GMAT Syllabus 2025: Section-wise (QR, VR, DI) Syllabus PDF

The GMAT is one of the critical steps in a lot of potential MBA students’ processes, and the emerging trend for 2025 has some structural elements for the candidates to work on. It has 3 sections: Analytical Writing, Quantitative, and Verbal. Each section assesses a skill completely necessary for students to be successful in business school and beyond. The time allotted for the exam is around 2 hours and 15 minutes, with multiple breaks, and a separate time allotted for each section. Understanding the nuances of the GMAT exam and the timing associated with the exam and each section will certainly prepare anyone well, and test as best as possible.

Overview of GMAT Focus Edition

Here is the list of the features of the GMAT Focus Edition are listed below:

Feature	GMAT Focus Edition 2025
Total Exam Duration	2 hours 15 minutes + breaks
Number of Sections	3
Total Questions	64
Section Order	Customizable by the test-taker
AWA (Essay Writing)	Removed
Calculator Availability	Only in the Data Insights section
Question Review	Allowed within each section
Test Mode	Online or in-person
Score Range	205–805
Score Validity	5 years
Retake Policy	5 times/year, 8 times lifetime
Adaptive Format	Section-level adaptive

GMAT Exam Pattern 2025

The GMAT Focus Edition pattern, the 2025 GMAT is the official default test format adopted by GMAC (Graduate Management Admission Council). This format focuses on critical thinking and reasoning skills, removing those components that are less relevant to the needs of a business school. Here is the list of the 3 sections, the number of questions & time limit are mentioned below:

Section	Number of Questions	Time Limit	Key Focus Areas
Quantitative Reasoning	21	45 minutes	Problem-solving, arithmetic, algebra
Verbal Reasoning	23	45 minutes	Reading comprehension, critical reasoning
Data Insights	20	45 minutes	Data analysis, multi-source reasoning, interpretation

• Total Duration: 2 hrs 15 min (two 10-minute optional breaks)
• Total Questions: 64
• Adaptive Nature: Section-adaptive format (explained later)
• Test Mode: Computer-based (online or in the test center)

Key Features of GMAT 2025:

• AWA Section Has Been Removed: The Analytical Writing Assessment has been removed.
• 3 Section (45 minutes): Equal time allotted to Quant, Verbal, and Data Insights.
• Customizable Section Order: Students can choose in which order to take the sections.
• On-screen Calculator: Available only for Data Insights.
• Shorter & More Efficient: The exam is approximately 

GMAT Exam Pattern: Quantitative Reasoning Section

This part assesses students’ mathematical reasoning skills, quantitative reasoning skills, and data interpretation skills. The emphasis is on reasoning (mostly logic-based math), rather than rote calculations.

Details:

• Number of Questions: 21
• Duration: 45 minutes
• Question Format: Multiple-choice, problem-solving
• Calculator: Not available

Topics Covered:

• Arithmetic
• Algebra (linear and quadratic equations)
• Word Problems
• Properties of Numbers
• Ratios and proportions
• Rates, percentage
• And no geometry or advanced calculus topics

Skills Measured:

• Logical reasoning using math
• Efficiency in problem-solving
• Identifying patterns in data/numbers

GMAT Exam Pattern: Verbal Reasoning Section

This section evaluates reading comprehension of written material, logical reasoning, and the ability to analyze arguments.

Details:

• Number of Questions: 23
• Duration: 45 minutes

Question Formats:

• Reading Comprehension (RC): Requires the candidate to interpret information after reading written material
• Critical Reasoning (CR): Requires the examinee to analyze the argument, identify the assumption the argument relies upon, and assess the conclusion made based on the argument.
• Sentence Correction (SC) has been removed.

Skills Measured:

• Importance of reading and understanding complex texts
• Ability to infer based on the information provided
• Ability to evaluate logical arguments
• Ability to distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information

GMAT Exam Pattern: Data Insights

Data Insights is the newest and most innovative section of the GMAT Focus Edition.  The emphasis is completely on data interpretation, critical analysis, and reasoning using multi-sourced data.

Details:

• Number of Questions: 20
• Duration: 45 minutes
• Calculator: Available (on screen)

Question Types:

• Data Sufficiency: Analyzing sufficient data to solve a problem
• Table Analysis: Analyzing data represented in spreadsheets or tables
• Multi-Source Reasoning: Addressing questions that have multiple forms of data, such as charts, emails, and reports.
• Graphics Interpretation: Reading and understanding graphs or visual interpretations of data.
• Two-Part Analysis: Answering complex questions that have interdependent answers

Skills Measured:

• Analyzing data from various formats
• Correctly assessing conclusions from a complex dataset
• Using logic and/or mathematical procedures in a business context

GMAT Test is Computer Adaptive

The GMAT Focus Edition is an Adaptive Test (CAT), but unlike the previous version, it is adaptive at the section level as opposed to the question level.

