How to Self Prep for the 2024 GMAT (Focus Edition)

The GMAT Focus is gone... Long live the GMAT Focus. As of July 2024, the GMAC has retired it's now temporary rebranding of the successor to the GMAT 10th Edition so that the test previously known as the GMAT Focus Edition, and all past GMAT exams, are now simply known as the GMAT. This is causing significant confusion among test takers and preppers, because there is now almost no way to readily differentiate between prep materials for the prior version of the exam that has been retired and the current version that was launched in November 2023, becoming the only available version of the exam as of February 2024.

How to Identify Old GMAT Study Materials

Obviously, it's not a good idea to prepare for an extinct exam, but many third-party prep materials, let alone static resources out there in far corners of the internet won't readily identify which is new and which is old. Unfortunately, it's on test takers themselves to ensure that the content they are relying upon is not outdated. So, here are some quick identifying characteristics you can use to make sure your prep resources are accurate:

Section Structure

The newest, and only current version of the GMAT has only three sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights. Each of which is exactly 45 minutes in duration. Any reference to an Integrated Reasoning section, Analytical Writing Section essay, or section length other than 45 minutes is an immediate indication that you are using outdated materials.

overall SCORING

The composite GMAT scoring scale still uses ten-point increments, but now those scores end with a units digit of 5, such as 505 or 705. If the resource you are using refers to any score ending in a 0, it's antiquated information and should not be used. Most tellingly, if anything refers to a 700+ score, it hasn't been fully updated for the new exam.

Section SCORING

The individual section scores for each the three 45-minute sections of the current GMAT are each on a single point scale of 60-90. Avoid any resource that mentions score scales of 0-60 for the Verbal or Quantitative sections, as well as a scale of 1-8 for the Integrated Reasoning (now Data Insights) section.

Quantitative Section

The new GMAT quantitative section is solely comprised of 21 problem solving questions and only tests algebraic, arithmetic, and data analysis concepts. If you find any plane geometry content in the resource you are using, it is outdated. Also, if the quantitative materials you have include Data Sufficiency content as part of the Quantitative section, then that resource has not been updated for the GMAT as it exists in 2024.

Verbal Section

The 11th GMAT (Focus Edition) exam has only two types of questions in the Verbal section as well: self-contained single task Critical Reasoning problems and long Reading Comprehension passages with 3 or 4 questions pertaining to each passage. Any reference to Sentence Corrections or grammar in third party resources is an immediate indicator that resource has not been updated for the latest version of the exam and should not be used.

Data Insights Section

What was formerly known as the "Integrated Reasoning" section has become "Data Insights" in the latest version of the GMAT. This section represents the largest change between the two tests and is the hardest section for current MBA candidates to prepare for with outdated GMAT practice materials. The easiest way to identify a poor Data Insights practice resource is the lack of Data Sufficiency practice problems as part of this section as those are now one of five question formats it includes.

Current Official GMAT materials are best

A recent MyGuru student had very specific desire to focus on Data Insights based on her practice exam results she got from a prominent third-party GMAT prep resource that rhymes with Minceton Weview. She shared a 575 overall score broken down as 85 out of 90 for the Quantitative section, 80 out of 90 for the Verbal section, and 67 out of 90 for the Data Insights as evidence supporting her priorities.

As MyGuru's Director of Instruction, I am familiar with this particular resource's shortcomings as a former question writer and editor for it, so I immediately asked her to take an official GMAT practice exam from MBA.com to confirm where her exact instructional needs were. Her section scores inverted on the official practice test as an 85 in the third-party Quantitative section became a 67 on the official practice exam!

This one experience highlights several problems with relying primarily on third-party practice materials. 

1. Questions are likely outdated. Even if the resource refers to the new version of the GMAT in marketing or introductory materials, the individual questions, and more importantly the themes those questions focus on, are probably not prioritizing the logic and problem solving that is most rewarded on the latest version of the GMAT.
2. Questions are often derivative. For someone who has been writing GMAT (and other test) practice problems for nearly two decades, it was possible for me to refer directly to the official old practice problems that certain third-party problems were spun off from and to identify how the question wasn't as artful as the original it was based upon. Third-party practice is best used as a supplement if you run out of official mba.com practice problems.
3. Difficulty is hard to gauge. The latest version of the GMAT is very adaptive, so much so that it is possible to complete multiple attempts of their new practice exams and never see a duplicate question. This means that the official exam scores are highly adaptive and most third-party practice tests simply don't have enough depth to replicate the scoring algorithm for the GMAC.

Hold Yourself Accountable for study

Even though the GMAT is now a shorter exam with fewer concepts to prepare, it remains a difficult exam, so you'll need to commit to rigorous daily practice to achieve your goals. We at MyGuru believe that 2-4 months of daily study is still necessary, especially considering the smaller margin for error that this test has compared to its predecessor. After all, a 700 score is now a 645 according to the GMAC itself!

• Morning : Commit to 30-60 minutes of practice or lesson review
• Afternoon or Following Morning : Commit to 30-60 minutes of dedicated review of your prior work
• Practice Exams : At least three done and fully self-reviewed before test day

Of course, should you be interested in one-on-one tutoring from a true expert who can help you learn how to execute on test day please sign up for a free GMAT tutoring consultation today. However you choose to proceed, keep a positive attitude and remember this is supposed to be hard!