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

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:

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.

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:

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: 

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:

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.

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:

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.