How Section-Level Adaptivity Works:

• Your performance in the first section may adjust the difficulty of subsequent sections.
• Once you submit a section, you cannot return to that section. 
• This approach measures the difficulty level relative to each test-taker's performance, and this provides a more accurate representation of ability.

Important:

• You can review and change your answers anywhere in a section before you submit it, but once you submit a section, that section is locked.
• You are allowed to skip sections, but cannot "jump" between sections. 

Key Highlights for GMAT Exam Pattern

The format of the GMAT exam is specifically designed to measure test-takers' abilities in several areas considered important in graduate-level business education. 

• There is no defined syllabus for the GMAT exam, but preparation includes developing an understanding of the general topics and question types that are typically tested. 
• The GMAT exam format is designed to measure skills important for graduate-level business education. 
• All three sections are computer-adaptive. 
• The GMAT exam measures quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, and data analysis abilities. 
• The exam has a total of 64 questions to be completed in 2 hours and 15 minutes. 
• The new format also allows test-takers to bookmark answers for later review and may change up to three answers per section, if time permits. 
• Test-takers will determine the order of the sections, choosing from either a Section 1, Section 2, and Section 3 order, or with the order of Section 1, Section 3, and Section 2.
• There is no penalty for wrong answers on the GMAT Exam.
• There is one optional 10-minute break, which can occur after either the first or second section, at the test-taker's discretion.

Alternative Options:

However, if you are looking for an alternative option rather than appearing for the GMAT Exam, for enrolling in an online MBA program. The students can enroll in online universities that offer a recognized MBA course, along with a traditional MBA degree, along various specializations. Here is the list of the universities that offer the online MBA program:

Top Online MBA Universities	Online MBA (Specialization)
MAHE Manipal Online MBA	Finance Management Marketing Management HR Management Business Analytics Data Science Operations Management Healthcare Management Pharmaceutical Management Information Systems Fashion Management
Birchwood University Online MBA	Business & Law Ethics Business Analytics Marketing Management General Management Supply Chain Management HR Management Finance Management Data Science International Business
BIMTECH Online MBA	Finance Management Marketing Management Logistics and Supply Chain Management Operations Management Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance BFSI Information Technology Management General Management Generative AI HR Management Analytics Supply Chain Management
NMIMS Online MBA	Business Management Operations Management HR Management Finance Management Marketing Management Data Science General Management
Amity University Online MBA	Digital Entrepreneurship HR Analytics Data Science Business Analytics HR Management Operations Management IT Management International Business Insurance Management Entrepreneurship & Leadership Retail Management
Jain University Online MBA	HR Management Finance Management Marketing Management General Management System and Operations Management Marketing and Finance Management Marketing and HR Management Information Logistics and Supply Chain Management International Finance Management
DY Patil University Online MBA	Marketing Management Finance Management IT Management Operations Management HR Management International Business Digital Marketing Project Management FinTech Management Business Analytics
UPES Online MBA	HR Management Finance Management Marketing Management Operations Management Oil & Gas Management International Business Power Management Business Analytics Logistic & Supply Chain Management Infrastructure Management Digital Business Supply Chain Management
LPU Online MBA	Finance Management Human Resource Management Marketing Management Data Science Operations Management International Business Management Information Technology Digital Marketing Business Analytics Data Science and Analytics Banking & Financial Services Supply Chain Management Healthcare Management
SRM University Online MBA	HR Management Marketing Management Finance Management
DY Patil Vidyapeeth, Navi Mumbai, Online MBA	Sales And Marketing HRM Finance Hospital & Health Care Management Retail Management Logistics & Supply Chain International Business Entrepreneurship Event Management Digital Marketing Data Science & Business Analytics
Amrita University Online MBA	HR Management Finance Management Marketing Management Operations Management General Management Artificial Intelligence
Chandigarh University Online MBA	Marketing Management HR Management International Business Management Entrepreneurship Retail Management Business Analytics Finance Management Logistics & Supply Chain Management Information Technology Operations Management Banking & Insurance
Parul University Online MBA	Marketing Management Finance Management HR Management IT Management Business Analytics Operation Management Retail Management Project Management Banking and Financial Services Healthcare Management & Supply Chain Management Agricultural Management Digital Marketing & Sales Management Digital Marketing
Sikkim Manipal University Online MBA	Marketing Management Finance Management HR Management Systems Operations & Supply Chain Management Supply Chain Management Marketing and HR Marketing and Finance Healthcare Management