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GMAT · Focus Edition · GMAC

GMAT MBA Preparation

Graduate Management Admission Test — the standardized test used for admission to MBA and master's programs in business worldwide. Current format: Focus Edition (since 2023).

About the exam

What is the GMAT

The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is the standardized test administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), used for admission to MBA, EMBA, Master in Management, and Master in Finance programs at hundreds of business schools worldwide.

Starting November 7, 2023, the standard format is the GMAT Focus Edition — a more compact version (~2h 15min instead of the previous 3h 7min), with three sections instead of four.

The three Focus Edition sections

Section 1 — my specialty

Quantitative Reasoning

21 questions, 45 minutes. Arithmetic, algebra, elementary geometry, problem-solving.

Section 2

Verbal Reasoning

23 questions, 45 minutes. Reading comprehension, critical reasoning.

Section 3 — my specialty

Data Insights

20 questions, 45 minutes. Data sufficiency, integrated reasoning, tables and graphs.

Note: I tutor the Quantitative Reasoning and Data Insights sections. For Verbal Reasoning you'll need a separate English-language specialist.

Quantitative Reasoning content

The mathematical content is at the high school level — the difficulty comes from application, speed and logic, not from subject complexity:

  • Arithmetic — proportions, percentages, ratios, descriptive statistics
  • Algebra — linear and quadratic equations, inequalities, systems
  • Geometry — areas, volumes, triangles, circle, coordinates
  • Word problems — speed/distance/time, work, mixtures, combinatorics

Scoring

The total Focus Edition score is on the 205–805 scale, in 10-point increments. Each section separately is scored on the 60–90 scale.

Top global MBA programs (Harvard, Wharton, INSEAD, LBS, Stanford) have admission averages between 720 and 740 on the old scale (~675–705 on Focus Edition).

The teacher

Teaching GMAT since 2007 — at EdVenture School

Dr. Georgiana Popovici has been preparing candidates for the GMAT since 2007 at EdVenture School. 19 years of experience with this exam — including the transition from the classic format to Focus Edition.

For a test where the Quantitative and Data Insights components require applied mathematical logic, her PhD in Mathematical Statistics (University of Bucharest) and her extensive university teaching experience are directly relevant.

Full profile
Dr. Georgiana Popovici

Book GMAT preparation

Tell me your exam date, target score and the MBA programs you're applying to.