Most recent change in the question pattern of GMAT
Certification: Test Prep GMAT - Graduate Management Admission Test
GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Program) is a computer adaptive test (CAT), used as a part of the admission criteria by most business schools around the world. GMAT assesses the skills that are vital to being a successful part of the business and management world rather than the business knowledge possessed by that individual. GMAT assesses the individuals in many areas including Analytical writing, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative and Verbal. GMAT is a project of Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC).
GMAT has undergone various changes in the question pattern over the years. The most recent change in GMAT question pattern was brought about in June 2012. In the new generation GMAT, a new section of Integrated Reasoning has been added. Here’s a detailed look on what’s different in the new pattern:
Old Pattern of GMAT
Before June 2012 GMAT consisted of three sections only:
1. Analytical Writing Assessment
2. Quantitative
3. Verbal
The Analytical writing assessment (AWA) section was further comprised of two parts:
1. Analysis of an issue
2. Analysis of an argument
Time allocated for this section was 60 minutes.
Quantitative section was allocated 75 minutes for a total of 37 questions. The questions mainly revolved around problem solving and data sufficiency. 19 questions for assessing the problem solving and 18 for data sufficiency are present in the GMAT exam.
Verbal section was again allocated 75 minutes of the total test time. It assessed the individual’s expertise in the following areas: Critical reasoning, reading comprehension and sentence correction. It consisted of 41 questions.
Total test duration was 3 hours and 30 minutes and scoring scale 200-800. If you took the three optional breaks available, each of 10 minutes, the total test time added up to be 4 hours.
New GMAT pattern
The new GMAT pattern introduced in June 2012 added an entire new section i.e the Integrated Reasoning (IR) section replacing the analysis of an issue part of the Analytical writing assessment section. This reduced the duration of AWA section to 30 minutes. Giving 30 minutes to the new IR section. The quantitative and verbal sections remain unchanged in the new pattern with the allocated time of 75 minutes each. The total test time is still 3 hours and 30 minutes and the scoring scale 200-800.
Integrated Reasoning (IR) Section
The newest section introduced in the GMAT exam is the IR section. It consists of four main types of questions: Table analysis, graphics interpretation, multi-source reasoning and two part analysis. You are to solve a total of 12 questions in 30 minutes.
Integrated reasoning is nothing but the skill to analyze data available from different sources at the same time. This skill is essential to make your way in the business and corporate world.
Advantages of the new IR section
Interpreting data from multiple sources is a critical part of today’s MBA education so introducing the IR section has received only positive reviews from critics. This is a skill you absolutely need to survive in the business world today. According to the statistics present on mba.com the newly added section in the GMAT has been regarded as a very necessary component of the business and management skills by the majority of test takers.
Even though the introduction of new types of questions through the Integrated Reasoning Section might have made the test a little harder, it has also made the test more efficient. Students who master the art of integrated reasoning are far more likely to be a success in the business world than the ones who have no clue about it.
Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) Section
The Analytical writing assessment section consists of one topic based on analysis of an argument and you get 30 minutes to finish it.
In the AWA section you are given an argument and asked to analyze it critically from all possible angles. This section measures your reasoning skills as well as your ability to communicate your ideas in the best possible way.
Quantitative Section
The Quantitative section contains 37 questions pertaining to data sufficiency and problem solving. You get 75 minutes to finish this section.
This section assesses the test taker’s ability to draw conclusions from the available data. The mathematics required to be able to effectively finish this section are merely secondary school standard, nothing too complicated.
Verbal Section
The Verbal section consists of 41 questions to be solved in 75 minutes. The questions are based on reading comprehension, critical reasoning and sentence correction.
GMAT assesses all the skills that might be needed for a successful management or business career which also includes being able to comprehend written English and to critically analyze arguments. This is what the Verbal section of GMAT evaluates. Your basic English skills are being tested in this section since being able to communicate effectively is integral to any type of education.
To summarize:
The newest GMAT question pattern was introduced in June 2012. It differs from the previous pattern in that the AWA section has been reduced to 30 minutes because of the removal of analysis of an issue part and a new section named the Integrated Reasoning section has been included which appears just after the AWA section in the GMAT exam. Test takers should master the ability to evaluate information from multiple sources at a time and this is what integrated reasoning is all about. The Quantitative and Verbal sections remain unchanged in the new question pattern of GMAT. The scoring scale which is 200-800 and the total test duration which is 3 hours and 30 minutes without including breaks is still the same. Remember, GMAT is not the test for your business or corporate knowledge, it assesses the basic skills required for a good business career.