GMAT Integrated Reasoning Syllabus

Integrated Reasoning syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Integrated Reasoning in GMAT, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Multi-Source Reasoning

   3 topics

   • Analyzing data from multiple sources
   • Evaluating information relevance
   • Making inferences
2. 2

   Table Analysis

   3 topics

   • Interpreting tables
   • Extracting relevant data
   • Solving problems based on table data
3. 3

   Graphics Interpretation

   3 topics

   • Understanding graphs and charts
   • Drawing conclusions from visual data
   • Making decisions based on graphical information
4. 4

   Two-Part Analysis

   2 topics

   • Solving two-part problems
   • Evaluating relationships between two quantities

Integrated Reasoning flashcards for GMAT

19 of 50 cards from the Integrated Reasoning deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What are the four question types found in the GMAT Integrated Reasoning (IR) section?

   Multi-Source Reasoning, Table Analysis, Graphics Interpretation, and Two-Part Analysis.

2. How many questions are in the GMAT Integrated Reasoning section and how much time is allotted?

   12 questions in 30 minutes, giving an average of about $2.5$ minutes per question.

3. On what scale is the GMAT Integrated Reasoning section scored, and in what increments?

   On a scale of $1$ to $8$, in single-point (whole-number) increments. It is scored separately from the $200$–$800$ total score.

4. In IR scoring, how are multi-part questions (those with several sub-responses) graded?

   They are graded all-or-nothing: you must answer every part of a single question correctly to earn credit; there is no partial credit.

5. In a Multi-Source Reasoning question, how is the information presented to the test-taker?

   Across two or three tabbed pages that may contain text, tables, charts, or graphs; you click between tabs to gather and combine data from multiple sources.

6. What is the key skill tested by Multi-Source Reasoning questions?

   Synthesizing and analyzing data from multiple sources to determine which pieces are relevant, discern relationships, and draw inferences or conclusions.

7. In Multi-Source Reasoning, what does a typical 'yes/no' or 'true/false' multi-part question ask you to do?

   Evaluate several statements independently and decide, for each, whether it can be inferred, is true, or is supported by the combined source information.

8. When evaluating information relevance in IR, what is the first question to ask about any given data point?

   Does this piece of information directly help answer the specific question being asked? If it neither supports nor refutes the answer, it is irrelevant and should be set aside.

9. What is the difference between an inference and a direct statement in IR reasoning?

   A direct statement is explicitly given; an inference must be logically derived from the given information and must be true based on that information, not merely plausible.

10. What is the defining feature of a Table Analysis question in the GMAT IR section?

    A spreadsheet-like table that can be sorted by any column; you answer multiple true/false (or yes/no) statements by extracting and comparing data from the sorted table.

11. What is the single most useful strategy for answering a Table Analysis question efficiently?

    Sort the table by the column most relevant to each statement, so the needed values are grouped/ordered and easy to extract.

12. In Table Analysis, why should you read the statements before studying every value in the table?

    So you extract only the data relevant to each statement, avoiding wasted time analyzing columns that do not affect the answer.

13. How do you find the median of a data column in a Table Analysis problem?

    Sort the column ascending, then take the middle value; for $n$ values the median position is $\frac{n+1}{2}$. For even $n$, average the two central values.

14. What is the formula for the arithmetic mean of a data set in a table with values $x_1, x_2, \dots, x_n$?

    $$\bar{x} = \frac{1}{n}\sum_{i=1}^{n} x_i$$

15. How is the range of a numeric column in a table calculated?

    $$\text{Range} = x_{\max} - x_{\min}$$ the difference between the largest and smallest values.

16. What formula converts a raw part value to its percentage share of a total in a table?

    $$\text{Percentage} = \frac{\text{part}}{\text{total}} \times 100\%$$

17. What is the formula for percent change between an old value and a new value in table/graph data?

    $$\text{Percent change} = \frac{\text{new} - \text{old}}{\text{old}} \times 100\%$$

18. In IR, how do you determine whether column A values are 'greater than' column B values for a set of rows?

    Compute the difference $A - B$ for each relevant row; if $A - B > 0$ the statement holds for that row. Sorting by A or B first speeds the comparison.

19. What defines a Graphics Interpretation question in the GMAT IR section?

    A graph or chart (scatterplot, bar, line, pie, bubble, etc.) accompanied by fill-in-the-blank sentences completed by selecting from drop-down menus.

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