Table of Contents
- 1. What is the GMAT Focus Edition?
- 2. What are the key changes in the GMAT Focus Edition?
- 3. What is the duration of the GMAT Focus Edition?
- 4. Do I need to prepare less now that the exam is shorter?
- 5. Which sections remain the same as the old GMAT Exam?
- 6. What happened with the IR (Integrated Reasoning) section?
- 7. Do I still need to do the writing assessment?
- 8. What is in the new Data Insights section?
- 9. Will the GMAT Focus Edition be easier than the current version of the GMAT?
- 10. How will the scoring be different on the GMAT Focus Edition?
- 11. When will the GMAT Focus Edition be available?
- 12. Can I take the new GMAT exam both in the test center and online?
- 13. Should I wait to take the GMAT until the Focus Edition is available?
- 14. Will admission officers prefer the new or the old GMAT?
- 15. Are 700+Club courses adapted to the changes in the GMAT exam?
What is the GMAT Focus Edition?
The GMAT Focus Edition is a new streamlined version of the GMAT exam for 2023 and starts in the final quarter of the year. Administered and carried out worldwide by GMAC this exam is important as an entrance exam for business schools globally. This new version is shorter than the current GMAT and it consists of three 45-minute long sections.
What are the key changes in the GMAT Focus Edition?
The new GMAT Focus Edition will be almost one hour shorter than the current version. All 3 sections will be multiple-choice and 45 minutes long. There will be no more essay section (AWA) and it will not be there anymore.
What is the duration of the GMAT Focus Edition?
The new GMAT Focus Edition will be 2 hours and 15 minutes long and will have 3 sections which will each be 45 minutes long.
The current GMAT is 3 hours and 7 minutes long
Do I need to prepare less now that the exam is shorter?
No. The chances are that more students will opt to sit the new GMAT so therefore it’s more important than ever to get a high score.
Which sections remain the same as the old GMAT Exam?
The current GMAT has Quantitative reasoning, Verbal reasoning, Integrated reasoning, and the essay section – known as the Analytical writing assessment. The new GMAT Focus Edition has three sections: Quantitative reasoning, Verbal reasoning, and Data insights.
What happened with the IR (Integrated Reasoning) section?
Integrative reasoning will be renamed data sufficiency questions will be added to this section in the new GMAT Focus Edition.
Do I still need to do the writing assessment?
The AWA, Analytical Writing Assessment has been removed completely and you won’t need to do a writing assessment with GMAT Focus Edition. There will be no more essay requirements.
What is in the new Data Insights section?
Integrated reasoning will be renamed data insights and will be Integrated Reasoning plus Data Sufficiency. This will go from 12 questions to 20 questions and it will be extended from 30 minutes to 45 minutes long. The brand-new data insights section includes questions on table analysis, graphics interpretation, two-part analysis, data sufficiency, and multi-source reasoning.
Will the GMAT Focus Edition be easier than the current version of the GMAT?
It will take you less time to do the exam itself but prepping thoroughly for the exam with a broad range of dedicated materials is the only way to pass with a high score.
How will the scoring be different on the GMAT Focus Edition?
The current GMAT has a total score of between 200 and 800. Verbal reasoning is scored between 6 and 51. Quantitative Reasoning is scored between 6 and 51. There’s an Analytical Writing score of 0-6 and an Integrated Reasoning score of 1-8. The GMAT Focus Edition has a single unified score which will probably remain the same, between 200-800 gathered from the three sections. We’ll have to wait for more information from GMAC to know what the scoring range will be.
When will the GMAT Focus Edition be available?
Here are the timelines shared by GMAC regarding the GMAT focus edition.
Official Prep Available – Late Q2 2023
Registration Opens – Q3 2023
Testing Starts – Q4 2023
GMAC plans to roll out the new exam later this year. The current GMAT will be available until June 2024.
Can I take the new GMAT exam both in the test center and online?
Yes, you can do both online and in test centers as soon as the new exam is rolled out.
Should I wait to take the GMAT until the Focus Edition is available?
If you have begun prep for the current GMAT continue as normal. You can always switch if you prefer once the new exam is available. Given there is no ‘extra’ content to be learned for the GMAT focus compared to the current GMAT, switching would be relatively easier once it is available.
But candidates applying to R1 or R2 should start their GMAT prep now and prep for the current version
Will admission officers prefer the new or the old GMAT?
The admissions will not prefer one over the other. Both variants will be evaluated equally.
Are 700+Club courses adapted to the changes in the GMAT exam?
700+Club continually evolves its prep materials. We’ll continue to provide world-class prep that gives students the best possible chance of achieving a super high GMAT score – whichever GMAT exam they take.
