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GMAT Syllabus 2024: Guide on GMAT Exam Pattern, Duration, Section Wise Syllabus

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Sumeet Jain
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GMAT exam pattern has been designed to help students accommodate their skills and knowledge in different aspects. Thus scoring good marks here will determine the fate of the application process from chosen dream universities globally.

Studying the GMAT exam requires focus on multiple factors such as GMAT English syllabus, GMAT verbal syllabus, GMAT maths syllabus, etc. So if you’re looking to prepare, you need to align your preparation well. Thus to help you ace this GMAT 2024 syllabus and give you more details, this blog covers all the essential details to get you started.

Table Of Contents
  1. What Is The GMAT Syllabus 2024?
  2. What Is The Section-Wise GMAT Syllabus?
  3. What Is The GMAT Exam Pattern?

What Is The GMAT Syllabus 2024?

GMAT, the aptitude skill test, examines your overall knowledge as a student on the route to achieve success in Business. To successfully handle a Business, it is required that an individual possesses a good command over language, have strategic problem solving capability and logical application.

These are the same skills which the GMAT exam. To do so, GMAC has wisely curated a paper with four sections, namely, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Integrated Reasoning and Analytical Writing to test the applicants. Thus to help you understand the GMAT syllabus and eligibility criteria, hop on to our next category.

What Is The Section-Wise GMAT Syllabus?

To ace any exam, the best way to prepare is to categorise each section and understand how you can perform better in each. Since the GMAT syllabus has four such sections, having an overview of each can play well in managing your GMAT exam time duration.

Here is a detailed overview of the same:

1. Verbal Reasoning

Verbal Reasoning

English language is an extremely important communication tool for students. As your University education involves documenting course materials, writing lengthy assignments and communicating with your fellow batchmates, GMAT insists on checking your language skills. Thus, the Verbal Reasoning section of GMAT measures your ability of understanding, evaluating and comprehending English text.

The Verbal Reasoning section has 36 multiple choice questions, which need to be solved in 65 mins. There are  three types of questions asked in this section:

  • Reading Comprehension: Read the given passages and answer.
  • Critical Reasoning: Evaluate the given phrases to arrive at a conclusion or a plan of action.
  • Sentence Correction: Your task is to check whether the words used are appropriate for the sentence. If not, change them with a better suited word from the given options.

So how can you ace the GMAT verbal syllabus?

This is one of the most common dilemmas students have when they look for GMAT Verbal syllabus. As the paper is based on the English language, the course material might seem overwhelming.

Suggested: Know best verbal reasoning books to prepare for GMAT verbal syllabus

Strengthening your basics is one of the key elements of your preparation. Hence, eliminating the stress, focus on these English topics, as they form a major chunk of Verbal Reasoning syllabus: Assumptions, Evaluate, Inference, Bold Face, Paradox, Strengthen and Weaken, Pronoun, Subject-Verb Agreement, Modifiers, Idioms, Parallelism, Comparison, Verb Tenses.

Suggested: View more tips on how to prepare for GMAT verbal

2. Quantitative Reasoning

Quantitative Reasoning section of GMAT checks your ability to analyse mathematical data and draw conclusions using your reasoning skills.

Applicant’s from different fields or working professionals who have lost touch of solving mathematical problems are usually apprehensive about this section of the exam. But, the test isn’t as complicated as it seems to be as the GMAT Quantitative Reasoning syllabus restricts itself to the math taught in secondary school.

All you have to do to prepare for the Quantitative section is thorough your basics and rigorously solve questions of the subject.The Quants section has about 31 multiple choice questions, which need to be solved in 65 minutes. The GMAT quantitative syllabus is limited to the questions of:

Based on the syllabus, two types of questions are posed in the Quant section:

  • Problem Solving questions: Mathematical problems to be solved.
  • Data Sufficiency: These problems require you to confirm if the given information is sufficient to solve the problem.

So as a student how can you perform better in the GMAT Quantitative syllabus?

