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GMAT Quantitative Reasoning Syllabus 2023: Questions, Topics, Books, Score, Preparation Tips

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Rituparna Nath

Content Writer at Study Abroad Exams | Updated On - Apr 5, 2023

GMAT quantitative reasoning measures the analyzing and reasoning ability of the GMAT test takers. The GMAT Quant is also a scoring part for every student rather than the other portions of the GMAT exam. To take admission to the world's best top B schools and ensure the dream career of a student for the rest of the future, the GMAT exam has great importance. There is a total of 31 GMAT quant questions. The total time allotted for this part is 62 minutes which allows the candidate 2 minutes to answer each question. 

GMAT Quantitative Reasoning Syllabus

GMAT quantitative reasoning syllabus has mainly two divisions- GMAT Data Sufficiency and Problem Solving. 15-16 questions on average come from both Data Sufficiency and Problem Solving sections.

  • Problem Solving: The test consists of around 19- 20 questions based on the concept of Problem-solving. The questions based on this concept test the analytical reasoning of an individual to solve quantitative problems.
  • Data Sufficiency: The test consists of around 17- 18 questions based on the concept of Data Sufficiency. The questions based on the data sufficiency concept consist of a question and 2 statements of data. The student is required to determine whether the statements provide sufficient data to answer the question.

GMAT Data Sufficiency

In the GMAT syllabus, the GMAT Data Sufficiency assesses the ability of a student to extract data after analyzing different options. Every question has five options of answers & the test-takers have to choose the accurate option among all these. Mental intelligence is required by the students to solve these GMAT quant concepts. The pattern of the options is mentioned in the below portion:

  1. Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient to solve this question, but statement (2) is not sufficient to solve it.
  2. Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient to solve this question, but statement (1) is not sufficient to solve it.
  3. Both statements (1) & (2) together are sufficient to solve this question, but no statement (1) or (2) ALONE is not sufficient to solve this question.
  4. Both statement (1) & (2) each is sufficient to solve this question
  5. Neither statement (1), nor statement (2) is sufficient to solve this particular question.

It is necessary for the GMAT aspirants to get hold of the question types by practicing from the GMAT practice questions.

Sample Question

GMAT data sufficiency

GMAT Problem-Solving 

To solve GMAT Problem Solving questions a student must have knowledge about a good amount of qualitative skills. The GMAT quant topics in the problem-solving part require calculative mathematical problems that should be solved with proper mathematical knowledge. The use of the calculator is strictly prohibited also in this exam. So, the student must struggle and must consult a proper GMAT quant guide to answer these questions. The divisions & classification of this part are described below.

Arithmetic Geometry Algebra
Probability Angles Quadratic Equation
Ratio & Proportion Circles Linear Equation
Decimals Lines Functions
Percentage Polygons Inequalities
Real Numbers Quadrilaterals Absolute Value
Sets & Venn Diagram Special Right Triangles Expressions
Statistics Triangles Algebraic Expressions
Roots & Powers Circles -
Probability Coordinate Geometry -
Numbers - -
Integers - -
Fractions - -
Averages - -
Counting Methods - -

Sample Question:

GMAT Problem Solving

GMAT Quant Score

Though the current score range in the GMAT Quant section is 6-51. For each correct answer, candidates secure 1 raw point. GMAT score is based on three factors:

  1. How many questions a student would answer;
  2. The questions are correct or not;
  3. Difficulty & other parameters of the questions which are answered;

If a student answers more than the estimated number of questions correctly having a high level of difficulty, then the chances to score high of a student in that Quant section would be higher in the GMAT exam. If one student has a dream to take admitted to a top B school, he or she must score much higher than the average score getting by the students. Let us check the GMAT Quantitative score and percentile table given below fr a better understanding:

GMAT Quantitative Score GMAT Quant Percentile
51 97%
50 87%
49 74%
48 67%
47 59%
46 56%
45 53%
44 47%
43 44%
42 39%
41 37%
40 35%
39 31%
38 29%
37 28%
36 25%
35 22%
34 21%
33 20%
32 17%
31 15%
30 15%
29 13%
28 12%
27 10%
26 10%
25 8%
24 8%
23 7%
22 6%
21 5%
20 5%
19 4%
18 4%
17 3%
16 3%
14 3%
13 2%
12 2%
11 1%
10 1%
9 1%
8 1%
7 1%
6 0%

GMAT Quant Problems Analysis

Candidates must understand the GMAT quant concepts by topic for a better score in the section. GMAT quant concept is shown clearly across topics in the following picture 

The breakdown of the questions based on the above topics is mentioned below. It gives the information about the topic the exam covers the most and the topic which is least asked in the examination.

GMAT QUANT SECTION PERCENTAGE FREQUENCY
Word Problems 58.2%
Integer Properties and Arithmetic 31.1%
Algebra 16.3%
Percentage, ratios and fractions 13.7%
Two- dimensional Geometry 10.6%
Statistics 6.3%
Powers and Roots 6.3%
Probability and Combinations 5%
Inequalities 4.7%
Sequences 3.2%
Coordinate Geometry 2.9%
Data Interpretation 0.9%
Three- dimensional Geometry 0.8%
Functions 0.4%

The question pattern of the GMAT pattern is also unique in many areas. In the GMAT exam, if a student would give an answer to a question, there is no option to go back. Students have to answer then the next questions. The student would get the next question according to his or her given answer to the previous question. If a student would give a wrong answer to a question then the next question would be easier & if the answer to the previous question is right then the next question would be slightly harder. This is a very tricky & unique style of GMAT.

