GMAT Syllabus 2023 - Section-Wise GMAT Exam Syllabus (Verbal, IR, AWA, Quant)

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Samarpita Goswami
Updated on Mar 07, 2023 11:19 AM IST

GMAC, the conducting body of the GMAT exam, has divided the GMAT syllabus into four sections. They are Analytical Writing Assessment, Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Integrated Reasoning. The syllabus shares a common pattern with other management aptitude tests. Each of the four sections has some essential elements that candidates must understand to start their preparatory journey for the exam. 

Having a good understanding of the GMAT syllabus will help to enhance the preparation and ultimately help in scoring good GMAT scores. On this page, we will share all the necessary information about the GMAT exam syllabus with each section explained in detail. All the topics in the sections are vividly discussed along with the types of questions students can expect.

GMAT Syllabus 2023 Highlights

There are four important parts of the GMAT syllabus 2023. Each section has a fixed number of questions and syllabi. Here is a detailed discussion of the different sections of the GMAT exam syllabus. It is divided into:

  • Integrated Reasoning: The questions asked in this section assess applicants’ ability to comprehend and analyse the data provided to them. The subsections of the GMAT Integrated Reasoning syllabus are Two-Part Analysis, Multi-Source Reasoning, Table Analysis and Graphics Interpretation. All the 12 IR questions including easy and difficult ones are summarised in these four sub-sections. 

  • Quantitative Reasoning: The GMAT quantitative reasoning section comprises sub-sections such as Problem Solving and Data Sufficiency and focuses on the candidate’s numerical understanding. There are 31 questions in this section and includes topics such as Geometry, Arithmetic and Elementary Algebra. 

  • Verbal Reasoning: This section gives a vivid idea of the candidates’ comprehension and command of the English language. Each set of questions is directed towards grammar understanding and thinking ability. Students have to answer 36 questions in this section. Some of the common types of questions asked in GMAT verbal reasoning are Sentence Correction, Rhetorical Construction and Sentences, Synonyms-Antonyms, Parallelism, Idioms, Subject-Verb Agreement and Critical Reasoning Reading Unseen Passages. 

  • Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA): An essay topic is given in this section that needs to be written within 30 minutes. It is mostly an argument in which students have to understand the reason and provide a critique of the argument. Candidates are required to think critically and articulate their ideas effectively in form of an essay in GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment section. 

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GMAT Syllabus: Verbal Reasoning

In this section, the GMAT exam assesses the verbal ability skills of the candidate. Questions are mostly based on Reading, Sentence Correction, Critical Reasoning, and Comprehension. Before knowing more about the syllabus of GMAT 2023 for the Verbal Reasoning section, aspirants need to know about the GMAT exam pattern of this section. Here is a brief overview of the same:

Section 

Types of Questions 

Number of Questions 

Duration 

Verbal Reasoning 

Sentence Correction

Critical Reasoning

Reading Comprehension

Importance of Vocabulary

36 questions

65 minutes

Listed below are some of the topics that you are likely to see in the GMAT Verbal Reasoning section:

  • Assumption

  • Boldface

  • Comparison

  • Evaluate

  • Idioms

  • Inference

  • Modifiers

  • Paradox

  • Parallelism

  • Pronouns

  • Strengthen and Weaken

  • Subject-Verb Agreement

  • Verb Tense

The table below outlines the type of questions you will see in an exam and the relevant details regarding the different types of questions that are a part of the GMAT exam syllabus 2023.

Type of Questions

Details

Reading Comprehension

The focus of Reading Comprehension in the GMAT exam will be more on subjects related to business.

The Reading Comprehension questions will cover less than one-third of the Verbal section of the exam.

Critical Reasoning

These types of questions are a major part of the GMAT exam as they test your reasoning as well as analytical skills.

Questions such as Assumptions, Evaluation, Bold Face, Inference, etc can be asked under this type.

Sentence Completion/ Correction

GMAT comprises 14 to 15 sentence correction questions where your grammar and syntax knowledge of the language will be tested.

Questions such as Pronouns, Verb Tenses, Idioms, Subject-Verb Agreement, Comparison, etc., can be asked under this type of question.

Importance of Vocabulary

Vocabulary is not given too much importance in the GMAT. It is more focused on testing candidates' Verbal Reasoning skills.

