GMAT vs GMAT Focus Edition: Know the Differences

GMAT Focus Edition vs GMAT - Starting from February 1, 2024, the previous version of GMAT is not available for test takers, only the GMAT focus exam is available. GMAT vs GMAT focus edition has some major changes in the test duration, exam section, number of questions, total score range, and scoring pattern. The GMAT Focus Edition is shorter in test duration, with only a test time of 2 hours and 15 minutes. While earlier, in the previous version, it was 3 hours and 7 minutes. The exam section of GMAT Focus Edition has only 3 exam sections, compared to 4 in the previous one.

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This Story also Contains

1. GMAT Focus Edition vs GMAT Highlights
2. GMAT vs GMAT Focus - New Features
3. GMAT Focus Edition vs GMAT Exam Structure
4. GMAT vs GMAT Focus Edition Syllabus
5. GMAT vs GMAT Focus Scores
6. GMAT Focus Edition vs GMAT Score Percentile
7. GMAT vs GMAT Focus Edition: Which is Better?

The latest edition of GMAT exam is more insightful, flexible and efficient, and is in line with today’s competitive environment of B-schools around the world. The number of questions has been reduced to just 64. New features like review and edit are introduced in the latest version, which was not available in the previous edition of GMAT. The registration process and GMAT fees for both the exams are same.

GMAT focus exam is accepted by more than 2,400 universities and institutions in 114 countries around the world. Candidates can register for GMAT 2024 to secure admission in around 7,700 programmes offered by the top b-schools. The GMAT can be taken at over 600 test centres around the world or online.

GMAT Focus Edition vs GMAT Highlights

GMAT vs GMAT Focus - New Features

The new GMAT focus edition exam is the enhanced version of the previous edition. There are some new candidate-friendly features introduced in the GMAT focus exam. Below is the overview of what has changed in the GMAT focus.

• The GMAT focus test duration is 2 hours and 45 minutes (exclusive of one optional break of 10 minutes).

• The GMAT focus edition comprises only 3 sections and no essay. All three sections will be weighted equally in the GMAT total scores.

• The duration of all three sections is 45 minutes each. Candidates can attempt the sections in any order they wish.

• A new section called Data Insights (DI) is introduced in the GMAT focus edition syllabus, while sentence correction is removed.

• Candidates can select the section which they want to attempt first in the exam. The selection of section order is now up to the candidate in the GMAT focus edition.

• In the GMAT focus exam, candidates can now bookmark as many questions as they want and review them. However, they can only change three questions per section in the focus edition exam.

• The GMAT focus edition score scale will be 205-805. All three sections will be weighed equally towards the total GMAT score chart.

• The GMAT focus scores will be available right after the completion of the examination. The official GMAT score will provide a detailed performance insight of the candidate for free. Test takers can also send their official GMAT scores to up to 5 b-schools for free,

GMAT Focus Edition vs GMAT Exam Structure

The GMAT exam pattern of both the versions is different. The total GMAT exam duration is now reduced to 2 hours, 15 minutes. Test takers will now get equal time for all three sections, while in the previous GMAT exam, the test duration was disproportionate. The total number of questions in each section has also been reduced. The detailed GMAT vs GMAT focus exam pattren is given below.

GMAT Focus Exam Pattern

GMAT Exam Pattern

GMAT vs GMAT Focus Edition Syllabus

There were four sections in the previous version of the GMAT exam, Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning Section, Quantitative Section, and Verbal Section. In the GMAT focus edition, Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning Section is removed and a new section called Data Insights is introduced. The deletion of writing assessment is a major change in the new GMAT syllabus. The details of newly added Data Insights section are provided below.

Data Insights section in the latest GMAT syllabus

• This section comprises a total of 20 questions. Data Insights is introduced to measure the digital and data literacy dimension of the candidate.

• The questions in the Data Insights section will be asked from Integrated Reasoning and Data Sufficiency.

• There will be graphic, numeric, and verbal type questions in the Data Insights section, and candidates can use the on-screen calculator in this section.

The following sections/topics have been removed in the latest GMAT test syllabus

• Essay

• Sentence correction questions

• Data Integration section

• Geometry

GMAT vs GMAT Focus Scores

There are some differences when comparing the GMAT score for the previous version and the latest GMAT focus exam. The GMAT total score range is now 205 to 805, while in the previous version of GMAT exam, the score range was 200-800. In the GMAT focus, all total score ends with 5, and GMAT section scores range from 60 to 90.

The motive to change the GMAT total score is to create a clear difference between previous version of the GMAT score and the focus edition score. B-Schools and candidates can easily distinguish the scores of both versions.

GMAC also updated the scoring algorithm in the GMAT focus exam. Candidates can check their unofficial GMAT scores immediately after the completion of the exam.

Is the previous GMAT score valid after the GMAT focus exam?

Yes, the GMAT score validity is five years. All the GMAT participating universities will consider the top score of the candidate for admission. The previous GMAT scores are available on the official website mba.com in the candidate's profile.

GMAT Focus Edition vs GMAT Score Percentile

Test takers can not compare the scores of both the versions of GMAT exam because the total score calculation is different in the new pattern. In the GMAT focus edition, the contribution of each section's score to the GMAT total score calculation is same. All three sections of GMAT focus exam are equally weighted across sections.

For a better understanding of the test takers, the GMAT Vs GMAT Focus edition total score comparison and their relative percentiles are provided in the table below.

GMAT Focus vs GMAT Score