Easy Beginner Question

[RBurroughs]

How many questions are on the GMAT?

Do you just keep going until time runs out? Or is there a set number you hit?

[Ian Stewart]

The complete test (plus breaks between each section):

Two essay questions at the beginning- 30 minutes each;

37 Quant questions - 75 minutes total;

41 Verbal questions - 75 minutes total.

I wrote a more detailed description here, if you're interested:

gmatix.com/about_gmat_test.htm

[TedCornell]

There is a very thorough FAQ on GMAT content, test structure, security & financial procedures etc... at the gmatfix website.

mba.com is the official GMAT site, so you can find lots of information there as well.

Or just google what you want; you'll get more info than you know what to do with

[Bara]

My $.02: You'll want to fill in an answer for EVERY question on the test, so leave a few seconds at the end to fill in the answers. LEAVE nothing blank. Go to the end, and do not leave the last questions on the test blank...it will really hurt your score. If you need to guess, without even reading the questions, pick ONE letter, and fill in the remaining questions with that answer choice letter. Statistically you have a better chance getting more correct by choosing "X", "X", "X", "X" etc. than by answering "B," "A," "C," "D," "E."

[Ian Stewart]

Statistically you have a better chance getting more correct by choosing "X", "X", "X", "X" etc. than by answering "B," "A," "C," "D," "E."

No, unfortunately that's not true - statistically, there is no random guessing strategy that will increase your odds of answering questions correctly. BACDE is, statistically speaking, just as good a string of guesses as EEEEE.

[TedCornell]

No, unfortunately that's not true - statistically, there is no random guessing strategy that will increase your odds of answering questions correctly. BACDE is, statistically speaking, just as good a string of guesses as EEEEE.

I agree with Ian for 1 simple reasons:
1) Each guess has a 1 in 5 (20%) chance of success.
2) The probability of success is independent of what happened on previous guesses.

Actually, the 2nd reason alone makes my point. Whether you gess "X X X X X" or "B C D A E" makes no difference because each guess is independent from the previous and from the following guesses.

My $.02: You'll want to fill in an answer for EVERY question on the test, so leave a few seconds at the end to fill in the answers. LEAVE nothing blank. Go to the end, and do not leave the last questions on the test blank...it will really hurt your score

Great advice!

[Bara]

I stand corrected. Mathematically, these guessing strategies yield a similar statistical result.

Let explain, however, why this is a recommended method for guessing and how it DOES help test takers perform better, and can help ones test score.

If a student needs to guess on some questions, it takes away the discomfort of wondering which letter they should guess on for each question. Being proactive helps one feel more confident, and in control while taking the test. The more ease a student feels, and less energy and brainpower they put towards 'guessing,' translates to the test taker acting quicker and feeling less stress ... reduced stress and increased confidence improves ones overall performance and score.

Thanks for the opportunity to clarify!

[TedCornell]

good points