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GMAT Exam Syllabus 2024: What is the Syllabus of GMAT

Updated on 03 February, 2024

Mrinal Mandal

Mrinal Mandal

Study Abroad Expert

A good Graduate Management Admission Test or GMAT score can confirm your seat at some of the most reputed B-schools in the world. The scores of this standardized entrance test are widely accepted by the top-ranked business schools across the globe. A complete and detailed understanding of the GMAT syllabus and the breakdown of the exam pattern can increase your chances of earning a high score.

 

An MBA degree offers the most promising career after technology and medicine. Management studies have ample scope in India as well as abroad as all businesses require good managers to function efficiently. Pursuing an MBA abroad opens several opportunities for international students. They also get a chance to find permanent residency in countries like Australia, Canada, and the United States of America.

GMAT score is accepted by top IIMs, high ranked B-schools in Canada, the USA, Australia, and Europe. The test scores are accepted by 2300 colleges that globally offer around 7000 MBA programs.

How to do your MBA in USA without GMAT?

The GMAT exam consists of four sections - Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Integrated Reasoning, and Analytical Writing Assessment. The questions measure a candidate’s problem-solving and critical reasoning abilities, data sufficiency, and logic. 

These are the skills required for a successful career in management. GMAT score ranges from a minimum 200 to a maximum 800. The test duration is 3 hours and 7 minutes, and the score is valid for five years. The medium of the exam is English and is conducted in both offline and online mode. 

The top universities usually accept students with a GMAT score of 720+. Though the examination is considered challenging, an in-depth understanding of the pattern and GMAT exam syllabus and regular practice can pave the way for a high score.

Complete Pattern For GMAT Exam 2024

GMAT Exam 2024 Highlights
Exam nameGraduate Management Admission Test
Commonly known asGMAT
Exam levelInternational Level Exam
Conducting BodyGraduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)
LanguageEnglish
GMAT 2024 Registration modeOnline
GMAT 2024 Exam ModeOnline
GMAT Current version test duration3 hours and 7 min
GMAT 2024 focus Edition test duration2 hours 15 min
GMAT cost(approx.)Rs. 21000/-
GMAT focus Edition exam feeRs. 21000/-
GMAT exam fee payment optionsCredit Card and Debit Card
Chances for Re-attemptsOverall 8 attempts (only 5 chances per year)

The GMAT exam pattern and syllabus are quite simple to understand. It is a 3-hour 7-minute-long examination and consists of Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs). GMAT is a prerequisite test for getting admission to the top MBA colleges globally. There are four sections, there is no negative marking, and the cut-off varies from college to college. A score above 690 is considered good.

Questions Per Section and Time Allotted to Each in GMAT 2024

Section

Number of Questions

Score Range

Duration

Analytical writing examination

1 topic

Essay

0-6

30 minutes

Verbal

36 questions

6-51

65 minutes

Integrated Reasoning

12 questions

1-8

30 minutes

Quantitative

31 questions

6-51

62 minutes

Total duration:  

3 hours 7 minutes

Some changes have been introduced in the pattern for the 2024 GMAT examination, and here they are:

1. The mathematics section will be purely based on reasoning questions. 

2. Coordinate geometry will be present in the GMAT syllabus. 

3. Additional options for the MCQs will be ‘both’, and ‘neither’. 

4. There will be conversion questions.

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GMAT Pattern 2024 Latest Update

GMAC has launched the GMAT Focus Edition in 2024. GMAT Focus Edition syllabus and pattern are different from the current version of the GMAT exam. The table given below provides the details of the GMAT Focus Edition pattern 2024:

