Ready

for success
The exam that helps business school candidates stand out.
GMAT exam
™

by the numbers

200,000+
GMAT exams are taken worldwide every year

2,300+
Schools use the GMAT exam

7,000+
MBA and Master’s programs use the GMAT exam

110+
Countries receive score reports

1
Why take the GMAT exam? ™

The GMAT is the most widely

used exam for business
school admissions.

The GMAT™ exam helps business school

candidates stand out during the admissions
process. Schools know that candidates who
take the GMAT exam are serious about earning
a graduate business degree. They also know
it’s a proven predictor of a student’s ability to
succeed in their chosen program. As a result,
200,000+ GMAT exams are taken worldwide
every year.

The GMAT exam measures your critical thinking

and reasoning skills, which are most relevant to
the world’s top graduate business programs.
When you perform well on the GMAT exam,
you demonstrate the commitment, motivation,
and ability to succeed in business school and
your career.

If you’re serious about business school, take

the GMAT exam and put your most relevant Register for the GMAT exam at
skills in the spotlight. gmat.com/register

2
You’ll gain a
competitive advantage.

A graduate business degree empowers you to

succeed by increasing your earning potential
and unlocking a world of opportunities.

The journey starts with the GMAT exam.

During the admissions process, business
schools evaluate several criteria. Many — like
your undergraduate GPA and relevant work
experience — you can no longer influence when
you apply to business school.

Your GMAT score is different. It is one of the

few admissions criteria that you have direct,
immediate control over.

Once you register for the GMAT exam, you’ll

have access to a variety of tools that can help
you reach your score potential, find the right
program, and put your best foot forward during
the testing and application process.

3
What is the GMAT exam?
An assessment of the skills
that matter most in business.
The GMAT exam is composed of four sections:
1. Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA)
2. Integrated Reasoning (IR)
3. Quantitative Reasoning
4. Verbal Reasoning
The exam time is just under three hours and
thirty minutes, including two optional breaks.
The GMAT exam is computer-adaptive, meaning
the difficulty of the test tailors itself in real-time
to your ability level. This feature allows the exam
to assess your potential with a higher degree
of precision and deliver scores that business
schools trust.
4
Your GMAT score includes:
• Your unofficial score report, available
immediately following the exam, includes
Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning, IR, and
Total Scores (score based on the Quantitative
and Verbal Reasoning sections).
• Your official score report, available within
20 days of the exam, includes AWA in
addition to Quantitative and Verbal
Reasoning, IR, and Total Scores.
Your GMAT score is valid for five years, giving
you the flexibility to take the exam and send your
GMAT scores to schools when you’re ready.
 Inside the GMAT exam
All candidates will have the flexibility to select the order in which they complete sections of the exam. Shown below is the
original section order, however, there are three options available at the test center:
1. Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, Verbal (original order, below)
2. Verbal, Quantitative, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment
3. Quantitative, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment

Analytical Integrated Quantitative Verbal

Writing Reasoning Reasoning Reasoning
Assessment

1 12 31 36
OPTIONAL 8-MINUTE BREAK*

OPTIONAL 8-MINUTE BREAK*

QUESTION QUESTIONS QUESTIONS QUESTIONS

„„Analysis of „„ Multi-Source „„ Data Sufficiency „„ Reading

an Argument Reasoning Comprehension
„„ Problem Solving
„„Table Analysis „„ Critical Reasoning
„„ Graphics „„ Sentence
Interpretation Correction
„„Two-Part Analysis

Score: 0-6 Score: 1-8 Score: 6-51 Score: 6-51

30 minutes 30 minutes 62 minutes 65 minutes

*The two, optional 8-minute breaks can now be taken between sections depending on the order a student chooses, but never together. 5
How do I prepare?
Build your eight-week study plan
This eight-week study timeline is ideal for those who are somewhat familiar with the underlying
GMAT exam content. Remember that the GMAT exam is more of a marathon than a sprint — you
want your mind to stay fresh, so don’t try to cram too much preparation into the last couple of weeks.
Refer to the tips below and focus on building confidence.

An eight-week study plan is provided below.

