With the introduction of GMAT Focus Edition, which kicked off on November 7, 2023, there are quite a few differences between it and the GMAT. From shorter duration to sectional slashes and scoring upgradation, a couple of changes have been witnessed in the GMAT Focus Edition from its previous version. Let us understand in depth GMAT vs GMAT Focus through this article.
Though there are a couple of changes to the GMAT Focus Edition from the GMAT exam, they mostly cater to the current standards of assessing an applicant’s business-level aptitude across B-schools. Accepted by over 7,700 programs at more than 2,400 business schools. This article will discuss in detail the GMAT Focus Edition, all the changes this exam has encountered from its predecessor, and an in-depth analysis of GMAT vs GMAT Focus.
- GMAT vs GMAT Focus Edition
- Comprehensive Changes on GMAT Focus Edition 2025
- GMAT Focus Edition vs GMAT Score Comparison
- Has the GMAT Focus Fee Increased?
- Which is Better - GMAT Focus Edition or GMAT?
GMAT vs GMAT Focus Edition
With various changes coming into play on the GMAT Focus or XIth Edition, a few 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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, but you can change only 3 responses per section. |
Not applicable to this version of the exam |
| 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, were weighted equally towards the total score. |
| Sectional Content |
No sentence correction and geometry topics. AWA section scrapped. Integrated Reasoning now the Data Insights section. |
Included sentence correction, geometry topics and the AWA section. |
| 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 (either at test centre or online). Additional score reports are available for a fee. |
Test Centre: 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 (both test centre and online). Also, 24/7 testing is available for GMAT Online testing (registration to be done 24 hours before the chosen GMAT exam slot). |
|
| 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 275 |
| Scratch Work Resources |
Test Centre: 5 laminated pages and two 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. |
|
This was about GMAT Focus vs GMAT based on the exam pattern. GMAT Focus Edition has evolved from the previous version. In the following section, let us check out the changes proposed for the GMAT Focus Edition from the previous version of the GMAT exam.
Comprehensive Changes on GMAT Focus Edition 2025
A couple of changes have been witnessed in the GMAT Focus Edition compared to the older version of GMAT. Check them out below:
1. GMAT 10th & 11th Edition's Exam Timing
Each section on GMAT Focus Edition is now 45 minutes, that is, for its sections on:
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- 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 answering the GMAT Focus Edition questions is also lower than the GMAT exam.
2. Question Type on GMAT Focus Edition vs GMAT
In the previous format of the GMAT exam, there was a mix of 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.
3. GMAT 10th Edition Scoring vs GMAT 11th Edition Scoring
The scoring of GMAT Focus Edition has also changed to 205 - 805 from the previous 200 - 800 range of score on the GMAT.
Thus, each section is marked equally on the GMAT Focus Edition compared to just two sections on the previous version of the exam, which scored equally. The scoring range has also been upgraded for GMAT Focus Edition.
4. GMAT vs GMAT Focus: Section Order
Previously, there were three sectional orders on GMAT, but on GMAT Focus, six variations are possible. Now applicants can take the exam in whichever section order they wish to that is, either:
- QR, VR, DI, or
- QR, DI, VR, or
- VR, QR, DI, or
- VR, DI, QR, or
- DI, QR, VR, or
- DI, VR, QR
Applicants can choose any of these GMAT Focus sectionals to attempt the exam.
5. Sending Score Reports for GMAT Focus Edition
Applicants can send five 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 the score reports had to be shared with them once their scores were released.
Thus, this feature has also changed for the GMAT Focus Edition.
6. More Flexibility on GMAT Focus Edition or GMAT Exam?
Previously, the applicants had to take the GMAT in the order of the sections' chronology. Plus, there was no review and edit option on the GMAT exam.
However, on GMAT Focus Edition, applicants can pick up whichever section they wish to attempt according to their comfort. Finally, to return to the questions, as many questions on GMAT Focus Edition can be bookmarked, only three responses can be changed. The option of review and edit has been introduced for GMAT Focus Edition only.
7. What are the New Additions to the GMAT Focus Edition Syllabus?
A new Data Insights section has been added for the latest version of GMAT Focus Edition. In this exam, applicants will be assessed for their data literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. The GMAT Focus Edition syllabus has changed slightly compared to the GMAT exam syllabus.
The GMAT exam syllabus included data interpretation, but there was no previous Data Insights section in the exam. Thus, this is the new addition to the new exam format.
8. 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 there will be only 6 weeks of preparation requirement for GMAT Focus Edition. Check out: GMAT Preparation Plan for 4 Weeks
9. 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 syllabus set will not be tested. Based on the pointers given above, the rest remains the same. With the key changes in GMAT Focus, which has evolved from the previous version, GMAC has upgraded to the latest edition for business schools.
Check out: How to Prepare for GMAT in Just 3 Months?
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 GMAT Focus to old GMAT score:
| 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.
Has the GMAT Focus Fee Increased?
No, the fee for GMAT Focus Edition is the same as the fee for GMAT on the older version. Based on the medium of appearing for GMAT (either at the test centre or online from home), there are two different fees for appearing for the GMAT exam:
- USD 300 + taxes for appearing for GMAT Online or,
- USD 275 + taxes for appearing at a test centre for the GMAT exam
Which is Better - GMAT Focus Edition or GMAT?
The latest edition of GMAT, 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 compared to the previous assessment of the GMAT exam across top B-schools abroad and 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 applicants' aptitude for business courses.
Thus, GMAT Focus Edition is shorter in duration, has more precise sections, and the average time on each section has also been drastically reduced. Hence, it can be concluded that GMAT Focus Edition is better than the older version of the longer GMAT exam.
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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.
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.
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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.