Introduced in 2012, as an integral part of all GMAT questions papers, the Integrated Reasoning (IR) section is a combination of verbal and quantitative section. It aims to test the realistic approaches and thought process of a student in a span of 30-minutes. Critical analysis, eye to details and logical interpretation applied together to each IR problem can help GMAT test takers reach the right answer.
To help GMAT test takers and the preparation, here is detailing the section of IR section that will make it easy to learn and fast to solve problems.
The IR section of GMAT exam usually comprises four kinds of questions:
a) Multi-Source Reasoning(MSR)
b) Table Analysis(TA)
c) Graphics Interpretation(GI)
d) Two-Part Analysis(2PA)
Multi-Source Reasoning(MSR)
The MSR section is exactly like reading comprehension, where the candidate has to read the given information with complete dedication. A through reading makes the related questions look simpler and its easy to be answered.
MSR questions appear in a single multi-card format which needs to be understood before going further on the GMAT test. On a split screen, cards are shown on the left side, usually with three tabs. With each click you will be able to access one card. If the content of the card and given passage combines, you have to pick that specific card.
The MSR section comprises two questions. First is a 5-optional MCQ and the next is a set of dichotomous questions like true-false, buy-don’t buy and so on. Usually the same information is used to solve all questions of MSR section.
Table Analysis (TA)
Considered as the crux of the IR section, the TA section comes with a chart/table of 4+ columns and around 20 or 30 rows of data. Each such tables comes along with three dichotomous questions that GMAT examinees are expected to answer. In the TA section, there are usually two questions with 5-6 alternative options to pick from.
Graphic Interpretation
Based on a given graphical representation, here GMAT test takers have to answer two questions whose answer options appear in a drop down format. However, the form of graph that comes on the GMAT question paper can be of varied formats like pie chart, line diagram, bar diagram and so on.
Two-Part Analysis
After an eye view on the basic content of the two-part analysis section, skip straight to the question part that follows. Its a chart with three columns where the topmost is the related question and the rest are choices from where test takers are expected to pick the right answer. Also, trends of GMAT papers reflect in the two questions of two-part analysis, if the first one is not answered; the second one cannot be answered either.
The entire IR part of GMAT exam total takes around half an hour and will be presented to you in various screens. Before switching between screens, make sure you answer all parts of the question on your screen and then move forward. GMAT does not allow you to go back on the computer.
