Integrated Reasoning (GMAT)

The Integrated Reasoning highlights the relevant skills that business managers in today's datadriven world need in order to analyze sophisticated streams of data and solve complex problems.

The Integrated Reasoning measures the ability to understand and evaluate multiple sources and types of information-graphic, numeric, and verbal-as they relate to one another. It requires to use both quantitative and verbal reasoning to solve complex problems and solve multiple problems in relation to one another. This section includes text passages, tables, graphs, and other visual information from a variety of content areas; however, the materials and questions do not assume detailed knowledge of the topics discussed. The Integrated Reasoning section differs from the Qyantitative and Verbal sections in two important ways:

1. It involves both mathematical and verbal reasoning, either separately or in combination
2. questions are answered using four different response formats rather than only traditional multiple-choice

Four types of questions are used in the Integrated Reasoning section:

• Multi-Source Reasoning
• Table Analysis
• Graphics Interpretation
• Two-Part Analysis

Integrated Reasoning questions may be quantitative, verbal, or a combination of both. You will have to interpret graphics and sort tables to extract meaning from data, but advanced statistical knowledge and spreadsheet manipulation skills are not necessary. You will have access to an on-screen calculator with basic functions for the Integrated Reasoning section, but note that the calculator is not available on the Qyantitative section.

Integrated Reasoning questions assess your ability to apply, evaluate, infer, recognize, and strategize.

Apply questions measure your ability to understand principles, rules, or other concepts in the information provided and apply them to a new context or predict consequences that would follow if new information were incorporated into the context provided. You may be asked to

• decide whether new examples would comply with or violate rules established in the information provided
• determine how a trend present in the information provided would be affected by new scenarios
• use principles established in the information provided to draw conclusions about new data

Evaluate questions measure your ability to make judgments about the quality of information. For example, you may be asked to

• decide whether a claim made in one source is supported or undermined by information provided in another source
• determine whether the information provided is sufficient to justify a course of action
• judge the strength of evidence offered in support of an argument or plan
• identify errors or gaps in the information provided

Infer questions ask about information or ideas that are not explicitly stated in the materials provided but can be derived from them. For example, you may be asked to

• calculate the probability of an outcome on the basis of given data
• indicate whether statements follow logically from the information provided
• determine the meaning of a term within the context in which it is used
• identify the rate of change in data gathered over time

Recognize questions measure your ability to identify information that is directly presented in the materials provided, including specific facts or details and relationships between pieces of information. For example, you may be asked to

• identify areas of agreement and disagreement between sources of information
• determine the strength of correlation between two variables
• indicate which element in a table has a given rank in a combination of categories
• identify facts provided as evidence in an argument

Strategize questions ask about the means of achieving a goal within the context of particular needs or constraints. For example, you may be asked to

• choose a plan of action that minimizes risks and maximizes value
• identify tradeoffs required to reach a goal
• specify the mathematical formula that will yield a desired result
• determine which means of completing a task are consistent within given constraints