WEEK 1 WEEK 2 WEEK 3 WEEK 4

Objectives • Become familiar with the • Practice and refine your • Assess progress • Focus on time management
GMAT exam study plan

• Learn about the GMAT exam
in the GMAT™ Official Guide
and on gmat.com
Tasks • Go to gmat.com and access
your free GMAT Official Starter
Kit + Practice Exams 1 & 2
• Read tips to prepare and take
one of the two free practice
exams to set a baseline
• Answer the first 1/3 of
practice questions in each
section of the Official Guide
• Identify strengths and
weaknesses and create a
detailed two-week study plan
• Continually review answer
explanations and refine your
approach to questions
• Create practice sets based on
question type and difficulty
using your Online Access
• Take the second of the two
free practice exams
• Review the test results in
full and adjust the two-week
study plan accordingly
• Use a timer and practice
answering questions under
time pressure
• Create timed practice sets
with the online version of the
GMAT™ Official Guide

Materials • GMAT™ Official Guide
• GMAT Official Starter Kit and
Practice Exam 1
• GMAT™ Official Guide: Book + • GMAT Official Starter Kit and • GMAT™ Official Guide
Online Access at Practice Exam 2
efficientlearning.com/gmat

Don’t worry about your score
Tips on the first practice exam! The
goal is to become familiar with
the exam and set a baseline
for measuring your progress.
Questions in each section
of the GMAT™ Official Guide
are ordered based on level of
difficulty, from easy to hard.
When taking a practice
exam, try to simulate a real
test experience and minimize
the number of distractions
that could disrupt
your concentration.
Time management is very
important on the GMAT exam.
Develop a sense of when to
work through a question and
when to make an educated
guess and move on.

6
 Recommended materials for this study plan: For additional study materials
• GMAT Official Guide
™ go to gmat.com/store
• GMAT™ Official Practice Starter Kit +
Practice Exams 1 & 2
• GMAT™ Official Practice Exams 3 & 4

WEEK 5 WEEK 6 WEEK 7 WEEK 8

• Assess progress • Build confidence • Assess readiness • Prepare for test day

• Continue using timed practice tests
and focus on specific areas
• Take the first of two practice
exams from the GMAT Official
Practice Exams 3 & 4
• Review the exam in full and
adjust the two-week study plan
accordingly
• Review questions you got wrong on
practice tests
• Use the 90 practice questions
in the Starter Kit and additional
official practice questions in the
GMAT™ Official Guide for more
targeted practice
• Take the second of two practice • Review challenging questions and
exams from the GMAT Official go over answer explanations
Practice Exams 3 & 4
• Develop a time management
• Pay attention to pacing throughout strategy based on your strengths
the practice exam and weaknesses
• Review the exam in full to assess
• Think through logistics for test
progress and readiness for test day day and be sure to rest up!
• Review the GMAT™ Handbook on
mba.com for what to bring to the
test center and what to expect

• GMAT™ Official Guide • GMAT™ Official Guide • GMAT Official Practice Exam 4 • GMAT™ Official Guide
• GMAT Official Practice Exam 3 • GMAT Official Starter Kit

Use the code in the GMAT™
Official Guide to access the online
version, which contains Integrated
Reasoning questions not available
in the book.
We suggest spending as much
time reviewing questions as
answering them.
Note that because the GMAT
exam is a computer-adaptive
test, the questions will get harder
as you answer them correctly, so
it will feel more difficult as the
exam progresses.
Don’t try to cram too much in
the last week; focus on building
confidence and keeping your
mind fresh.

7
Control your test-taking experience

Select Section Order Score Preview

allows you to customize your GMAT allows you to view unofficial scores
experience by selecting the order in before deciding whether to report
which you’ll take the exam sections them to schools or cancel.
at the test center.

Score Cancel Enhanced Score

ensures your score will not appear
on your score report. Canceled
scores can be reinstated up to 4 years
and 11 months from the exam date.
Report (ESR)
provides a detailed analysis of
your exam performance to help
you focus your future study and
test-taking strategy.

Schedule Your Next

GMAT Exam
just 16 days after your previous
exam. You can retake the exam up
to five times in one year and up to Register for the GMAT exam at
eight times in a lifetime. gmat.com/register

8
GMAT Official Prep is your only
source for real GMAT questions

The GMAT Official Guide series

™

polish your quantitative and verbal skills using real test

questions, answers, and explanations from the makers of
the GMAT exam.

GMAT Official Practice Exams

™

advance your test-taking preparation with full-length,

computer-adaptive practice exams and enhanced scoring
reports. People who complete at least one full-length GMAT
Official Practice Exam score, on average, 80 points higher
than those who don’t.

