GMAT Focus Edition vs GMAT: What's the Difference?
GMAT
Talk to ExpertWith the introduction of GMAT Focus Edition which kickstarted on November 7, 2023, there are quite a few differences between GMAT Focus Edition and GMAT. From shorter duration, sectional slashes and scoring upgradation, a couple of changes have been witnessed on the GMAT Focus Edition from its previous version.
Though there are a couple of changes to the GMAT Focus Edition from the GMAT exam, but they are mostly to cater to the current standards of assessing an applicant’s business-level aptitude across B-schools. This article will discuss in detail about GMAT Focus Edition and all the changes has this exam encountered from its predecessor.
GMAT Focus Edition vs GMAT
With various changes coming into play on the GMAT Focus or XIth Edition, a couple of major changes are recorded compared to the previous GMAT exam pattern. The table given below provides a comparison between the old GMAT edition and the current GMAT Focus Edition. All the aspects of both the GMAT exam formats have been covered in the table below:
| Parameters |
GMAT Focus Edition |
Old GMAT Version |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance |
Accepted by over 7,700 programs at more than 2,400 business schools. |
|
| Structure |
3 sections (64 questions), completed in the order of your choosing:
|
4 sections (80 questions), completed in a choice of three section orders:
|
| Duration |
2 hours 15 minutes |
3 hours 7 minutes |
| Review & Edit |
Bookmark and review as many of your answers as you want, and you can change up to 3 responses per section. |
Not applicable. |
| Total Score Scale |
205-805 All 3 sections are weighted equally towards the total score. |
200-800 Only 2 sections, Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning are weighted equally towards the total score. |
| Your Score |
View your unofficial score immediately following the exam. Official Score Reports can be accessed online within 7 business days (but may take up to 10). |
|
| Score Sending |
Send 5 free score reports to programs within 48 hours of receiving your Official Score Report. Additional score reports are available for a fee. |
Test Center: Select up to 5 programs before your exam to receive your Official Score Report at no charge. Online: Send 5 free score reports to programs within 48 hours of receiving your Official Score Report. Additional score reports are available for an additional fee. |
| Score Validity |
Scores are valid for 5 years. |
|
| Appointment Availability |
Appointments are available up to 7 days a week at a test centre or around the clock for exams delivered online. Can be scheduled up to 6 months in advance. |
|
| Reschedule and Cancel |
Reschedule and cancel fees based on location, currency and advance notice. |
|
| Exam Attempts |
5 attempts are permitted in a rolling 12-month period and 8 attempts in a lifetime across both exam versions. |
|
| Cost |
USD 300 (online at home) and USD 275 (at a test centre) |
Fees are based on location and channel (online or test centre) but range from USD 413 |
| Scratch Work Resources |
Test Center: 5 laminated pages and 2 dry-erase markers are provided. Online: A physical whiteboard, dry-erase marker, and eraser are permitted, plus access to a built-in online whiteboard. |
|
| Accommodations |
Additional testing time, breaks, and access to other resources. |
|
Let us check out in more detail the changes proposed for the GMAT Focus Edition from the previous version of the GMAT exam in the following section.
Comprehensive Changes on GMAT Focus Edition
There are a couple of changes that have been witnessed in the GMAT Focus Edition in comparison to the older version of GMAT. Check them out below:
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GMAT 10th & 11thth Edition's Exam Timing
Each section on GMAT Focus Edition is now 45 minutes, that is, for its sections on:
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Verbal Reasoning
- Data Insights
In comparison, to GMAT Focus Edition, on the old GMAT version, the following sections were timed differently, like:
- 30 minutes for Analytical Writing
- 30 minutes for Integrated Reasoning
- 62 minutes for Data Sufficiency
- 65 minutes for Verbal Reasoning
Time spent on answering the GMAT Focus Edition questions is also lower than the GMAT exam.
GMAT Focus Edition Fee vs GMAT Exam Fee
The fee for GMAT Focus Edition is slightly higher than the fee for GMAT on the older version. There are two different fees for appearing for the GMAT exam based on the medium that is, USD 300 for appearing online or USD 275 for appearing at a test centre for GMAT.
But in the case of GMAT Focus Edition, there is a fee variation to appear for the exam based on location and medium. The standard fee is USD 413 which is variable.
Question Type on GMAT Focus Edition vs GMAT
In the previous format of the GMAT exam, there was a mix of questions - MCQs and essay or writing-based questions.
On the other hand, the latest version of GMAT Focus Edition only includes MCQ-based questions and no writing-related questions. Thus, the GMAT pattern has changed to a certain extent in its latest version of GMAT Focus Edition.