GMAT Syllabus: Quantitative Reasoning

The GMAT Quantitative Reasoning section assesses applicants' abilities to think, analyse facts, and form conclusions. This section also assesses candidates' fundamental mathematics abilities and skills. Before drawing your attention to the GMAT syllabus for the Quantitative Reasoning section, it is important to know this section’s GMAT exam pattern, which is highlighted in the table below:

Section 

Types of Questions 

Number of Questions 

Time Duration 

Quantitative Reasoning

Problem-Solving

Data Sufficiency

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

31 questions

62 minutes

As highlighted in the above-given table, the GMAT Quantitative Reasoning section has 31 questions in total which the test taker has to finish in 62 minutes. The different types of questions that are part of the GMAT exam syllabus for the Quant section are as follows:

  • Data Sufficiency: These questions will comprise information in the form of two sentences and a question will be asked. Candidates will be required to answer whether the information in the statements is sufficient to answer the question or not. 

  • Problem Solving: These questions will usually involve topics such as arithmetic, geometry, algebra, etc and would require you to provide your workings towards an answer. 

  • Multiple Choice Questions: These will be asked in the usual 'question and four option' format from various topics in the mathematics section.

The various topics and sub-topics that are a part of the GMAT syllabus 2023 for the Quantitative section are mentioned below

Algebraic Equations and Expressions

Arithmetic and Geometric Progression

Averages

Circles

Coordinate Geometry

Decimals

Descriptive Statistics

Exponents

Fractions

Functions

Inequalities and Basic Statistics

Lines and Angles

Mixtures and Allegations

Monomials and Polynomials

Multiples and Factors

Number Properties

Percentages

Permutation and Combinations

Pipes, Cisterns and Work Time

Powers and Roots

Probability

Profit and Loss

Quadratic Equations

Quadrilaterals

Ration and Proportion

Rectangular Solids and Cylinders

Set Theory

Simple and Compound Interest

Speed, Time and Distance

Triangles; and more

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GMAT Syllabus: Analytical Writing Assessment

Before knowing in detail about the GMAT syllabus for the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) section, let us have a quick look at this section’s exam pattern which is explained in the table below:

GMAT Section

Types of Questions

Number of Questions

Time Duration

Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA)

Analysis of Argument

1 topic

30 minutes

The Analytical Writing Assessment section of the GMAT syllabus assesses a candidate's ability to analyse a given argument, identify its weaknesses, and offer logical and reasonable answers in the form of an essay. The AWA uses reasoning clarity and thinking coherence as the main assessment criteria. The essay must also adhere to the characteristics of conventional written English. The AWA section under the GMAT exam syllabus consists of an argument analysis that takes 30 minutes to complete. Among the arguments on the test are topics of broad interest related to business as well as several other fields. Only your ability to write critically is assessed, not your knowledge of the essay topic.

Type of Essays

In the examination, you will get argumentative topics and you will have to put forth your views regarding the topic 

A domain of Topics

The questions come from topics related to the field of business and management. Candidates must keep track of global business news as examples are necessary.

GMAT Syllabus: Integrated Reasoning

The Integrated Reasoning section of the exam assesses your ability to analyse and evaluate data presented in graphs, graphic tables, bar charts, and other formats. This section consists of 12 questions that must be answered in 30 minutes. Before knowing the GMAT syllabus for the Integrated Reasoning section, let us have look at this section's exam pattern of the same:

GMAT Section

Types of Questions

Number of Questions

Time Duration

Integrated Reasoning

Table Analysis

Graphics Interpretation

Multi-Source Reasoning

Two-Part Analysis

12 items

30 minutes

Let us now discuss the four primary types of questions that are a part of the GMAT syllabus of the Integrated Reasoning section:

  • Table Analysis: As the name suggests, you will be presented with a table with information that can be sorted. You must distinguish between useful and non-useful information.

  • Graphics Interpretation: A chart or graph will be presented in the form of a question. You must interpret the graphical information provided and use that information to solve the questions provided subsequently.

  • Multi-Source Reasoning: Here, there will be multiple tabs with information or inputs relevant to the questions given. The questions here will be of the same nature as Critical Reasoning.

  • Two-Part Analysis: The question type will include two questions that relate to the same information. Here, you will receive 5-6 answer choices for the questions and you must select the right option. It should be noted, that the answers to the questions can be the same or different.

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FAQs on GMAT Syllabus

What is GMAT Syllabus for the year 2022?

