7/29/24, 12:22 PM GMAT Focus Edition | Manhattan Review

The GMAT Focus Edition: A snapshot

GMAC launched GMAT Focus

By now, you will have heard that the Graduate Management Admissions
Council (GMAC) has launched the GMAT Focus Edition, a new version of the
GMAT test. The business environment is constantly and rapidly evolving, and
the skills required to succeed in the global economy continue to change, so
do the instruments used to measure such skills. The GMAT Focus Edition
brings big and important changes to how the test is set up, what it covers,
and even how it is scored. As these changes will have an impact on both
your GMAT preparation and your testing experience, it is important to edu-
cate yourself on the details of the GMAT Focus Edition.

In this blog, you will learn all we know about the new GMAT Focus Edition
so far. We explain how it is different from the current GMAT, such as how the
verbal, quantitative, and integrated reasoning sections have changed, in[/info/]
ad-
dition to changes in specific question types and both section and test
length.

What Is the GMAT Focus Edition?

This newer version of the GMAT—GMAT Focus Edition—is, according to

GMAC, "a more focused test-taking experience that hones in on the higher-
order critical reasoning and data literacy skills that are especially relevant
and applicable in the business environment of tomorrow." With this test,
there is a heightened focus on efficiency, flexibility, and providing test-tak-
ers with greater insights into their performance, allowing those who take
the test to be as informed as possible about their abilities and educational
options.

While these changes have been made in response to the increased impor-
tance being placed on critical reasoning and data analysis skills in the busi-
ness world, the fundamental purpose of the test remains the same: the
GMAT Focus Edition will still be a standardized test that business schools

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use to assess the skills of MBA and EMBA aspirants. The goal of any stan-
dardized test is to accurately evaluate the abilities of the person taking the
test, and even with the changes discussed in this blog, the GMAT Focus
Edition will be a rigorous and challenging exam that requires careful prepa-
ration to truly master. Since the essential goal of the GMAT remains un-
changed, the skills you need to demonstrate on the current GMAT will es-
sentially be the same on the GMAT Focus Edition.

When Is the GMAT Focus Edition Scheduled To Be

Rolled Out?

The GMAT Focus Edition Official Prep is available from June 6, and registra-
tion for GMAT Focus Edition will open on August 29 for testing starting in
Q4 2023.

If you are currently preparing for the GMAT, do not worry! The current edi-
tion of the GMAT and current official GMAT materials, such as official prac-
tice tests, will continue to be accessible until early 2024. So, those students
and professionals who are currently preparing for the GMAT and have up- [/info/]

coming business school application deadlines will not have their plans de-
layed or disrupted.

How is the GMAT Focus Edition Different from the

Current GMAT Edition?

Let's examine the changes in format and content between the GMAT Focus
Edition and the current GMAT.

Format Changes

With the upcoming Focus Edition, the GMAT's format will undergo signifi-
cant changes, specifically in the areas of test time, section order choice,
adaptability, question reviewing and editing, scoring, score reporting, and
enhanced score reports.

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Test Time

One of the most significant changes to the GMAT is the duration of the test.
The GMAT Focus Edition is just 2 hours and 15 minutes long (excluding
breaks), while the current GMAT is 3 hours and 7 minutes long (excluding
breaks).

Thus, the GMAT Focus Edition is approximately 1 hour shorter than the cur-
rent GMAT. This change is due to the removal of the Analytical Writing
Assessment (AWA) section. According to the GMAC, the goal of offering a
shorter exam is to make the testing process more efficient and less time-
consuming for candidates, in addition to reducing test-taking fatigue and al-
lowing test-takers to perform at their best over the course of the entire
exam.

See the table below for a breakdown of GMAT Focus Edition timing by sec-
tion and question.

GMAT Focus Edition Structure

[/info/]

Quantitative Reasoning Verbal Reasoning Data Insights

Section Time 45 minutes 45 minutes 45 minutes

No. of Questions 21 23 20
(64)

Question Types Problem Solving Critical Reasoning Data Sufficiency

(New)
*Data Sufficiency is sub-section is moved to Reading Comprehension
Data Insights section Multi-Source
*Sentence Correction is
Reasoning,
excluded
Table Analysis,

Graphics
Interpretation,

Two-Part Analysis

Av. Time Per 2 minutes 9 seconds Appx. 2 minutes 2 minutes 15 seconds

Question

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Total time 2 hours 15 minutes

Section Order Choice

Choosing the order in which you complete test sections will be more flexible
in the GMAT Focus Edition—another welcome step. On the current GMAT,
test-takers are given three options for section order (Option 1: AWA and IR-
Quant-Verbal; Option 2: Verbal-Quant-AWA and IR; Option 3: Quant-Verbal-
AWA and IR). In comparison, the GMAT Focus Edition will let you take the
three sections in whatever order you wish.

