How is the new GMAT Focus Edition different from the current version?
The GMAT Focus Edition is shorter and has a smaller syllabus than the current version. The GMAT Focus Edition will have no Analytical Writing Assessment.
- The current version’s quant section gives 62 minutes to answer 31 questions; the Focus Edition will give 45 minutes to answer 21 questions, and there will be no geometry questions.
- The current version’s verbal section gives 67 minutes to answer 36 questions; the Focus Edition will give 45 minutes to answer 23 questions, and there will be no sentence correction.
- The current version has a 30-minute, 12-question Integrated Reasoning section which is scored on a scale from 1 to 8 but not considered in the overall score out of 800; the Focus Edition will have a 45-minute, 20-question Data Insights section which is scored on a scale from 60 to 90 and considered equally with the quant and verbal sections in the calculation of the overall score out of 805.
- The Data Insights section will have the current version’s Integrated Reasoning question types as well as data sufficiency questions, which will no longer appear in the quant section.
- The current version scores the quant and verbal sections on a scale from 6 to 51; the Focus Edition will score the quant and verbal sections on the same 60 to 90 scale used for Data Insights.
- The Focus Edition’s overall score scale will be from 205 to 805, in 10-point increments, whereas the current version’s scale ranges from 200 to 800.
GMAT Focus Edition vs Current GMAT Exam – Which exam should I take?
This depends on your strengths and weaknesses. GMAC has been clear that admissions departments will not give preference to one version of the exam over the other. If sentence correction and geometry are strengths of yours, and if Integrated Reasoning is a weakness, you may perform better on the current version of the GMAT. But if sentence correction and geometry are weaknesses of yours, and if Integrated Reasoning (now Data Insights) is a strength, you may perform better on the GMAT Focus Edition. Of course, it is unlikely that all of these areas “line up” for you to make one version of the test a clear favorite. You will have to consider the balance of the changes in your decision.
When will the new GMAT Focus Edition be available?
Registration for the GMAT Focus Edition opens on August 29, 2023 for exam appointments starting November 7, 2023.
Should I stop preparing for the GMAT and wait for the GMAT Focus Edition to launch?
No. The two versions of the exam are sufficiently similar for your work on the current version to transfer readily to the GMAT Focus Edition.
How many sections are there in the GMAT Focus Edition?
There will be three sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights.
What is the duration of the New GMAT Focus Edition?
Each of the exam’s three sections will be 45 minutes long, so the Focus Edition will take 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete, without breaks.
Will Sentence Correction and Geometry be removed from the GMAT Focus Edition?
The GMAT Focus Edition will have neither sentence correction nor geometry. However, both of these question types will continue to appear on the current version of the GMAT until it is retired in early 2024.
Will my “old” GMAT score still be accepted by business schools in 2024 and later?
Yes! Every “old” GMAT score will still be valid and accepted by business schools up to five years from the date it was earned.
How can I register for the GMAT Focus Edition, and how much does it cost?
You can register for the GMAT Focus Edition starting on August 29, 2023. Fees for the Focus Edition will be the same as those for the current version of the GMAT. In the United States, the test costs $275. The costs arise from one country to another, make sure to double-check the fees in your country.
Can I choose the order of the sections in the GMAT Focus Edition?
Yes, the GMAT Focus Edition gives you total freedom to choose the order in which you will complete the three sections.
What preparation resources are available for the GMAT Focus Edition, and where can I find them?
Official prep materials for the GMAT Focus Edition will be available from mba.com beginning on June 6, 2023. These resources include a free sample set of 70 official questions, six official practice exams (two free and four for purchase), the new Official Guide and section “Review” books (one for each of the quant, verbal, and Data Insights sections), and three sets of official practice questions (one for each section).
Is the GMAT Focus Edition Computer Adaptive?
Yes, the GMAT Focus Edition will use the same question-to-question adaptivity as the current version of the GMAT.
When will registration for the GMAT Focus Edition open?
Registration for the GMAT Focus Edition opened on August 29, 2023, for testing starting on November 7, 2023.
What accommodations are available for the GMAT Focus Edition?
The GMAT Focus Edition will offer the same accommodations as the current version of the GMAT for qualifying candidates.
If candidates have started preparing for the current GMAT Exam, how will the preparation differ for the GMAT Focus Edition?
The GMAT Focus Edition will eliminate sentence correction and geometry from the exam and thus also from the preparation “repertoire.”
Will the Enhanced Score Report (ESR) be available for the GMAT Focus Edition?
Short answer: Yes. The information now contained in the ESR (Extended Score Report) will be included for free in every Focus Edition test-taker’s Official Score Report. The ESR used for the current version of the GMAT provides timing and correctness data only about groups of questions within each section. The Official Score Report for the GMAT Focus Edition will tell you how much time you spent on each question and whether that question was answered correctly or incorrectly. Also, for every school to which you send a Focus Edition score, your Official Score Report will provide the percentile of your overall score among all test-takers who also sent scores to that school.
How long will the current (old) GMAT be available?
The GMAT Exam will be available until January 31, 2024. Starting February 1, 2024, the only version of the GMAT available for you to take will be the GMAT Focus Edition.
Will the new GMAT Official Guide cover the GMAT Focus Edition?
Yes, the GMAT Official Guide 2023-2024 was published on June 6, 2023.
Can I take the GMAT Focus Edition at home?
Yes, the GMAT Focus Edition will be available both at home and in the same test centers as the current version of the exam.
Be on the lookout for more GMAT Focus Edition articles from Apex in the coming months as the official prep materials are rolled out. Schedule a complimentary 30-minute call with our expert tutors to start preparing for the GMAT Focus Edition.
Contributor: Elijah Mize (Apex Instructor)