Complete Overview of GMAT 2024: Exam Format, Sections, and Question Types

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) has long been a critical gateway for aspirants targeting elite business schools. However, the landscape of business education is not static, and as curricula evolve, so too must the instruments that assess candidate readiness. The GMAT Focus Edition, introduced in 2024, is the most significant transformation in the exam’s history. Its redesign reflects both pedagogical advances and industry trends emphasizing data literacy, critical reasoning, and concise problem-solving.

This first installment in our three-part series dissects the GMAT Focus Edition’s structure, rationale, and key changes, while providing an in-depth understanding of how the exam format aligns with the expectations of modern MBA and business master’s programs.

The Rationale Behind the GMAT Focus Edition

The GMAT has always been a predictive measure of academic performance in business school, but with rapid changes in data analytics, globalization, and technological innovation, the skills required of future business leaders are shifting. The traditional GMAT, in its previous form, tested a broad set of competencies, including analytical writing and grammar-based sentence correction. While effective for many years, these components began to feel antiquated in an era that prioritizes succinct communication and data-driven decision-making.

Stakeholder feedback from business schools and test-takers highlighted the need for a more focused and relevant assessment. The GMAT Focus Edition emerges from this feedback, emphasizing relevance, efficiency, and accessibility. The overhaul is not just cosmetic—it reflects a paradigm shift toward more concise testing and real-world skill alignment.

Overview of the New GMAT Format

The GMAT Focus Edition is significantly shorter, clocking in at 2 hours and 15 minutes, a considerable reduction from the 3-hour-and-7-minute duration of the previous version. This streamlined format is divided into three sections of equal time allocation:

Quantitative Reasoning – 45 minutes
Verbal Reasoning – 45 minutes
Data Insights – 45 minutes

Each section now carries an equal weight in scoring, with scores ranging from 60 to 90 for each component. The total score ranges from 205 to 805, a change from the former 200 to 800 range. Though subtle, this shift repositions how composite performance is evaluated and presented to institutions.

Key Structural Modifications

Several major changes characterize the new structure:

Elimination of the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA)

Removal of Sentence Correction from the Verbal section

Introduction of the Data Insights section

Fixed section timing: 45 minutes per section

Introduction of Question Review & Edit feature within sections

These changes have made the GMAT more approachable without compromising its rigor. Moreover, the focus on computer-adaptive testing remains, meaning the test continues to dynamically adjust the difficulty of questions based on performance.

The Philosophy of Conciseness and Relevance

The evolution of the GMAT is more than a technical adjustment; it reflects a philosophical shift. With shorter durations and sharper content alignment, the test now centers on evaluating what matters most in today’s business education context. Business schools are increasingly valuing candidates who can extract insights from data, think critically under time pressure, and articulate their reasoning without verbosity.

By removing the AWA, the test no longer measures written expression in isolation. While writing remains important in business school, admissions committees often evaluate writing ability through application essays and recommendation letters. Similarly, sentence correction questions—once central to testing grammatical accuracy—have become less relevant in a world where digital tools can assist with language refinement.

Flexibility and Test-Taker Empowerment

One of the most appreciated additions to the GMAT Focus Edition is the Question Review & Edit feature. Candidates can now review their answers and revise up to three responses per section. This functionality marks a departure from the old rigid structure and introduces a dimension of test-taking strategy.

Additionally, the order in which test-takers attempt sections is customizable. The three possible section orders are:

Quantitative → Verbal → Data Insights
Verbal → Quantitative → Data Insights
Data Insights → Verbal → Quantitative

This degree of flexibility empowers test-takers to play to their strengths and psychological preferences, reducing test-day anxiety and improving focus.

Understanding the Three GMAT Focus Edition Sections

Quantitative Reasoning

The Quantitative Reasoning section has been trimmed down to 21 questions, all rooted in problem-solving. Data Sufficiency, a unique GMAT question type, has migrated to the Data Insights section. This repositioning allows for a tighter focus on computational and analytical problem-solving without distraction.

