It is the perfect resource for MBA aspirants planning to take the GMAT exam but still trying to figure out how to prepare for the GMAT Focus or where to start their GMAT preparation. GMAT plays a crucial role in your MBA application. A high GMAT score can make you more competitive during admission and increase your chances of receiving scholarships. By doing this, you increase your chances of success on test day and move closer to getting into your ideal business school.
This article will cover the steps for preparing for the GMAT Focus: 5 Steps for Success. Following these steps will help you begin your journey towards GMAT success. From grasping exam content to developing your GMAT Focus Edition study plan, you will learn how to reach your goal.
GMAT Focus: Important Facts
As you may be aware, the GMAT Focus assesses abilities required for success in business school and the corporate world. These abilities include critical thinking, data analysis, logical reasoning, and fundamental math and English skills. Because the GMAT assesses competencies that successful MBA students demand, it is required for admission to most MBA programs.
Here are some critical GMAT Focus facts that every beginning student should know:
Run time: Around 2.5 hours, with one optional 10-minute break. In addition, both the in-person and online GMAT check-in processes take around 15 minutes.
Exam Content: Three parts with a total of 64 multiple-choice questions.
Quantitative reasoning: 45 minutes and 21 questions.
A calculator is not permitted. The Quant section includes multiple-choice problem-solving questions. Each question may contain various topics (such as algebra, number properties, and rates).
Verbal Reasoning: 45 minutes and 23 questions
Verbal questions are divided into critical reasoning (CR) and reading comprehension (RC). A single RC section may include three or four multiple-choice questions.
Data Insights (DI): 45 minutes and 20 questions.
DI questions need numeric and verbal skills, and there may be multiple answers to a single question. An on-screen calculator is available.
Scoring: 205 to 805 points (Total Score). GMAT scores are valid for five years after the test date.
Section score ranges from 60-90.
Your overall score is derived from the quantitative, verbal, and data insights section scores.
Step 1: Learn the format and topic of the paper.
The GMAT Focus Edition 2024 is a 2-hour, 15-minute adaptive test designed to evaluate your quantitative, verbal, and data insights skills. Every individual receives a score ranging from 205 to 805. There are three sections in this test. Here are the specifics regarding the length of each part, the quantity of questions, and the types of questions:
| GMAT Focus Edition Sections | No. of Questions | Question Types | Time Frame |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 21 multiple choice | Problem Solving, Algebra and Arithmetic | 45 minutes |
| Verbal Reasoning | 23 multiple choice | Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning | 45 minutes |
| Data Insights | 20 multiple choice | Data Sufficiency, Multi-source Reasoning, Table Analysis, Graphics Interpretation, Two-Part Analysis | 45 minutes |
Step 2: Calculate Your Initial Score
Students sometimes hesitate when I mention that the next step involves taking a GMAT Focus practice test to establish a baseline. As I mentioned earlier, students should only tackle a few practice questions at a time. What are the benefits of having a comprehensive exam? Are you prepared for that? What happens if you don’t do well? So, does that imply you’re in trouble?
Practising some GMAT Focus questions is for gaining information, not mastering the material. Similarly, a practice test can provide insight into your current GMAT preparation level. Imagine this scenario: you’re standing at the base of Mount GMAT, trying to figure out its height. Starting to climb without the necessary tools or time could hinder your journey to the summit.
Your GMAT challenge isn’t too daunting, or you may have a strategy to overcome it. Regardless, you must establish a baseline to determine if you’re 50 or 150 points away from your goal. Therefore, figuring out the appropriate study duration for GMAT Focus may be challenging. An initial practice exam is essential to develop a successful GMAT Focus study plan.
GMAC offers six official practice exams, with two available at no cost. Take some time to explore the exam tutorial tool to familiarise yourself with the test screens and navigation, and review the instructions for each section. Next, proceed to the initial complimentary test. You will gain a clear understanding of the GMAT test experience and see how close you are to reaching your target score.
Take the test in realistic conditions.
When you take the initial practice test, you aim to achieve the most precise baseline score. For a successful GMAT Focus study plan, it’s essential to gauge your current distance from your target. Try to recreate the GMAT Focus testing environment as accurately as possible for your initial practice test.
