR= 65 minutes
Number of sections and the total number of questions in each section:
Analytical Writing (1 question)
Integrated reasoning (12 questions)
Verbal Section (36 questions)
Quantitative (31 questions)
Key points to be noted:
- The candidate can reappear after 16 days with five chances to reappear per year.
- They can adjust the test according to their ability level, from moderate to complex. It automatically goes high with each correct answer.
Below is the exam paper and scoring pattern for GMAT 2024:
| Sections | No. of Questions | Time (minutes) | Score Range |
| Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) | 1 | 30 | 0 to 6 (in 0.5 increments) |
| Integrated Reasoning | 12 | 30 | 1 to 8 (in 1 point increment) |
| Verbal Reasoning | 36 | 65 | 6 to 51 (in 1 point increment) |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 31 | 62 | 6 to 51 (in 1 point increment) |
The best books recommended for GMAT Syllabus:
Below are a few books that candidates can use to prepare for the upcoming GMAT 2024 exam.
- GMAT Official Guide 2022: Book + Online Question Bank
- GMAT Official Guide 2022 Bundle: Books + Online Question Bank
- GMAT Official Guide Quantitative Review 2022: Book + Online Question Bank
- GMAT Official Guide Verbal Review 2022: Book + Online Question Bank
- GMAT with Online Test (Barron’s Test Prep)
FAQs on GMAT Syllabus
1. What is the maximum number of attempts allowed on the GMAT?
After 16 days from the previous attempt, candidates can reappear. Each year, there is an allowance of five attempts. One can only reappear once a year for the CAT since it is only conducted once a year.
2. Can I skip any GMAT section?
You cannot skip any of the GMAT sections. You can only complete a section if you answer all questions or you run out of time.
3. What is the GMAT exam pattern?
The GMAT exam has four sections, and here is the current exam pattern:
1. AWA: 30 minutes to solve 1 question
2. IR: 30 minutes to solve 12 multiple-choice questions
3. Quantitative: 62 minutes to solve 31 multiple-choice questions
4. Verbal: 65 minutes to solve 36 multiple-choice questions
4. Is GMAT Quant easier than CAT?
GMAT Quant requires less preparation than CAT. A candidate proficient in QA-related topics like arithmetic, algebra, and geometry will be able to answer GMAT quantitative questions.
5. GMAT or CAT: which is harder to crack?
The GMAT exam is a little more challenging to crack than CAT because it is an international-level exam, so you must also prepare the GMAT syllabus. However, the CAT is highly competitive as more candidates are attempting it than the GMAT.
6. Is CAT preparation sufficient for the GMAT?
The aspirants must prepare separately for the GMAT for at least 2-3 months since the marking scheme, GMAT exam pattern, and question types differ from CAT. GMAT has an additional Analytical Writing Section, whereas CAT does not.
7. What is the difference between GMAT and GRE Syllabus?
The primary difference between the GMAT and the GRE is that there is no integrated reasoning section in the GRE.
8. Can I take the GMAT exam in a way that I want?
You can select the order you want to complete the GMAT sections before you begin your exam.