GMAT Exam Syllabus 2025: GMAT Exam Pattern, & Tips to Prepare

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a globally recognized exam designed for students preparing to get admission at top business schools and pursue advanced management degrees. The GMAT exam syllabus is designed to assess skills crucial for success in graduate management programs, such as quantitative reasoning, data insights, and verbal reasoning. Whether you are aiming for an MBA or another business-related graduate program, understanding the structure of the exam and preparing effectively becomes important to achieving a competitive score. This blog will explore the GMAT syllabus breakdown and preparation tips to help you better appear for the exam.

GMAT Exam Overview

Administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the GMAT exam is a computer-adaptive test (CAT) that adjusts question difficulty based on your answers. If you answer questions correctly, the following ones will be more challenging, allowing the exam to analyze your skill level more precisely.

The GMAT exam is recognized by over 7,700 programs across 2,400+ universities and institutions globally. Thus, making it one of the most sought-after exams for business school admissions. The GMAT exam fee in India stands at $275 (Rs 22,600 approx).

The GMAT exam pattern and syllabus are crafted to assess a candidate’s analytical, quantitative, verbal, and critical reasoning skills, all of which are essential for success in a business or management program.

Latest GMAT Exam Syllabus and Pattern

The GMAT exam pattern has undergone a significant update in 2023 with the introduction of the GMAT Focus Edition, which is now the only version available for the test. This version of the GMAT exam is shorter, lasting 2 hours and 15 minutes, compared to the previous 3 hours and 7 minutes. The exam now has three sections that aim to reflect the skills needed for business courses. 

Aside from the quantitative and verbal reasoning, the data insights section has been introduced in the GMAT paper pattern. This section evaluates a candidate’s ability to interpret, analyze, and reason with complex data, which is essential in the present data-driven business landscape.

The GMAT test subjects as per the new pattern, along with the number of questions, duration, and applicable score range, have been mentioned below:

Section	Number of Questions	Duration	Applicable Score Range
Quantitative Reasoning	21	45 Minutes	60 – 90
Verbal Reasoning	23	45 Minutes	60 – 90
Data Insights	20	45 Minutes	60 – 90
Total	64	2 Hours 15 Minutes (with an optional 10-minute break)	200 – 800

Also Read: Exams To Study Abroad

Latest GMAT Exam Syllabus

The GMAT exam is prepared to evaluate key skills required for success in the business and management fields. Each section of the GMAT examination syllabus targets specific skill sets like math and problem-solving, language and reasoning, and data analysis, respectively. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the syllabus for each section:

Section	Syllabus
Quantitative Reasoning (21 questions)	Algebra: Elements of Algebra, linear equations, quadratic equations, inequalities, logarithms, functions, statistics, exponents, permutation and combination, geometric progression Arithmetic: Number system, time, speed, distance, work, profit, loss, discounts, percentages, mixtures, allegations, ratios, proportions, averages.
Verbal Reasoning (23 questions)	Reading Comprehension: Main idea, supporting idea, inferences, application, logical structure, style, and tone. Critical Reasoning: Strengthen or weaken the idea, argument construction, and evaluation.
Data Insights (20 questions)	Data Sufficiency Multi-source Reasoning: Interpret information from visual sources (text, tables, graphs, diagrams). Table Analysis: Determine statistics, ratios, proportions, or probabilities from spreadsheet-like tables. Graphics Interpretation: Extract data from scatter plots, x/y graphs, bar charts, pie charts, bubble charts, and statistical curve distribution. Two-part Analyses: Quant, verbal, finding relationships, evaluating trade-offs, solving simultaneous equations

1. GMAT Exam Quantitative Reasoning Syllabus

The GMAT exam quantitative reasoning syllabus analyzes your ability to solve mathematical problems using basic principles of arithmetic and algebra. Calculator use is not permitted in this section. Therefore, a solid understanding of core mathematical concepts is essential. The section’s focus is testing your ability to approach each problem methodically, applying reasoning skills to arrive at the correct answer.

Here are the key areas covered in the GMAT maths syllabus:

a. Arithmetic Questions

The arithmetic questions involve the following: 

• Decimals and Fractions
• Ratios and Proportions
• Percentages
• Speed, Time, and Distance
• Probability
• Simple and Compounded Interest
• Average
• Multiples and Factors
• Number Properties 

b. Algebra and Problem Solving Questions

The algebra and problem-solving questions involve the following:

• Permutation and Combination
• Algebraic Expressions and Equations
• Arithmetic and Geometric progression
• Statistics
• Exponents
• Functions

Preparation Tips for GMAT Quantitative Reasoning

To score well in the GMAT Quant section, you need a strong understanding of mathematical concepts and formulas, strategic problem-solving, and constant practice. Here are some tips to help you prepare for GMAT quantitative reasoning: 

• Understand the format and syllabus for the GMAT Quant section in depth to structure your preparation. 
• Brush up on fundamental math concepts and practice simple problems to get started. Memorize all the formulas, shortcuts, squares, square roots (up to 30), and cubes and cube roots (up to 20). 
• Prepare a formula and concept sheet to revise them regularly. 
• Create a realistic study plan by assessing your strengths and weaknesses. Allocated time to learn new topics and revise the old ones. 
• Practice daily so that you can solve 21 questions in 45 minutes as asked in the Quant section accurately and efficiently. 
• Use the GMAT Official Guide to practice real GMAT questions. Additionally, solve previous year’s papers to familiarize yourself with different question types.  
• Take a lot of mock tests to identify your mistakes, adjust your preparation strategy, and manage your time effectively. 