GMAT 10th Edition Scoring vs GMAT 11th Edition Scoring
The scoring of GMAT Focus Edition has also changed to 205 - 805 from the 200 - 800 range of score on the GMAT previously.
Thus, each section is marked equally on the GMAT Focus Edition in comparison to just two sections on the previous version of the exam which were scored equally. The scoring range has also been upgraded for GMAT Focus Edition.
Sending Score Reports for GMAT Focus Edition
Applicants can send 5 free score reports to the B-schools they wish to apply to once they receive their scores from GMAC for GMAT Focus Edition. This did not apply to the previous GMAT exam, in that case, applicants had to select five B-schools while registering for the exam and to whom score reports had to be shared once their scores were released.
Thus, this feature has also changed for the GMAT Focus Edition.
More Flexibility on GMAT Focus Edition or GMAT Exam?
Previously, the applicants had to take the GMAT in the order of the chronology of the sections. Plus, there was no review and edit option on the GMAT exam.
But on GMAT Focus Edition, applicants can pick up whichever section they wish to attempt in the order of their comfort. Finally, to return to the questions, as many questions on GMAT Focus Edition can be bookmarked but only three responses can be changed. The option of review and edit has been introduced for GMAT Focus Edition only.
What are the New Additions to the GMAT Focus Edition Syllabus?
A new addition of the Data Insights section has been added for the latest version of GMAT Focus Edition. In this exam’s testing, applicants will now be assessed for their data literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. The GMAT Focus Edition syllabus has changed slightly in comparison to the GMAT exam syllabus.
GMAT Exam syllabus included data interpretation but there was no Data Insights section in the exam previously. Thus, this is the new addition to the new exam format.
GMAT Focus Edition vs GMAT Preparation Timeline
With one whole section getting slashed from the GMAT Focus Edition syllabus as tested on the previous GMAT exam, the time for GMAT Focus Edition preparation has also been slashed. Earlier, GMAT exam preparation took at least 8 weeks on average, but for GMAT Focus Edition there will be only 6 weeks of preparation requirement.
Sections Removed from GMAT Focus Edition
With the introduction of the new version of the GMAT Focus Edition, the following sections have been removed from GMAT Focus Edition:
- Essay
- Data Integration section
- The grammar Section sees a reduction of the sentence correction questions
- Also, Geometry questions have been removed from the picture
Applicants who have prepared for the previous GMAT exam and will now have to appear for GMAT Focus Edition should know that the type of questions has not changed, only a certain set of the syllabus will not be tested, based on the above-given pointers rest remains the same.
GMAT Focus Edition vs GMAT Score Comparison
Based on score conversions, the sections on GMAT Focus Edition have an equal weightage of 60 - 80 scores in each of the three sections, whereas the older version of GMAT used scores between 60 - 90 for each of its four sections. The following is a brief breakup of the scores on GMAT and GMAT Focus Edition:
| Percentile Ranking |
GMAT Focus Edition |
GMAT Exam |
|---|---|---|
| 100% |
805 |
800 |
| 805 |
790 |
|
| 795 |
790 |
|
| 785 |
790 |
|
| 780 |
||
| 99.9% |
775 |
780 |
| 765 |
780 |
|
| 755 |
780 |
|
| 99.8% |
755 |
770 |
| 99.7% |
745 |
770 |
| 99.5% |
745 |
770 |
| 99.4% |
735 |
760 |
| 99.2% |
725 |
760 |
| 98.7% |
715 |
760 |
| 98.6% |
715 |
750 |
| 98.1% |
705 |
750 |
| 97.9% |
695 |
750 |
| 96.9% |
695 |
740 |
| 96.7% |
685 |
740 |
| 96.1% |
685 |
730 |
| 95.2% |
675 |
730 |
| 94% |
675 |
720 |
| 93.2% |
665 |
720 |
| 92.6% |
665 |
710 |
| 89.6% |
655 |
710 |
| 89.3% |
655 |
700 |
GMAT Focus Edition vs GMAT Score: How are Scores Calculated?
The scoring system on GMAT and GMAT Focus Edition is based on the following standard parameters set by GMAC:
- The total number of questions answered.
- If the answers are correct or incorrect (they are marked accordingly).
- Difficulty and/or other parameters of the answered questions.
The total score range for the GMAT exam was 200 - 800 whereas, the overall score range for GMAT Focus Edition is 205 - 805. Thus, scoring is equal for all sections of the GMAT Focus Edition, the scoring range has been altered.
Which is Better - GMAT Focus Edition or GMAT?
The latest edition of GMAT which is the Focus Edition, is designed to assess the applicant’s aptitude for business courses. With the inclusion of Data Insights, the Focus Edition scores will be in more demand in comparison to the previous assessment of the GMAT exam across top B-schools abroad and also across B-schools in India. The older GMAT exam had an essay section, but it was scrapped in the latest version because it was not a competent tool to assess the business courses’ applicants’ aptitude.