GMAT Official Practice Questions

™

over 80 percent of test takers who score above 700 use

GMAT Official Prep products.

9
Study smart for your best
GMAT score
How much time should I Figure 1 Figure 2
spend studying?
Hours spent preparing Median total study
for the GMAT™ exam hours by self-reported
When it comes to studying for GMAT™ score*
the GMAT exam, there really are
no secrets or tricks — just planning 90

Median study hours

and preparation. 23% 80
27% 60
The time you should spend preparing 45
is unique to you. However, we can
tell you how much time others spend 22%
getting ready for the GMAT exam. 28%
< 500 500-590 600-690 > 700
Use the information to the right as
Self-reported GMAT score
a guideline.
20 hours or fewer *N=4,384Source: GMAC (2017) mba.com Prospective
Students Survey. Data collected in 2016.
21 to 50 hours
51 to 100 hours
Get more tips 101 hours or more

*N=4,528Source: GMAC (2017) mba.com Prospective

Perfect can be the enemy of the good… and even the Students Survey. Data collected in 2016.

great. Finishing the GMAT exam is far more important to

a good score than getting every answer correct—and
risking running out of time.

10
Ready, set, go!
8 exclusive GMAT practice
test questions
Hours Spent Preparing for

“
the GMATwhat
Here’s
®
Exam*
you’ve really Median Total Study Hours by
Self-Reported
StudyGMAT
®
Score*
well, but
been waiting for, right?
remember that90
you’ve probably
80
27% 23% always been nervous
Whether you feel a little nervous 60
or fully confident, practicing each 45 for tests, then
question type will 22%
make you a
probably always
done just fine.
stronger28%
GMAT test taker.
Learn how others conquered the
GMAT on gmat.com Ethan
< 500 Prostrel,
21 to 50 hours
Class>of
500-590 600-690 700 2015
20 hours or fewer
Self-reported
Crummer GMAT
Graduate score
School of Business
51 to 100 hours 101 hours or more Rollins College
*N=4,384
Source: GMAC (2017) mba.com Prospective Students
*N=4,528 Survey. Data collected in 2016.
Source: GMAC (2017) mba.com Prospective Students
Survey. Data collected in 2016.

Get more tips

The best thing you can do during the GMAT exam is

to focus on the question. Don’t waste time
trying to guess the difficulty level of the question.

11
Analytical
Writing
Assessment
Be prepared for the Analytical
Writing Assessment (AWA). All
AWA topics are available as a
downloadable pdf on gmat.com.
For this exam question, you will
discuss how well reasoned you
find these arguments and will
be asked to analyze the line
of reasoning as well as the use
of evidence in the argument.
12
Integrated Why focus on
Reasoning Integrated
The four types of Integrated
Reasoning (IR) questions
Reasoning?
measure how well you integrate
“
data to solve complex problems
and test the following skills:
Being able to
• Synthesizing information digest volumes of
presented in graphics, text, information and make
and numbers.
recommendations
• Evaluating relevant information
from different sources.
based upon what
• Organizing information to
you see is critical
see relationships and to solve for Intel’s
multiple, interrelated problems. future success.
• Combining and manipulating
information from multiple
sources to solve complex
problems.
Melissa Evers-Hood
Intel Corporation
Verbal Reasoning
1. Question

Select the best of the answer choices given.

The interview is an essential part of a successful hiring program because,

“
with it, job applicants who have personalities that are unsuited to the
requirements of the job will be eliminated from consideration.
My remedy for
The argument above logically depends on which of the pre-test nerves?
following assumptions? Listen to calming music,
take deep breaths,
Answer choices:
and visualize yourself
A. A hiring program will be successful if it includes interviews. doing great on
B. The interview is a more important part of a successful hiring program the test!
than is the development of a job description.
C. Interviewers can accurately identify applicants whose personalities
are unsuited to the requirements of the job. Jeremy Sage
Class of 2014
D. The only purpose of an interview is to evaluate whether job applicants’ Atkinson Graduate School of
personalities are suited to the requirements of the job. Management, Willamette University

E. The fit of job applicants’ personalities to the requirements of the

job was once the most important factor in making hiring decisions.

13
Verbal Reasoning
2. Question

Select the best of the answer choices given.

