Top 200 Vocabulary Word List for the GMAT Exam | Must Know Words for Common Examination Instructions

The 200-word examination instruction list

GMAT instructions ask you to solve a problem, test an argument or judge what the available information establishes. In Data Sufficiency, your job is to decide whether the facts settle the question. In Table Analysis, the task can depend on which rows, units and definitions you use.

The bank includes question instructions, answer-format phrases and vocabulary for reading the task. Check the official directions for the exact question and examination sitting.

Exam requirements · Worked examples · Fencing Method

Data Insights and answer directions

No.	Instruction or term	What it asks you to do
1	Data Sufficiency	Decide whether each statement alone or both together establishes the answer to the question.
2	Statement (1) alone	Test the first statement with the original stem and set the second statement aside.
3	Statement (2) alone	Test the second statement with the original stem and set the first statement aside.
4	Both statements together	Combine the information only after testing each statement separately.
5	Each statement alone	Select the outcome showing that either statement independently settles the question.
6	Neither is sufficient	Check whether more than one answer is still possible after combining both statements.
7	Unique value	Check whether all permitted cases give the same number.
8	Definite yes or no	For a yes-or-no question, check whether the answer stays the same across all allowed cases.
9	Sufficient information	Decide whether the supplied facts settle the exact question being asked.
10	Necessary information	Identify a fact or condition needed to settle the question, even if it is insufficient by itself.
11	Multi-Source Reasoning	Use the relevant tabs or sources together and check how each contributes.
12	Table Analysis	Read the table headings and sort or compare entries as the question requires.
13	Graphics Interpretation	Read the graph and use its scales, categories and labels to complete the requested answers.
14	Two-Part Analysis	Provide the requested selection for each part of the item.
15	Problem Solving	Work out the quantity or relationship and select the matching answer.
16	Critical Reasoning	Identify the argument’s conclusion, premises and the specific task requested.
17	Reading Comprehension	Use the passage to answer about its meaning, organisation or implications.
18	Data Insights	Read numerical, graphical or verbal information and use it to make the required decision.
19	Quantitative Reasoning	Apply mathematical reasoning to the problem and its answer choices.
20	Verbal Reasoning	Use the supplied text or argument to answer the precise question.
21	Sort by	Arrange the rows using the specified column or attribute.

GMAT sections, data and review controls

No.	Instruction or term	What it asks you to do
22	Filter a group	Limit the comparison to the rows that satisfy the stated condition.
23	Cross-check sources	Compare dates, definitions and units before combining values from different places.
24	Use the appropriate tab	Find the specific source needed for the question before selecting an answer.
25	Fill both selections	Make the response in each place required by the interface.
26	Shared constraint	Apply the same condition to both parts of a paired task.
27	Percent of total	Divide the relevant amount by the specified whole, then convert to a percent.
28	Per unit	Divide the quantity by the relevant number of units.
29	Weighted average	Account for the different sizes or weights of the groups being combined.
30	Baseline	Identify the starting value against which the change is measured.
31	Absolute change	Subtract the original value from the later value in the original unit.
32	Relative change	Measure the change against the original value.
33	Decision rule	Apply the stated criteria in the order or combination required.
34	Assumption required	Find an unstated idea the argument needs for its conclusion.
35	Evaluate the argument	Identify information that would help judge whether the conclusion follows.
36	Plan of action	Treat a proposed step as a means to an identified goal and test the connection.
37	Resolve the discrepancy	Choose a fact that allows two seemingly conflicting observations to coexist.
38	Boldface role	Identify the job of each marked statement in the argument.
39	Bookmark	Flag a question you may want to revisit within the current section.
40	Question Review & Edit	Use the section review screen as permitted after reaching it.
41	Change up to three answers	Count the permitted answer edits separately from the questions you may review.
42	Section order	Choose the available order for completing the three sections as the test interface directs.
43	On-screen calculator	Use the supplied calculator where the section permits it.
44	Profit margin	Divide the stated profit by the relevant revenue when that is the margin being requested.
45	Break-even point	Find where the stated total cost equals total revenue.
46	Fixed cost	Use the cost that remains constant over the given range of output.
47	Variable cost	Use the cost that changes with the level of output.
48	Cumulative total	Add the specified values up to and including the stated point.
49	Rate per period	Express the change or amount per common unit of time.
50	Comparable periods	Check that the values cover the same length and type of period.
51	Volume effect	Check whether a total changed because the number of transactions changed.
52	Numeric versus categorical	Use the operation appropriate to a measured quantity or a group label.
53	Rounding tolerance	Keep enough precision to distinguish close choices before rounding.
54	Percent of a percent	Convert to proportions and multiply when the second percent is applied to the first.
55	Net amount	Apply the increases and deductions specified before comparing the final value.
56	Unweighted mean	Average the listed values equally when the question calls for equal weighting.
57	Combined rate	Divide the sum of the outcomes by the combined exposure, time or relevant total.