The GMAT exam syllabus 2022 is divided into four sections: analytical writing, integrated reasoning, quantitative aptitude, and verbal reasoning. Each section of the GMAT exam is meant to put different skill sets to the test. Read the above post-in-depth to know more about the GMAT syllabus 2022.

Has the syllabus for GMAT become more difficult in recent years?

No, the syllabus for GMAT has not become difficult in recent years. In recent years, the quant and verbal percentiles for the same raw score have fluctuated, with the quant percentile declining significantly and the verbal percentile increasing slightly. This may lead you to feel that quant is getting easy while verbal is getting harder. However, when we go further into the root causes, we discover that the actual skill level required to attain a certain raw score has not altered - getting a 50 on quant or verbal is just as difficult as it was 5 years ago. 

What is the GMAT syllabus for the Analytical Writing Assessment section?

The Analytical Writing section includes topics for the candidate to write about or a passage from which questions will be asked. The candidate will be required to respond based on the passage. The GMAT syllabus for the AWA section is extensive and diverse, as the passage's topic could be anything of interest. The basic concept is to concentrate on the structure of the response rather than the arguments offered. 

Have the test sections changed in the GMAT syllabus?

No, the test sections have not changed in the GMAT syllabus 2022. In 2012, GMAC introduced a new section of the GMAT called Integrated Reasoning, which replaced the prior 'Analysis of an Issue' Essay. The AWA (Analytical Writing Assessment) and IR (Integrated Reasoning) components appear before the Quantitative and Verbal sections.

Is GMAT Online available in India?

Whether you plan to apply to business schools in India or overseas, the GMAT Online exam—an online, remotely proctored version of the test-centre-based GMAT exam—can help you complete your admission criteria from the comfort of your own home. When it comes to GMAT online and in-centre scoring and syllabus, there is no difference. For both exams, the GMAT syllabus, section scores and overall scores, as well as percentiles and scoring scales, remain the same.

What is the syllabus of GMAT Quantitative Reasoning section?

According to the GMAT Syllabus, there are two types of questions in the Quant section: data sufficiency and problem-solving. There are 31 questions in all, and you have 62 minutes to finish it. Data Sufficiency questions consist of a problem statement followed by two factual statements. One must also focus on fundamental concepts of arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. 

Is GMAT syllabus similar to that of the CAT exam?

Yes, it is indeed true that the GMAT syllabus is similar to that of the CAT exam syllabus. GMAT syllabus includes Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Integrated Reasoning and the Analytical Writing Assessment, while the CAT syllabus includes topics from Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC). The section - Analytical Writing Assessment - is the most significant difference between the CAT syllabus and the GMAT syllabus.

How long does it take to cover the GMAT syllabus?

A good GMAT study schedule includes between 10 and 15 hours of study each week to cover the GMAT exam syllabus. Doing the math, it offers you anything from 6 to 9 weeks of GMAT preparation—assuming you can be 100% consistent every week and don't decide to take the exam twice. Spend two to three months and 100-120 hours reviewing material and practising regularly. Top GMAT scorers spend an average of 120+ hours studying for Test Day over some time.

Can you study and cover the GMAT syllabus on your own?

Yes, you can study and cover the GMAT exam syllabus on your own. Many GMAT test-takers choose self-study, which involves a great level of effort, discipline, and focus. You can be thoroughly prepared for the exam by using the best exam books, official guides and other study materials and resources!

What is the syllabus of GMAT Integrated Reasoning?

Multi-Source Thinking, Table Analysis, Graphics Interpretation, and Two-Part Analysis are the four categories of questions that are part of the GMAT syllabus of the Integrated Reasoning section. This section of the GMAT exam assesses your ability to analyze and evaluate data presented in graphs, graphic tables, bar charts, and other forms.

What are the main topics for GMAT Quantitative Section as per the latest GMAT syllabus?

According to the GMAT Syllabus, the Quantitative Section has two types of questions – Data Sufficiency and Problem Solving. It consists of 31 questions in total, and you get 62 minutes to complete it. Data Sufficiency questions consist of a problem statement followed by two factual statements. Problem-solving questions consist of topics such as arithmetic, algebra and geometry. 

What is the syllabus of Verbal Reasoning in GMAT?

This section of the GMAT's Verbal Reasoning is divided into three parts: Critical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Sentence Correction. This section assesses candidates' ability to grasp written content, read and comprehend the logical relationship between the passage's ideas and concepts.

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