GMAT Focus Edition Preparation: How Different Is It?

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Last Updated on November 23, 2023

Many test-takers want to know, what is the difference between GMAT Focus Edition and standard edition test preparation? Understandably, some are wondering whether their GMAT preparation will change significantly if they switch from the standard to the new version of the GMAT. Others are wondering whether preparing for test day will be easier if they take the Focus Edition instead of the standard edition.

So, in this article, we’ll address those questions and other common concerns related to GMAT Focus Edition preparation.

Here are the topics we’ll cover:

• What to Study for the GMAT Focus Edition
• How to Study for the GMAT Focus Edition
  • Does It Take Less Time to Prepare for the GMAT Focus Edition?
  • Is It Easier to Study for the GMAT Focus Edition?
• Can I Use Standard GMAT Prep Materials to Study for the GMAT Focus Edition?
  • Are GMAT Focus Official Prep Materials Available?
• Should I Wait for the GMAT Focus Edition?
  • Testing Schedules
  • Factors to Consider
• Key Takeaways
• What’s Next?

Let’s start off by looking at what you need to study for the GMAT Focus Edition vs. the standard GMAT.

What to Study for the GMAT Focus Edition

According to GMAC, the new version of the GMAT focuses on “the higher-order critical reasoning skills and data literacy especially relevant and applicable in the business environment of tomorrow.” But what does that mean in practical terms, and how is the Focus Edition different from the standard GMAT?

In practical terms, there are 4 major content changes that affect what GMAT Focus students need to study.

1. The Focus Edition emphasizes data literacy skills by replacing the separately scored Integrated Reasoning section with the Data Insights section, which makes up a third of the exam. Moreover, along with the Verbal and Quant sections, Data Insights contributes equally to the Focus Total Score.
2. The Focus Edition eliminates Geometry questions from the Quant section.
3. The Focus Edition eliminates Sentence Correction from the Verbal section.
4. The Focus Edition eliminates the Analytical Writing Assessment (essay section).

So, test-takers need to somewhat adjust what they study if they switch from the standard GMAT to the Focus Edition. That said, looking at Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights together, the majority of the material remains the same.

For example, all of the question types in Integrated Reasoning are also in Data Insights. Test-takers still need to prepare for both problem-solving and Data Sufficiency questions (though the latter are now part of Data Insights). And the Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension questions in Verbal are familiar to anyone who has studied standard GMAT material.

In other words, to perform well on the GMAT Focus, you need strong quantitative, reading, critical reasoning, and data analysis skills, just as you do for the standard GMAT.

So then, aside from cutting some topics, should Focus test-takers study any differently from standard GMAT test-takers?

How to Study for the GMAT Focus Edition

At this point you may be thinking that studying for the GMAT Focus Edition will be easier, quicker, or just “better” overall than studying for the standard GMAT. The reality is not quite so cut and dried.

In fact, although what you study will be different in some respects, how you study should be basically the same. For instance, you should still use a topic-by-topic approach, alternating between Quant and Verbal study and incorporating Data Insights study later in your prep.

You should still reinforce your topical learning with copious topical practice and periodic mixed review sets.

You should still carve out study time every day, and devote a significant number of hours to your test prep.

You should still take and review a number of well-spaced practice tests leading up to test day.

These are just a few examples. (For more details on how to prepare for the GMAT Focus Edition, check out this GMAT study plan.) There are many other aspects of GMAT preparation that should stay the same regardless of which version of the GMAT you take.

That said, let’s answer a few of the most common questions I hear related to how preparing for the Focus Edition might be different.

Does It Take Less Time to Prepare for the GMAT Focus Edition?

Particularly since the GMAT Focus is about an hour shorter than the standard GMAT, some test-takers assume they’ll need less study time for the Focus Edition.

It’s true that studying Sentence Correction, generally regarded as a tedious part of GMAT prep, isn’t necessary. And the many Quant formulas and concepts you have to memorize for test day don’t include Geometry. So, you’ll be able to shave some study time, given those two omissions.

