Focus Edition v/s Current GMAT

Question

I plan to apply to B-schools in 2025/26 but intend to give the GMAT in a few months. Will the existing GMAT be okay or is waiting for the Focus edition a safer option since I will apply to schools only much later? Will giving the current GMAT with sections/topics that are slated to be removed in the Focus edition reduce my score when compared to the latter?

pintukr · Answer

Focus Edition details have not yet been revealed. If you intend giving the exams in a few months, you should appear for the exam in the current format. That will give you a longer preparation time.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi AmbitiousA,

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 for a Test taken in 2023.

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]

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

HI AmbitiousA,

Since you have already planned to take the GMAT in the next few months, I would stick with your original plan of taking the "current version" of the GMAT. Schools will still accept your score as long as you apply within the 5-year window of taking your exam.

KarishmaB · Answer

There is nothing "wrong" with the current GMAT pattern so there is no question of reduced scores. 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.

If you are planning to apply in 25-26, there will be many applicants who would have taken the "old GMAT" because it will be available till early 2024 and GMAT scores are valid for 5 years!
 
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 give enough attention to IR. 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).

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

Should be fine since the scores should remain valid 5 years from the time of taking. If a person gave it tomorrow, for example, it should still be valid even if you applied in 2027.

GMATWhizTeam · Answer

HI  AmbitiousA

The recent announcement by GMAC regarding a major revamp in the current GMAT format, i.e., the launch of GMAT Focus Edition (coming later this year), has created a stir of confusion for many. This is why we are conducting a live webinar tomorrow at 8pm IST which may prove helpful. In this session, Piyush Beriwala (Co-founder|GMATWhiz) will share his take on the GMAT Focus Edition, what it means for test-takers, and whether you should wait for the new edition to release or continue with your prep as it is and take the test in current GMAT format and a lot more. You can tune in live to get answers to your queries:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vj7Yi0AZikw

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