Choose a peaceful and private location for your exam to avoid any distractions. Consider using a private room at the library when taking the exam at a test centre. When preparing for the online GMAT, practising in the exact location where you’ll be taking the actual exam is beneficial. Ensure the space is set up as you would for the actual exam.
Regardless, power down your phone and keep it out of view. Please ensure all parts of the exam are filled out. Stick to the designated time limit. Make sure to do your best on every question! Avoid any actions that are prohibited during the GMAT Focus. It involves taking breaks, pausing, chatting with a friend, and enjoying coffee at your desk. By doing so, you run the risk of building your GMAT study plan on an incorrect score. Consequently, you might need more test days.
Keep Your Score Expectations in Check
Remember to do your best without setting specific score expectations. The GMAT Focus necessitates a solid grasp of concepts, precise timing strategies, and intense mental and physical endurance. Many individuals preparing for the GMAT exam typically require several months of dedicated study and practice to excel in understanding the material and honing their abilities.
For example, look at the time limits for each GMAT Focus section. Typically, a test-taker has over 2 minutes for each Quantitative question, under 2 minutes for each verbal question, and 2.25 minutes for each DI question. Questions naturally require varying amounts of time to complete. One key to reaching your target score is understanding how to allocate your time across various question types.
For instance, a Reading Comprehension question typically takes longer to complete than a Critical Reasoning question. How you manage your time can significantly impact your GMAT Focus score. Even if you grasp GMAT material well, you may still need help during your initial practice exam.
While it’s common to want to excel, aiming for a perfect score right from the start may be challenging. Moreover, such anticipation can lead to significant stress. It doesn’t matter if you’re 100 points away, 200, or any other number. You’re a beginner at this! A practical study plan is essential for success!
During this phase, it’s essential to obtain a precise baseline score. You possess the knowledge to develop a strategic, efficient, and realistic GMAT study plan to achieve your objective.
Step 3: Prepare a study plan
Developing a study schedule is essential for GMAT readiness. When executed correctly, a customized study schedule can help you save over 60 hours of preparation time. So, the initial step in preparing for the GMAT is to develop a personalized study schedule that fits your requirements.
Here are the steps to create a customized study plan:
- Determine your desired Score
- Determine if your strategy should focus on Verbal, Quantitative, or Data Interpretation.
- Calculate the time required
- Please outline the study sequence
- Make sure to schedule time for mock exams
Determine the Score you are aiming for.
Choosing your target GMAT score primarily relies on the university you are aiming for. To improve your chances of admission and secure a scholarship, aim to score at least 20 points above the class average. For instance, if the college you’re aiming for has an average GMAT score of 675, you should aim to score 695 or higher.
The average GMAT score for the top 30 colleges in the US stands at 655. If you aim for these schools, you should score 675 or higher.
Choose whether to focus on numbers, words, or data insights in your approach.
There are numerous methods to achieve a score of 645. To achieve a GMAT score of 645, aim for Q77, V86, and DI83 scores. Another option is to achieve scores of Q85, V80, and DI81. Q85 corresponds to the 89th percentile in the GMAT, while Q77 is only at the 46th percentile. So, make a wise decision based on your verbal, quantitative, or data analysis strengths.
The information from the previous step will help you decide if your approach should be data-driven, language-driven, or design-driven. When creating a successful plan, it’s essential to identify your strengths and weaknesses in quantitative, verbal, and data insights.
Please provide an estimate of the time required.
Once you have your target GMAT score, a thorough understanding of your baseline scores, and your planned approach, you can gauge the time required for your GMAT preparation.
With a focused and organized GMAT preparation strategy, investing around 7 hours of study time could boost your total Score by 10 points on a scale of 805. Online courses are typically more engaging and offer active feedback. It not only helps students concentrate for extended periods and improves their learning but also reduces the number of revisions needed to achieve a high level of competence by half. When using books for studying, expect to dedicate around 12 hours for every 10 points of improvement on a scale of 805.
Additionally, you may require extra time to enhance your understanding of a specific subject. For instance, if students begin in the 25th percentile in Critical Reasoning, they should increase this time estimate by 25% (for Critical Reasoning only). Similarly, if you struggle with GMAT Quant, the same applies. Let’s refer to this factor as Confidence Building Time (CBT).
Based on the estimates, a dedicated student aiming for a 100-point increase could benefit from a data-driven online course in just 80 hours. In the same online course, achieving a 200-point score increase would take around 160 hours of effort.