The discussion has been made here on the GMAT Quant section. Every detail of the GMAT Quant section has been included in the above portion. The patterns of the questions, the parts, divisions, & classes of the GMAT Quant section have been mentioned properly here & the scoring part of the GMAT Quant section has also been mentioned. GMAT Quant is a very scoring part of the GMAT exam which must be a factor a student will clear the exam or not. So, the students should be more careful about this portion, make proper planning to do practice this Quant part, & also give their best to get an attractive score in this part.

GMAT Quant Preparation Time

The number of tentative hours candidates will take to complete the GMAT quantitative reasoning section are as follows. Candidates can adjust the study hours according to their strength and weakness:

GMAT Quant Section Time Required
Learn Number Properties 10 hours
Refine Number Properties 5 hours
Learn Algebra 10 hours
Refine Algebra 5 hours
Learn Geometry 10 hours
Refine Geometry 5 hours
Learn Word Problems 10 hours
Refine Word Problems 5 hours
Learn Advanced Problems 10 hours
Refine Advanced Problems 5 hours

GMAT Quantitative Prep Books

The GMAT quant book PDF contains questions with a realistic approach, a comprehensive explanation of answers, lots of practice tests, clear review sections. Best test-taking strategies is another trait of the GMAT quantitative books. Here are a few GMAT quantitative reasoning books along with PDF for preparation:

  • Official Guide for GMAT Quantitative Review: Check PDF
  • GMAT Advanced Quant By Manhattan Prep: Check PDF
  • Manhattan Prep GMAT foundation for Maths: Check PDF
  • Kaplan's GMAT Math Workbook: Check PDF

GMAT Quant Preparation Tips

The following GMAT quant tricks will be helpful in the preparation process:

  1. Make a proper and realistic GMAT study plan;
  2. Grab the best GMAT quant book PDF like the GMAT quant review 2nd edition;
  3. Recognize your weakness and work on them;
  4. Learn the most fundamental and important GMAT quantitative formulas;
  5. Focus on the GMAT quant question types.

GMAT Quant Sample Papers

GMAT only caters to the high school mathematics section. Here is a list of similar questions in the GMAT quant practice questions PDF.

The GMAT Quantitative Reasoning can be aced by following the above-given books, tips, and practice papers. The question sample provided will provide a better understanding of the question type. The GMAT quant score will help students to stress the scoring types of questions. 

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.

Ask your question

Answered Questions

BS

Bhavya Singh

18 Mar 21

Several factors affect the chance of a candidate getting a seat in ISB Hyderabad. Not only the GMAT score, but also the application profile, essays, and performance in the interview combined together decides whether a candidate should get a seat or not in such an elite institute. The points listed below are some important aspects to consider for admission to such institutes.

  • There is no fixed cut-off for ISB Hyderabad, as declared by the institute. There are examples of people with a GMAT score of 720 not getting a seat from the interviews. On the other hand, there are candidates with a score of 700-710 but are successful in getting a seat in ISB Hyderabad.
  • GMAT score is not the only criteria for getting a seat, but the door to get an interview call. The quality of essays written by the candidate, his/her application/ profile, and the performance in the interviews are also considered.
  • For candidates with an average profile, a GMAT score of 720+, along with a complete application and a good essay can be considered to have high chances to receive an interview call. After having a call, the rest depends on how the candidate will perform in his/her interview.

This is the overall scenario for admission in ISB Hyderabad, for a student with an average profile.


MN

Mahak Nigam

30 Jun 22

More than 140 Business Schools in India accept GMAT scores. Here is a list of popular B-School that accept GMAT scores.

IIM Ahmedabad (PGPX) IIM Bangalore (EPGP) IIM Calcutta (PGPEx)
IIM Indore (EPGP) IIM Kozhikode (EPGP) IIM Lucknow (IPMAX)
XLRI Jamshedpur MDI Gurgaon IMT Ghaziabad
IIFT Delhi FMS Deli ISB Hyderabad/Mohali

Many other reputed B-School across the country also accept GMAT scores.


AV

Arvind Verma

30 Jun 22

ISB Hyderabad accepts both examination scores. So, you can opt for either of GMAT or GRE. Your chances of selection or rejection will remain the same. Go through the examination pattern and syllabus and choose the one in which you feel that you will be able to score better. Ultimately having a good score is what matters during admission. As per the recent trends, ISB Hyderabad cutoff for GMAT is 600, while for GRE it is 311. 


AS

Aditi Sen

12 May 21

There are many business schools in India that require GMAT scores at the time of admission.

Some of the top business schools with requiring GMAT scores in India are:

Institute Name

GMAT Score

ISB, Hyderabad & Mohali

730 or higher

S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai

550

IIM Ahmedabad

711

School of Management, NMIMS Mumbai

600

IIM Bangalore

710

Great Lakes Institute of Management

600

IIM Calcutta

701

XLRI Jamshedpur

710

IIM Lucknow

680

IMT (All campuses)

720

IIM Indore

700

ICFAI Business School (Hyderabad & Mumbai)

700

IIM Kozhikode

700

A few other institutes include - MDI Gurgaon, FMS Delhi, Sunstone Business School Noida, ISB Indore, and more.