Now that you're signed up for the GMAT it's time to get your nose to the books and start preparing. Following is information about the format of the test and the kinds of questions you can expect to encounter.
The GMAT consists of two multiple-choice sections, quantitative and verbal, as well as an essay section called the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA). The quantitative section has 37 questions that must be answered in 75 minutes. The verbal section has 41 questions that must be answered in 75 minutes.
Quantitative Section
Questions in the quantitative section will ask you to determine if the statements contain the necessary information to answer the questions.
Example 1
Is x > 4?
1) x2 < 9
2) x is an integer
(A) if statement (1) by itself is sufficient to answer the question, but statement (2) by itself is not;
(B) if statement (2) by itself is sufficient to answer the question, but statement (1) by itself is not;
(C) if statements (1) and (2) taken together are sufficient to answer the question, even though neither statement by itself is sufficient;
(D) If either statement by itself is sufficient to answer the question;
(E) If statements (1) and (2) taken together are not sufficient to answer the question, requiring more data pertaining to the problem.
Critical Reasoning Section
Questions in the critical reading section will ask you to analyze the reasoning in an argument and then determine if it is valid or analyze its implications.
Example 1
The widespread use of antibiotics has two negative effects. Antibiotics use can produce antibiotic-resistant strains because the small numbers of bacteria that aren't killed by the antibiotic are the ones that survive and breed. In addition, antibiotics can kill the body's natural microbes that help fight off foreign bacteria.
Which of the following practices can help reduce these negative consequences and benefit patients?
(A) Using antibiotics derived from natural products
(B) Produce stronger antibiotics
(C) Steadily increase dosage if the results begin to decline
(D) Do not give the antibiotic to all people who are sick
(E) Changing the antibiotics used every few weeks
Example 2
Some questions will ask you to decide whether a question needs to be altered or not. You will be asked to select the answer that represents the best revision of the underlined text.
The concert this weekend promises to attract an even greater amount of people than attended the last one.
(A) an even greater amount of people
(B) an ever larger amount of people
(C) an amount of people even greater
(D) a number of people even larger
(E) an even greater number of people
Essay Section
Business schools use the AWA to evaluate your writing skills. This portion of the test is two 30-minute essay questions; one asking you to state your opinion on an "Analysis of Issue" essay and one asking you to analyze the reasoning in an argument on an "Analysis of Argument" essay.
In order to do well in this section, remember to write concisely and stick to the argument. "Fluff" writing will not earn you points on the GMAT.
By Natalie Pezzenti, staff writer
