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GMAT Syllabus 2023: Exam Pattern, Section Wise Details, Question Pattern, Books

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Sayantani Barman

Experta en el extranjero | Updated On - Apr 5, 2023

GMAT syllabus 2023 comprises around 50 topics from Quant, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning and Analytical Writing sections. GMAT measures the analytical and reasoning skills of students through these sections. In the 3 and half hours of GMAT test, the candidates need to answer questions in a computer-adaptive form where the difficulty level changes according to the performance level. The main objective of GMAT exam pattern is assessing the critical thinking ability, argument evaluation ability, and data interpreting ability. 

GMAT Syllabus 2023 Highlights

Sections Number of Questions Duration
Analytical Writing Analysis of Argument 30 minutes
Integrated Reasoning Section 12 questions 30 minutes
Optional Break 10 minutes
Quantitative Section 37 questions (15 questions in Data Sufficiency and 22 in Problem Solving) 75 minutes
Optional Break 10 minutes
Verbal Section 41 MCQs (12 Critical Reasoning, 14 Reading Comprehension, 15 Sentence Correction) 75 minutes

Recent Changes in GMAT Question Pattern 2023

There have been some changes in the GMAT syllabus 2023 as compared to the previous year’s question patterns. We have extracted the following points to help aspirants understand the changes:

  1. The GMAT maths syllabus will comprise pure reasoning questions;
  2. There will be an addition of conversion questions in the new GMAT syllabus;
  3. Addition of set question that comprises of terms like ‘both’, ‘neither’
  4. Presence of coordinate geometry in the GMAT Geometry section of the GMAT syllabus;

There has also been a major change in the  GMAT Online Exam and syllabus making it the ‘Enhanced Online GMAT Exam - the addition of the GMAT AWA section.

GMAT Syllabus for Quant Section 

GMAT syllabus for Quant section does not ask for any concept beyond high-school-level math since there are numerous candidates from the humanities background. GMAT quantitative syllabus consists of two major question types:

  1. GMAT Problem Solving with approximately 18-20 questions and tests the algebra, geometry, and arithmetic sections. Problem-Solving questions in GMAT measure skills that how well the test takers solve any critical situation with rational approaches;
  2. GMAT Data Sufficiency with approximately 11-13 questions and offers a problem with two statements where the candidate is required to decide if the given statement will suffice to solve the problem in the question. Elimination method, solving the purpose, and individual sufficiency are a few of the preparation tips to ace the data sufficiency GMAT syllabus of MBA.

Important topics included in the GMAT syllabus of Quant section are as follows:

Arithmetic Geometry Numbers Properties
Pre-algebra Algebra Permutation and Combination
Exponents and Roots Fractions Decimals
Percentages Simple and Compound Interest Ratio and Proportion
Set Theory Coordinate Geometry Probability

Note: GMAT syllabus of quantitative reasoning doesn’t allow the use of a calculator in this section of the test, thus, it is very important to do a brush up on your number sense particularly if it’s been some time since you worked with numbers. With proper GMAT Quant Books, candidates can also excel in quant skills. 

GMAT Syllabus for Verbal Section 

GMAT syllabus for Verbal section measures the ability of the test takers to interpret and read the given excerpt to answer the given questions. This section is required to check the probable usage of efficient English as required.

The verbal reasoning section of GMAT syllabus consists of three types of questions:

  1. Reading Comprehension questions give you a short (200-300 words) or long (300-400 words) passage, and then based on the inferences, answer three or four multiple-choice questions, respectively. You would be tested on the following reading skills: inference, application, main idea, supporting the idea, logical structure, and style.
  2. Critical Reasoning questions set forth an argument that you then analyze which measures your skill to make arguments, evaluate arguments, and formulate or evaluate a plan of action. There are eight different types of CR questions, all of which are multiple choices.
  3. Sentence Correction problems present you with a sentence. Part of this sentence is underlined, and you have to decide if there’s a grammatical problem. If so, you choose from one of four alternatives to the underlined portion.

Topics that will be covered in the GMAT Verbal Reasoning section are as follows:

Critical Reasoning Rhetorical construction of the sentences Sentence correction includes finding error or omission Reading unseen passages
Subject-verb agreement Misplace modifiers Countable Vs Uncountable Parallelism

GMAT verbal syllabus can be excelled by practicing numerous GMAT verbal practice papers, a thorough reading of 40 to 50 pages each day, and learning vocabulary from flashcards. With GMAT Verbal Books, candidates get a good number of verbal practice questions and concepts to clear. 

GMAT Syllabus for Integrated Reasoning Section 

GMAT IR tests your higher-order reasoning through the Integrative Reasoning section which includes questions about the integration of information (organizing, synthesizing), evaluating information (tradeoffs and benefits of different actions), making inferences from data (and predictions), relating information to other data, and strategizing based on data provided. The total number of questions present in the GMAT test syllabus of IR is 12 with a duration of 30 minutes.

The GMAT syllabus for integrated reasoning section has the following topics included in it:

  1. GMAT Table Analysis measures your ability to sort and analyze a table comprising data, like a spreadsheet, to determine the significant information or the one that meets certain conditions.
  2. GMAT Two-Part Analysis will measure your skill to solve complex problems including verbal, quantitative, or a combination of both. The two-part analysis measures your ability to solve simultaneous equations, evaluate trade-offs, and discern relationships between two entities.
  3. GMAT Multi-Source Reasoning requires examining the data from multiple sources tables, graphics, text passages, or a combination of all the three and analyzing each source of data carefully to answer multiple questions. Thus, the candidates will be asked to draw inferences and others may require you to determine whether data is important.
  4. GMAT Graphics Interpretation requires you to interpret the information presented in a graph or graphical image (scatter plot, x/y graph, bar chart, pie chart, or statistical curve distribution) to find out relationships and make inferences that will eventually help you in analyzing the business performance.

Also Read GMAT Critical Reasoning Books

GMAT Syllabus for Analytical Writing Assessment

The GMAT syllabus of AWA tests the candidate’s essay writing skills as a response to an argument. You’ll write a response, typically 4 to 6 paragraphs, in which you evaluate the argument. The logic over here is to check your ability to think critically about opinions presented to you. Analyzing the information as well to determine what information might help you further evaluate the argument in more depth.

The following are useful in the Analytical Writing Assessment section of GMAT:

  • Brainstorming
  • Writing an introduction
  • Writing body paragraphs
  • Concluding your essay

There are two types of essays that can be asked in the GMAT syllabus :

  1. In an argument essay, you have to analyze the reasoning and then present your argument. It will all depend on how well reasoned your argument is.
  2. In the Issue essay section, you have to write an essay on the issue given to you. It should have around 600 words and the opinion can be supportive of the given statement or candidates can give their own opinion.

The best way to prepare for GRE AWA is constantly practicing from GMAT syllabus books of analytical writing, but since this is not going to make your GMAT Score, thus, it is important to keep it at the lowest priority.

*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.