Additionally, you won’t have to worry about preparing for AWA. (However, for most GMAT students, doing so has a negligible impact on their study timeline.)

All that said, it’s likely that you’ll gain a bit of study time in another area: Data Insights. The fact is, Integrated Reasoning has been somewhat of an afterthought for many GMAT students. However, for the GMAT Focus, students won’t have the luxury of downplaying DI prep.

So, will your test prep be significantly quicker for the Focus Edition? Perhaps. One thing to consider, however, is where your GMAT strengths and weaknesses lie. For example, if you’re very rusty in grammar or geometry, then the Focus syllabus could be much to your advantage.

Then again, Data Insights questions can be very tricky and, let’s face it, kind of a pain to efficiently solve. So, if Integrated Reasoning was a weak point for you on the standard GMAT, or your data literacy skills have been on the shelf for a while, you’ll probably need a good chunk of time to properly prepare for DI.

All told, most GMAT students should be able to prepare for the Focus Edition faster than for the standard GMAT. However, I wouldn’t expect to automatically cut your study time in half or see really drastic reductions in study time across the board.

Is It Easier to Study for the GMAT Focus Edition?

So, preparing for the Focus Edition is likely somewhat quicker than preparing for the standard edition. In that case, is preparing for the GMAT Focus also easier? Again, we can’t really assume that it will be.

In the easier column, no more pesky grammar questions. That will be a boon to many students. However, consider also that the Verbal section focuses entirely on Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension questions. Many GMAT students consider Critical Reasoning questions to be some of the hardest questions on the exam. So, if CR is a sticking point for you, you’ll need some serious study time to master that question type. (These CR tips can help.)

On the Quant side, many students have found Geometry questions on the GMAT quite difficult to master. So, for many, the absence of Geometry will be another mark in the easier column.

However, the predicted Quant score percentiles that GMAC recently released for the Focus Edition indicate that the Quant section on the Focus Edition is significantly harder than standard GMAT Quant. So, earning a high Quant score may require more rigorous study than ever.

Finally, if Data Insights questions are one of the more difficult aspects of the GMAT for you, I wouldn’t count on an “easy” study experience.

All that said, the variety of topics you have to study and the amount of mental and physical stamina you need to build for test day are reduced. So, in those ways, studying for the Focus Edition is easier.

Can I Use Standard GMAT Prep Materials to Study for the GMAT Focus Edition?

If you already purchased standard GMAT prep materials but decided to switch to the Focus Edition, I have great news. You can very easily use your current GMAT prep materials to study for the GMAT Focus. Simply skip over any lessons or practice questions in Sentence Correction, Geometry, and AWA. If you’re a TTP course user, doing so will be very easy for you, since GMAT topics are separated by chapter. So, you can simply skip over the chapters that don’t pertain to GMAT Focus.

There is, however, one big caveat to using standard GMAT prep materials for Focus Edition prep. Your current materials must include Integrated Reasoning prep. If you don’t engage in dedicated learning and practice for IR, you won’t be prepared for the Data Insights section.

Of course, TTP course users don’t have to worry about missing out on DI prep if they’re using our standard GMAT study plan. That course of study includes thorough preparation for every GMAT question type, including the IR types that appear in Data Insights.

And if you’re a TTP user, I have even better news for you. A TTP course specifically for the Focus Edition, including expanded Data Insights material, is launching very soon. What’s more, when you’re logged into your TTP course, you’ll be able to easily toggle between the standard GMAT course and the GMAT Focus course for free.

So, if you’ve already signed up for TTP, you don’t have to pay for a new subscription to switch to the Focus Edition course. And if you sign up for our Focus course but it turns out you need to take the GMAT before Focus test dates are available, you don’t have to purchase another subscription to switch to our standard GMAT course.

Are GMAT Focus Official Prep Materials Available?

GMAT Focus official prep materials became available on GMAC’s website, mba.com, starting June 6, 2023. 

