What are the Different Types of GMAT® Questions?

The Graduate Management Admission Test® (GMAT®) is used by some universities to determine entrance requirements for graduate programs. The seven different types of GMAT® test questions cover analytical writing skills, mathematics and problem-solving skills, reading comprehension, critical thinking and language skills. These questions are included in the four timed sections of the test, and they consist of multiple-choice questions and essay responses.

The first two sections of GMAT® questions are essays that require one to analyze an issue or argument. These assignments display a passage to read and then ask the candidate to reply in a timed essay for each of the two sections. Candidates are usually asked to respond critically to the question and explain their viewpoint on the topic. The first essay requires the analysis of an issue, and the second requires the analysis of an argument.

Mathematics and problem-solving skills are tested in the third timed section of GMAT® questions. The first part of this section addresses problem solving and includes both basic and advanced math problems, such as basic arithmetic, calculus, geometry and algebra. Questions involve topics such as equations, square roots, number factoring, decimal conversion, inequalities and statistics.

Data sufficiency is the name of the second type of math questions, and it involves determining whether given statements sufficiently answer a question. The GMAT® questions for this area involve two statements followed by a list of conclusions that one could make from the given data. The candidate must analyze the two given statements and choose one statement from the list that is the best answer.

The last section of GMAT® questions focus on the candidate's verbal ability and consists of multiple-choice questions that must be answered within a certain amount of time. The first group of questions test the candidate's skills in grammar by asking him or her to correct sentences. The candidate can see questions regarding the best word choice for a sentence, proper sentence construction and the proper use of vocabulary. The next group of questions require that the candidate reads four short passages and answers a few questions about what was read.

Critical Reasoning makes up the last section of GMAT® questions and asks the candidate to read short arguments. He or she will then be given a list of possible conclusions one could make from the argument and will have to choose the best conclusion. In addition, some questions might ask about specific weaknesses in the given argument and require the candidate to choose the weakest statement from a given list.