What is the current GMAT format?

The current GMAT has three question-adaptive sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Data Insights and Verbal Reasoning. The exam lasts 2 hours 15 minutes and is scored on a 205–805 scale. The major format change came in 2023: the former Analytical Writing Assessment and Integrated Reasoning sections were removed, while Data Insights became a separate section. Earlier changes, including those introduced in 2018, affected the previous version of the exam and should not be confused with the current format.

Current GMAT format at a glance

You may complete the sections in either order, or use the section-selection option at the start of the exam. Each section has its own on-screen calculator in Data Insights only. Quantitative Reasoning is solved without a calculator.

The 45 questions are scored separately in the three sections. They contribute to the Total Score on the 205–805 scale. The exam is question-adaptive: your performance determines the difficulty of later questions within each section.

How the GMAT format changed in 2023

The 2023 revision was the most substantial change to the exam's structure since the previous major revision. It removed the two writing tasks and made data interpretation a core part of the scored exam rather than a separate Integrated Reasoning section.

• The Analytical Writing Assessment was removed because it was not part of the Total Score.
• The Integrated Reasoning section was replaced by Data Insights, which is longer, separately timed and focused on data literacy.
• Data Sufficiency now appears in both Quantitative Reasoning and Data Insights.
• The number of questions and time available in each scored section were adjusted.
• Only the Total Score remains; there are no separate writing or Integrated Reasoning scores.

The 2023 change did not simply reduce the workload. It changed which skills the exam measures and how candidates should prepare. Reading and interpreting information in tables, graphics and multi-source business contexts now requires more attention throughout the test.

What changed in the GMAT format in 2018?

The 2018 change applied to the older GMAT format. At that time, the exam contained Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Integrated Reasoning and the Analytical Writing Assessment. The 2018 revision introduced the then-new Integrated Reasoning section and expanded the writing component so that candidates completed six written responses in 30 minutes.

That version is no longer current. In particular, there is no separate Integrated Reasoning section or writing section in the present GMAT. A question about the 'change in GMAT format 2018' is useful for understanding the exam's development, but candidates preparing for the current exam should study the three current sections rather than reconstruct the 2018 timings or scoring system.

Impact of the format change on preparation

Data interpretation becomes a scored priority

Data Insights questions require you to move between a chart, table, diagram or written source and determine what the information means. Practice should include calculating rates, ratios and percentages, then checking whether an answer fits the evidence. The on-screen calculator helps with Data Insights, but it cannot replace sound estimation or interpretation.

Writing is no longer part of the exam

Although the Analytical Writing Assessment is gone, clear reasoning still matters. You must explain why a numerical answer is correct, identify the flaw in a Critical Reasoning argument and justify a response to a Multi-Source Reasoning question. Weak reading habits can therefore affect your performance even without a separate writing score.

Timing must be managed by section

Each section gives 45 minutes, but the required pace differs. Data Insights includes relatively many questions, while Quantitative Reasoning contains more time-consuming calculations. A fixed question-per-minute target is therefore less useful than understanding how long different question types typically require.

Question adaptation affects strategy

Because the GMAT is question-adaptive, a difficult question is not automatically a poorly chosen question. Within each section, the difficulty can rise after strong answers and fall after weak answers. You should still make a reasoned selection and move on when further work has little value.

How scoring and question review work

Your performance in all three sections contributes to the Total Score. The exam does not produce separate section scores for Quantitative Reasoning, Data Insights or Verbal Reasoning. You can review questions and change your answers during the timed exam using the Question Review & Edit function, although each decision may affect the next question's difficulty.

The final report includes your Total Score, percentile rankings and information about your performance in the three sections. Percentile rankings show how your score compares with other test takers; they are not percentage-correct marks. The official Score Report provides the appropriate comparison and score details.

Which version should you prepare for?

Prepare only for the current three-section GMAT. Older question sets can still help with underlying skills, but their instructions, section structure and timing may be misleading. Select official material designed for the current format and confirm that it includes the current section names and question types.

Use the GMAT Official Starter Kit to become familiar with the interface, then work systematically through official practice questions. Official Practice Exams are particularly useful for developing a section-by-section timing plan and for checking whether you can finish each 45-minute section.

Before your test, review the current exam information on GMAC's official website, particularly fees, registration dates, identification requirements and test-centre policies, as these can change. You can also use the Select Section Order option to decide which subject to attempt first on the day.

Start by identifying your weakest current section and building a short weekly routine that combines official practice questions with timed section sets. This preparation is tailored to the current GMAT format, rather than the superseded 2018 version.

Frequently asked questions