Learn More About GMAT

What the GMAT® Measures

The Graduate Management Admission Test® (GMAT®) examination is a standardized test designed to measure verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing skills that have been developed over a long period of time through education and work. The GMAT exam measures these skills in three sections:

• Analytical Writing Assessment Section
• Quantitative Section
• Verbal Section

The GMAT exam does NOT measure—

• Knowledge of business
• Job skills
• Specific content in undergraduate or first university course work
• Subjective qualities such as motivation, creativity, and interpersonal skills
• Abilities in any other specific subject area

Analytical Writing Assessment Section

The Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) is designed as a direct measure of the test taker's ability to think critically and communicate ideas. The AWA consists of two writing tasks: Analysis of an Issue and Analysis of an Argument.
The issues and arguments in the test questions concern topics of general interest related to business or other subjects. Specific knowledge of the essay topic is not necessary—only the test taker’s capacity to write analytically is assessed.
See Understanding and Using the Analytical Writing Assessment Score for a more detailed description.
Analysis of an Issue
Test takers must analyze the issue presented and explain their point of view on the subject. There is no correct answer. This task tests their ability to explore the complexities of an issue or opinion and take a position informed by their understanding.
Analysis of an ArgumentTest takers must analyze the reasoning behind a given argument and write a critique of that argument. They are not being asked to present their own views on the subject—this task tests only their ability to formulate an appropriate and constructive critique of a specific conclusion based on a specific line of thinking.

Quantitative Section

This part of the GMAT exam measures mathematical skills, understanding of elementary concepts, and the ability to reason quantitatively, solve quantitative problems, and interpret graphic data. Two types of multiple-choice questions are intermingled throughout the section: Problem Solving and Data Sufficiency. Both types of questions require knowledge of the following:

• Arithmetic
• Elementary algebra
• Commonly known concepts of geometry

Problem Solving Questions are designed to test—

• Mathematical skills
• Understanding of elementary mathematical concepts
• The ability to reason quantitatively and solve quantitative problems

Data Sufficiency Questions are designed to measure the test taker's ability to—

• Analyze a quantitative problem
• Recognize which information is relevant
• Determine at what point there is sufficient information to solve a problem

Verbal Section

This part of the GMAT exam measures the test taker's ability to—

• Read and comprehend written material
• Reason and evaluate arguments
• Correct written material to conform to standard written English

Three types of multiple-choice questions are used in the Verbal section of the GMAT exam: Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, and Sentence Correction.
Reading Comprehension QuestionsReading Comprehension passages are up to 350 words long. Topics from the social sciences, physical or biological sciences, and business-related areas (marketing, economics, human resource management, etc.) are discussed.
All questions can be answered on the basis of what is stated or implied in the reading material, so no specific knowledge of the material is required. Interpretive, applied, and inferential questions measure the test taker’s ability to understand, analyze, and apply information and concepts presented in written form. 
This section evaluates the test taker's ability to—

• Understand words and statements in reading passages.  Questions of this type test understanding of terms used in the passage and of the English language.
• Understand the logical relationships between significant points and concepts in the reading passages. Test takers must determine the strong and weak points of an argument or evaluate the importance of arguments and ideas in a passage.
• Draw inferences from facts and statements in the reading passages. Test takers consider factual statements or information and, on the basis of that information, reach a general conclusion.
• Understand and follow the development of quantitative concepts as they are presented in verbal material. Questions of this type involve the interpretation of numerical data or the use of simple arithmetic to reach conclusions about material in a passage.

Critical-Reasoning QuestionsThese questions are designed to test the reasoning skills involved in making arguments, evaluating arguments, and formulating or analyzing a plan of action. Questions are based on materials from a variety of sources, so no familiarity with the specific subject matter is needed.

This section measures the test taker's ability to reason effectively in the following areas:

• Argument construction. Questions of this type may ask the test taker to recognize the basic structure of an argument, properly drawn conclusions, underlying assumptions, well-supported explanatory hypotheses, or parallels between structurally similar arguments.
• Argument evaluation. Questions of this type may ask the test taker to analyze a given argument, recognize factors that would strengthen or weaken an argument, reasoning errors committed in making an argument, or aspects of the methods by which an argument proceeds.
• Formulating and evaluating a plan of action. Questions of this type may ask the test taker to recognize the relative appropriateness, effectiveness, or efficiency of different plans of action; factors that would strengthen or weaken a proposed plan of action; or assumptions underlying a proposed plan of action.

Sentence Correction QuestionsTest takers must choose which of the five choices best expresses an idea or relationship. The questions will require test takers to be familiar with the stylistic conventions and grammatical rules of standard written English and demonstrate their ability to improve incorrect or ineffective expressions.

This section tests two broad aspects of language proficiency:

• Correct expression. A correct sentence is grammatically and structurally sound. It conforms to all the rules of standard written English; e.g., noun-verb agreement, pronoun consistency, pronoun case, and verb tense sequence. A correct sentence will not have dangling, misplaced, or improperly formed modifiers; unidiomatic or inconsistent expressions; or faults in parallel construction.
• Effective expression. An effective sentence expresses an idea or relationship clearly and concisely, as well as grammatically. The best answer choice should contain no superfluous words or needlessly complicated expressions. An effective sentence also uses proper diction—the standard dictionary meanings of words and the appropriateness of words in context. In evaluating the diction of a sentence, test takers must be able to recognize whether the words are well chosen, accurate, and suitable for the context.