A 10 min read

GMAT syllabus 2023 comprises over 50 topics from the Quantitative, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning, and Analytical Writing Assessment sections. The syllabus is further classified into various sub-sections of the GMAT i.e., Sentence Correction, Critical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension in the Verbal Section, and Problem Solving and Data Sufficiency in the Quant Section.

In this article, we look into the topics which will be covered in the GMAT Exam Course. The article also answers five frequently asked questions (FAQs) on GMAT sections and question types.

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GMAT Syllabus 2023

GMAT syllabus includes topics from Quant, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning, and Analytical Writing Assessment. The overall GMAT Syllabus is divided into four sections: GMAT subjects

1. Quantitative: It includes 31 multiple-choice questions on data sufficiency and problem-solving. The duration to complete this section is 62 minutes.
2. Verbal: It includes 36 multiple-choice questions on reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction. The duration to complete the Verbal section is 65 minutes.
3. Analytical Writing Assessment: It includes one essay question with a 30-minute time limit. Argument analysis and communication in the form of critique are two types of questions under this section.
4. Integrated Reasoning (IR): It includes 12 multiple choice questions that can be two-part analysis, Multi-source reasoning, graphic interpretation, and Table analysis type of questions. The duration to complete this section is 30 mins.

Here is the latest GMAT exam pattern 2023: An overview of the four GMAT subjects:

Sections / GMAT Subjects	Time limit (mins.)	Number of questions
Quantitative	62	31 questions
Verbal	65	36 questions
Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA)	30	1 question
Integrated Reasoning (IR)	30	12 questions
Total	187	80 questions

Know more about the GMAT exam pattern, eligibility, format, and fees in 2023. Watch this video below:

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Now, let’s take a look at each section:

GMAT Quantitative section syllabus

According to the GMAT Syllabus, the Quant 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. You must decide whether the statement given is sufficient to answer the question in the problem statement.

Problem-solving questions consist of topics such as arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and more.

Here is the syllabus for the GMAT Quant section:

Arithmetic	Algebra	Geometry
Multiples and Factors	Monomials, polynomials	Triangle
Number Properties	Functions	Lines and angles
Fractions	Exponents	Quadrilaterals
Decimals	Quadratic equations	Circles
Percentage	Inequalities and basic statistics	Rectangular solids and cylinders
Power and Roots	Algebraic expressions and equations	Coordinate geometry
Average	Permutation and combination
Probability	Arithmetic and geometric progressions
Set Theory
Mixtures and allegations
Ratio and proportion
Descriptive Statistics
Pipes, cisterns, and work time
Speed, time, distance
Simple and Compounded Interest

Although the GMAT Math topics are considered tough by many students, the concepts included in this section are not beyond your high-school math.

The GMAT Quant section aims to measure your ability to reason mathematically, interpret graphic data, and solve quantitative problems.

There is a misconception that the only way to score high on GMAT Quant is to spend your time practicing problems and tests, which is true. Practice makes you perfect.

But what many students ignore is getting conceptual clarity. Achieving a Q50+ score requires a solid grasp of concepts and their application to solving questions. Here are some tips for scoring Q50+ in the GMAT Quant Section.

Achieving a Q50+ score requires a solid grasp of concepts and their application to solving questions.

Here are some tips for scoring Q50+ in the GMAT Quant Section.

Check out a few more articles on the GMAT:

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GMAT Verbal section

According to the GMAT Syllabus, the verbal section has three types of questions –

• Reading Comprehension
• Critical Reasoning
• Sentence correction.

The GMAT verbal section consists of 36 multiple choice questions to be completed in 65 minutes. Here are the topics that you can expect on the GMAT verbal section:

Sentence Correction	Critical Reasoning
Pronoun	Assumptions
Subject-Verb Agreement	Evaluate
Modifiers	Inference
Idioms	Bold Face
Parallelism	Paradox
Comparison	Strengthen and weaken
Verb Tenses

GMAT Verbal aims to test the ability to comprehend written material and understand logical relationships.

Critical reasoning questions give you an argument that you need to analyze, evaluate, and then formulate or evaluate a plan of action. They are all multiple-choice questions.

Sentence Correction includes questions that present a problem with a sentence. You need to decide if there is any grammatical problem and if so, you need to choose from the four alternatives given in the question.

Reading Comprehension questions include short or long passages (200-400 words), where you need to infer it and answer three or four multi-choice questions.

Is the GMAT Verbal section your Achilles heel? Here are some tips on scoring V40+.

Acing the GMAT Verbal section requires a solid understanding of the three Verbal subsections and a significant skill-building process. Read our article on How to prepare for GMAT Verbal to get started with your GMAT Verbal preparation

Save 60+ hours of GMAT preparation by following these 5 steps:

GMAT Integrated Reasoning section (IR)

The first thing you need to know about the IR section of the GMAT is that this section does not get factored into your score. The same is the case with the AWA section.

Read more about whether GMAT Integrated Reasoning and AWA sections matter for MBA Admissions?

