GMAT Focus Edition - Everything You Need to Know : General GMAT Questions and Strategies

bb · 2023-03-08T12:54:22-08:00

GMAT Focus Edition - Everything You Need to Know On March 8, 2023 GMAC has announced changes to the GMAT Exam and a new version of the exam called " GMAT Focus Edition " (official announcement link) Changes were vaguely described but here is what we know Timeline as of May 2, 2023: GMAT Focus Version available to take: Q4 2023 (as early as Oct but likely Dec, 2023) Registration for Focus opens – Aug 29, 2023 GMAT Prep for GMAT Focus Available – June 6 Old/Traditional GMAT will be available through Q1, 2024 AWA will be removed (official) SC will be removed (official) Quant will only contain PS Questions and DS will be a part of the Data Insights section. More IR will be added into the test 18 questions instead of 12 most likely (not official but Amazon screenshots from the OG prove this) The test will have 3 sections 45 mins each and will be a total of 2 hours and 15 mins long instead of 3 hours and 7 minutes today. No information on breaks or sections or questions at this point The sections confirmed via Amazon screenshot are Verbal, Quant, and IR New O G's announced: Problem Solving, Verbal, and Data Sufficiency Geometry is missing from quant review, so we can assume it will be removed (it is not present in EA either). Link with OG math review contents New deductive and inductive reasoning section added in table of contents (screenshot below) GMAT will remain to be adaptive but you are now able to go back and change answers on up to 3 questions per section. Lifetime and annual test limits of 8 and 5 remain in effect YouTube Panel about GMAT Focus GMAT & Admissions Expert Panel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2Oz9XvKcoM We will be featuring a panel with experts GMATNinja , ApplicantLab , ManhattanPrep , and hosted by one of the GMAT Club's moderators and PM Interns and Darden 2024 Class MBA Student, MaliFri about what these changes mean, what you should do if you are preparing, and what does it mean for the GMAT. Amazon.com Screenshots courtesy of doublecool https://gmatclub.com/forum/download/file.php?id=70602 https://gmatclub.com/forum/download/file.php?id=70604 Screenshot-20230310-080143.jpg Comparison of Official Guide Editions: 2022 vs. 2023-2024 OG page 1 comparison.png OG page 2 comparison2.gif What does it mean for Test Takers? Immediately, it is likely noise and distraction and yet one more change to keep track of. This should not impact anyone applying for R1 or R2 next season. 1. The current test format will be available through early 2024, so if you were planning to take the GMAT, I would keep on working on your score. I am expecting that the rollout will be longer than expected and there will be delays so I can expect the original GMAT likely be administered for another year. 2. I don't expect the test to change too significantly. The only change that was announced was that the AWA section was removed. While there is a hint at making the test more data-focused and "tomorrow", that sounds a bit like the IR overview we heard back in 2012 3. Should you buy a course/book/GMAT Prep Practice tests? I think there are some opportunities and threats here. First of all, I would only buy now what you need. If you are planning to study for the GMAT, then get the books you need, get the OG, or courses. However, if you are not ready to take the GMAT yet, I would wait to purchase the GMAT Prep practice tests until you need them. Last time there was a system upgrade from old to new GMAT Prep platform, none of the progress was transferred. 4. Will the new test be easier? Maybe... Some feel EA is easier than the GMAT as it is shorter and you get through it faster. It is still competitive though and whatever skills you have learned on the GMAT, you can apply on the EA (it is Quant, Verbal, and IR). My Take on This Change: There have been rumblings about changing GMAT for a while. Pandemic has forced many changes upon schools and test prep. GMAT suffered during the pandemic and saw its test-taking volume go down 50% since 2018. GRE has been growing in popularity so changes were almost inevitable as the test has been under pressure to evolve. The big question about this transition will be on - what is being prioritized here? Will execution actually pull it off? 1. I am going to go out on a limb and say that the next 6 months will be confusing. Some people have been preparing for years to the GMAT, purchased books, etc, etc - vague announcements like these are going to confuse people and likely only shift people away from GMAT towards tests like EA or GRE 2. GMAT is becoming easier? Hard to tell yet but the messaging seems to imply it or at least market it as such. Anyone else got this feel? 3. We all have seen the execution of GMAT online and shift from GMAT Prep to a new platform. These were painful events. Execution has suffered in the past and I am hoping this will be a better transition that will be easier for test-takers. I am just thinking about comparing your scores from the 800-point test to the new test. Is the test scale going to be the same? This also means that if you are taking the test in the fall, you can take Full Test online, Full Test at a test center, Focused/short test online, or Focused/Short version at a test center. Lots of Choices... 4. No essay seems an interesting change in the world of ChatGPT but the AWA has been dead for a while... 5. 3 sections likely means Quant, Verbal, and IR of some sorts? It would be helpful if they were less mysterious 6. Not surprising GMAT is making changes since the test volume has gone down 50% in the past 3 years. But are these the right changes? 7. I think it would be better for the test to address online testing issues because no matter the length of the test and other changes, if the online test experience is subpar, it is subpar in both formats. 8. This means more confusion among applicants about the GMAT vs. GMAT Focused version vs. EA vs. GRE vs Whatever? 9. I feel that it is insufficient to provide just Official test materials since OG and Tests are such a small portion of the preparation experience and looking at the announcement from GMAC, it seems they are not recognizing the value and the contribution that test prep companies are providing to the success of the test takers and the test itself. I am looking at all the companies that have built courses, products, tests, etc that would have benefited from input and advance warning/notification so that they can launch/build products. Apple does that for their developers even so that they new version of iOS does not show up with out apps.... I feel this was a missed opportunity that would have been so easy to capitalize on. Speculations & Rumors (Officially Unconfirmed) One report (logical enough) indicates that the Sentence Correction portion of the test will be scrapped. This has not been officially confirmed by reported by doublecool Original Announcement sent to a Test Prep Company