So, instead of the three options you have now, you'll have six, allowing you
to choose any order from Data Insights (DI), Quantitative Reasoning (QR),
and Verbal Reasoning (VR). Taking the exam in the order you prefer gives
you greater control over your testing experience, allowing you to obtain
your best score.

[/info/]

Adaptability

The most significant change to the adaptive nature of the test is that all
three sections of the Focus Edition are adaptive. This means the Data
Insights (DI) section, which is called Integrated Reasoning (IR) on the cur-
rent GMAT, will also be adaptive. The Verbal and Quantitative sections will,
of course, also be adaptive. This simply means that the GMAT Focus Edition
will adapt based on your performance, using your response to one question
to determine the difficulty level of the next question you will be presented
with.

Question Review and Edit

One especially welcome feature on the GMAT Focus Edition is that you can
go back and change your answers to questions in each section.

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Unfortunately, this functionality is not unlimited, since the GMAT Focus

Edition continues to be a question-adaptive test. For the scoring system to
function, the majority of your responses in a section must stay unaffected.
Because of this, you can change up to three responses in each section,
which is still an improvement over the current GMAT, which doesn’t allow
candidates to change any answers.

In addition, you may review your responses to as many questions as you

want in each of the three sections; the bookmarking option allows you to
mark as many questions as you like so that you can simply return to them
later.

So, let's say you bookmarked six questions in a section because you were
uncertain of your responses. Understanding that you can only change re-
sponses to 3 questions, you could, if time allows, revisit and review them,
then decide which 3 responses need to be changed. It is important to note
that this is time-dependent and if you have run out of time, you will not be
able to go back and change any of your answers.

[/info/]
Scoring

The GMAT's scoring system will also undergo a significant change. In addi-
tion to your Quantitative and Verbal scores, your Data Insights (DI) score,
which substitutes for Integrated Reasoning (IR) on the current GMAT, will
contribute equally to your GMAT Total Score. As you may be aware, the IR
section of the current GMAT is scored separately and does not contribute to
your GMAT Total Score.

Scores on the GMAT Focus Edition also look a little different. Each section is
scored on a scale of 60–90 with 1-point increments, and the Total Score is
on a scale of 205–805 with 10-point increments.

GMAT Focus Edition Scoring

Scale Increments

Quantitative Reasoning 60–90 1

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Verbal Reasoning 60–90 1

Data Insights 60–90 1

Total Score 205-805 10

Hence, the maximum possible score on the GMAT Focus Edition is 805, as
opposed to 800 on the current GMAT. Since Integrated Reasoning (IR) is no
longer a part of the Focus Edition, its 0–8 score is irrelevant. According to
the GMAC, this means that GMAT Focus Edition scores cannot be compared
to scores from the previous version of the exam. The score scale on the
Focus Edition has been adjusted to better reflect changes in the test-taking
population, which has become increasingly diverse and global over the past
few years. Scores have risen significantly over the time the GMAT has been
in use, and this has resulted in an uneven score distribution. Updating the
score scale will even out score distribution, helping schools to understand
and differentiate your test performance more accurately.

Reporting of Score [/info/]

With the new edition of the GMAT, score reporting is also being updated,
and test-takers will certainly benefit from the changes.

With the GMAT Focus Edition, like with the current GMAT, test-takers will be
able to send their scores to up to five schools for free.

In addition, any Official Score Report you send will not include your entire
GMAT score history—it will only include a single score, and that single score
will be your latest GMAT score. So, after taking the GMAT Focus Edition and
seeing your score, you can decide to send it to a few colleges (up to five)
for free. The schools you select on your test day will only see your score
from the most recent test you took, not your scores from the previous five
years. Hence, you are not required to disclose past results to colleges if you
choose not to. With the current GMAT, you are prompted to select up to five
schools to send your test results to before you begin the exam. With the
GMAT Focus Edition, you are prompted to send your score up to five
schools after you have completed the exam and viewed your final score.
This new feature is consistent across both the online and the test center ver-
sion of the GMAT Focus Edition.