The integrated reasoning questions in the GMAT Syllabus consist of data presented in passages, graphs, tables, or a combination of the three. There are four different types of questions:

1. Two-Part analysis – These questions are in the form of 2 questions that relate to the same information. Five or six answer choices follow the questions, and the answers to each of the two questions may be the same or different.
2. Multi-Source Reasoning – These questions have multiple tabs that have inputs in them. These questions are more like Critical Reasoning questions.
3. Graphic Interpretation – You must analyze the information given on a graph or a chart and use it to solve the given questions.
4. Table Analysis – You are presented with a sortable table with three questions. You must be able to differentiate between useful and non-useful data

The GMAT IR section measures your ability to assess information presented in multiple formats from different sources. We live in a data-driven world, and therefore, it’s essential to have analytical skills to interpret data.

Know more about how the GMAT IR section is scored.

Are you planning to enroll in a US business school? Let us help you ace the first step of the process i.e., taking the GMAT. Take a free GMAT mock to understand your baseline score and start your GMAT prep with our free trial. We are the most reviewed online GMAT Prep company with 2500+ reviews on GMATClub, as of April 2023.

Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA)

Like the IR section, the analytical writing assessment section does not get factored into your score.

This GMAT section asks you to analyze issues, comprehend information, and communicate your ideas through an essay. It measures your ability to think critically and how well you can communicate your ideas.

The score for this section is on a six-point scale, and the essay has two independent ratings from which an average is derived. The topics asked can range from general to business news. Here is a list of 50 AWA practice questions.

Learn how to score a perfect six on GMAT AWA.

GMAT Syllabus Summary

Below is a quick summary of all the topics under GMAT syllabus 2023:

GMAT Verbal	GMAT Quantitative	GMAT IR	GMAT AWA (A wide range of topics)
Pronoun	Fractions	Arithmetic	Annual report
Assumptions	Decimals	Elementary Algebra	Article from a trade magazine
Subject-Verb Agreement	Number Properties	Geometry	Memorandum from the business department like marketing, operations, finance, etc
Modifiers	Percentage	Statistics	Announcements issued by a newspaper or a company
Inference	Power and Roots		A paragraph from a research paper
Evaluate	Average		A paragraph from a business plan
Bold Face	Probability		and more…
Idioms	Set Theory
Parallelism	Multiples and Factors
Comparison	Mixtures and allegations
Verb Tenses	Ratio and proportion
Paradox	Descriptive Statistics
Strengthen and weaken	Pipes, cisterns, and work time
Adjectives	Speed, time, distance
Phrases and Clauses	Simple and Compounded Interest
Nouns	Monomials, polynomials
Idiomatic expressions	Functions
Active voice	Exponents
Passive voice	Triangle
	Lines and angles
	Quadrilaterals
	Circles
	Rectangular solids and cylinders
	Quadratic equations
	Inequalities and basic statistics
	Algebraic expressions and equations
	Permutation and combination
	Arithmetic and geometric progressions
	Coordinate geometry

Now that you are aware of the GMAT Syllabus for individual sections let us look at five common FAQs on GMAT Syllabus.

5 FAQs on GMAT section and question types

What abilities does GMAT Syllabus in the Quant section measure?

The Quant section of the GMAT measures how you analyze data and conclude or solve using reasoning skills. There are two types of questions:

1. Problem-Solving – They measure your ability to interpret and evaluate data to solve numerical problems
2. Data Sufficiency – These questions measure your analytical ability to interpret the question as well as to decide if you have sufficient information to solve the problem.

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Does GMAT Syllabus for Verbal Section only measure my understanding of grammar?

The Verbal section is a test of understanding and logic presented in the question rather than just grammar.

The GMAT syllabus in this section measures your reading ability, comprehension skills, understanding of arguments, and your ability to correct written material as per the rules of the English language.

What is the section order of GMAT and the total duration of the test?

Since 11^th July 2017, students have the option to select the order of the test from the three options mentioned below. There is a break of 8 minutes duration, which is optional:

1. Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Break, Quantitative, Break, Verbal
2. Verbal, Break, Quantitative, Break, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment
3. Quantitative, Break, Verbal, Break, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment

The total duration of the test is 3 hours, 7 minutes.

Here is an article for you to understand the GMAT sections in detail.

Can I skip any GMAT section?

You CANNOT skip any of the GMAT sections. A section is complete only if you answer every question, or you run out of time for that section.

Do I get a break between all the GMAT Sections?

Firstly, breaks are optional. If you don’t want a break, you can skip it and move on to the next section. In case you want a break, you get two 8-minute breaks according to the GMAT section order you have chosen.

Related articles on GMAT Preparation:

• GMAT Preparation tips for beginners and common mistakes to avoid
• GMAT Preparation and MBA admissions – One Blog to rule them all
• 12 GMAT Preparation tips for a 700+ score
• How to use CAT Preparation to ace the GMAT
• How to prepare for the GMAT at Home

Are you planning to enroll in a US business school? Let us help you ace the first step of the process i.e., taking the GMAT. Take a free GMAT mock to understand your baseline score and start your GMAT prep with our free trial. We are the most reviewed online GMAT Prep company with 2500+ reviews on GMATClub, as of April 2023.

FAQs – GMAT Syllabus