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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15 Apr 2023, 19:19

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Amazon India says the books will be available on 6-June-2023

GMAT Official Guide Verbal Review 2023-2024: Book + Online Question Bank
https://amzn.eu/d/dgETUre

GMAT Official Quantitative Review: Data Sufficiency 2023-2024, Book + Online Question Bank
https://amzn.eu/d/cv8CGxn

Data Sufficiency and Problem Solving are still in the same book, though they are in different sections of the exam.
Wondering whether there will be something more for the rest of Data Insights

Interesting…. My order has not shipped yet…. Fingers crossed. 😬 but I’m not going to hold my breath

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15 Apr 2023, 19:28

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Amazon India says the books will be available on 6-June-2023

GMAT Official Guide Verbal Review 2023-2024: Book + Online Question Bank
https://amzn.eu/d/dgETUre

GMAT Official Quantitative Review: Data Sufficiency 2023-2024, Book + Online Question Bank
https://amzn.eu/d/cv8CGxn

~~Data Sufficiency and Problem Solving are still in the same book, though they are in different sections of the exam~~.
Wondering whether there will be something more for the rest of Data Insights

Correction: the link above may be for Data Sufficiency only.
It is described as "Your official source of authentic Data Sufficiency GMAT™ practice questions for the GMAT™ exam."
I can't find any other 2023-24 Official Guides on the site

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15 Apr 2023, 21:10

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The book for PS is up on Amazon India too with same release date - https://www.amazon.in/GMAT-Official-Gui ... 55&sr=8-65

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16 Apr 2023, 06:00

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OG 2024 is up too on Amazon India with 21 May as import date - https://www.amazon.in/GMAT-Official-Gui ... eature_div

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17 Apr 2023, 21:52

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So there's an additional book this year? I hope each individual book is cheaper.

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17 Apr 2023, 21:57

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vv65

So there's an additional book this year? I hope each individual book is cheaper.

We can hope 😇
Am I surprised, did you have a data sufficiency separate book which is technically a part of the data insights section. But there’s no data insights book… so I am a bit lost.

On the Walmart update, my order has not shipped yet so I doubt I will get these books by Wednesday 😢
Also, both books say Out of Stock now and not findable on wallmart (directly links still work)

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18 Apr 2023, 00:07

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Seems like GMAC will be releasing both OG + review books for ( existing gmat pattern ) in May & OG for gmat focus in June end ..
nice marketing :applause

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18 Apr 2023, 07:13

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Archit3110

Seems like GMAC will be releasing both OG + review books for ( existing gmat pattern ) in May & OG for gmat focus in June end ..
nice marketing :applause

Oh wow. 2 sets of books 🥴
This does seem rushed.

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18 Apr 2023, 09:45

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Archit3110

Seems like GMAC will be releasing both OG + review books for ( existing gmat pattern ) in May & OG for gmat focus in June end ..
nice marketing :applause

I don't suppose this is entirely true.

Not sure, if you've interpreted that GMAC is planning to release 2 versions of OG because one of the previous posts mentions a version of the Official Guide that would be available in the Indian Market and has an import date of 21st May 2023 or if GMAC has released some information on this.

If it's an interpretation, my best guess is that Official Guide targets GMAT Focus Edition (hint: the yellow cover

). Also, there is no point in releasing two Official Guides as the current version is scheduled to phase out in 2024.

I don't trust the dates mentioned by Amazon anymore

. Every Amazon sub-site has a different import date mentioned. In all probability, the Official Guide (Eng version) will be first available in the US market followed by other geographies.

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20 Apr 2023, 07:57

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hi i plan to retake my gmat exam around june 2023, is it better for me to prepare using the current material (i used OG Book 2021) or i should wait for the focus exam edition? which type exam better i register for?

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20 Apr 2023, 09:53

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Hi sorayahf,

It's hard to say whether you should wait or not, but if you want to take the GMAT in June, you should prep for the current GMAT.

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20 Apr 2023, 10:10

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The Focus Edition won't be available to take until Q4 2023.

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22 Apr 2023, 23:26

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And here is the final result of our attempt to get the Chinese edition of the guides at Walmart

That's this post

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24 Apr 2023, 10:16

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an update on Gmat focus practice test prices.. on official website
interestingly pricing has been kept same to existing mock exam $60 for two exams..
only tests 3 to 5 this time.. seems the first two will be free

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26 Apr 2023, 04:23

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Does anyone know if the number of limited attempts will be taken over to this focus edition?

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26 Apr 2023, 04:43

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Does anyone know if the number of limited attempts will be taken over to this focus edition?

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Probably fair to say they would but it does open an interesting conversation. Could we end up seeing GMAC get rid of the lifetime limit all together given that the GRE doesn't have one.

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27 Apr 2023, 11:27

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Does anyone know if the number of limited attempts will be taken over to this focus edition?

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Sadly, there has been no indication from GMAC that there will be any changes to the annual (5) or lifetime (8) limits on an individual's total number of official GMAT attempts—which I agree puts GMAC at a competitive disadvantage, since the GRE from ETS has no lifetime limit.

However, the last time GMAC introduced a new version of the exam (the GMAT online) in 2020, there was a brief period of time when students (and tutors!) were allowed take it once, without affecting their lifetime limits.

Perhaps this will also be the case with the GMAT Focus.

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27 Apr 2023, 11:54

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Does anyone know if the number of limited attempts will be taken over to this focus edition?

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I am wondering if GMAC will reset the counters for the new test since it is different enough…. But I’m not sure I would hold my breath… I think the best case scenario is a very unlikely maybe.

PS. The reason people were able to take the other online tests, was because the systems were different and they could not enforce their policies. Save the system is again different, then they will not be able to enforce the policies…. But that really assumes a lot. I would say don’t count on it.

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27 Apr 2023, 11:58

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I bet my entire heavy metal CD collection that they will NOT reset any counter.

My view is that the new edition is JUST a continuation of the previous exam, in another form. No reason I see they will do that.

99.999999999 % sure

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02 May 2023, 07:06

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"Just announced! Registration for the GMAT™ Focus Edition opens August 29, for appointments beginning in Q4 2023. GMAT™ Focus Official Prep will be available June 6."

-Official GMAT Instagram

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