FeatureTraditional GMATGMAT Focus Edition
Number of sections43
Sections includedVerbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA)Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Data Insights
Total test duration3 hours 30 minutes2 hours 15 minutes
Section duration75 minutes for Verbal & Quant, 30 minutes for IR & AWA60 minutes for Verbal & Quant, 30 minutes for Data Insights
Number of questions8060
Score range200-800 (each section 0-80)200-800 (each section 0-80)
FocusGeneral business school admissionsEmphasis on skills most valued by business schools (e.g., data analysis, problem-solving)
Question type diversityMix of question typesMay use more innovative data-driven formats
Score reportingDetailed reporting across all sectionsOption to hide scores for unsubmitted attempts
AvailabilityYear-roundSpecific testing windows throughout the year

Additional Points:

  • Introduction of Data Insights section replacing Integrated Reasoning and Analytical Writing Assessment.
  • Focus on assessing practical analytical and problem-solving skills using data-driven formats.
  • Option to mark questions for review during the test.
  • Shorter overall test duration and reduced number of questions.
  • Focus on real-world scenarios and business applications.

Syllabus of GMAT for the Year 2024

GMAT Exam SectionNo. of Questions/ Time LimitGMAT Question TypeGMAT Score Range
Analytical Writing Assessment1 Topic (30 minutes)Analysis of an Argument0-6 (0.5-point increments)
Integrated Reasoning12 questions (30 minutes)Multi-Source Reasoning,
Graphics Interpretation,
Two-Part Analysis,
Table Analysis
1-8 (1-point increments)
Quantitative Reasoning31 questions (62 minutes)Data Sufficiency,
Problem Solving
6-51 (1-point increments)
Verbal Reasoning36 questions (65 minutes)Reading Comprehension,
Critical Reasoning,
Sentence Correction
6-51 (1-point increments)
Total80 questions (3 hours 7 minutes)-200 - 800

1. Analytical Writing Examination

The analytical writing segment is purely based on brainstorming ideas and writing an essay. A passage along with questions can also be the pattern. It is the very first section and it is compulsory to attempt it. There will be only one topic, and the score ranges from 0-6, and the time allotted is 30 minutes. The syllabus is vast and can be anything under the sun. The topic can be anything based on science, management, events, sports, or any other subject. You will not be singularly marked on your opinion or thought process, but it is your writing style that will fetch you a good score. Go for a balanced opinion and focus on your writing style, tone, and structure of the write-up. A student can score high in this section by following the below-given strategies: 

a) Brainstorming

b) Drafting a strong introduction

c) Penning well-structured paragraphs

d) A thought-provoking conclusion for the essay

There are two types of essays in the GMAT syllabus:

i) Argument-based essays: The viewpoint or reason needs to be analyzed and then a justified argument needs to be written for this type of essay. 

ii) Issue-based essays: An issue or problem will be given. GMAT aspirants will need to write an essay based on the issue. An individual opinion is welcome too. The length of the essay should be around 600 words and not more than that. 

To get a good score in this section it is pertinent to have good command of the English language. As part of the GMAT English syllabus, you should brush up on grammar as well as vocabulary to write engaging essays. 

Know More about : AWA GMAT

2. Integrated Reasoning

It is a new section that has been added to the syllabus of the GMAT. It is a reasoning section where data will be given in various forms. The students need to analyze and evaluate the data presented in the form of graphs or in a simple table format. This section will have 12 questions in total, and the duration is 30 minutes, where the score is between 1-8. It is a scoring section and students need to practice a lot to ace this section. The questions given can belong to any of the following categories: 

a) Graphical interpretation: The data will be represented in the form of a pie chart, bar graph, histogram, curve, or a graphical image. It will measure the ability of the students to analyze and interpret the data from the graphical representations. The information presented in these forms needs to be interpreted in simple language or mathematical form. The interpretation should justify the relationship between the data and state the right conclusion. 

b) Table analysis: It will be a table formulation with all the data and information provided. A spreadsheet, for example, is a table formulation and the students need to sort, interpret and analyze the data and information provided in the table. It will help in determining the relationship between data, relevant information, and certain conditions. 

c) Two-part analysis: This part will mainly assess the students’ ability to solve complex problems. This section needs a lot of practice, and the students need to time themselves to complete this section. There will be trade-offs, equations, and relationships between factors and two entities. It will be a tricky part and students will need good reasoning skills to solve these questions. 

d) Multi-source: There won’t be just one source of data, but various sources like passages, tables, graphical representations, or a combination of all of them. The students need to analyze each of the data sources very carefully. The questions will be based on finding inferences and finding the relevance of data. There will also be some tricky questions, where the students need to find discrepancies among various data sources. 

