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06 Sep 2024, 04:24
Kudos
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*Will follow up with screenshots of my detailed section scores by next week, as I had just finished the Focus this week
GMAT Focus is More Painful for Weak Quant Testers
"My disappointment is immeasurable; and my past is ruined."
Just wanted to debrief for a very specific kind of test-taker. Considering that many international takers tend towards the [ Traditional Combo ] of Strong Quant + Mid Verbal, I'm the exact opposite (see below)
1) Very weak in Quant
2) Very strong in Verbal
I argue that the [ Opposite Combo ] is actually disadvantaged in the Focus, vis-a-vis the Trad Combo, due to a new balance in question type.
I took the GMAT Classic 2x back in 2017 for a 1-year Master's programme; and since I wanted to do an EMBA in the near future, I was forced to take the new GMAT Focus format. So, for anyone Googling, "Is GMAT Focus easier than Classic? Isn't it shorter, and therefore, easier to study for?" I'd answer, "No, it's harder for [ Opposite Combos ]."
Anecdotal Evidence (Section Level)
1) I don't think my mental skills nor my test prep have changed much in 7 years; but I do think the Focus has become slightly more Quant-focussed, than the Classic. Based on 800+ practice questions and 6 official mocks, I've come to think that DI tends to test more quantitative skills (quant data sufficiency, quant MSR); and while cute verbal-focussed table questions do exist ("select the 2 best words which logically complete the passsage above"), they don't show up as often.
Anecdotal Evidence (QR Topic Level)
2) In Classic QR, if you absolutely sucked in pure contexts (sequences), you could still get a Q48 Classic if you compensated through good real contexts (basic algebra, VIC word problems, geometry).
Unfortunately for we the numerically challenged, we no longer receive points for getting rectangular areas = L x W, or getting the sum of all a polygon's internal angles. We no longer get easy word problems like, "Your neighbour's land plot is beside yours, and the fence straddling both is 10 metres long..." I note that pure context Qs seem more numerous in Focus.
Thus, unfortunates like myself with borderline dyscalculia now have to hack out decent-enough performance in two sections, Q and DI. In Classic, even if V had slightly greater weighting than Q, the question split was a bit more balanced than in Focus.
Test History
GMAT Classic 1: 710 classic
GMAT Classic 2: 730 classic (Q48, V42)
GMAT Focus 1: 690 classic-equiv = [635 focus] (Q77, V87, D80)
Magoosh Mock 1: - = [585 focus] (Q79, V83, D76) = Aug 12, 2024
Official Mock 1: - = [625 focus] (Q78, V81, D84)
Official Mock 2: - = [645 focus] (Q81, V85, D79)
Official Mock 3: - = [675 focus] (Q78, V90, D82)
Official Mock 4: - = [645 focus] (Q81, V84, D81)
Official Mock 5: - = [625 focus] (Q77, V85, D81)
Official Mock 6: - = [725 focus] (Q85, V90, D83)
Focus Q Range: Q77 - Q81 versus Q77 actual
Focus V Range: V81 - V90 versus V87 actual
Focus D Range: D79 - D84 versus D80 actual
60 Study Hours is Enough for 585 to 635 - "GMAT Focus has a narrower topic scope."
"If I have a full-time job in consulting, finance, or tech, can I cram the GMAT Focus in 1 month?" Yep, it is possible, even for non-balanced test-takers like I. It might be a stretch to go 100 points from 600 to 700 though.
I would argue that 60 hours are the bare minimum, however. Exceptions would apply for people who already score above 645 (645 Focus = 700 Classic) at the first mock, as I've read of GMATClub users who were able to hack 8 mock exams in 2 weeks, and score >700 Focus. If you did well in a STEM programme at uni, I wouldn't be so worried about having only ~40 - 50 hours of total study.
I'm disappointed in myself for missing out on the minimum 645 benchmark by only 1 - 2 DI questions. Extremely vexing, given my Classic performance.
Magoosh Self-Study is Decent; but It Isn't Exactly Excellent
I used Magoosh self-study as my sole third-party provider, alongside the official GMAT Focus mocks. I did not use the GMAT OG. Magoosh's estimated section scores were quite accurate, except for Data Insights. As they had half the number of V and Q practice questions available, my Magoosh DI score was slightly underestimated.
GMAT Focus is More Painful for Weak Quant Testers
"My disappointment is immeasurable; and my past is ruined."
Just wanted to debrief for a very specific kind of test-taker. Considering that many international takers tend towards the [ Traditional Combo ] of Strong Quant + Mid Verbal, I'm the exact opposite (see below)
1) Very weak in Quant
2) Very strong in Verbal
I argue that the [ Opposite Combo ] is actually disadvantaged in the Focus, vis-a-vis the Trad Combo, due to a new balance in question type.
I took the GMAT Classic 2x back in 2017 for a 1-year Master's programme; and since I wanted to do an EMBA in the near future, I was forced to take the new GMAT Focus format. So, for anyone Googling, "Is GMAT Focus easier than Classic? Isn't it shorter, and therefore, easier to study for?" I'd answer, "No, it's harder for [ Opposite Combos ]."
Anecdotal Evidence (Section Level)
1) I don't think my mental skills nor my test prep have changed much in 7 years; but I do think the Focus has become slightly more Quant-focussed, than the Classic. Based on 800+ practice questions and 6 official mocks, I've come to think that DI tends to test more quantitative skills (quant data sufficiency, quant MSR); and while cute verbal-focussed table questions do exist ("select the 2 best words which logically complete the passsage above"), they don't show up as often.
Anecdotal Evidence (QR Topic Level)
2) In Classic QR, if you absolutely sucked in pure contexts (sequences), you could still get a Q48 Classic if you compensated through good real contexts (basic algebra, VIC word problems, geometry).
Unfortunately for we the numerically challenged, we no longer receive points for getting rectangular areas = L x W, or getting the sum of all a polygon's internal angles. We no longer get easy word problems like, "Your neighbour's land plot is beside yours, and the fence straddling both is 10 metres long..." I note that pure context Qs seem more numerous in Focus.
Thus, unfortunates like myself with borderline dyscalculia now have to hack out decent-enough performance in two sections, Q and DI. In Classic, even if V had slightly greater weighting than Q, the question split was a bit more balanced than in Focus.
Test History
GMAT Classic 1: 710 classic
GMAT Classic 2: 730 classic (Q48, V42)
GMAT Focus 1: 690 classic-equiv = [635 focus] (Q77, V87, D80)
Magoosh Mock 1: - = [585 focus] (Q79, V83, D76) = Aug 12, 2024
Official Mock 1: - = [625 focus] (Q78, V81, D84)
Official Mock 2: - = [645 focus] (Q81, V85, D79)
Official Mock 3: - = [675 focus] (Q78, V90, D82)
Official Mock 4: - = [645 focus] (Q81, V84, D81)
Official Mock 5: - = [625 focus] (Q77, V85, D81)
Official Mock 6: - = [725 focus] (Q85, V90, D83)
Focus Q Range: Q77 - Q81 versus Q77 actual
Focus V Range: V81 - V90 versus V87 actual
Focus D Range: D79 - D84 versus D80 actual
60 Study Hours is Enough for 585 to 635 - "GMAT Focus has a narrower topic scope."
"If I have a full-time job in consulting, finance, or tech, can I cram the GMAT Focus in 1 month?" Yep, it is possible, even for non-balanced test-takers like I. It might be a stretch to go 100 points from 600 to 700 though.
I would argue that 60 hours are the bare minimum, however. Exceptions would apply for people who already score above 645 (645 Focus = 700 Classic) at the first mock, as I've read of GMATClub users who were able to hack 8 mock exams in 2 weeks, and score >700 Focus. If you did well in a STEM programme at uni, I wouldn't be so worried about having only ~40 - 50 hours of total study.
I'm disappointed in myself for missing out on the minimum 645 benchmark by only 1 - 2 DI questions. Extremely vexing, given my Classic performance.
Magoosh Self-Study is Decent; but It Isn't Exactly Excellent
I used Magoosh self-study as my sole third-party provider, alongside the official GMAT Focus mocks. I did not use the GMAT OG. Magoosh's estimated section scores were quite accurate, except for Data Insights. As they had half the number of V and Q practice questions available, my Magoosh DI score was slightly underestimated.
06 Sep 2024, 06:03
Kudos
Bookmarks
06 Sep 2024, 06:43
Kudos
Bookmarks
RishS94
Thanks for your congratulations Rish, appreciate it!
Out of my 60 study hours, I spent:
- 18 on 7 practice mocks
- 5 on last-minute review + formula memorisation + mock exam post-mortem
So I expect all my Magoosh practice questions took up 37 hours spread out over 6 calendar weeks. You can assume I squeezed in 10 weekly hours of study (6 Magoosh + 4 weekly mock) into a 45-hour work week. Magoosh offers 1-month and 3-month structured study plans. Maybe if I didn't cram and started in June instead of August, I could have stretched myself to hit 655 without a retake.
A 1-month study schedule very possible for the average worker, and quite plausible even for bankers / consultants who do 60 - 70 hour weeks.
