GMAT Comprehensive Practice Exam
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a standardized exam, conducted in English, designed to assess the qualifications of candidates applying to graduate-level business and management programs. It evaluates a test-taker's verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing skills, developed over time through education and work experience.
Exam Purpose
The GMAT is not a test of subject-specific knowledge. Since business schools admit students from a wide variety of academic and professional backgrounds, the GMAT focuses on assessing essential skills rather than mastery of any particular field. Your GMAT score serves as a reliable predictor of academic performance in the core curriculum of graduate business programs.
Role in Admissions
While the GMAT provides an objective measure of certain academic abilities, it does not assess factors like work experience, leadership potential, motivation, or communication skills. These qualities are usually evaluated through other application components such as essays, recommendation letters, and interviews. Therefore, the GMAT score is used as one of several admissions criteria, offering a standardized basis for comparison among applicants.
Why Take the GMAT Exam?
GMAT scores are accepted by over 6,000 graduate business and management programs worldwide. Schools that require GMAT scores typically aim to admit the most academically capable candidates, making them attractive to ambitious students looking for a challenging and rewarding learning environment.
GMAT Exam Syllabus
The GMAT Focus Edition consists of three sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights. Each section is 45 minutes long, totaling 2 hours and 15 minutes of testing time. The Analytical Writing Assessment (essay) is no longer part of the exam.
1. Quantitative Reasoning
Number of Questions: 21
Time Limit: 45 minutes
Calculator: Not allowed
Objective: Measures the ability to reason quantitatively, solve numerical problems, and interpret graphic data. Focuses on fundamental mathematical concepts and logical reasoning.
Topics Covered:
Arithmetic
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Properties of integers (odd/even, prime numbers, divisibility)
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Fractions, decimals, and percentages
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Ratio and proportion
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Absolute values
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Powers and roots
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Word problems
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Order of operations
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Simple and compound interest
Algebra
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Algebraic expressions and equations
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Linear and quadratic equations
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Inequalities
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Exponents and radicals
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Functions and formulas
Data Sufficiency
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Determine whether given data is sufficient to answer a specific quantitative question
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Requires logical analysis over computation
2. Verbal Reasoning
Number of Questions: 23
Time Limit: 45 minutes
Objective: Measures the ability to read and comprehend written material, evaluate arguments, and draw logical conclusions.
Topics Covered:
Reading Comprehension
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Main idea and supporting details
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Inference and assumption-based questions
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Logical structure and tone of passages
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Comparative reading
Critical Reasoning
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Identifying assumptions and conclusions
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Strengthening or weakening arguments
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Evaluating argument logic
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Identifying flaws and reasoning errors
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Drawing logical inferences
Note: Sentence Correction is no longer part of the GMAT Focus Edition.
3. Data Insights
Number of Questions: 20
Time Limit: 45 minutes
Calculator: Allowed
Objective: Assesses the ability to evaluate and interpret data presented in various formats. This section integrates quantitative and verbal skills in a data-driven context.
Topics Covered:
Multi-Source Reasoning
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Analyzing information presented in text, tables, or graphs
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Drawing conclusions and identifying discrepancies
Table Analysis
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Interpreting and filtering sortable data in tabular form
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Making decisions based on data trends and logic
Graphics Interpretation
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Interpreting visual data including charts, graphs, and plots
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Identifying relationships between variables
Two-Part Analysis
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Solving problems involving two related components
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May involve verbal, quantitative, or logical reasoning
Data Sufficiency
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Applied in a data interpretation context to assess reasoning skills