Thus GMAT Focus Edition is shorter in duration, has more precise sections and the average time on each section has also reduced drastically, hence, it can be concluded that GMAT Focus Edition is better than the older version of the longer GMAT exam.
Have more queries? Write to us in the comment section below. For admission-related queries, sign up for free Shiksha Abroad Counselling.
GMAT Focus Edition vs GMAT FAQs
Q. How is GMAT Focus Edition different from GMAT exam?
A. GMAT Focus Edition is the latest version of the GMAT exam, an evolved version which has recorded certain changes from its previous exam pattern. The GMAT Focus Edition is shorter in duration, has just one break in between, has no writing sections and has just three sections with overall 64 questions. The older GMAT was longer in duration, had four sections and included a writing section.
Q. Why will GMAT Focus Edition be a better option in comparison to its previous version?
A. There are three broad reasons which make GMAT Focus Edition a better option in comparison to its previous version of the exam and they are as follows:
- The GMAT Focus Edition is shorter in duration by almost 52 minutes and has only one optional break in between.
- GMAT Focus Edition doesn't consist of writing section and has a more concise syllabus in comparison to the previous version.
- Finally, GMAT Focus Edition allows applicants to send their score reports based on their choice of B-schools instead of opting for them before hand while registering.
Q. How flexible is GMAT Focus Edition from GMAT exam?
A. The most significant change in GMAT Focus Edition is its flexibility. The applicants can choose the questions they wish to answer based on their choice and bookmark unlimited number of questions to review as well. Only three answers can be changed by the applicant during the course of GMAT Focus Edition. This flexibility was unavailable on the previous format of GMAT.
Q. Has the scoring changed for GMAT Focus Edition and GMAT?
A. Yes, the scoring has changed for GMAT Focus Edition and for GMAT exam. Earlier GMAT was scored on scale of 200 to 800 but GMAT Focus Edition is scored on a scale of 205 - 805. The sections earlier on GMAT were not equally marked, but on GMAT Focus Edition, all sections are marked equally.
Q. Is there a benefit of sectional slashes on GMAT Focus Edition?
A. Yes, applicants who will appear for GMAT Focus Edition will have to put in lower time for preparing for the exam, plus, questions on Geometry and Sentence Correction are no more a part of the syllabus. Also applicants will not have to prepare for the writing section because it is not a part of the new GMAT exam version. Hence, one sectional reducation can benefit the students with their overall preparation.
Q. Has the GMAT Focus Edition preparation time lower than previous GMAT version?
A. Yes, since a couple of topics have been cut-down and the timing of the exam has also reduced, applicants can fret little about the GMAT Focus Edition's preparation time. However, the preparation time for GMAT will still vary on a case by case basis. Some applicants may require more time for preparation while the others may not. Thus, it cannot be generalised.
Q. Which is better GMAT or GMAT Focus Edition?
A. As per reviews, it has been noted that, GMAT Focus Edition is more challenging in terms of logical and critical thinking along with tougher data analysis questions. The old GMAT was considered tougher because of its longer duration and higehr number of questions. Thus, both are difficult but again depends on a case-by-case basis.
Q: Is GMAT harder than CAT?
Both GMAT and CAT entrance exams for MBA admissions. While CAT is required for Indian B-schools, GMAT is required for both Indian and international B-schools. GMAT is tougher than CAT because:
- GMAT records more applicants since it is accepted globally, which means there is a higher competition among applicants, in comparison to CAT.
- GMAT tests applicants holistically across its three broad sections - Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Reasoning and Data Insights.
- Also, GMAT is tougher than CAT because, questions on GMAT have stronger emphasis on global business school entrance exams and their specific requirements. CAT only focuses on Indian business specific requirements.
Check: GMAT vs CAT: Key Differences
Q: How can I get admission in the University of Manchester?
The application process at the University of Manchester may vary depending on the course and level of study. However, here is the application process for UG and PG courses:
The Undergraduate Application Process:
Step 1: You can apply through the UCAS common application portal.
Step 2: Go to the website and select the course you are interested in.
Step 3: Ensure you meet the Entry requirements (Academic qualifications, English proficiency, etc.
Step 4: Once you decide on the course, submit documents such as SOP, Transcripts and personal statements.
Check out: tips to improve your SOP.
Step 5: You can track the application's progress through your given credentials by UCAS.
Step 6: Once the applicant submits the application to UCAS, it forwards to the University, and the admission teams carefully analyse the application document.
Step 7: The university will send you an offer letter once selected. Hence keep checking your UCAS portal for your application status.