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11 Mar 2023, 08:48

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The YouTube Live session with GMAT Ninja, Stacey from Manhattan Prep and Maria from ApplicantLab is about to start.

Join us for a live discussion and to get the answers to your questions.

https://www.youtube.com/live/P2Oz9XvKcoM?feature=share

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Is there any reason to believe that the old GMAT Score will hold any less weight or credibility than the new one, assuming the score is used for MBA applications in 3 to 4 years? Will the score seem "outdated"? (Granted, the old score will expire in another year or so by the time of application...)

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11 Mar 2023, 17:37

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gmatstudyer123

Is there any reason to believe that the old GMAT Score will hold any less weight or credibility than the new one, assuming the score is used for MBA applications in 3 to 4 years? Will the score seem "outdated"? (Granted, the old score will expire in another year or so by the time of application...)

Not all all. The score will still indicate your skill levels and readiness to handle business school coursework.

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11 Mar 2023, 17:40

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Based on the messaging in the way the new test is positioned, it almost feels like the old one was a tad too hard-core and too old school…. Almost kind of like switching to a car with automatic transmission after driving a stick. Nobody’s going to doubt your driving skills in that situation and similarly here, I feel the old test will have more of a old school wait as opposed to the fluffier new one. So I feel it’s quite the opposite.

MartyTargetTestPrep

gmatstudyer123

Is there any reason to believe that the old GMAT Score will hold any less weight or credibility than the new one, assuming the score is used for MBA applications in 3 to 4 years? Will the score seem "outdated"? (Granted, the old score will expire in another year or so by the time of application...)

Not all all. The score will still indicate your skill levels and readiness to handle business school coursework.

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11 Mar 2023, 21:45

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bb

Based on the messaging in the way the new test is positioned, it almost feels like the old one was a tad too hard-core and too old school…. Almost kind of like switching to a car with automatic transmission after driving a stick. Nobody’s going to doubt your driving skills in that situation and similarly here, I feel the old test will have more of a old school wait as opposed to the fluffier new one. So I feel it’s quite the opposite.

MartyTargetTestPrep

gmatstudyer123

Is there any reason to believe that the old GMAT Score will hold any less weight or credibility than the new one, assuming the score is used for MBA applications in 3 to 4 years? Will the score seem "outdated"? (Granted, the old score will expire in another year or so by the time of application...)

Not all all. The score will still indicate your skill levels and readiness to handle business school coursework.