This question presents a sentence, part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence
you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the For more free practice
original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first questions, register on
answer; otherwise choose one of the others. gmat.com
Executives and federal officials say that the use of crack and cocaine is growing rapidly
among workers, significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, which
already are a cost to business of more than $100 billion a year.
Answer choices:
A. significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, which already
are a cost to business of
B. significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, which already
cost business
C. significantly compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, already with
business costs of
D. significant in compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, and already
costing business
E. significant in compounding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, and already
costs business

14
Verbal Reasoning
3. Question

After reading the passage, choose the best answer to each question. Answer the
question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.

The number of patents granted to inventors by the United States Patent Office dropped For more free practice
from 56,000 in 1971 to 45,000 in 1978. Spending on research and development, which questions, register on
peaked at 3 percent of the gross national product (GNP) in 1964, was only 2.2 percent gmat.com
of the GNP in 1978. During this period, when the United States percentage was steadily
decreasing, West Germany and Japan increased the percentage of their GNP’s spent on
research and development to 3.2 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively.

Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the information above?

Answer choices:
A. There is a direct relationship between the size of a nation’s GNP and the number
of inventions it produces.
B. Japan and West Germany spent more money on research and development in
1978 than did the United States.
C. The amount of money a nation spends on research and development is directly
related to the number of inventions patented in that nation.
D. Between 1964 and 1978 the United States consistently spent a larger percentage
of its GNP on research and development than did Japan.
E. Both West Germany and Japan will soon surpass the United States in the number
of patents granted to inventors.

15
Verbal Reasoning
4. Question

This question presents a sentence, part of which is underlined. Beneath

the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part.

“
The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you
think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one
of the others. Going in with a
sense of calm is
Like Auden, the language of James Merrill is chatty, arch, and what made that
conversational — given to complex syntactic flights as well as to last run successful.
prosaic free-verse strolls.
Answer choices:
A. Like Auden, the language of James Merrill
B. Like Auden, James Merrill’s language
Jessica Galimore
Class of 2013
C. Like Auden’s, James Merrill’s language Robert H. Smith School of Business
University of Maryland
D. As with Auden, James Merrill’s language
E. As is Auden’s the language of James Merrill

16
Quantitative Reasoning
5. Question
GMAT™ Official Guide 2020
On a 3-day fishing trip, 4 adults consumed
food costing $60. For the same food costs
per person per day, what would be the
cost of food consumed by 7 adults during
a 5-day fishing trip?
Answer choices:
A. $300
B. $175
C. $105
D. $100
E. $84

More practice questions than ever before

Whether you have three days or three months until your exam date, we
have products that fit your needs.

For more free practice questions,

register on gmat.com
17
Quantitative Reasoning
6. Question 7. Question
The number of rooms at Is the average (arithmetic mean) of x and
Hotel G is 10 less than y greater than 20?
twice the number of rooms
at Hotel H. If the total (1) Is the average (arithmetic mean)
number of rooms at Hotel of 2x and 2y is 48
G and Hotel H is 425, what (2) x = 3y
is the number of rooms at
Answer choices:
Hotel G?
A. Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient,
Answer choices: but statement (2) alone is
A. 140 not sufficient
B. 180 B. Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient,
but statement (1) alone is
C. 200
not sufficient
D. 240
C. Both statements TOGETHER are
E. 280 sufficient, but NEITHER statement
ALONE is sufficient
D. EACH statement ALONE
is sufficient
E. Statements (1) and (2)
TOGETHER are NOT sufficient
18
8. Question
Can the positive integer p be expressed
as the product of two integers, each of
which is greater than 1?
(1) 31 < p < 37
(2) p is odd
Answer choices:
A. Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient,
but statement (2) alone is
not sufficient
B. Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient,
but statement (1) alone is
not sufficient
C. Both statements TOGETHER
are sufficient, but NEITHER
statement ALONE is sufficient
D. EACH statement ALONE
is sufficient
E. Statements (1) and (2)
TOGETHER are NOT sufficient
Answer key

Verbal Reasoning
1. Answer: C 2. Answer: C
Explanation: Explanation:
A. The interview is an essential part, but not the only part A. are a cost to business is passive and not preferred.
of a successful hiring program.
B. Correct.
B. The argument does not address the importance of
C. already with business costs of is awkward and wordy.
developing a job description.
D. significant in compounding should modify effects of
C. Correct. The interview can only eliminate those
drug and alcohol abuse so is awkward and wordy;
unsuited to the job if the personalities can be
use of and suggests it refers to the use of crack and
accurately identified.
cocaine when it should refer to the effects.
D. The argument states one thing that can be done
E. significant in compounding should modify effects of
with the interview, but does not imply that is its
drug and alcohol abuse so is awkward and wordy;
only purpose.
use of and suggests it refers to the use of crack and
E. The argument identifies a way to find people who are cocaine when it should refer to the effects.
not a fit, but does not imply who will be the best fit.
Furthermore, there is no information about past data
on hiring decisions.