Quantitative and verbal reasoning in context

No.	Instruction or term	What it asks you to do
58	Best illustrates	Choose the example or quotation that most directly shows the idea.
59	One possible value	Supply a single value that satisfies the given conditions.
60	Equivalent expression	Choose an expression with the same value throughout the allowed domain.
61	Expression	Work with the requested combination of numbers, variables and operations.
62	Equation	Use or form a statement that two expressions have equal value.
63	Intercept	Read the point where the graph crosses the specified axis.
64	Slope	Find vertical change divided by horizontal change.
65	Slope-intercept form	Read the rate and starting value from an equation in the form y = mx + b.
66	Unit rate	Calculate the amount corresponding to one unit of the other quantity.
67	Percent increase	Divide the increase by the starting value and convert to a percent.
68	Percentage point	Find the simple difference between two percentage values.
69	Initial value	Find the starting quantity, often the output at input zero.
70	Probability	Find the likelihood of the event under the given conditions.
71	Random sample	Check how cases are selected before drawing conclusions about a population.
72	Margin of error	Interpret the stated sampling uncertainty around an estimate.
73	Residual	Subtract the predicted value from the observed value.
74	Textual evidence	Choose a detail from the source that supports the precise claim.
75	Logical relationship	Identify whether adjacent ideas add, contrast, explain or exemplify.
76	Sample size	Check how many observations or individuals contribute to the result.
77	Most logically completes	Choose the ending that follows from the text or notes.
78	Most precisely	Choose the wording whose meaning fits the context most closely.
79	Main purpose	Identify what the text as a whole is trying to accomplish.
80	Best describes	Choose the description that most accurately fits the stated target.
81	Most directly supports	Pick the evidence with the clearest connection to the named claim.
82	If true	Assume the answer choice is true while judging its effect on the claim.
83	Function of a sentence	Identify how the sentence develops, limits or supports the passage’s argument.
84	Overall structure	Track how the text’s main parts are organised.
85	Author’s claim	Find what the named author argues or asserts.
86	Point of agreement	Find what both sources would endorse based on the evidence.
87	Introduce	Choose wording that supplies the context needed for the stated audience.
88	Generalise	State a broader point only to the extent that the examples support it.
89	Transitions	Identify the relationship between ideas before choosing a connecting expression.
90	Continuation	Choose a link that adds a point in the same direction.
91	Concession	Acknowledge a point before shifting to the principal claim.
92	Cause and effect	Choose a link that shows one event producing or explaining the other.
93	Quantifier	Watch for words such as all, some or none that alter a claim’s scope.
94	Scope	Check the population, time frame or range covered by the claim.
95	Strengthen	Identify information that makes the conclusion better supported.
96	Identify the relevant source	Find which text, chart or table supplies the information needed for the item.
97	Show that	Start from the information given and work to the stated result.
98	Calculate the percentage change	Divide the change by the starting value and multiply by 100.
99	Test an answer choice	Use the stated constraints to see whether an option can satisfy the problem.
100	To scale	Use the stated relationship between drawing distances and actual distances.
101	Not to scale	Use the stated measurements and relationships when calculating.
102	Exact value	Leave the answer in a form that preserves its full value.
103	Significant figures	Count from the first non-zero digit when rounding.
104	Nearest whole number	Round to the closest integer.
105	Factorise	Write the expression as a product of factors.
106	Rearrange	Change the equation to make the required quantity the subject.
107	Solve	Find the values that satisfy the equation or inequality.
108	Axis	Use the correct horizontal or vertical reference line.
109	Independent variable	Identify what the investigator changes deliberately.
110	Dependent variable	Identify the measured outcome of the investigation.
111	Control variable	Identify what should be kept constant for a fair comparison.
112	Result	Record the reading or outcome that the question asks for.
113	Check a proposed solution	Substitute the value and verify that it meets the original conditions.
114	Find the exact value	Retain radicals, fractions, logarithms or π in exact form where appropriate.
115	Compare before rounding	Keep enough precision to avoid treating distinct values as equal.
116	Group the rows	Use the specified category before calculating totals or rates.
117	Cumulative share	Divide the running total by the relevant overall total.
118	Feasible range	Keep values within the limits imposed by all constraints.
119	Initial condition	Use the value specified at the starting point to determine the model or its constant.
120	Set up an equation	Translate the given conditions into a mathematical relationship.
121	Solve for the unknown	Isolate the quantity the stem asks for and verify the result.
122	Resulting balance	Calculate the value after all stated additions and deductions.
123	Reconcile figures	Check whether different definitions, time periods or groups explain the apparent mismatch.
124	Represent the quantities	Write a relationship for the quantities using the information given.
125	Random variable	Identify the numerical outcome defined by the problem.
126	Probability distribution	Use or construct the probabilities associated with the possible outcomes.
127	Expected value	Find the probability-weighted mean under the stated model.
128	Interpret the result in context	Name the relevant population, quantity or effect when explaining your conclusion.
129	Read the graph’s units	Check the unit and interval before estimating a value.
130	Further evidence	Identify a new observation that would help resolve the specific uncertainty.
131	Compare and contrast	Address similarities and differences for the named items.
132	Show	Make the necessary working or reasoning visible.
133	Deduce	Use the information given to reach a logically supported result.
134	Variable	Identify a quantity or feature that can change.
135	Controlled variable	Identify a factor kept constant to help isolate the tested relationship.
136	Raw data	Use the measurements as originally collected.
137	Processed data	Use values calculated, combined or transformed from the original readings.
138	Percentage uncertainty	Express the uncertainty relative to the measured value as a percentage.
139	Anomalous result	Recognise a result inconsistent with the main pattern or expected relationship.
140	Limitations	Identify specific boundaries on the conclusions that the method can support.
141	Correlation	Describe how variables vary together within the data.
142	Confounding factor	Identify a factor that could contribute to the apparent relationship.