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Enhanced Score Report

Currently, test-takers may ask for an Extended Score Report (ESR) for $30
after taking the GMAT. The ESR provides more information on the test-
taker’s performance across the many test sections and question types than
is available on the normal score report.

With the GMAT Focus Edition, test-takers do not need to apply for an ESR
in order to obtain this sort of performance data. Instead, each GMAT test-
taker will receive "personalized insights" about their performance in a full
and expanded score report that is included as part GMAT registration.

While GMAC has not yet specified what "detailed performance insights" in
the ESR would include, the information is intended to help you assess your
strengths, as well as any areas that would benefit from additional focus or
preparation.

Now that we know how the GMAT Focus Edition is different from the cur-
rent GMAT in terms of structure, let's explore the changes in content.
[/info/]

Changes in Content

The majority of the GMAT Focus Edition's content will be the same as what
the current GMAT covers. Nonetheless, there are significant changes to be
aware of in all sections of the test. Let's begin with what might the biggest
change of all: the GMAT essay.

AWA

The GMAT Focus Edition will not have an essay section. So, unlike the cur-
rent GMAT, all questions on the new GMAT will be multiple-choice.

The AWA has been a part of the GMAT for more than two decades but given
the changing nature of the business world and the importance placed on
higher-order thinking by business programs, this section will not be part of
the GMAT Focus Edition. Greater emphasis is being placed on critical rea-
soning skills, and the AWA has been removed to reflect this. Since the AWA

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takes up 30 minutes of the current GMAT's test time, its removal from the
GMAT Focus Edition is one of the reasons why the new GMAT is quite a bit
shorter.

Quants

The Quantitative section of the GMAT Focus Edition retains the Problem-
Solving problems that the current GMAT has. Nevertheless, the GMAT Focus
Edition Quant section will no longer contain Data Sufficiency problems,
which is a significant shift. Data Sufficiency problems have been moved to
the new Data Insights (DI) section.

All topics that are covered in the current GMAT quant section are retained in
the Focus Edition with one important exception: geometry. Geometry will
no longer be tested in the Quant and Data Sufficiency sections, and the
GMAT Focus Edition will only focus on algebra and arithmetic.

As Geometry does not feature on the Executive Assessment (EA), which the
GMAT Focus Edition mimics on numerous respects, the absence of [/info/]
Geometry from the GMAT Focus Edition does not surprise us.

Additionally, while the current Quants section of the GMAT has 31 questions,
this section on the Focus Edition will only have 21 questions. Test-takers
have 45 minutes to complete this section.

Verbal

When we compare the current GMAT to the GMAT Focus Edition, it’s obvi-
ous the Verbal section has undergone the most significant changes. The
Verbal section of the GMAT Focus Edition will consist only of Reading
Comprehension (RC) and Critical Reasoning (CR) questions. Thus, the
Verbal section will not feature any Sentence Correction (SC) questions.

In the current GMAT, about one-third of the Verbal section is comprised of

Sentence Correction problems. Many GMAT test-takers find Sentence
Correction to be the simplest sub-section of the Verbal section, both in

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terms of their knowledge of the content and their ability to answer prob-
lems correctly. So, the absence of Sentence Correction may make the Verbal
section appear more difficult than ever to some test-takers.

On the current GMAT, the Verbal section is comprised of 36 questions. On

the Focus Edition, the Verbal section contains 23 questions. Test-takers
have 45 minutes to complete this section.

Integrated Reasoning (IR)—Transforming into Data

Insights (DI)

In contrast to the Verbal and Quantitative sections, which are both experi-
encing reductions in question types and the number of questions provided,
the GMAT's Integrated Reasoning section is broadening and has been re-
named Data Insights. This change is directly related to the rapid changes in
the ever-evolving business world, where skills in data analysis and interpre-
tation are more in demand than ever. Digital literacy and the ability to
quickly and accurately interpret data are crucial, and this importance is re-
flected by the Data Insights section. [/info/]

The Data Insights (DI) section of the GMAT Focus Edition has the same
Multi-Source Reasoning (MSR), Table Analysis (TA), Graphical Interpretation
(GI), and Two-Part Analysis (2PA) problems that feature on the current
GMAT's Integrated Reasoning section. In addition, the DI section will contain
the Data Sufficiency problems that were traditionally included in the Quant
section.

