Classic GMAT Score Validity after the release of GMAT Focus edition

Question

With the new GMAT Focus edition being released in the near future and the Classic GMAT being discontinued in 2024, what will be the validity of the classic GMAT scores.

I am planning to give the Classic GMAT in the upcoming few months but plan to apply in R1 of 2024/2025. Will the score be valid till then or will I then have to take the GMAT Focus edition as well?

Would be great to see an expert's take on this.

samratj · Answer

Interesting question!

But the real question here is even if the score is valid for 5 years, how are the AdComs going to differentiate between the Classic GMAT scorers and GMAT focus edition a few years down the line when a majority of the students are taking the GMAT focus edition.

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

Should be valid since the scores will likely have the same 5-year validity.

Archit3110 · Answer

scores will be valid of the gmat for 5 years... and schools will consider the score till its valid..
new edition of gmat will be very different and its difficult to comment how schools will adapt or compare its score to classic gmat/..

MartyTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi wejbawjb.

Your score on the current GMAT will continue to be valid, and you'll be able to use it to get into your target schools for years to come.

Remember, schools are very comfortable with the current GMAT and understand well what a score on that test indicates. Those facts will continue to be true after the release of the new GMAT.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi wejbawjb,

To start, whenever you ultimately take your Official GMAT, that Score result will be valid for 5 years - meaning that if you take the GMAT in 2023, you will almost certainly be able to use it to apply to Schools for the next several years. The GMAT has gone through some noteworthy changes over the years (for example, in 2012 when IR replaced the Issue Essay and in 2018 when the Exam was shortened and the section-order options were added) - and Official Scores from the 'prior' versions of the Exam (at that time) were still valid for 5 years (and still used by thousands and thousands of Applicants to get into Business School). This is all meant to say that you should have nothing to worry about regarding the use of your upcoming GMAT results.

Before I can offer you any additional advice for your studies, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) How long have you studied? How many hours do you typically study each week?
2) What study materials have you used so far? What “brands” of CATs/mocks have you used?
3) On what dates (or approximate dates) did you take EACH of your CATs/mocks and how did you score on EACH (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?

Goals:
4) What is your overall goal score?
5) When are you planning to apply to Business School and what Schools are you planning to apply to?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Contact Rich at: [email protected]

bb · Answer

my guess probably exactly the same way that they differentiate right now people applying with GRE, GMAT, all set, and a test waiver.

People were asking exactly the same question when the GMAT online came out about admissions committees evaluating the online version of the GMAT separately from the traditional GMAT…

Posted from my mobile device

KarishmaB · Answer

There is nothing "wrong" with the current GMAT pattern. It has proven its worth in the last many many years. 
A new pattern will be implemented in the future assuming that it will be better and will be more predictive of B-school and professional success. Whether that is true, only time will tell. So if there are any questions, they will be about the new pattern, not the current one. The new pattern will be under the scanner for the next few years to find out whether it is more predictive of ability to handle B-school curriculum. By the time this happens, it is likely that the validity of all current pattern GMAT would be anyway coming to an end. 
Hence, there will not be any adverse effect of the new pattern on the current one. So I suggest you to stick to your timelines and not worry about how adcom will view it. Most likely, in the first few years, adcom will consider the new pattern GMAT score to be similar to the old pattern GMAT score (or whatever it translates to in case the scales are different).

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi wejbawjb,

Yes, as long as it has not expired (after 5 years), then it will still be valid. I would not worry about that and just focus on your GMAT.

Classic GMAT Score Validity after the release of GMAT Focus edition

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards