Every year thousands of B-school aspirants take up the GMAT exam which is designed to measure the skills of these aspirants. The exam is administered by GMAC and is accepted by thousands of programs across the world. To master this challenging exam, one must first understand the GMAT Focus Edition Syllabus.
The GMAT Focus Edition started from 7 November 2023. This is a shorter, flexible, and insightful version of this test. In this article, we will explore the GMAT focus edition Syllabus, the structure of the test, and how the test works. Knowing the GMAT syllabus and the structure of the test is the first step toward the GMAT focus edition prep.
GMAT Focus exam pattern
There are three sections on the GMAT Focus edition, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Data Insights. Each section is for 45 minutes each. All the questions are Multiple choice questions with five answer options. There are three sections on the GMAT Focus edition, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Data Insights. Each section is for 45 minutes each. All the questions are Multiple choice questions with five answer options.
In a gist the GMAT syllabus includes
| Section | Number of Questions | Question Types |
| Verbal Reasoning | 23 | Reading comprehension, Critical Reasoning |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 21 | Arithmetic and Algebra |
| Data Insights | 20 | Data Sufficiency, Multi-source Reasoning, Two-Part Analysis, Graphic Interpretation, and Table Analysis. |
There is an optional 10-minute break.
This section assesses the student’s ability to comprehend passages, draw inferences, and evaluate arguments. Reading Comprehension passages may be up to 350 words long and ask you to draw inferences and find logical relationships between the elements in the passage. The Critical Reasoning questions require the student to evaluate arguments and identify the assumptions, weaken, or strengthen the arguments.
This section tests the numerical ability and mathematical skills required in areas like finance and data interpretation. The topics include arithmetic, algebra, and word problems. Geometry was removed from this version and data sufficiency was added to the Data Insights section.
In this section, the student has to interpret data from different sources like graphs and tables. It tests the ability of the student to make decisions based on data and solve problems in business situations. Data Sufficiency tests if the given information is sufficient to solve the problem. Graphic interpretation questions have charts or graphs that the test taker has to interpret and answer questions. In Table Analysis, the test taker has to sort data, identify patterns, or make comparisons based on the table. The two-part analysis has two components and the students have to evaluate two things based on the passage. In multi-source reasoning, the test taker has to analyze information from multiple sources like graphs, tables, and textual data.
In each of the three sections, the scores range from 60-90 with one-point increment. These scores are scaled to the total score ranging from 205 – 805 with 10 points increment. Once the official score is available, within 48 hours the test taker can send the score to five programs free of cost. After this period or if the test taker wants to send the score to more programs, additional reports can be sent for a fee. The score report will contain the section scores, total scores, and also the percentile scores.
Additional Features of the GMAT Focus Edition:
GMAT is accepted for admission into more than 7700 business programs. The required scores vary for different B schools, but they look for a balanced performance in all the sections. Even if a program may not require a GMAT score, the admissions office can make you take the test if other aspects of your application are weak. A good GMAT score can help in your aspirations for a great career, admission into a good B school, and to work abroad.
Start your prep with a timed full-length diagnostic test. This will help you assess where you stand on the test. It will also help you fix an achievable target and plan your prep.
To master any test, one must know what gets tested in it. Know the GMAT syllabus and structure. This reduces your stress during the prep.
Frame a study plan that includes all the sections. Plan to study on a daily basis and take up drills and tests regularly. Focus more on your weaknesses than on your strengths.
You can use books, tests, prep courses, and apps for your study. Select books that cover the GMAT Focus Edition syllabus. The approaches and strategies mentioned in these books should get results. The questions should reflect the difficulty level and style of the actual exam. The tests should also be question-adaptive, and represent the actual exam. Taking professional help to prepare for the exam and review the test can result in a wholesome preparation for the test. You can also rely on apps and prepare based on your time availability.
Any exam can be mastered with the right practice. Do smart work. Learn strategies and techniques to solve the questions within the time limit. Focus on getting accurate answers. Set achievable goals and milestones for each test that you take.
It is not enough to just practice. You must also find out where you are making mistakes. Mistakes are your teachers. Figure out why you have made the mistake – was it a silly error, a conceptual mistake, or a mistake made because of time constraints? Work on the weak areas and avoid making mistakes in them during the next test.
This is the book published by GMAC for exam preparation. The book has access to math and verbal questions. Other than Data Sufficiency questions, the remaining DI questions have to be accessed online. This book gives a real exam experience as it contains retired GMAT questions.
The other books published by GMAC are GMAT Official Guide Quantitative Reasoning, GMAT Official Guide Verbal Reasoning, and GMAT Official Guide Data Insights. These books contain additional questions not present in the official guide.
The GMAT Focus Official Starter Kit + Practice Exams 1 & 2 contains 70 practice questions and two full-length practice tests. These are free materials and can be accessed with the MBA.com account. GMAC also has practice tests 3 to 6 that are paid ones.
By understanding how the test works, using the right materials, and practicing regularly one can easily achieve a good score on the GMAT Focus edition.
Book your Free Counselling Session now!The Legacy GMAT score will be valid for five years from the date of test taking. This can be used for B-school applications.
The canceled scores can be reinstated within 48 hours of cancellation with a payment of $100.
You must carry the approved ID and the printout of the GMAT confirmation mail. You might also carry water and some snacks to be consumed during the break.
Be it the Legacy or the Focus edition, you can take the test only 8 times in your lifetime. In a period of twelve months, you can take the test 5 times with a minimum of 16 days gap between two tests.
If exams 1 and 2 are retaken, repeated questions are likely. However, exams 3-6 can be taken multiple times.