The Quantitative Reasoning syllabus holds 31 major topics of Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry in the GMAT paper. Here is an overview of what your study focus should be on with this syllabus:

Suggested: Tips on improving Quantitative reasoning skills

Quantitative Reasoning Syllabus

3. Integrated Reasoning

The IR section of GMAT is a combination of both, Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning. Which means, you need to sort the presented data, identify relevant information and incorporate strategies to solve the given questions.

This exclusive section consists of 12 questions which are marked on a 1-8 scorescale in GMAT. These scores are separately marked on the scoresheet.

The Integrated Reasoning  section might pocket one or more parts within each question. You are required to answer all the parts of each question, as partial scores are not granted in the GMAT examination.

There are four types of questions you can expect in the Integrated Reasoning section of GMAT:

  • Multi-Source Reasoning Questions: Variety of data is given based on the same premise, you are required to assess and resolve the problem.
  • Table Analysis Questions: Understand the tabulated data to answer the questions.
  • Graphics Interpretation Questions: Interpret the data given in the graphs to find the solution.
  • Two-Part Analysis Questions: Answer the following in two parts. Mark the appropriate answer per step of the question or problem.

Thus the best way to prepare for the Integrated Reasoning section is learning how to interpret data, numbers and information. Train your mind to be a statistician by brushing up your knowledge of tables, graphs, pie-charts, stats.

Suggested: Best tips to prepare well for Integrated reasoning section

4. Analytical Writing Assessment

The AWA section is an essay writing assignment. This section is regarded as one of the important sections of the GMAT paper. GMAC presents insights about the candidates based on your essay writing assignment. You’re expected to assess a given argument and present your findings and express your validations for the same.

As mentioned above, this is an essay writing test. You are presented with a passage from any field. The subject information isn’t important as the purpose of the task is to understand your ability to interpret the given argument, reason and judge the arguments you come up with.  Your task is to write ONE argumentative essay.

Note: Your AWA GMAT score is reflected separately in the GMAT scoresheet. This score isn’t a part of your total score.

The best way to prepare for Analytical Writing Assessment is to learn the art of analysing, structuring and composing an essay. Ace the Analytical section by tailoring a well structured argumentative essay.The test requires quality writing.

Suggested: View more tips on how to prepare for GMAT analytical writing

Since it is a language test, align yourself more towards writing, instead of  studying. The AWA GMAT questions are diverse and can be from any field, be it from Science, Arts, Business etc. The key to answer is to practise impeccable writing:

  • Brush up on your basics
  • Thorough yourself with grammar
  • Practice writing essay in a structured format
  • Learn the art of organising your thoughts
  • Expand your vocabulary. Use Yocket Flashcards to learn a wide range of words
  • Inculcate learning the use of synonyms

What Is The GMAT Exam Pattern?

To help you prepare and write better during the GMAT exam duration, it is better to first understand how you can get started with the exam.

Here is an overview of the section-wise exam pattern, to give you better clarity on how to study and manage your GMAT exam better:

Sections of GMAT

Total Questions

Duration

Scoring

Analytical Writing Assessment

1

30 mins

0 - 6; 0.5 point increment

Integrated Reasoning

12

30 mins

1 - 8; 1 point increment

Quantitative Reasoning

31

62 mins

6 - 51; 1 point increment

Verbal Reasoning

36

65 mins

6 - 51; 1 point increment

To Conclude….

GMAT exam has opened various academic opportunities for scholars who wish to study abroad. A good score has led international students to study in prestigious universities. Now that you have the GMAT exam pattern and syllabus in hand, it’s time to begin your exam preparation. Thus to help you study well , here is a GMAT study plan for 3 months.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions About GMAT Syllabus

Is the GMAT exam syllabus easy or difficult?

Is CAT and GMAT syllabus 2023 same?

Does the GMAT Syllabus exam have math?

Does Canada require GMAT syllabus for MBA scores?

Does the GMAT exam pattern have negative marking?

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