Everything You Need to Know About GMAT Focus Edition

GMAT is making significant changes with the introduction of GMAT Focus Edition. We’re here to give you all the information you need about this new version to help you prepare for your exam during the transition, especially if you’re taking the GMAT in Indonesia.

In essence, the GMAT Focus Edition is a revamped version of the GMAT Exam, designed to recalibrate the current scoring scale. It’s set to launch on November 7, 2023, and brings several noteworthy changes to the table.

A Shorter Exam

The first significant change is a shorter exam duration. Instead of around 60 minutes, you have 45 minutes for each section and a total of three sections instead of four. The new exam will also have fewer problems per section: 21 questions for quantitative, 23 questions for verbal, and 20 questions for the new data insights section.

More Challenging to Score High

The shorter exam doesn’t mean the exam will be easier. There are changes that will make it more difficult to get a high score.

  1. Penalties for unanswered questions : Your score will be adversely affected based on the number of questions you leave unanswered, which is not currently the case. This change makes time management more crucial and adds a new layer of complexity to the exam.
  2. Replacement of IR and AWA : The Integrated Reasoning (IR) and Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) sections have been replaced with a new section called Data Insights, which focuses on your data analysis skills.
  3. Unified Scoring : Instead of receiving separate scores for verbal, quantitative, IR, and AWA, you will now receive a unified score that weighs all three sections equally.

As confirmed by a GMAC representative, the old GMAT Exam will remain available until early 2024, though no exact date is available. If you’re currently preparing for your MBA application, we highly recommend taking the old exam while you can. You can use your scores to apply to MBA programs for years to come since the five-year validity period still applies.

As the launch date for the GMAT Focus Edition approaches, Exam slots at GMAT test centers in Jakarta and other cities are filling up fast for the remainder of this year. Start your preparation today to take the old exam.

Registration for our GMAT course in Jakarta is now open for October.

All Blog