In summary, here’s a straightforward guideline to approximate the time needed:
Your desired final GMAT score is your target score.
Initial GMAT Score = Initial score on an official practice test
It takes 7 hours of effort for every 10-point score improvement.
CBT stands for Confidence Building Time factor, which can be 0.0 or 0.25.
Please outline the study sequence.
After estimating the time required for preparation, you must block off that time in your calendar to avoid scheduling other activities and sticking to your plan. It’s a good idea to begin by focusing on your relative strength to establish positive momentum for the rest of your preparation.
To begin with Verbal, you should start with CR. Once you’ve achieved your desired Score in CR, you can shift your focus to RC. This order is necessary because RC relies on skills cultivated in CR. Getting ready for CR would enhance your abilities in RC to a certain extent.
To begin with Quant, you can start with Number Properties and then move on to Word Problems, Algebra, and Advanced Topics in that sequence.
To begin with Data Insights, you can first explore Graphics Interpretation and Table Analysis (GITA), then proceed to Two-Part Analysis (TPA), Data Sufficiency (DS), and Multi-Source Reasoning (MSR) in that sequence.
Start with one section at a time to focus on studying one topic thoroughly. Avoid changing issues suddenly. For instance, complete SC before moving on to Number Properties. Concentrating on one section at a time will allow you to fully grasp the content before proceeding to the next.
Set aside time to practice with mock exams.
Make sure to allocate sufficient time in your study schedule for reviewing quizzes and sub-sectional tests. It is suggested that three medium- and hard-level tests of 10 questions each in each sub-section be completed before moving on to the following sub-section. It will help you become proficient in the subsection and remember the material for an extended period. Each subsection will require approximately 10 hours during the Cementing stage. It would involve allocating time for administering the tests and reviewing each test question. This time will be called Stage 2 – Cementing in your PSP. If you haven’t developed the PSP, allocate approximately 10 hours for each subsection to enhance your skills.
Many students think taking numerous practice tests is essential to excel in the GMAT exam. But that’s not true. It is not beneficial to take a large number of practice exams. What truly counts is the analysis conducted after each mock. At e-GMAT, we suggest completing 3-4 full-length practice tests once you have completed your studies. Ensure that each practice test is thoroughly analyzed, as outlined in step 2 above. A few more mocks should suffice since you’ve already completed numerous sub-sectional tests. Mock exams should be used solely to prepare for tests. By the time you reach this stage, all learning should be finished. We suggest allocating an additional 30-40 hours for this task.
Step 4: Utilizing appropriate resources and implementing the plan
Before choosing the appropriate resources for your study, let’s explore the various steps involved in preparing for the GMAT exam. At e-GMAT, we advocate a 3-stage learning process that has been beneficial for numerous students who achieved a 700+ (GFE Equivalent 645+) score:
Step 1: Understanding Concepts and Methods
This phase involves understanding all the concepts within a specific topic and learning how to solve related questions.
Step 2: Cementing
During this stage, we solidify our knowledge by tackling medium-difficulty and challenging questions. We begin with a more casual pace and then move on to a regular pace. The standard timing is the pace at which you will need to complete the GMAT.
Step 3: Ready for Testing
This is the last stage of your preparation. This is the place to practice with full-length mocks to assess your readiness for the GMAT or identify areas for improvement.
Choosing the appropriate study material depends on the specific stage you are currently in. It’s simple to accomplish this by using the information gathered from the first two steps of Creating a Study Plan: your desired GMAT score and your current skills. For instance, if your initial skill level is less than 595, you might need to begin at Stage 1. If you have a starting score of 645+ and aim to increase by 20-30 points, focusing on Cementing and test readiness might be all you need. You might not have to grasp every concept.
If you’re looking to be more efficient in your preparation, consider opting for an online course that provides consistent feedback. The e-GMAT online course provides a customized study schedule, dedicated support, and detailed analytics. It monitors your progress to ensure success is predictable, something that isn’t achievable with book-based preparation. Experience it firsthand with our complimentary trial!
Step 5: Dealing with GMAT stress
Feeling nervous about taking the GMAT exam is common due to its significant impact on your career and future earnings. As you get ready for all the other parts of the exam, make sure also to prepare yourself mentally to manage stress and test day nerves so you don’t feel too overwhelmed.
