GMAT Sample Questions, Answers and Explanations

The GMAT is a crucial step in the business school application process.  Admissions committees use applicants  GMAT scores to assess their ability to succeed in a graduate-level program. The best way to prepare for the GMAT is to complete sample questions that test the same skills as the actual exam. The samples listed below resemble GMAT questions in structure, format, and skills tested. After completing all of the sample questions, review the answers and explanations at the end of this article. Integrated Reasoning Sample Questions The Integrated Reasoning section  contains 12 questions in four different categories: Multi-Source Reasoning, Graphical Interpretation, Two-Part Analysis and Table Analysis. You will have 30 minutes to complete this section of the GMAT. Question #1 Commodity Production: World Share (%) Production: World Rank Exports: World Share (%) Exports: World Rank Pork 8 4 20 4 Beans 13 3 24 2 Beef 32 2 22 3 Corn 47 1 34 1 Evaluate the table shown above, which displays data about American agricultural products. Answer YES to the following statement if the information in the table makes the statement true. Otherwise, answer NO. No country, including America, produces more than one-half of the worlds corn. Question #2 ABC Boats is producing a new speedboat called the Lake Skipper. The Lake Skippers fuel economy is R miles per gallon (R(m/G)) when it is driving a constant speed of S miles per hour (S(m/h)). Select the expression that represents the number of gallons of fuel that the Lake Skipper will use when driving at a constant speed (S) for 1 hour. Your answer should be in terms of the variables R and S. Select the expression that represents the number of gallons of fuel that the Lake Skipper will use when driving at a constant speed (S) for 60 miles. Your answer should be in terms of the variables R and S. You should make two selections total (one in each empty column). Gallons of Fuel in 1 Hour Gallons of Fuel in 60 Miles Expression S/R R/S S/60 R/60 60/S 60/R    Quantitative Reasoning Sample Questions The Quantitative Reasoning section  contains 31 questions in two categories: Data Sufficiency and Problem Solving. You have 62 minutes to complete this section of the GMAT. Question #1 If a b, c d, b c and e b, which of the following statements must be true?   I. a eII. e dIII. a c (A) I only   (B) II only (C) III only (D) II and III   (E) I and III Question #2 On a 3-day trip to Italy, 4 adults ate $60 worth of spaghetti. How much would it cost for 7 adults to eat spaghetti on a 5-day trip to Italy if they ate the same spaghetti at the same cost per person per day? (A) $175 (B) $100 (C) $75 (D) $180 (E) $200 Verbal Reasoning Sample Questions The Verbal Reasoning section contains 36 questions in three categories: Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning and Sentence Correction. You will have 65 minutes to complete this section of the GMAT. Question #1 According to a recent study, the amount of work people are tasked with  rank as one of the high causes of workplace stress for American adults. (A) rank as one of the high causes of workplace stress (B) ranks as one of the more high causes of workplace stress (C) rank as one of the leading causes of workplace stress (D) ranks as one of the leading causes of workplace stress (E) rank as one of the higher causes of workplace stress Question #2 The cost of purchasing raw materials from Company A is fifteen percent less than the cost of purchasing raw materials from Company B. Even after taxes and transportation fees are added, it is still cheaper to purchase raw materials from Company A and have them transported than to purchase raw materials from Company B. Which of the following assertions is supported by the above statement? (A) Labor costs at Company A are fifteen percent lesson that labor costs at Company B. (B) The taxes on raw materials from Company A are more than fifteen percent of the cost of purchasing raw materials from Company B. (C) Company B inflates their prices to be more competitive than Company A. (D) It takes less time for Company A to mine raw materials. (E) The cost of transporting raw materials from Company A is less than fifteen percent of the cost of purchasing raw materials from Company B. Analytical Writing Sample Questions This section does not contain questions like the other three sections. Instead, you will be presented with a written argument. Your job is to critically analyze the validity of the argument and then write an analysis of the argument. The analysis should be an assessment of the reasoning used in the argument; you do not need to express your personal opinions. You have 30 minutes to complete the Analytical Writing section. Question #1 Many experts agree that reading can reduce stress and ease tension in muscles. Recently, two new libraries opened in the tri-county area. Consequently, the hospitals in the area should see a reduction in patients seeking treatment for heart attacks and strokes. To ensure that Lavender Hospital is not overstaffed, we should immediately reduce the number of emergency nurses at the hospital and allocate payroll savings to the radiology department, which desperately needs funds for new equipment. Write a critique of the above argument within 30 minutes. Question #2 Lick It Up Ice Cream began advertising in the local newspaper last month and saw its business increase by 15 percent over previous months totals. This rise in sales proves that newspaper advertising still works as well as it used to and can be used to make any food service company more profitable. Write a critique of the above argument within 30 minutes. Integrated Reasoning Answers and Explanations #1 Answer: Yes. This answer can be obtained by analyzing the table. Look at the Production: World Share (%) column for Corn and the Production: World Rank column for Corn. America is ranked first in corn production in the world and only produces 47% of the world share of corn. Therefore, it is true that no country, including America, produces more than one-half of the worlds corn. #2 Answer: S/R and 60/R. When Sspeed and Rmiles per gallon, S/R represents the number of gallons of fuel the Lake Skipper will use in one hour of drive time at constant speed. You would need to divide S by R to find out how much fuel would be used in one hour. When Rmiles per gallon and 60 represents the number of miles, 60/R represents the number of gallons of fuel that the Lake Skipper will use when driving at a constant speed (S) for 60 miles. You would need to divide 60 by R to find out how much fuel would be required for a 60 mile drive. Quantitative Answers and Explanations #1 Answer: D. It is true to say that e is greater than d and that a is greater than c. However, you cannot say that a is greater than e. Although we know that e is greater than b and that a is greater than b, there is no evidence that a is greater than e. #2 Answer: A. The answer is $175. To get to this number, you need to start by determining how much spaghetti costs per person per day. Divide 60 by 4 to get 15. This is the cost of spaghetti per day. Then, divide 15 by 3 to get 5. This is the cost of spaghetti per person per day. Then you switch from division to multiplication to get the cost for the second trip. Multiply 5 (the number of days on the trip) by 5 (the number of people on the trip) to get 25. Then, multiply 25 (the cost of food for five days) by 7 (the number of people) to get 175. It would cost $175 for 7 adults to eat spaghetti on a 5-day trip to Italy. Verbal Sample Answers and Explanations #1 Answer: D. The correct answer is ranks as one of the leading causes of workplace stress. This is the option that creates the most effective sentence without awkwardness or grammatical error. The verb ranks agrees with the subject of this sentence (amount of work). The word leading is also a better fit idiomatically than high and makes the sentence less awkward. #2 Answer: D. The cost of transporting raw materials from Company A is less than fifteen percent of the cost of purchasing raw materials from Company B. This is the only answer option supported by the statement. The statement does not mention labor costs, price inflation, or the amount of time to mine raw materials. The statement also clearly indicates that even with taxes and transportation fees, it is still costs LESS to purchase raw materials from Company A than Company B. Analytical Writing Answers and Explanations #1 and #2 Answer: There is no single correct answer or critique for either argument. However, each critique should 1.) restate a brief summary of the argument; 2.) analyze the use of reasoning and evidence in the argument; 3.) identify potential counterarguments, alternative explanations or questionable assumptions; and 4.) identify evidence that could have been used to strengthen the argument; 5.) provide a conclusion that sums up your critique. Check over what you have written to see if you have accomplished all five of these goals.