The Postgraduate application process:
Step 1: Select the postgraduate course you are interested in from the University of Manchester.\
Step 2: Ensure you meet the entry requirements for the chosen program, as they vary depending on the course.
Step 3: Complete the online application by providing your personal information.
Step 4: Upload the required documents, such as Academic transcripts and proof of English language proficiency ( TOEFL/ IELTS). experience in your fields and references (depending on the course). You also may require Two LORs depending on the course.
To make your admission better, check out the following: How Admission Officers Evaluate your application.
Step 5: If your application is successful, you will receive an offer from the University of Manchester.
Q: Is university of West of Scotland good for international students?
The University of the West of Scotland has five modern and diverse campuses in United Kingdom. The University has welcomed more than 3,000 international students which are representing 1/3 of the globe. They also have 130 European partners who are actively in global study and exchange options through the Commonwealth universities programmes. The University also offers study abroad opportunities for UWS who are eligible for the same and also have more than 20 transnational education partners worldwide which helps them deliver UWS Bachelors and Masters Degrees around the world.
Q: What is University of Wales, Trinity Saint famous for?
University of Wales, Trinity Saint (UWTSD) was founded in 2010, is a public institution for higher education and research at multiple locations. It was set up under the 1828 royal charter of Lampeter, the institution was the result of the merger between Trinity University College and the University of Wales. The institution merged with the Swansea Metropolitan University in 2013.
- Top Ranked University: The UWTSD is not ranked by any major ranking body, however as per the university ranking given on the official website of the university, it is ranked among:
- #1st in Wales and UK Top 5 Film Production and Photography
- #1st in Wales and UK Top 5 Fashion and Textiles
- #1st in Wales and UK Top 20 Graphic Design
- #1st in Wales and UK Top 5 Education
- #1st in Wales and UK Top 20 Sports Science
- #1st in Wales and UK Top 20 Mechanical Engineering
- #1st in Wales for Fine Arts
- Variety of Courses: UWTSD offers more than 300 programs at various levels including undergraduate, postgraduate degrees as well as multiple online courses.
- Highly distinguished and learned faculties: the faculty at UWTSD is highly learned and distinguished which enables students to be the best in their field of study.
- High Placements: According to Graduate Outcome data 2019-2020 quoted by the UWTSD, more than 95% of its graduates were found to be employed within 15 Months of graduation. The average salary of a graduate is not explicitly released by UWTSD, however, as per some unofficial sources the average salary of the graduates of UWTSD is approximately INR 30-35L. with the highest salary being reported as high as INR 66.5L for jobs in Financial Services.
Q: Does the University of Essex require IELTS?
International students whose native language is not English must meet the University of Essex English language requirements to get admission. The university accepts IELTS scores as proof of English language proficiency. Mentioned below are the IELTS scores required for UG and PG admission at the university:
English Language Test | Score |
|---|---|
IELTS | Overall score of 5.5 to 8.0 with minimum of 5.5 to 7.5 in each section |
The university also accepts the score of other English language tests such as TOEFL and PTE for admission to undergraduate and graduate programs:
English Language Test | Score |
TOEFL iBT | Overall score of 72 to 114 |
PTE | Overall score of 59 to 84 with minimum of 59 to 80 in each section |
Also read: Required IELTS Score for UK Universities
Q: Why indian students choose to study at Hult International Business School - UK?
Indian students choose to study at Hult International Business School in the UK for several reasons, including its highly ranked programs, global outlook, and career support. Hult offers a range of full-time master’s degrees, immersive bachelor's programs, and MBA options that prepare students to excel in the global job market. The school is the largest and top-ranked global business school, providing students with an incomparable universal outlook. Additionally, Hult's focus on experiential learning, extensive career support, and the opportunity to study at multiple campuses around the world are attractive to Indian students seeking a global business education. Furthermore, the school's emphasis on innovation and meeting the needs of students and employers may also contribute to its appeal to Indian students
Q: How to prepare for UK 10th board exam 2025?
Those who are preparing for the UK Class 10 exam 2025 are recommended to follow the tips below.
- Know the exam pattern
- Make a proper time table as per the syllabus
- Solve previous year question papers
- Make short notes of important formulas and theorems
- Revise regularly
- Figure out weaker areas and learn them well
With proper planning and hard work, students can easily clear the UK 10th board exam.
Q: How to download UK Board 12th date sheet 2024?
Following are the steps to download the UK 12th date sheet 2024.
- Open the Uttarakhand Board's official website at ubse.uk.gov.in
- Click on 'Examination Scheme' available on the homepage
- A new window will appear on the screen containing a link of the UK Board 12th date sheet 2024
- Click the link and download the Uttarakhand 12th date sheet 2024
Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i... Read Full Bio
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