GMAT Preparation For Busy Test Takers

This comprehensive GMAT preparation guide is designed for MBA applicants preparing for the GMAT Focus Edition. Whether you’re just beginning your prep or you’re looking to refine an existing study plan, this guide serves as your essential roadmap to mastering the complexities of the exam.

In an ideal world, you would start your preparation with this guide before exploring other resources, and follow its recommendations step by step. By doing so, you can avoid the common obstacles and setbacks many MBA applicants encounter, ensuring a smoother and more effective GMAT preparation process.

However, if you find yourself already a few weeks into your study routine, or if you’re struggling to break through a performance plateau on test day, don’t worry—this guide still has something for you. Just take it from the beginning, and see if we can help you back on track.

Quickstart Guide to GMAT Success (in 3 Steps)

Step 1: Understand the Structure and Scoring of the GMAT Focus Edition

Things change fast in the world of MBA test prep. The GMAT Focus Edition was introduced in November of 2023, replacing the “legacy” version of the exam in content, duration, and scoring. In July 2024, GMAC will drop “Focus Edition” from the name, and we’ll be back to, simply, “the GMAT.” But otherwise, the new format is here to stay.

Perhaps you are already familiar with the basic structure of the new format—or perhaps this is the first you are hearing of the change. Either way, in order to understand how to best go about your GMAT preparation, we’ll need to take a quick look at the structure of the test (and compare it to the legacy edition).

GMAT Focus Edition Sections

There are three sections on the GMAT Focus Edition, each of which lasts 45 minutes and contributes equally to the overall score:

• Quantitative Reasoning  This section contains 21 multiple-choice questions with a very similar content distribution to that seen on the legacy version. The new scaled scoring system is 60-90, and a score of 82+ (76th percentile) shows very strong quant skills for applications. This score of 82 is roughly equivalent to the previous scaled score of 49, which was the gold standard for quant on the legacy version. One important change to note: applicants can now differentiate themselves at the far end of the quant curve (from 82-90), whereas previously there were only 2 scores above a 49 scaled score. We are not sure why GMAC has decided to do this since quant aptitude beyond the 82 level is not particularly important to business schools. You can see the different quant scaled percentiles at MBA.com.
• Verbal Reasoning  The verbal section is made up of 23 multiple-choice questions testing Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning. There are few, if any, noticeable changes to these two question types when compared to the legacy version. Most verbal sections on the Focus Edition have 4 RC passages with 13-14 questions total and 9-10 CR questions. The previous gold standard for the verbal scaled score on the legacy version was considered around 40, which is roughly equivalent to a score of 84 on the new scale. Any score of 83+ on the verbal section would be considered a strong result by business schools. You can see the different verbal scaled percentiles at MBA.com.
• Data Insights The newest section of the exam contains 20 multiple-choice questions (often with multiple parts) testing a wide range of verbal, quant, and data interpretation skills. This is an entirely new section but contains question types seen previously on the legacy GMAT (in the quant section and the separately scored Integrated Reasoning section). While the following distribution has changed over the first 6 months of the Focus Edition, most test-takers are reporting the following breakdown of the five distinct question types:  8 Data Sufficiency questions, 3 Multi-Source Reasoning questions (from one distinct scenario), 4 Two-Part Analysis questions, and a mix of 5 Table Analysis and Graphical Representation questions. Data Insights is arguably the most difficult section to prepare for because it is a unique mix of verbal and quant reasoning with a huge variation in presentation. As with the new GMAT Focus edition overall, we have been seeing more variation in practice scores on the Data Insights section (higher variation between practice tests for an individual student). This section is new so we have nothing to compare to previously, but overall it looks like a score of 81+ will be the gold standard at this stage in the test’s history. You can see the Data Insights scaled percentiles at MBA.com. 

Content Changes on the Focus Edition

For content, there are no longer any geometry questions in the quant section or sentence correction questions in the verbal section. This means that there is a lot less preparation time required for content review, since these two content areas were time consuming for most everyone. 

Additionally, the separately scored Analytical Writing Assessment and Integrated Reasoning sections have been removed. 

GMAT Focus Edition Scoring

The overall scoring has changed dramatically and it is important to note a few things:

• The gold standard minimum score of 700 on the legacy version is now roughly equivalent to a 645. You can see percentiles for GMAT scores at MBA.com. 
• For the top MBA programs, we predict that the average GMAT score for admitted students will fall between 675 and 685 (730-740 equivalent). 705 roughly takes the place of a legacy score of 760 and all scores at that level or higher represent the 99th percentile when rounded to the nearest percentile. If you are aiming for a top MBA program, you’ll need to set your sights on a 90th percentile score.
• Again, it is unclear why they have left so much room for differentiation at the far end of the curve. A 735 or higher is now the “100th percentile” meaning that 735+ is a 99.5 percentile or higher score. 

