The GMAT Focus Edition: How is The New GMAT different?

The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) score directly impacts your MBA and postgraduate admissions. It is a multiple-choice test developed and administered by GMAC (Graduate Management Admissions Council). The GMAT format provides graduate and business schools globally with standard parameters to measure applicants’ ability for graduate-level academic work. After the COVID-19 pandemic, with the closure of testing centers and schools adopting test-optional policies, the popularity of the GMAT exam has significantly decreased. In response to the decrease in test takers, GMAC has decided to overhaul the exam. 

Launched in November 2023, the revamped test, aptly named The GMAT Focus Edition, represents a conscientious effort to provide a more discerning test-taking experience. 

The GMAT vs. the GMAT Focus Edition – How has the GMAT Format changed?: 

	Current GMAT	The GMAT Focus Edition
Number of Sections	4	3
Section names	AWAIR, Quant, Verbal	Quant, Verbal, and Data Insights
Time per section	AWA:  30minsIR: 30minsQuant: 62 minsVerbal: 75 mins	Quant: 45 min. Verbal: 45 min. Data Insights: 45 mins
Number of questions	AWA:  1 essayIR: 12Quant: 31Verbal: 36	Quant: 21Verbal: 23Data Insights – 20
Total Time	3 hrs 7 mins	2 hrs 15 mins
Section score	6-51	60-90
Total Score	200-800	205-805
Question Edit & Review	No	Yes. Three questions per section

11 features to look forward to in The GMAT Focus Edition 

1) The GMAT Focus Edition is shorter

Drawing inspiration from the SAT playbook, the new GMAT format is much shorter, giving students a reason to celebrate. Compared to its predecessor’s grueling three hours and seven minutes (with a break), The GMAT Focus Edition will be a two-hour, 15-minute exam, albeit without breaks. 

	Quantitative	Verbal	Data Insights
Time per section	45 mins	45 mins	45 mins
Number of questions	21	23	20
Content	Problem-Solving	Critical ReasoningReading and Comprehension	Data Sufficiency andIntegrated Reasoning

2) The GMAT Focus Edition introduces the Data Insights section

Remember the Integrated Reasoning (IR) section that carried a score that wasn’t part of the 800 total? It will soon be gone. In its place, you now have the Data Insights section, where you are expected to answer data-sufficiency questions. There’s no way you could have dodged that bullet. Data sufficiency is here to stay!

3) The GMAT Focus Edition bids farewell to AWA

That’s right, The Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) section will soon be a thing of the past. GMAC is tossing out the 30-minute-long analytical writing assessment and keeping the sections on quantitative, verbal, and integrated reasoning.

4) The GMAT Focus Edition is flexible with its order of sections 

The current GMAT lets you pick the order of three out of four sections. On the new test, it’s open season. With only three sections, you can complete them in the order of your choice. Here are some of your options: 

• Quant – Data Insights – Verbal
• Quant – Verbal – Data Insights
• Verbal – Quant – Data Insights
• Verbal – Data Insights – Quant
• Data Insights – Verbal – Quant
• Data Insights – Quant – Verbal

5) The GMAT Focus Edition innovates with the ‘Question Review & Edit’ method

Unlike its predecessor, The GMAT Focus Edition lets you flag several questions, which you can return to if you have time. However, you can change answers to only three questions in a section. It’s true that you only get three edits. However, the existing GMAT doesn’t give you that option, and with only 20-23 questions per section, it could make a considerable difference. 

6) The GMAT Focus Edition makes all its sections adaptable 

The GMAT offers adaptive questions, where your performance on a specific question impacts the difficulty of the next one. However, this option is not available in the Integrated Reasoning section. With this section replaced with Data Insights, The GMAT Focus Edition will be an adaptive exam entirely.

7) The GMAT Focus Edition ensures all sections contribute to the final score

You will no longer need to squeeze out precious time to complete a section that doesn’t contribute to your final score.  The GMAT Focus Edition considers all three sections for the final score. Each section is scored on a scale of 60-90 in one-point increments, and the total score is 205-805 in 10-point increments. When a test undergoes significant changes, a new scale is required to differentiate scores from the old and new versions. However, GMAC has devised an intelligent solution by retaining the old scale for reference purposes. The new scores will end in a five, while the old scores will continue to end in zero. This ensures that MBA admissions officers can still use the familiar ranges and scales to evaluate scores while also distinguishing between scores from the old and new tests.

	SCALE	INCREMENT
Quantitative Reasoning	60-90	1
Verbal Reasoning	60-90	1
Data Insights	60-90	1
	Total score: 205-805	10

8) The GMAT Focus Edition score reporting gets a makeover

Like the current test, The GMAT Focus Edition will let you select up to five schools and send scores to them for free. The difference is you will now be able to see your score before you select your colleges to make an informed decision. Right now, you don’t have that option. 

9) The GMAT Focus Edition gives you an Enhanced Score Report (ESR)

If you want an Enhanced Score Report (ESR) after taking the GMAT in its existing form, you must pay a $30 fee. This report contains details of your performance in various sections and question types, which is not part of the standard score report. The GMAT Focus Edition will give you “personalized insights” on your performance in a detailed and improved score report included with registration. 

10) The GMAT Focus Edition excludes geometry

Similar to the existing Quantitative Section,  The GMAT Focus Edition’s Quant section will include problem-solving questions. However, it will no longer have Geometry, making the quantitative syllabus similar to the Executive Assessment.

11) The GMAT Focus Edition omits Sentence Correction from the Verbal Section

For many, Sentence Correction is the easiest part of the Verbal Section in the GMAT. However, while the GMAT Focus edition will retain Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension, it will eliminate Sentence Correction, making the Verbal Section more challenging. 

While GMAC will soon launch The GMAT Focus Edition with new features, one thing remains unchanged. You will still require substantial time, dedication, and energy to prepare for this new GMAT exam. Should you need more information and guidance about choosing MBA and postgraduate applications, please get in touch. Our team looks forward to helping you. 

Sonia Muthalia has over two decades of experience tutoring for the SAT/ACT, GMAT, and GRE. She established Informed Decisions in 2002 and has trained 10,000+ students across 33 countries.