Quantitative section

Last updated: 28 Sep 2010

The quantitative section consists of 37 questions in 75 minutes on your favourite maths topics from high-school i.e. arithmetic, algebra, geometry, probability and sets.

Notably, there are no questions on calculus or trigonometry but do not breath a sigh of relief yet because there is also a ban on calculators. So it is back to a pencil and paper (or marker and noteboard since the test rules changed in January 2006) and remembering how to add two fractions, combine exponents and calculate the area of a circle.

There are two types of questions, problem solving and data sufficiency.

Problem solving

Problem solving questions make up two thirds (about 24 - 25) of the questions in the quantatitive section of the GMAT.

Each question consists of a math problem and 5 answers from which you can choose.

They test your ability to solve equations and do arithmetic to find an exact answer.

See a sample problem solving question.

Data sufficiency

Data sufficiency questions make up the other third (12 - 13) of the questions.

Data sufficiency questions test your understanding of concepts, requiring you to decide what is the necessary and sufficient data to solve a problem.

Each question consists of a problem and two statements. You have to decide which of the statements is necessay to solve the problem.

Possible answers are:

(A) Only the first statement.
(B) Only the second statement.
(C) Both statements.
(D) Either Statement.
(E) Neither Statement is enough to solve the problem.

You must be very careful in these questions to consider each piece of information separately.

Also, remember you do not have to find the solution to the problem, you only have to decide how much information you need to solve it.

See a sample data sufficiency question.

Next page: Verbal section