Core instructions and evidence

No.	Instruction or term	What it asks you to do
143	Recognise	Find a familiar feature in a new example.
144	Identify	Name or pick out the item the question specifies.
145	Select	Choose only the number of options requested.
146	Choose	Commit to the option that fits the stated criteria.
147	Match	Pair each item with the option that corresponds to it.
148	Complete	Fill in what is missing while keeping the supplied structure.
149	Label	Attach the correct name to the indicated part.
150	Locate	Find the specified detail, point or region.
151	Indicate	Make the chosen feature or answer clear.
152	Record	Write the result in the space and form provided.
153	Answer	Respond directly to the question being asked.
154	Give	Supply the requested fact, example or result.
155	State	Express the required point directly and clearly.
156	Name	Supply the correct term, person or item.
157	List	Set out the requested items separately.
158	Define	Give the precise meaning used in the subject or question.
159	Describe	Report the relevant characteristics, events or pattern.
160	Outline	Give the main steps or points in brief.
161	Summarise	Select the central points and leave out minor details.
162	Explain	Connect the result to its cause, mechanism or reasoning.
163	Compare	Set the items side by side on the same relevant feature.
164	Contrast	Show how the items differ on a shared point of comparison.
165	Analyse	Break down the evidence and explain how its parts relate.
166	Interpret	Say what a statement, result or display means in context.
167	Infer	Use clues to reach a conclusion the material implies.
168	Predict	Use available evidence to say what is likely to happen.
169	Suggest	Offer a plausible answer suited to the information given.
170	Justify	Give evidence or reasoning that supports your answer.
171	Evaluate	Weigh relevant evidence or criteria before reaching a judgment.
172	Assess	Judge the extent, value or strength of something using evidence.
173	Discuss	Develop a structured response that considers the relevant issues.
174	Distinguish	Give the feature that lets the reader tell two things apart.
175	Support	Supply evidence that helps establish the claim.
176	Illustrate	Make an idea clear with a relevant example or diagram.
177	Demonstrate	Show how a fact, process or result can be established.
178	Determine	Work from the given information to establish an answer.
179	Calculate	Use numbers or other given information to work out a result.
180	Estimate	Find an approximate answer using the available clues.
181	Check	Test the answer against the original instruction or condition.
182	Correct	Repair the specific error while preserving the intended meaning or result.
183	Revise	Change a response so it better meets the task.
184	Arrange	Put items into the order or grouping requested.
185	Sequence	Put stages into a meaningful order.
186	Classify	Assign each item to a category using the stated rule.
187	Group	Put items with a shared feature together.
188	Order	Sort items by the criterion given in the prompt.
189	Insert	Place the requested word, symbol or number at the indicated point.
190	Replace	Swap the specified part for a suitable alternative.
191	Omit	Leave out the indicated item or detail.
192	Include	Make sure the requested part appears in the response.
193	Exclude	Keep the named item or category outside your answer.
194	Underline	Draw a line under the exact word or phrase requested where instructed.
195	Refer to	Use the specified passage, figure or notes when responding.
196	Based on	Ground the answer in the material named in the question.
197	According to	Use what the specified source says.
198	In context	Use the meaning that fits this passage or situation.
199	Most likely	Choose the conclusion with the strongest support among the options.
200	Best supported	Prefer the conclusion backed most directly by the evidence.

What the examination requires

Three sections and one optional break

GMAC lists 21 Quantitative Reasoning questions, 23 Verbal Reasoning questions and 20 Data Insights questions. Each section lasts 45 minutes, for a total testing time of two hours and 15 minutes, with one optional 10-minute break. Use current GMAT materials to practise the available section order and interface.

Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning use distinct question jobs

The Quantitative section uses Problem Solving. Verbal uses Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning. When a Verbal item asks you to evaluate an argument, identify what information would help test the conclusion. When Quantitative Reasoning asks for a rate, confirm its numerator and denominator before selecting an answer.

Data Insights mixes formats and sources

GMAC lists Data Sufficiency, Multi-Source Reasoning, Table Analysis, Graphics Interpretation and Two-Part Analysis. Some tasks require more than one selection. Use the official instructions for the current item and match all fields to their labels. GMAC provides an on-screen calculator in Data Insights.

Review within the current section

Bookmark questions as needed. GMAC explains that the section review screen becomes available after you answer the section’s questions if time remains. You can review questions and change up to three answers in that section. Practise leaving enough time to check whether a proposed edit actually repairs an error.

• Find the exact action before deciding on your answer.
• Check which passage, data, lines or choices the action applies to.
• Use the requested form and confirm any limits before moving on.

Worked examples of common examination instructions

These original examples use short passages and tasks so you can see what each instruction adds to the work.

Separate sufficiency from solving

An invented item asks for x given x + y = 10. Statement 1 says x = y. Statement 2 says y = 5. With statement 1 and the original stem, x is 5. With statement 2 and the original stem, x is also 5. Each statement alone is sufficient. Test them separately before considering any combined case.

A consistent no can be sufficient

Suppose the question asks whether x is greater than 6, and the statement says x is an integer from 1 to 4 inclusive. The exact value of x remains unknown, but the answer is always no. The statement settles the yes-or-no question. Check what the stem asks before looking for a unique number.

Keep the right denominator in a table

A practice table records 30 refunds on 600 orders for Shop A and 24 refunds on 300 orders for Shop B. A has more refunds by count. B has the higher refund rate, 8% compared with 5%. If the question asks for a rate, sort or compare the calculated rates rather than the raw counts.

Resolve a discrepancy by changing the comparison

A delivery firm reports shorter trips on each of two routes, yet the average trip across the firm grows longer. An increase in the share of trips on the longer route could explain both facts. Look for a change in the mix that makes the two observations compatible.

Evaluate a proposal using a testable fact

A shop proposes extending its hours to increase net income. A useful evaluation question is whether extra sales during the added hours would cover extra staff and operating costs. The number of customers who say they like the plan is relevant only to the extent it predicts the change in income.

Use the Fencing Method to practise instruction words

Start with one accurate sentence, then add a specific detail. Add the reason, comparison or condition only when the instruction needs it. Transfer the same action to a new task. For selected-response questions, this is a short practice check to clarify what a good choice must do.

1. Shop B had a higher rate.
2. Shop B refunded 8% of orders, compared with 5% at Shop A.
3. Shop B had a higher refund rate even though it issued fewer refunds by count.
4. Use a new table. Check the denominator and express the difference in percentage points when that is what the question asks.

Read the eduKate Fencing Method for Vocabulary.

Practise and check your answers

Use the same data for two different questions

Use a small table to ask which group has the highest total and which has the highest rate. Show the denominator for each rate and check how the ranking changes. Add a separate Data Sufficiency item asking whether the table gives enough information to identify one of the rates.

Review edits by naming the error

Use the official review interface in practice. Before changing an answer, name the error you are fixing, such as the wrong period, an ignored condition or a conclusion that goes further than the argument. This makes review time easier to allocate.

Practice 1. A statement fixes y at 7, but the item asks for x and supplies no connection between them. Is the statement sufficient?

No. Different values of x remain possible.

Practice 2. A source gives costs per month and another gives revenue per year. What should you check before comparing?

Convert to a common time period and check that both figures refer to the same operation or group.

Practice 3. What is the difference between the count and rate of cancellations?

The count is the number cancelled. The rate relates that number to the relevant total or time period.

Practice 4. An option gives a new fact about a different product. When would it help evaluate the argument?

Only if there is a relevant connection to the product or conclusion the argument discusses.

Frequently asked questions

Where does Data Sufficiency appear?

GMAC lists it under Data Insights in the current exam.

Can I use the Data Insights calculator in Quantitative Reasoning?

Use the calculator only where the current section permits it. GMAC provides it in Data Insights.

Is a bookmark the same as an answer change?

A bookmark flags a question. An answer change counts towards the permitted edits when you use the review screen.

Official sources and next reading

• GMAC exam structure and Question Review & Edit
• GMAC exam content and question types
• GMAC Data Insights guidance

Related guide in this series · GRE General Test instructions

Read eduKateSG’s 200-word vocabulary guide for more ways to group and practise vocabulary.

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