INTEGRATED REASONING

Hello, josearchila86. I suspect the reason test prep companies spend little time teaching the Integrated Reasoning section is twofold. First and foremost, the score is still reported separately from the total score, which is the primary score that programs use to assess the test-taking prowess of an applicant. There has been talk of an integrated Integrated Reasoning section, a move that would mean the IR section would factor into the total score, but that change has not happened yet. The second reason I believe test prep companies spend almost no time discussing IR strategies is that the section is relatively new, and the strategies for Quant and Reading Comprehension overlap quite a bit with those of IR. Thus, a short section at the back of a guide or an extra hour at the end of a prep course would likely suffice to cover all IR bases. Trust me, though, if the IR section does become a part of the total score, then you will see a lot more ink spilled on how to tackle such questions.

Because GMAC™ is the only source for official questions, only official practice questions necessarily resemble what you will see on test day. Other companies try to mimic what GMAC™ has released, but the IR sections of the official practice exams, as well as those you can access through Wiley Efficient Learning if you have registered an OG on the site, are your best bet for practice. That does not mean you cannot learn some valuable tips and strategies from other sources--books, YouTube, and online courses alike--just that you will want to practice official IR questions as much as you can to get a feel for them.

Good luck to you in your preparation.

- Andrew