Data Insights
Also called GMAT DI · Data Insights section
No. IR on the 10th Edition scored 1–8 and did not enter the 200–800 total. DI uses related skills — tables, graphics, multi-source, two-part analysis, plus Data Sufficiency, which moved over from Quant — and it is one-third of the current total. A strong Quant score no longer carries a weak data section.
Data Insights (DI) is the third equally weighted GMAT section: 20 questions in 45 minutes, scored 60–90, inside the 205–805 total. It measures whether you can pull graphic, numeric, and verbal sources together and decide. IR sat outside the 10th Edition total; DI does not (mba.com).
Is Data Insights just Integrated Reasoning renamed?
No. IR on the 10th Edition scored 1–8 and did not enter the 200–800 total. DI uses related skills — tables, graphics, multi-source, two-part analysis, plus Data Sufficiency, which moved over from Quant — and it is one-third of the current total. A strong Quant score no longer carries a weak data section.
How DI sits in the exam
| Piece | Current GMAT | 10th Edition | Source / date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data section | Data Insights, 20 q / 45 min, 60–90 | Integrated Reasoning, 1–8, outside total | mba.com |
| Data Sufficiency | In DI | In Quant | mba.com |
| Weight in total | Equal third of 205–805 | None (IR excluded) | GMAC |
| Calculator | Available in DI | IR had an on-screen calculator | mba.com |
GMAC describes DI as digital and data literacy for business decisions. You will see mixed formats in one item. Time management shows up on the Official Score Report by question type; a 90 in QR with a 70 in DI is a prep diagnosis, not a mystery.
Example: QR 85, VR 84, DI 73. The total is the DI problem. Another month of algebra will not move it. Official DI practice, especially Data Sufficiency under time, will. Concordance tables map totals, not a 10th Edition IR 8 onto a DI 85.
Common errors
- Ignoring DI because “I was good at Quant”
- Treating a leftover IR 8 as proof of DI 85
- Skipping Data Sufficiency because it “used to be Quant”
- Leaving DI last every sitting and donating the equal third to the clock
FAQ
Why does Data Insights matter more than old IR?
Because it is inside the total. GMAC weights DI with Quant and Verbal. Rankings-sensitive class profiles print the 205–805 number, which now includes this section. An IR 8 that never touched a 720 is not the same stake as a DI 70 that pulls a 705 down to 655.
Is there a calculator on Data Insights?
GMAC’s exam design gives an on-screen calculator in DI, not in Quantitative Reasoning. Use it for table arithmetic. Do not use it as a substitute for reading the graphic. Many DI misses are setup errors, not missing calculator clicks, so timed mixed-source practice matters more than more algebra.
Can I compare DI to GRE?
No official map exists. GRE has no Data Insights section. Quant and Verbal on GRE do not absorb this work. If your target schools take both tests, a weak DI practice score is a reason to consider GRE only if GRE Quant/Verbal practice is actually stronger, not because DI “doesn’t exist” there.
Related terms
Sources
- GMAT Exam Content DI measures analysis of graphic, numeric, and verbal data for business decisions; 20 questions
- GMAT Exam Structure 20 questions, 45 minutes; equal weight in the 205–805 total
