26,November 2024
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a world-renowned MBA entrance exam designed to assess the verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and data insights skills of the candidates. The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) sets the format of prestigious exam and conducts the exam worldwide. The score of this standardized test is accepted globally and, unlike CAT Exam, is quite flexible and candidate-friendly. The GMAT exam is conducted multiple times in a year. However, if you are planning to appear in the GMAT exam, then you must know that now you will prepare for the updated version of GMAT – GMAT Focus Edition. The governing body of the GMAT exam discontinued the old GMAT exam in November 2023. The newer version, GMAT Focus Edition, is short and quite supple for aspirants. Before delving into the differences between the new and older versions of the GMAT exam, let us first explore the syllabus of the GMAT Focus Edition.
The GMAT Focus Edition has three sections, namely – verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and data insight. The following table provides an overview of different types of questions asked under each section:
| Table 1: Syllabus of GMAT Focus Edition | |
|---|---|
| Section/Main Topic | Sub Topics/Type of Questions |
| Verbal Reasoning | Reading comprehension: Assess the critical thinking of candidates |
| Main Point: Understand and filter out the main point from the paragraph | |
| Supporting Idea: Align relationship between different sets of information presented in the paragraph | |
| Interference: Draw the logical conclusion from the information | |
| Function: Identify the importance of different components shown in the paragraph | |
| Application: Find logical and rhetorical relationship in the paragraph | |
| Style and Tone: Judge the writing attitude of the writer and conclude the impact of their writing on readers | |
| Critical reasoning: Deconstruct and analyze arguments. Includes analysis, construct, critique, and plan | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | Numbers and number line, |
| Decimal | |
| Properties and operations, | |
| Exponents | |
| Multiplication | |
| Division | |
| Reminder | |
| Algebra | |
| Measurement conversion | |
| Linear equations | |
| Factoring equations | |
| Quadratic equations | |
| Formulas | |
| Graphs | |
| Inequality | |
| Functions | |
| Ratio and proportion | |
| Fraction | |
| Percentage | |
| Rate | |
| Work | |
| Mixture | |
| Statistics | |
| Sets | |
| Counting methods | |
| Probability | |
| Estimation | |
| Sequences and series | |
| Data Insight | Data sufficiency |
| Multi-source reasoning | |
| Table analysis | |
| Graphic interpretation | |
| One-part analysis | |
| Two-part analysis | |
| Elementary arithmetic, algebra, and statistics | |
| Numeral-based logical reasoning | |
| Data-based argument evaluation | |
| Reading comprehension to draw data-driven conclusions or statements | |
The GMAT Focus Edition exam consists of three sections: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and data insight. Total, there are 64 questions that need to be attempted in 2:15 hours. A few other key takeaways of the GMAT exam pattern are listed here under:
Unlike the previous version of GMAT, there is provision of a standard fee in the Focus Edition of GMAT. You have to pay $413 whether you are giving a test in a test center or from a remote location.
The following table illustrates the exam pattern of GMAT Focus Edition for quicker learning.
| Table 2: GMAT Focus Edition Exam Pattern | |
|---|---|
| Feature | Details |
| Mode of Exam | Online (Exam center based and Remote based) |
| Total Duration of the Exam | 2 hours and 15 minutes |
| Total Number of Questions | 64 |
| Types of Questions | MCQs and Non-MCQs |
| Score Range | 205-805 |
| Median Score | 546 |
| Exam Sections | Three; no section-wise restriction |
| Verbal Reasoning | 23 questions (to be attempted in 45 minutes) |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 21 questions (to be attempted in 45 minutes) |
| Data Insight | 20 questions (to be attempted in 45 minutes) |
| Marking Scheme | Computer-based adaptive scheme |
| No negative marking | |
| Frequency of Exam | Multiple times a year |
| Date of Exam | Multiple times a year |
| Result of Exam | 5-20 days after the exam |
| Table 3: GMAT Focus Edition vs. Old GMAT | ||
|---|---|---|
| Key Point | GMAT Focus Edition | Older Version of GMAT |
| Sections | 3 sections with 64 questions | 4 sections with 80 questions |
| Section Names |
Verbal reasoning Quantitative reasoning Data insight |
Verbal reasoning Quantitative reasoning Integrated reasoning Analytical reasoning |
| Section Attempt | No section-wise restriction | 3 sections in order |
| Duration | 2 hours 15 minutes | 3 hours and 7 minutes |
| Review and Edit | Permitted | Not allowed |
| Total Score Scale | 205-805 | 200-800 |
| Fees | $417 | $300 (remote) and $275 (test center) |
| Percentile Ranking | GMAT Focus Edition | GMAT Exam |
|---|---|---|
| 100% | 805 | 800 |
| 99.9% | 775 765 755 |
780 780 780 |
| 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 |
The GMAT is a computer-adaptive test, which means its difficulty level adjusts based on your performance. This unique feature allows for a precise assessment of your abilities.
The test begins with a question of medium difficulty. As you answer, the computer analyzes your response and selects the next question. If you answer correctly, the subsequent question will be more challenging. Conversely, an incorrect answer leads to an easier question. This adaptive process continues throughout the test, accurately gauging your skill level in both quantitative and verbal reasoning sections.
It is crucial to start strong, as correct answers to the initial questions, especially the first 10-15, can significantly boost your overall score. Once you have reached a certain difficulty level, it is harder to significantly increase your score. Remember, the GMAT is a one-way journey. You cannot revisit previous questions. Therefore, it is essential to be confident in your answers before submitting them.
The GMAT exam does not reward scores like conventional exams, where you will achieve 80% only when you answer eight questions correctly out of ten questions. In GMAT, if you attempt a question correctly, then the algorithm automatically puts the next question with a slightly higher difficulty level and ultimately increases the scoring mark for that question. On the other hand, if you attempt a question incorrectly, then the algorithm will put the next question at the same difficult level or lower, thereby reducing your chances to rapid-fire scoring chances.
Focus Edition of the General Management Aptitude Test (GMAT) is the latest version to crack admission in national and international MBA courses. The General Management Admission Council (GMAC) conducts this exam several times in a year in online and remote modes. The Focus Edition of GMAT comprises three sections: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and data insight. Total, there are 64 questions in a GMAT exam, which the candidate needs to complete in 2 hours and 15 minutes (45 minutes for each section). Unlike conventional entrance exams, there is no section-wise restriction while appearing for the GMAT exam. The candidate can take a break of 10 minutes after completing the first section or can continue with the exam. The score of the GMAT ranges from 205-805 and $417 is the fixed fee for appearing in the exam. Though the computer adaptive testing of GMAT truly assesses the capabilities of candidates, it also puts pressure on them to attempt all questions in zeal to score more marks. In addition, there is no provision of undoing the wrong answer, as once submitted, the answer is stored in the database, which cannot be overridden. To overcome this stress and problem, Focus Edition of GMAT offers bookmarking and review of questions.
