How to Prepare for GMAT Integrated Reasoning | Mock Test series for GMAT Classic Edition PDF Download

The GMAT IR part, as its name suggests, requires you to combine your verbal and mathematical abilities. You'll need to make simple calculations and understand graphs, charts, and tables. Additionally, you'll need to read sections and highlight key details.

This combination of skills means that any preparation you complete for the verbal and quantitative portions will also benefit you in IR. It's not necessary to memorize material for the GMAT's IR part. Instead, it challenges you to think critically, solve problems, and reach important conclusions.

Ho

w important is Integrated Reasoning in GMAT?

What are the different parts in the IR section and how are they evaluated?

There are multiple parts to each IR question, but you only receive full credit. To earn points, you must accurately respond to every portion of a question. 
EduRev offers topic-wise explanations and tests related to all topics for quick revision. 

 The four GMAT Integrated Reasoning questions are:

•  multi-source reasoning

•  table analysis 

• graphics interpretation

• and two-part analysis.

1: MULTI-SOURCE REASONING QUESTIONS

You will see three different tabs of information when answering questions requiring multi-source reasoning. You might see a combination of excerpts, graphs, and charts, or you might see three of the same kind of source. Each source will provide data on a common subject. 

• How to proceed with questions?

The GMAT IR section's multi-source reasoning problems are the most time-consuming. There are three pages of information and numerous questions on the same subject. You might give yourself a little more time on these question types than on the others while you study for the GMAT. To answer the questions, you must evaluate the data on three tabs. It could be necessary to contrast and compare the various sources. These inquiries are comparable to reading comprehension inquiries in the Verbal part in this regard. You must be able to identify key points, find specifics, and combine concepts.

2: TABLE ANALYSIS QUESTIONS

These questions present several statements, and you’ll choose between two dichotomous answer choices, like yes/no, true/false, or, as in the sample below, would help explain/would not help explain.

• How to proceed with questions?

  
  When answering table analysis questions, you need to take time to understand what the question is asking you to do. In the sample above, you need to determine whether each statement would help explain the information in the table.table analysis questions are not always straightforward, and you need to take some time reading the question and statements to understand what they’re asking.

Tip: Like an Excel spreadsheet, table analysis questions let you sort columns in alphabetical or numerical order.

3: GRAPHICS INTERPRETATION QUESTIONS

While multi-source reasoning questions may or may not have graphics, graphics interpretation questions definitely do. You could get any kind of graph or chart, like a pie graph, line chart, bar graph, scatter plot, or some other unusual graphic. Below the graphic, you’ll get two sentences that ask you to fill in the blank. Instead of a blank line, you’ll get drop-down menus and be asked to choose among a few answer choices. As long as you can readily interpret the graphic, these questions tend to be less time-consuming than the others.

• How to proceed with questions? 

  
  To prepare for these questions, you should get comfortable reading graphs, charts, and other graphics. Make sure you can immediately understand what a graphic is communicating and collect data from it.

4: TWO-PART ANALYSIS

Two-part analysis questions start with some short introductory material. Then, you’ll see a chart, as in the example below, and need to select one answer in each column. These questions can be entirely verbal or entirely mathematical. Often, you have to find your answer for one column before you’re able to figure out your answer for the other one.                                                                        

Tip: Two-part analysis questions draw on both your reading comprehension and your math skills.

•  How to proceed with questions?

  
  These questions could call on your math or verbal skills; you don’t really know which. To prepare, you should especially develop your reading comprehension skills, so you know exactly what the two-part question is asking you to do. You should also review how to calculate the rate, speed, profit, and other concepts common to Quantitative word problems.