How Important is the IR Section of the GMAT®

The Integrated Reasoning (IR) section of the GMAT^® is designed to assess a candidate’s ability to analyze and interpret data presented in multiple formats – graphs, tables, text, etc. and from multiple sources. IR is designed to test skills that are critical for success in business and management, such as the ability to analyze data from multiple sources, to make decisions based on that data, and to draw inferences effectively.

The IR section is considered to be an important part of the GMAT^®, and it is scored separately from the other sections of the test. Many business schools consider the IR score as part of the overall GMAT^® score, and some schools use the IR score as a tie-breaker when considering applicants.

The IR section is also important because it is designed to test skills that are becoming increasingly important in today’s business environment. As businesses become more data-driven, the ability to analyze and interpret data from multiple sources is becoming a critical skill for managers and leaders.

A point worth noting is that, according to GMAC, companies that recruit students for internships/jobs from business schools take cognizance of the IR scores as an indicator of students’ ability to process data.

However, the importance of IR section may vary by the business school. Some business schools place more emphasis on IR scores than others. It is important to check with the specific business schools you are interested in to understand how they weight the IR section in the admissions process.