There are 20 questions in the Data Insights section, and test-takers have 45
minutes to complete this section.

Consequences of the Content Changes

GMAC claims the GMAT Focus Edition to be "more efficient" and "more fo-
cused" on pertinent business skills than the current GMAT. The current
GMAT can be thought of as assessing general business skills, whereas the

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Focus Edition purports to assess “relevant” business skills. The omission of

Geometry and Sentence Correction has reduced the number of topics on
the GMAT, which means there may be less content to study.

The relocation of Data Sufficiency to the Data Insights section will likely
have little effect on test-takers. Students will still need to understand the
ideas and techniques necessary to answer Data Sufficiency questions, which
we do not anticipate changing much, if at all.

The GMAC also claims that students will be able to prepare for the Focus
Edition faster than they can prepare for the current GMAT. Reduced prepa-
ration time likely reflects the removal of the AWA section, meaning test-tak-
ers now only need to prepare for three sections rather than four. However,
since the aim of the Focus Edition is the same as the current GMAT—to ac-
curately assess a candidate’s readiness to perform well in a business pro-
gram—reduced content and subsequently reduced preparation time do not
mean an easier or less challenging exam. The GMAT Focus Edition will place
more emphasis on applying relevant business skills in order for test-takers
to demonstrate competency in the areas of data analysis and critical think-
ing. Preparation will still be important to obtain the high score business[/info/]
pro-
grams want to see.

Major Differences Between the GMAT Focus Edition and

the Current GMAT

GMAT Focus Edition Vs. the Current GMAT

Current GMAT GMAT Focus Edition

Total Test Time (exl. 3 hours 7 min. 2 hours 15 min.

breaks)

No. of Sections 4 3

Section Types AWA, IR, Quant, Verbal Data Insights, Quant, Verbal

Question Types AWA: Essay; IR: MSR, TA, GI, TA; Quant: PS, DI: DS, MSR, TA, GI, TA; Quant: PS; Verbal: CR,
DS; Verbal: SC, CR, RC RC

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Questions Per Section AWA: 1 prompt; IR: 12; Quant: 31; Verbal: 36 DI: 20; Quant: 21; Verbal: 23

Time Per Section AWA: 30 min.; IR: 30 min.; Quant: 62 min.; DI: 45 min.; Quant: 45 min.; Verbal: 45 min.
Verbal: 75 min.

Time Per question AWA: 30 min.; IR: 2.30 min.; Quant: 2 min.; DI: 2 min. 15 Sec.; Quant: 2 min. 9 Sec.; Verbal:
Verbal: 1 min. 48 Sec. 2 min.

Review and No Yes (edit up to 3 responses)

Bookmarking

Section Order Choices 3 6

Section Score Range 6-51 60-90

Total Score Range 200-800 205-805

Score reporting Select five schools before seeing score; Select five schools after seeing score; schools
schools see all previous scores do not see previous scores

Enhanced Score Report $30 Free

(ESR)

[/info/]

Key Takeaways

The GMAT Focus Edition is about an hour shorter than the current GMAT.
The GMAC will roll out the GMAT Focus Edition by the Q4 2023.
The current GMAT consists of four sections; however, the GMAT Focus
Edition comprises only three: Quantitative, Verbal, and Data Insights.
Unlike the current GMAT, in which the Total Score consists of scores from
only two sections Quantitative and Verbal, the Total Score for the GMAT
Focus Edition will consist of scores from all three sections Quantitative,
Verbal, and Data Insights.
For the first time, test-takers have the option to bookmark and review as
many questions in each of the three sections as they like. Candidates will
be allowed to change up to 3 test answers per section, provided there is
still time remaining in the exam.
A detailed score report is included as part of registering for the GMAT
Focus Edition, and test-takers will not need to pay $30 for an enhanced
score report like with the current GMAT.

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With the GMAT Focus Edition, test-takers can view their final score and
then chose if they want to send it to up to five schools, rather than being
prompted to designate recipient schools before taking the exam.
Content-wise, the GMAT Focus Edition is virtually identical to the current
GMAT, with the exception of Geometry and Sentence Correction ques-
tions having been removed.

[/info/]

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