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Hello and welcome to the GMAT exam hotline! For the good news, please proceed to point one. For the bad news, please proceed to point two.
- The good news: The GMAT is not a vocabulary-driven test like the GRE, nor a logic-driven test like the LSAT. Rather, it is a practical sense test. Now, since practical sense derives from common sense and, at least to some extent, we all have a little bit of that, the GMAT largely requires you to build upon a skill you already have. Isn’t that a bit comforting?
- The bad news: Common sense is not very commonly used. You will certainly need to practice in order to turn your common sense skills into the tools you need to conquer the GMAT. The GMAT verbal section requires you to reason in ways you are probably unaccustomed to. The GMAT math section will test areas of your skills and knowledge that you may not have used much since high school. This being the case, you must work hard to prepare yourself for this test.
Just as a brief overview, we should mention that the GMAT consists of a verbal section, a math section, and a writing sample section. For further information about these sections, please proceed on to their separate pages.
GMAT Format
This is the general setup of the exam:
|
Section |
Time |
# of Questions |
|
 |
|
Analytical Writing |
60 minutes |
2 essays |
30 minutes/essay |
|
Break (optional) |
10 minutes |
- |
- |
|
Quantitative |
75 minutes |
37 |
about 2 minutes |
|
Break (optional) |
10 minutes |
- |
- |
|
Verbal |
75 minutes |
41 |
100 seconds |
Verbal Section
The verbal section of the GMAT is designed to test your critical reasoning abilities as well as your command of standard English. The entire section is made up of only three types of questions: sentence corrections, reading comprehension, and critical reasoning. One thing these three types of question have in common with one another is that they all require extensive practice—we cannot stress this enough. When you decide to take the GMAT, you should immediately begin setting aside time to practice seriously for this exam.
Sentence Corrections
Sentence corrections are—surprise—exactly what they sound like. For this type of question, you will be given a sentence, a portion of which is underlined and may (or may not) contain a grammatical mistake. The answer choices present the underlined portion of the sentence, but slightly altered in various ways. Your task is to assess whether there is, in fact, a mistake in the underlined portion and decide which of the answer choices best corrects the mistake. Answer choice A is always exactly the same as the original, so if you feel there is no mistake and the sentence is best as is, this is the answer you should choose.
Naturally, a solid command of standard English is absolutely essential for this section. To begin preparing, grammar and usage books, such as Diana Hacker’s A Writer’s Reference, may be a useful starting point.
Reading Comprehension
These questions will provide you with a passage followed by several questions of varying types. Though the material may be unfamiliar to you, the passages are not terribly long and can, with practice, become entirely manageable. However, in order to be successful with this part of the verbal section, you must learn to be an active reader; allowing the passages to simply wash over you while you attempt to remember every minute detail will be frustrating and ineffective.
Essentially, you must change the way you read the GMAT reading comprehension passages; approaching the passages as you would approach a novel or newspaper will not get the job done. Note-taking, paraphrasing, and different reading techniques are just a few of many ways in which you can begin to take command of the passages.
Critical Reasoning
Critical reasoning may be the portion of the verbal section most unfamiliar to you. The questions provide you with a passage and will require you to use your reasoning skills to answer a question about its content. The types of questions vary; for example, you may be asked how the argument might best be strengthened, weakened, or what conclusion might properly be inferred from it. These questions are often uncomfortable for students because one is required to think differently on them than one is normally accustomed to thinking. Extensive practice in critical thinking will improve your comfort level and make the section manageable.
Mathematics
The math component of the GMAT tests students on basic skills that do not require any knowledge above tenth-grade math. The three main types of questions are as follows:
- Questions which need to be solved, answered in multiple choice format
- Quantitative Comparison questions, in which one has to compare two columns of varying values or equations
- Data Sufficiency questions
Most people studying for the GMAT have not utilized their math skills or taken a math course in a long time. But those who are business, finance, or accounting majors are used to dealing with numbers, making it a lot easier to prepare for this exam.
Here is where the Learning Center comes in. Our learning assistants can review all those math skills and rules that you have forgotten about in the course of these years. We will sit with you and answer any questions you have about concepts you don’t recall and even teach you some tricks to remember formulas and ideas!
If you have been studying on your own and have questions, we can go over the solutions with you. Even if you just want to practice problems with someone sitting by you, the Learning Center can help.
In order to excel at these types of difficult questions, one must suspend all prior assumptions and really pay attention to the details of the question. Doesn’t sound too tough, does it? With deliberate practice, you will be able to avoid falling into the traps these types of questions set.
Analytical Writing Assessment
This section consists of two 30-minute writing tasks: Analysis of an Issue and Analysis of an Argument. While the questions presented are business related, you do not need to be an expert in the field to answer them.
The first task, Analysis of an Issue, is a test of your ability to put forth your point of view in a coherent manner. Here, you voice your opinion (whatever that may be) and provide evidence supporting it.
For the second task, Analysis of an Argument, you are required to dissect and critique an argument that is presented. Here, your opinion about the topic doesn't matter. Rather, they're looking for your ability to argue the gauge of an argument.
GMAT Online Sources
GMAT Test Questions
Inspired by the trials and tribulations of former test takers who wished there were more free resources online for students. Sample practice questions and general advice.
GMAT Practice Tests
A free resource from the Graduate Educational Information Service offering testing tips and practice questions to enhance student outcomes.
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