Test Duration

The GMAT Focus Edition is 2 hours and 15 minutes long (with one optional 10-minute break).

An Expert Weighs In Chris Kane, Head of Test Prep at Menlo Coaching says: Test day performance is more challenging on the Focus Edition. While the test is shorter, there are some important considerations with the new exam format. Because there are now three sections on which you must perform well, it is going to be important for most applicants to take the test multiple times to hit their best score. Greater variation between tests is being reported and you need to get a little lucky to really knock it out of the park on each of the three sections. As an example, you might do really well on the verbal and quant sections but then get a few data insights scenarios that you don’t understand well and either botch the pacing or simply miss a few easier questions you would not normally miss. Also, the scoring algorithm appears to have changed considerably and with those changes and the shorter test, you just cannot make many mistakes. If you make a few careless errors on easier/moderate questions, your score is greatly penalized (and if you don’t answer all questions you are REALLY penalized now).

At this stage, you know what’s on the exam and what score you’ll need to aim for. Let’s move on to the next component of GMAT preparation: figuring out your study timeline.

Step 2: Calculate How Much Time You’ll Need to Prepare, and Plan Accordingly

With a clear grasp of the sections and scoring dynamics of the GMAT Focus Edition, the next step in your GMAT preparation is determining the amount of time you’ll need to devote to study. 

Study time can be roughly divided into two phases—an initial content review followed by the “real work” of GMAT study, or the assimilation and practice of GMAT strategy. 

By estimating how much time you’ll need for each phase, you can begin to develop a GMAT study plan and project an “end date” for your GMAT journey. 

Phase 1: Content Review

Content review is always the starting point for GMAT preparation, and depending on your pre-existing knowledge and fluency, can sometimes extend the early stages of your prep by months. 

Unfortunately, this phase entirely depends on how much content you will need to revisit or (or relearn) to become a competitive test taker. 

While the GMAT isn’t predominantly a content-based test, a solid foundation in quantitative topics—most especially algebra—is indispensable for achieving a high score. Put simply, if you don’t have complete mastery of the underlying knowledge, you are creating a hard ceiling for the score you can achieve.

For more information on the phases of GMAT prep and how they will affect your timeline, read our article on How Long to Study for the GMAT?

Phase 2: Strategy into Practice

Luckily, the second factor in your prep time is entirely within your control: your personal schedule. 

Once you’ve figured out how long it will take you to complete the content review phase, you’ll need to consider what’s happening in your life as you gear up to start the hard work of learning GMAT strategies and applying them to your practice. 

Balancing personal commitments with study time is crucial for setting a realistic and effective study plan. Preparing for the GMAT during a period of lighter professional commitments—or even while between jobs—can drastically enhance the effectiveness of your study sessions. 

For those who must prepare alongside continuing full-time employment, it’s vital to choose your study period strategically. 

Opt for months where work pressure is lighter, possibly taking advantage of slow periods or using personal days to free up larger blocks of study time. If possible, negotiate with your supervisor for a flexible schedule that allows dedicated study hours, such as starting work later a couple of days each week. Commit to a strict study regimen—utilizing mornings, evenings, and weekends—and rigorously protect this schedule from social engagements or work-related travel. 

Concentrating your preparation into a continuous, intense 10-week period, rather than sporadic study sessions stretched over a year, can lead to higher efficiency and better outcomes on the test.

Step 3: Choose the Right Study Material and Commit!

After you’ve determined how much time you’ll need to set aside for GMAT preparation (considering both phases of prep), you’ll need to choose a study method that aligns with your learning style, schedule, and goals. Whether you opt for self-study or a more structured approach through live courses or tutoring, it is of paramount importance that you use the right materials.

About Those Study Materials

As we’ve touched on, the GMAT is not a content exam but a sophisticated assessment of your verbal and quantitative reasoning skills. It tests your ability to think critically and solve problems efficiently, rather than just recalling specific content.

Given this, the emphasis in your preparation should be on understanding the right approaches to tackle problems rather than merely memorizing rules or answers. To develop this skill, it is essential to engage with official GMAT practice materials. 

Official problems are meticulously crafted by a team of experts overseen by GMAC’s head psychometrician, who makes sure the questions are assessing exactly what matters for success in business school. The official materials that they produce are not only unique but are rigorously tested to ensure they accurately measure the intended skills. These questions are difficult to attack initially yet are generally simple in retrospective analysis.