For more free practice questions,

register on gmat.com
19
Answer key

Verbal Reasoning
3. Answer: D 4. Answer: C
Explanation: Explanation:
From 1964 to 1978, spending on research and A. Like Auden modifies language rather than the
development never fell below 2.2 percent of the intended Merrill.
GNP in the United States and never rose above 1.6
B. Like Auden modifies language rather than the
percent in Japan. Therefore, choice D follows from the
intended Merrill.
information given and is the best answer.
C. Correct. With Like Auden’s the language is implied.
Since no information is provided about the size of the
It correctly modifies Merrill’s language.
GNP of any of the countries mentioned, neither choice
A nor choice B is supported. The amount of information D. Auden needs to be in the possessive form to match
given about numbers of patents granted is insufficient to with Merrill’s.
establish any general relation between spending and E. Lack of parallel structure; Auden’s does not match of
numbers of patents, so choice C is unsupported; and James Merrill.
given that there is no information about the number
of inventions patented in Japan and West Germany,
choice E is not supported either.

20
Answer key

Quantitative Reasoning
5. Answer: B 6. Answer: E
Explanation: Explanation:
Determine the food costs per person per day by dividing If g is the number of rooms at Hotel G and h is the number
the total food cost of $60 by 4 adults and 3 days, of rooms at Hotel H, then the first part of the problem
(60/4)/3=(15)/3=$5. Then, multiply the food costs by can be represented by the equation g = 2h - 10 and the
the number of adults and days of the new trip, second part can be represented by g + h = 425.
$5*7*5=$175. Solve the system of equations by substituting for g in the
second equation:
g = 2h – 10
g + h = 425
(2h - 10) + h = 425
3h – 10 = 425
3h = 435
h = 145
Then find g:
g = 2h – 10
g = 2(145) – 10
For more free practice questions, g = 290 – 10
register on gmat.com g = 280
21
Answer key

Quantitative Reasoning
7. Answer: B 8. Answer: E
Explanation: Explanation:
The arithmetic mean of x and y can be represented as the sum divided For this problem, it is not necessary to
by 2. Then, the problem can be written as: Is (x + y)/2 > 20, which can determine the value of p, but merely
also be expressed as x + y > 40. whether p is prime (answer to the
question is no) or not prime (answer to
1. Express the average as an equation and simplify:
the question is yes).
(2x + 2y)/2 = 48 2x/2 + 2y/2 = 48 x + y = 48
48 > 40; SUFFICIENT 1. Possible values of p are 32, 33, 34, 35, and
36, all of which are not prime. SUFFICIENT.
2. Substituting for x in the inequality yields:
x + y > 40 3y + y > 40 4y > 40 y > 10 2. There are several possible values of
p that are prime and others that are not
If y > 10, then the answer to the question is yes; if y < 10, then the answer to
prime. NOT sufficient.
the question is no. Without additional information, the question cannot be
answered. NOT sufficient. The correct answer is A; Statement (1)
Alternatively, you can substitute values of x and y that satisfy the condition ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2)
x = 3y, and see if you find solutions that give you conflicting results: alone is not sufficient.
If y = 5 and x = 15, then (x + y)/2 = 10, which is NOT greater than 20. If y = 20
and x = 60, then (x + y)/2 = 40, which IS greater than 20.
The correct answer is A; Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement
(2) alone is not sufficient.

22
Good luck!
You got this!

A solid study plan and positive attitude are the keys

to achieving your best GMAT exam. And, with your best
score, the next step is to find the best school for you. “
The GMAT exam
really does set you
The path to business school doesn’t stop with the GMAT. Schools are looking for you and we can help
apart and make
you connect with them by signing up for the GMASS® Search Service. The GMASS tool lets you learn
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Sakhi, Class of 2014
IE Business School

23
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