GMAT Focus: Everything you need to know.

The new version is named as the GMAT Focus Edition 2023 which reflects the rapidly changing business landscape and what students need as they plan for their future. The test is now featuring fewer but more focused sections, shorter testing time, a new data insight section, and detailed performance insights. The new features enable students to work smarter, maximize performance, succeed sooner.

What is changing on the GMAT – Let’s see in detail.

Exam Structure:

GMAT Focus Edition is 2 hours 15 mins including a 10-minute optional break. Total 64 questions.

• Quantitative Reasoning: 21 questions, 45 minutes
• Verbal Reasoning: 23 questions, 45 minutes
• Data Insights: 20 questions, 45 minutes

You can take the test in the section order you prefer.

Note: No Essay section!!!

Break during the GMAT Focus Edition

• There is a 10-minute optional break in the GMAT Focus edition.
• The 10-minute optional break can be taken after the first section or the second section.
• If you have taken the break after the first section then you will not have the option to take a break after the second section.

New Feature on the GMAT Focus – Review and Edit

Based on a market research conducted globally by the GMAC, 84% of the GMAT test takers believe they would perform better on the GMAT if the review and edit answer feature is available. Also, the GMAT test takers believe that having review/edit feature would decrease anxiety, and improve test flexibility. The GMAT focus edition have the review and edit features.

• While taking the test, you can bookmark a question which you like to review later on.
• At the end of the section, you will see question review and edit screen, if you have the section time.
• Question review and edit screen will have question numbers and the bookmarked questions are indicated.
• Each question number is linked to the respective question.
• You can review the questions which you like to do and edit up-to three answers.

GMAT Focus – Quantitative Reasoning

• Most important change, there is no Data Sufficiency questions in GMAT Focus Quant section.
• GMAT Focus Quant section have 21 Problem Solving questions.
• Calculator is not allowed in this section.
• Arithmetic and elementary algebra is tested on the GMAT Focus Quant section, however the answering these questions requires logic and analytical skills, not exactly the math skills.

GMAT Focus – Verbal Reasoning

• Most important change, there are no Sentence Correction questions in GMAT Focus Verbal section.
• This section has 23 questions for Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning.
• Reading comprehension on the GMAT Focus tests: main idea, supporting idea, inference, application, logical structure, and style.

GMAT Focus – Data Insights

This section leverages Integrated Reasoning and Data Sufficiency question types to measure calibrated digital and data literacy dimension, which is the most relevant business skills.

This section has 20 questions.

Questions in this section tests math, verbal, data analysis or all the three.

• On-screen calculator is allowed in this section.
• The questions types of this section and weight-age are as follows,
  • o  Data Sufficiency Questions: 20-40%
  • o  Multi-source reasoning: 10-20%
  • o  Table analysis: 10-20%
  • o  Graphical interpretation: 20-30%
  • o  Two-part analysis: 10-20%

GMAT Focus – Scaled Score

GMAT Focus score scales are as follows,

• Quantitative Reasoning: 60 to 90 with an increment of 1 point
• Verbal Reasoning: 60 to 90 with an increment of 1 point
• Data Insight: 60 to 90 with an increment of 1 point
• Total Score: 205 to 805 with an increment of 10 points

GMAT Focus Enhanced Score Report – Performance Insight

GMAT Focus Edition Official Score report includes a detailed performance insight, at no additional cost! Along with the total score, sectional scores and percentile rankings, the new score report also gives an insight by section, question type, knowledge in specific area, details on time management, and data on how you performed compared to others who applied for the same program.

What remains the same on the GMAT Focus as in the current version?

Hope this article lets you know everything about the change in the new GMAT. In our next article, we shall see how to prepare for the new GMAT Focus Edition and how to decide which test is better for you. Stay tuned!