Unofficial problems, by contrast, are produced by test prep companies and made available in third-party curriculums, study apps, and textbooks. Unofficial questions are poor imitations of the real thing. At best, they will fail to prepare you for the true difficulty of the GMAT exam, and at worst, they will actively lead you astray by giving you a false sense of confidence or instilling bad habits. You must avoid unofficial materials at all costs for this final stage of prep, when you are going beyond just content prep and learning how to cope with the intricate difficulty present on the real exam. 

To highlight some of the difficulties present in real GMAT questions and the strategies required to solve them, feel free to explore a deconstructed GMAT sample question from each section on the exam:

• Problem Solving Sample Problem
• Data Insights Sample Problem
• Reading Comprehension Sample Problem
• Critical Reasoning Sample Problem

An Expert Weighs In Chris Kane, Head of Test Prep at Menlo Coaching says: Pattern Recognition is particularly key for the Verbal and Data Insights sections, so you better use official questions in your prep. You need to practice for these sections with a lot of high-quality official questions or you will not learn the subtle tricks and cons that are used to create difficulty at the far end of the curve. A distinct playbook is used for creating difficult verbal and DI questions, and there is no content that you can beat into submission or master for these sections. The key is to recognize what mechanisms are being used to push you to tricky incorrect answers and this can only be done using questions that come from the “master” playbook that official question writers use in creating these problems.

Self-Study Using Official Materials

Self-study can be an effective and economical option for GMAT preparation, provided it is approached with diligence and the right resources. Official GMAC materials, including the Official Guide, supplement guides, and practice exams, offer over 2,000 practice questions that mimic the real test’s difficulty. 

However, this method requires self-discipline and time management skills, and it lacks the organization and strategies you will get from a high-quality curriculum. Since the official materials lack any real organization by content type, you also don’t get the “bucket learning”—sets of similar types of questions at once—that is so helpful for improving accuracy and efficiency. 

The solutions provided in these materials often showcase one way to solve a problem but are rarely the most efficient. Therefore, those who choose self-study must be cautious and consider seeking additional resources or forums to understand the quickest problem-solving methods. While studying with official problems is key to success, you will not learn the right strategies for attacking them by reviewing the provided explanations. 

Structured Learning with Official Content

For many test-takers, structured learning through tutoring or live classes provides the necessary framework to stay on track. If you can afford it, this is always the best option.

When selecting a course, ensure that the program uses only official GMAC materials in its curriculum. This integration is vital as it guarantees that the teaching material is reflective of what you will face on test day.  Test prep companies are notorious for creating simplistic strategies that seem appealing and work well on the unofficial questions they use in their curriculum, but break down on real test items. 

An Expert Weighs In Chris Kane, Head of Test Prep at Menlo Coaching says: Rote content preparation has never worked well for the GMAT, but on the new exam it is even more important that you use a strategic approach based on best practices, critical thinking, and pattern recognition developed by using official practice questions and tests. The reality is that there is a lot less pure content being tested on the GMAT Focus:  the grammar and geometry skills that needed to be refreshed previously are gone. As always, it is essential that you “Know What You Need to Know” for the quantitative section and that you have a core understanding of logic and proper conclusions for the verbal section. There are a few new skills to learn for Data Insights but overall the material being tested in that section is a mix of what you learn while preparing for the quant and verbal sections.

The same is true for tutoring: choose a provider that provides a unique and well-organized curriculum that uses official problems for homework and teaches you the right way to attack the questions you will actually see on test day. 

Once you’ve determined the right approach—self-study or guided practice with an expert, it’s time to commit! Keep to your schedule, and attack the GMAT with vigor. Thanks to the preliminary work you put in at the beginning, you should be well on your way to a top percentile score within your timeline.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, excelling on the GMAT Focus Edition requires a strategic blend of understanding core content and learning how to cope with the many layers of difficulty present in official materials.  You should emphasize building a solid foundation in the basics, especially in quantitative reasoning, while cultivating the ability to navigate complex verbal and data insights challenges. 

By dedicating sufficient time to both content review and strategic practice, and choosing study resources that mirror the intricacies of the actual exam, you position yourself for success. Menlo Coaching’s 5-Week GMAT Prep Course, for example, uses exclusively official material and prepares students for the exam in the most efficient time frame possible.

Remember, thorough preparation is key to adapting to the nuances of the new test format and achieving a score that reflects your true potential. Aim high, plan meticulously, and commit to a methodical approach to conquer the GMAT and advance your professional goals.

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