2. GMAT Exam Verbal Reasoning Syllabus

The GMAT exam verbal reasoning syllabus is designed to evaluate your comprehension and reasoning abilities through critical reasoning and reading comprehension. It emphasizes your ability to analyze written material and develop logical arguments. 

The key elements of the GMAT English syllabus include:

• Reading Comprehension: Comprehension passages are around 350 words long and assess your ability to interpret and infer. The key components of comprehension include the main idea or scope of the passage, supporting details, assumptions, and inferences that can be drawn from the passage, logical structure, style and tone, and application of the passage in different contexts. 
• Critical Reasoning: It includes short passages typically under 100 words. In this section, candidates have to analyze the given arguments and extract relevant data. The key components of critical reasoning involve identifying relevant information, inferring arguments and assumptions, resolving paradoxes, and reaching conclusions.

For both of these sections, the candidates will be asked to work on the following types of questions:

• Sentence Correction
• Subject-Verb Agreement
• The Rhetorical Construction of the Sentences
• Countable vs. Uncountable
• Misplace Modifiers

Preparation Tips for GMAT Verbal Reasoning

The verbal reasoning section of GMAT assesses your ability to comprehend, analyze, and evaluate a passage. Here are some tips to prepare for it: 

• Familiarize yourself with question types for both sections and get an understanding of the different ways a question can be asked. 
• Develop reading and analytical skills by actively reading materials like newspapers, journals, newsletters, etc. For any content you read, try to identify the main idea, assumption, and argument gaps. 
• For comprehension, time your reading like this:
  • Skim the passage to get a general idea and understand its tone and structure – 1 minute
  • Read the questions asked in the exam so you can look for answers when you read the passage in detail – 1 minute
  • Read the passage in detail and note facts and details relevant to the questions – 2 minutes
  • Structure your answers strategically – 1 minute
  • Sport outliers and eliminate incorrect answers – 0.25 minutes 
• For critical reasoning, break down the argument into its components and identify assumptions, strengths, and weaknesses in arguments
• Note down the main points briefly while reading passages or arguments so that you don’t miss critical details. 
• Improve your vocabulary so you can understand nuanced language and logical relationships. 
• Take timed mock tests to practice and improve in this section.  

3. GMAT Exam Data Insights Syllabus

The data insights section of the GMAT exam tests your ability to interpret and analyze data for business applications. Unlike the quantitative section, an on-screen calculator is provided to assist with calculations. You will be required to interpret complex data from graphs, tables, and charts, making logical conclusions and decisions based on the information provided.

The data insight section of the GMAT syllabus covers:

• Table Analysis
• Graphics Interpretation
• Multi-Source Reasoning
• Two-Part Analysis
• Data Interpretation
• Data Sufficiency

Preparation Tips for GMAT Data Insights 

Data Insights in GMAT require you to have a varied skill set, ranging from statistics and probability to critical reasoning and data analysis. A strategic preparation is key when it comes to scoring well in this section. Here are some tips that will help you prepare for GMAT data insights: 

• Familiarize yourself with the five categories: data sufficiency, graphics interpretation, table analysis, two-part analysis, and multi-source reasoning. 
• It is important to go through the GMAT Official Guide to understand the language used in questions. 
• Learn to interpret data and extract insights from imperfect data displays. 
• Strengthen your quant and verbal skills because they integrate with data insights questions. 
• Practice regularly to identify your weak areas and refine your approach. You only have an average of 2 minutes and 15 seconds per question. Therefore, effective time management is important and can be gained with regular practice. 

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How to Ace the GMAT Exam?

Preparing for the GMAT syllabus requires a strategic approach that focuses on understanding key concepts, improving problem-solving skills, and developing time management skills. With the updated GMAT focus edition syllabus, here are some general tips to help you succeed:

1. Understand the Exam Structure:

Familiarize yourself with the three sections, which are, quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, and data insights. Knowing what types of questions to expect and the time limits for each section will help you develop a more effective study plan.

2. Build a Strong Foundation:

Focus on mastering the basics in areas like arithmetic, algebra, reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and data interpretation. The GMAT exam syllabus tests your ability to apply these fundamental skills to solve complex problems. Therefore, having a solid foundation of the basic concepts is important.

3. Stay Consistent and Organized:

Create a structured study plan that covers all the major topics of the GMAT exam syllabus. Break your preparation into manageable sections and set regular goals to track your progress. Consistency in your study routine will help you cover all areas of the syllabus efficiently.

4. Simulate Exam Conditions:

Take full-length GMAT practice exams under timed conditions to simulate the real test environment. This will help you get used to the pressure of completing the exam within the allotted time and help reduce your anxiety.

Additionally, you can use official practice tests to familiarize yourself with the GMAT exam pattern, and consider enrolling in GMAT preparation courses if you need additional support.

Also Read: Top MBA Colleges in the World

Conclusion

The GMAT syllabus is designed to test a range of critical skills needed for success in graduate business programs. By understanding the updated syllabus and preparing strategically, you can effectively tackle all the questions asked in the GMAT examination. Further, the tips mentioned above will greatly enhance your performance in the exam.

If you want to find out more about pursuing management courses abroad, read our guide on MBA in the USA. Learn about the universities, eligibility requirements, study and living expenses, and more. 

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