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Possible that some colleagues would refuse to accept the Focused GMAT scores in the beginning? The way some do for the online version of the current gmat.

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I am very new to the preparation process, so hearing that SC is likely being removed is putting me in a conundrum. I have already registered for the exam in July, so I'll likely get the old format. Should I be happy or disappointed about the fact that my exam will have SC in it?

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12 Mar 2023, 04:56

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The GMAT exam will be in place until 2024

If you studied and scheduled already there is no reason of being concern

We do not know yet the composition of the new exam. As such, if you are ready to go...go for it

Nothing guarantee you that the new exam will be easier just from the rumors above

regards

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12 Mar 2023, 09:55

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Assuming if Sentence correction will be removed is it safe to assume similar change will be effective in EA exam as well ? As EA exam also contains SC questions. Does it mean, changes are also coming in EA exam ?

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12 Mar 2023, 22:00

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Hi bb

What do you mean by saying "IR is in" ?
Does it means that In a score of 800 all three will be counted (Verbal , Quant and IR)?
Or only verbal and Quant will be couted as per the old format?

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12 Mar 2023, 22:08

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Hi bb

What do you mean by saying "IR is in" ?
Does it means that In a score of 800 all three will be counted (Verbal , Quant and IR)?
Or only verbal and Quant will be couted as per the old format?

Hi. Very good question. We do not yet have an official answer so what I will provide below is simply a conjecture and an opinion.

In my opinion, the scoring scale will most likely be modified and since this test seems to be modeled closely after the executive assessment, I have a feeling that IR score will be a part of the overall test score… in part, this is based on how the test change has been positioned and promoted. In part, because now integrated reasoning is 45 minutes instead of 30. Why change the length of the section and number of questions unless you were making a bigger change?

That’s my thoughts but we should know soon enough I have a feeling… perhaps as early as in a week or a few weeks.

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13 Mar 2023, 01:26

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Actually, the answer, considering the discussion above, would be definitely yes.

Low probability that is NO, not counted

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13 Mar 2023, 10:23

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We got one more updated Screenshot

Interesting that Data Sufficiency will be a part of the Data Insights Section. This means Quant Reasoning will be only PS?

Attachment:

GMAT 2023 Test Structure-2.png [ 346.51 KiB | Viewed 22961 times ]

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13 Mar 2023, 10:26

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Scoring Screenshot
(also from OG 2023-2024)

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scoring-weird.png [ 22.09 KiB | Viewed 22476 times ]

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13 Mar 2023, 10:28

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And this interesting screenshot of a message supposedly from GMAC

Attachment:

announcement-2.png [ 307.08 KiB | Viewed 2470 times ]

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13 Mar 2023, 11:34

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bb

We got one more updated Screenshot

Interesting that Data Sufficiency will be a part of the Data Insights Section. This means Quant Reasoning will be only PS?

Attachment:

GMAT 2023 Test Structure-2.png

Maybe I do not get something...for sure I would say

But the first voice of data insights is DS (Data Sufficiency)

It is a tricky format. Hard to believe the GMAT will not use it anymore

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13 Mar 2023, 18:40

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bb

We got one more updated Screenshot

Interesting that Data Sufficiency will be a part of the Data Insights Section. This means Quant Reasoning will be only PS?

If this screenshot is reliable, Quant will be more important than Verbal. Currently Quant and Verbal contribute equally to the total score.
But DS will be less important than PS. DS will reduce from from 50% of Quant Reasoning to a smaller fraction of Data Insights.

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13 Mar 2023, 18:43

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bb

We got one more updated Screenshot

Interesting that Data Sufficiency will be a part of the Data Insights Section. This means Quant Reasoning will be only PS?

If this screenshot is reliable, Quant will be more important than Verbal. Currently Quant and Verbal contribute equally to the total score.
But DS will be less important than PS. DS will reduce from from 50% of Quant Reasoning to a smaller fraction of Data Insights.

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Very accurate observation.
GMAT will potentially become friendlier towards international applicants…. With the Focus setup 2/3 will be quant-driven. Was this by design? Since the majority of the test takers are international students anyway, it helps making the level playing field vs native speakers… 🤷‍♂️

Or am I reading too much into it?

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