Know More about : GMAT Integrated Reasoning 

3. Quantitative Reasoning

The quantitative reasoning section is the highest scoring section. It has a total of 31 questions, and the duration is 62 minutes. It comprises two parts - data sufficiency and problem-solving. The trick to cracking this section is practice. There will be 18 questions on data sufficiency and 18 questions under the problem-solving part. The questions in quantitative reasoning are completely objective and MCQ-based. There will be no negative marking for the wrong answer. 

a) Problem-solving: This part will focus on the problem-solving ability of the students. It will test the analytical reasoning and logical reasoning abilities of the students. 

b) Data sufficiency: Here the students need to examine, understand the problem and then identify the importance of data. After understanding which data is important, they need to understand the point at which there is maximum data to solve a particular problem. 

The topics that need to be studied as part of the GMAT Quant syllabus or the GMAT Math syllabus are:

i) Geometry

ii) Arithmetic

iii) Elementary algebra

iv) Properties of Integers

v) Ratio Proportion

vi) Exponents

vii) Linear equation

viii)Permutations and Combinations

Know More about : GMAT Quantitative Section

4. Verbal Reasoning

To understand GMAT verbal reasoning syllabus, it is essential to understand the pattern of questions. The verbal reasoning section has 36 questions, and the duration is 65 minutes. This section checks the ability of the students to read and interpret the passage to give suitable answers. The idea is to check the applicant’s spoken English proficiency. There are mainly three types of questions under this section: 

a) Reading comprehension: Based on the passage, there will be multiple-choice questions. The students need to read the entire passage and then answer the questions. The answers will be checked for the following skills-application, inferences, ideas, style, and structure. 

b) Critical reasoning: This part will be based on analyzing the argument. There will be a few argument-based questions. The students need to analyze them, support, or go against the argument with a valid reason. There will be eight different types of critical reasoning questions and every question will judge a student on reasoning, argumentation, finding a solution, or evaluation of a plan. 

c) Sentence correction: A certain part of the sentence will be underlined. Students need to rectify issues or problems with underlined portion. The grammatical errors, if any, need to be corrected.

Know More about : GMAT Preparation Books

How to Apply for GMAT 2024

1. Log on to mba.com and click ‘sign up’ located in the top right corner. 

2. Candidates applying for the GMAT examination need to fill up the GMAT 2024 registration form by visiting the website. The registration will be done for the online mode of the exam. 

3. Candidates need to fill up all the information as required by the portal. If any information is missed out, the application form will be rejected. 

4. During registration, students need to mention their contact number and email address. All the important notifications and alerts will be communicated via these two mediums. So, do cross-check before you submit the form. 

5. Candidates will also have to choose test dates as per the available slot. 

6. Candidates can choose up to three location preferences for the examination. Only pick the location that can be accessed on the date of examination. 

7. Upload a passport-size photograph along with your digital signature. The size will be mentioned on the online portal. 

8. Once all the details are filled in, submit the registration form. The details will be sent to the registered mobile number and email address. Keep a printout of the form for future reference. 

