GMAT语法被很多考生一贯说成是“世界上最难的语法考试”，说其难，是因为很多情况下，出题者更乐于利用复合句和复杂句的特点，挖空心思把选项设计的极具迷惑性。GMAT语法题侧重从句法结构层和语义表达层两个方面进行题目及选项的设计。譬如下面两道题的设计更加突出了这两个方面的特点：
Thelonious Monk, who was a jazz pianist and composer, produced a body of work both rooted in the stride-piano tradition of Willie Smith and Duke Ellington, yet in many ways he stood apart from the mainstream jazz repertory.
A. Thelonious Monk, who was a jazz pianist and composer, produced a body of work both rooted
B. Thelonious Monk, the jazz pianist and composer, produced a body of work that was rooted both
C. Jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk, who produced a body of work rooted
D. Jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk produced a body of work that was rooted E. Jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk produced a body of work rooted both