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GMAT changes format, adds 'Integrated Reasoning' section

The Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT), the computer adaptive MBA entrance exam for the foreign B Schools will undergo a change from June 2012. A new section, 'Integrated Reasoning' has been added in the GMAT exam. This section will test the GMAT takers' ability to assimilate data from multiple sources. Though not completely but it is assumed that the Integrated Reasoning will be some what similar to be Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section of the MBA entrance exams such as CAT, XAT etc.

According to Ashok Sarathy, Vice President, GMAT program, the candidates will have to solve complex problems with the information from multiple sources. The ability to listen to complex spoken material and form judgement will also be tested in this section.

The multiple sources of information are passages, graphs, charts, spreadsheets as well as verbal instruction. This implies that GMAT takers will now wear head phones while taking the exam. But the introduction of this section will not change the duration of GMAT which is three-and-a-half hours. The duration of the Integrated Reasoning section will be 30 minutes. To accommodate this section, one of the two essay writing questions of the Analytical Writing section will be removed.

The decision to introduce a new section in GMAT has been taken by Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the GMAT conducting body after surveying B schools all over the world for four years.

The other sections of the GMAT exam are Quantitative and Verbal Ability apart from the Analytical Writing Skills. GMAC mentions that there will be no change in the Quant and Verbal sections and the scoring system will remain the same.

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