GMAT Sections Overview

GMAT Focus Edition Sections: Overview

In 2023, the GMAT underwent a significant revision and came to be known as the GMAT Focus Edition, although it is still generally referred to simply as "the GMAT." The GMAT is now made up of three sections, including Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Data Insights. There is also an optional, separate writing assessment that can be taken, the GMAC Business Writing Assessment. We will consider each of these sections in greater depth below.

The Verbal Reasoning section measures your ability to read and comprehend written material, to critically reason and evaluate arguments, and to effectively express ideas in English. The Quantitative Reasoning section measures your knowledge of arithmetic and algebraic concepts, how you apply this knowledge to logically solve problems, as well as your ability to interpret data from graphs and charts. The Data Insights section measures your ability to analyze and interpret data presented from multiple sources, such as graphs, tables, and text, in order to make informed decisions by utilizing data and digital literacy skills. 

The table below offers additional information about what you can expect from each section.

Table: Sections of the current GMAT Focus Edition

Test-takers can choose to start the exam with any of the three sections—Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, or Data Insights—and then complete the remaining sections in any order they prefer. This means you have six different options for the order in which you complete the GMAT:

• Quantitative Reasoning → Verbal Reasoning → Data Insights
• Quantitative Reasoning → Data Insights → Verbal Reasoning
• Verbal Reasoning → Data Insights → Quantitative Reasoning
• Verbal Reasoning → Quantitative Reasoning → Data Insights
• Data Insights → Quantitative Reasoning → Verbal Reasoning
• Data Insights → Verbal Reasoning → Quantitative Reasoning

Test-takers are also given the option of taking one 10-minute break, which can be taken after completing the first or second section of the GMAT. You only receive one break, which means it's important to know before going into the exam when you would like to take it.

GMAT – Quantitative Reasoning (QR)

The goal of the Quantitative Reasoning section is to assess your knowledge of arithmetic and algebraic concepts, how well you can apply this knowledge to logically solve problems, and how well you are able to interpret data from graphs and charts.

Test-takers have 45 minutes to complete 21 questions. The level of mathematical proficiency expected in this section is equivalent to secondary or high school level; higher-level math skills are not assessed, as the GMAT places greater emphasis on how you analyze data and apply logic to solve the given questions rather than on math skills per se. There is only one type of problem to be completed in the Quantitative Reasoning section, which is Problem Solving.

Problem Solving (PS)

Problem solving (PS) questions follow a very specific format: there is a question stem followed by options, of which only one option is correct or the best option that answers the question correctly.

Problem Solving questions measure your ability to solve numerical problems, interpret graphical data, and assess information, all without the aid of a calculator, although you may use the provided online whiteboard, provided scratch paper, or a physical whiteboard, depending on whether you are taking the exam at a testing center or online from another location.

GMAT – Verbal Reasoning (VR)

The goal of the Verbal Reasoning section is to assess your ability to read and comprehend written material, to critically reason and evaluate arguments, and to effectively express ideas in English. 

Test-takers are given 45 minutes to complete 23 questions. There are two types of questions in the Verbal Reasoning (VR) Section: Reading Comprehension (RC) and Critical Reasoning (CR).

Reading Comprehension (RC)

Reading Comprehension questions are multiple-choice questions that assess your ability to understand and analyze complex written passages, as well as your ability to identify parts of the passage such as the main idea, key details, inferences, context, author tone, and logical text structure. Basically, you are given a passage to read and then asked questions about it. 

The questions may ask you to: suggest a title for the passage; state its central idea; identify the author's primary purpose in writing a part of a sentence or a paragraph; understand a specific detail from the passage; cite a fact used in it; understand the implied meaning of the information presented by the author; identify the intended meaning of a word or a phrase used figuratively in the passage; and/or to reason and evaluate arguments. 

Topics for Reading Comprehension passages certainly include business-related subjects, but they also feature a variety of other disciplines, such as Natural Science (Astronomy, Physics, Biology, etc.) and Social Science (Philosophy, History, etc.). Test-takers are not expected to be experts in a given topic or to possess in-depth knowledge of the topic, as the purpose is to analyze the information provided, not to demonstrate your knowledge of a particular subject.

Critical Reasoning (CR)

Critical Reasoning questions are intended to evaluate your ability to analyze arguments by presenting you with a short passage containing a logical argument, which is then followed by a question asking you to identify important parts of the argument. There are several broad categories that Critical Reasoning questions fall into:

1. Weaken the argument or find the flaw in the argument
2. Strengthen the argument
3. Identify the assumption
4. Draw an inference or conclusion
5. Assess the structure of the argument, including boldface structure questions and dialogue structure questions
6. Identify the paradox
7. Evaluate the conclusion
8. Complete the argument

These types of questions present a prompt, usually of 100 words or less, followed by a question stem and five answer choices. Unlike Reading Comprehension questions, Critical Reasoning questions focus more on your ability to dissect and interpret arguments rather than your comprehension of the provided text.

GMAT – Data Insights (DI)

Following the 2023 update, Data Insights has replaced the Integrated Reasoning section on the GMAT. The goal of the Data Insights section is to evaluate your ability to analyze and interpret data presented from a variety of sources, such as graphs, tables, and text, in order to make informed decisions by using your data and digital literacy skills.

Test-takers have 45 minutes to answer 20 questions. The five types of questions used in the Data Insights section are Data Sufficiency, Table Analysis, Graphics Interpretation, Two-Part Analysis, and Multi-Source Reasoning.

Data Sufficiency

In Data Sufficiency questions, you are presented with a question followed by two statements, and you must determine whether either statement alone, or both statements, provide enough information (or are sufficient) to answer the initial question.

Table Analysis

Table Analysis questions present you with sortable tables featuring rows and columns of data. You are then asked questions based on the information provided in the table, and you must determine whether given statements are true or false based on the information contained in the table.

Graphics Interpretation

Graphics Interpretation questions ask you to quickly and accurately decipher and analyze information presented in visual, or graphic, form, including column charts, line graphs, Venn diagrams, and scatterplots.

Two-Part Analysis

In Two-Part Analysis questions, you will be presented with multiple-choice problems where you must analyze a scenario and then select two answers from two columns, making sure both answers are compatible with one another based on the given information. 

Multi-Source Reasoning

Multi-Source Reasoning questions use more than one piece of information to help inform the correct answer. Using the information from all of the provided sources, you are expected to draw logical conclusions about the information presented.

GMAC – Business Writing Assessment (BWA)

The Business Writing Assessment (BWA) is a separate test created by the GMAC that can be taken in addition to the GMAT and that mimics the old Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) that was removed from the GMAT with the introduction of the Focus Edition. While the BWA is currently an optional exam, some business schools have started requiring it in order to assess an applicant's writing abilities, given the rise of AI-assisted writing technology and the need to know potential students' true writing skills. The Business Writing Assessment measures your ability to critique a given argument and analyze it by evaluating its reasoning and evidence. Test-takers may register for and complete this section online any day of the year, although it is not included in the standard GMAT registration fee. It costs an additional $30, although this fee does cover sending BWA scores to your chosen business programs. 

Table: Overview of the GMAC Business Writing Assessment introduced in 2024.
 

On the BWA, test-takers have 30 minutes to analyze and critique a given argument. Arguments feature a range of topics related to both business and general interest, and specific knowledge of a given topic is neither expected nor required. The BWA is scored on a scale of 0 to 6 with 1-point increments, and test scores are generally received within 3 to 5 days of completing the exam.