Those prep materials include a GMAT Focus Official Guide and full-length official practice tests for the Focus Edition, plus section-specific official prep and question banks.

The Focus official practice tests include 2 free practice tests and 4 you have to pay for, just like the tests for the standard GMAT.

Keep in mind that standard GMAT official prep materials will still be available while the standard exam is available. So, if you need to take standard GMAT practice tests, for example, you can still do so.

Should I Wait for the GMAT Focus Edition?

With all we’ve learned about the Focus Edition, you may be wondering whether to wait until it’s available to sit for your exam. This decision really depends on your situation. For some test-takers, waiting is the right choice. For others, waiting creates unnecessary stress.

So, let’s review the facts you need to know to make this decision.

Testing Schedules

First, the standard GMAT exam will continue to be available to test-takers through early 2024. GMAC has not announced yet exactly when the last standard GMAT test date will be. However, if you’re shooting for round 2 deadlines, which tend to fall in early January, and you want to take the standard GMAT, you have nothing to worry about.

Whether the standard GMAT will still be available in the run-up to round 3 deadlines, which tend to fall at the end of March or in early April, is less clear. So, if you’re planning to take the standard GMAT for round 3 in spring 2024, you may want to plan for a January test date just to be safe.

Registration for the GMAT Focus Edition opens August 29, 2023. Again, GMAC hasn’t announced yet what the first Focus test dates are. However, we do know that Focus testing will start sometime in Q4 of 2023. So, conceivably, you could sit for the GMAT Focus before the year is out.

Factors to Consider

Obviously, your application deadlines will be the biggest factor in your decision about whether to wait for the Focus Edition. Of course, not knowing exact test dates for the Focus Edition may leave you on the fence. Here’s the thing. If waiting for the GMAT Focus could create a time crunch for you, don’t feel obligated to change your plans! Even if you probably could get away with waiting, cutting it close may not be worth the stress.

Remember, you want to have time to focus on your applications, too. Furthermore, you have to consider whether you need to leave extra time for test retakes, just in case.

Or let’s say you’ve taken the standard GMAT before and you’re currently studying for a retake. Ask yourself, do you have a solid reason for delaying your plans and switching gears with your studies? Or, will you be putting yourself at a disadvantage by switching from a test you’ve already experienced and prepared for to one that brings new challenges? Will extending your GMAT journey disrupt other aspects of your life?

There are no right or wrong answers to these questions. But, they are certainly questions you should consider before you hit the pause button on your GMAT plans. If you’re not under any pressure to take the GMAT in the next few months and you suspect that you’d perform better on the Focus Edition, then waiting may be the right choice. The point is, you don’t have to throw a wrench in your plans just because the GMAT Focus is coming.

Key Takeaways

• GMAT Focus test-takers do not need to study Geometry, Sentence Correction, or AWA.
• Studying for the Focus Edition is somewhat easier than studying for the standard GMAT in that there are fewer topics to learn and you won’t need to build as much stamina for test day.
• Most GMAT students will likely be able to prepare for the Focus Edition somewhat more quickly than for the standard GMAT.
• Although what you study for the Focus will be somewhat different, how you study should be basically the same.
• If you study for the Focus Edition using standard GMAT prep materials, make sure those materials cover Integrated Reasoning.
• A TTP course specifically for the Focus Edition, including expanded Data Insights material, is launching very soon.
• You can use your standard TTP GMAT course to study for the GMAT Focus or switch for free, with a current subscription, to the new TTP GMAT Focus course when it launches.
• Once the TTP Focus course launches, logged in TTP users will be able to toggle between the standard GMAT and GMAT Focus courses for free, with the click of a button.

• The GMAT Focus Official Guide and 6 GMAT Focus official practice tests will be on mba.com June 6, 2023.

What’s Next?

Now that you know what to study and how to prep for the GMAT Focus Edition, check out our article on how GMAT scores have changed for the Focus Edition, including how the scoring algorithm and score reporting are different.

You also may want to check out our article on GMAT Focus test dates if you’re considering taking the exam.