GMAT Pattern 2024: Test Centre and Online GMAT

The table given below provides a comparison of GMAT pattern 2024 for the GMAT exam at a test centre and for the GMAT exam taken in online mode:

FeatureTest Center GMATOnline GMAT
AvailabilityYear-roundSpecific testing windows throughout the year
Testing environmentProctored testing centerSecure home environment with required webcam and software
TechnologyTraditional computer setupPersonal computer with specific requirements
Test duration3 hours 30 minutes2 hours 15 minutes (Focus Edition) or 3 hours 30 minutes (Traditional)
Section duration75 minutes for Verbal & Quant, 30 minutes for IR & AWA60 minutes for Verbal & Quant, 30 minutes for Data Insights (Focus Edition) or 75 minutes for Verbal & Quant, 30 minutes for IR & AWA (Traditional)
Number of questions8060 (Focus Edition) or 80 (Traditional)
Section orderFixed (Verbal, Quantitative, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment)Traditional: Fixed
BreaksOne optional 8-minute breakOne optional 10-minute break (Focus Edition) or two optional 8-minute breaks (Traditional)
Scratch paperProvided at test centerDigital scratchpad available online
CostHigherLower
Scheduling flexibilityMore limitedMore flexible

Exam Tips for GMAT Candidates

1. Start your test prep in advance and develop a plan to cover the GMAT full syllabus. 

2. Time yourself for each section while practicing mock papers.

3. Choose the right study material/plan. 

4. Be sure to have a clear grasp of basic concepts of Math and English grammar.

For the latest GMAT exam syllabus 2024 updates, important notifications, and exam tips get in touch with upGrad Abroad.

Know More:

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Validity of GMAT ScoreGMAT Exam Dates

 

Expert Tips on Pursuing MBA Abroad

Learn everything about MBA abroad with this e-guide. Get to know about different types of MBA, the benefits of pursuing an MBA degree abroad, how to choose an MBA degree, top business school requirements, top MBA universities, scholarships, job prospects after an MBA abroad, and more.

Now, get answers to every MBA abroad-related question with this ebook.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between CAT and GMAT syllabus?

GMAT syllabus includes verbal reasoning, integrated reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing assessment, whereas for CAT the topics are quantitative aptitude, verbal ability, data interpretation, and logical reasoning, and reading comprehension. The syllabus is very different, but the difficulty level is almost the same for both.

How is the GMAT test score calculated?

GMAT does not have any passing or failing marks. It is a compilation of four different sections and offers five scores. One score each is given from the four sections and the fifth score is calculated from verbal and quantitative sections in a combined manner. 

How to get a perfect GMAT score?

A perfect GMAT score is certainly possible. It can be attained if the students are very clear with the basics, reasoning, and logic. Practice is the key to the quantitative and reasoning sections.

Which countries accept GMAT scores?

GMAT is a widely accepted examination for MBA aspirants. It is accepted in public and private universities in India, Australia, the United States of America, Canada, Europe, Puerto Rico, Singapore, and Germany. Students can seek admission in globally reputed universities and B-schools with a good GMAT score.

What is a good GMAT score?

A good GMAT score is 690 and above. The maximum score is 800, and the top 10 ranked B-schools set a cut-off of 720+. 

What is the full syllabus for GMAT?

The GMAT exam consists of four sections - Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Integrated Reasoning, and Analytical Writing Assessment. The questions measure a candidate’s problem-solving and critical reasoning abilities, data sufficiency, and logic.

Is GRE and GMAT syllabus the same?

The syllabus for these two exams is the same however there is a difference in the exam sections. While GRE exam has 3 sections - Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning, GMAT has an additional section of Integrated Reasoning along with the above 3.

Is the GMAT exam tough?

GMAT is certainly a challenging exam as the score is used to determine admission to some of the top business schools in the world. Only 6% of candidates are able to score 720+. It is still taken by millions of students every year. As per official figures, a total of 1,73,176 GMAT exams were taken by prospective business school students around the world in the year 2020 (From July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020).

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Mrinal Mandal

Study Abroad Expert

Mrinal Mandal is a study abroad expert with a passion for guiding students towards their international education goals. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering, earned in 2018. Since 2021, Mrinal has been working with upGrad Abroad, where he assists aspiring students in realizing their dreams of studying abroad. With his expertise and dedication, he empowers individuals to navigate the complexities of international education, making their aspirations a reality.

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