The content here is primarily algebra, arithmetic, number properties, and elementary geometry, with an emphasis on logic rather than complex computation. The calculator is not permitted in this section, reinforcing the importance of mental math agility and efficient strategies.

Verbal Reasoning

The Verbal Reasoning section now consists of 23 questions and no longer includes Sentence Correction items. The focus is squarely on Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning. This section tests a candidate’s ability to interpret complex texts, analyze arguments, evaluate assumptions, and draw logical conclusions.

Textual sources range from business and humanities to natural sciences, ensuring a broad spectrum of intellectual engagement. The absence of grammar questions makes this section more accessible to non-native English speakers while maintaining a rigorous standard of analytical literacy.

Data Insights

Perhaps the most revolutionary inclusion in the 2024 GMAT is the Data Insights section. This segment features 20 questions that blend data sufficiency with modern analytics. It examines a test-taker’s ability to analyze tables, graphs, data sets, and quantitative scenarios.

This section acknowledges the growing importance of data literacy in management careers. Unlike the Quantitative section, the Data Insights portion does allow the use of an on-screen calculator, reflecting the real-world norm of data analysis tools and support systems.

Scoring System and Interpretation

The new scoring scale—ranging from 205 to 805—was introduced to mark a clear distinction between the GMAT Focus Edition and previous GMAT versions. The raw scores from each section (60–90) are combined through a proprietary algorithm to generate the total score. This recalibration discourages direct comparison with historical scores but allows business schools to evaluate candidates more holistically in the modern context.

Importantly, the score report now includes:

Total Score (205–805)
Section Scores for each of the three segments
Percentile rankings
Option to select up to five programs to send scores to at no cost

Comparability with Legacy GMAT Scores

A frequent concern among test-takers is how Focus Edition scores compare with those from the legacy GMAT. Because the scoring scale and content have changed significantly, GMAC (the administering body) advises against making direct equivalencies. Admissions committees are being briefed on the structural shifts and will receive interpretive guidance for evaluating the new scores appropriately.

However, candidates applying to programs during the transition period (2024–2025) should be aware that both formats may be accepted, and it’s crucial to check individual school preferences.

Accessibility, Registration, and Retakes

The GMAT Focus Edition is delivered year-round at Pearson VUE test centers globally, and online proctoring remains available for remote test-takers. Registration fees have remained consistent, and the policies for rescheduling and cancellation mirror those of the legacy format.

Each candidate can attempt the GMAT Focus Edition up to five times in a 12-month period, with a lifetime cap of eight total attempts. This policy includes both legacy and Focus Edition attempts.

Test-takers are also given the option to preview their unofficial score immediately after completing the exam and have 48 hours to decide whether to keep or cancel the result.

Strategic Implications for Test Preparation

With fewer sections and reduced question counts, every item on the GMAT Focus Edition carries more weight. This elevates the importance of precision and time management during preparation. Candidates must adjust their study strategies to reflect the revised structure.

Test preparation providers have already begun recalibrating their materials to align with the new sections, especially the Data Insights area, which requires fresh approaches and dedicated practice.

Additionally, the absence of the essay and grammar-focused questions may reallocate a candidate’s study focus. Emphasis now leans more heavily toward analytical and interpretive skills, reflecting the direction of global business education.

The GMAT Reimagined for a New Era

The GMAT Focus Edition represents a recalibration of the business school admissions paradigm. It is not a dilution of standards but rather an enhancement—streamlining the test to focus on critical and data-driven thinking while offering flexibility and modern relevance.

For prospective candidates, understanding the structure and intent of the 2024 format is the first step toward effective preparation. In the next installment of this series, we will dive deeper into the Quantitative and Verbal sections, unpacking the question types, difficulty levels, and strategies for mastering each area.

In an era where agility and insight define leadership, the GMAT Focus Edition stands as a fitting challenge and a more accurate mirror of real-world business capabilities.

Mastering the Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning Sections

The GMAT Focus Edition has been engineered to reflect the evolving priorities of graduate business education. While this series explored the general format and structure of the exam, delves into the two cornerstone sections of cognitive assessment: Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning. Each of these components spans 45 minutes and plays a vital role in evaluating the intellectual toolkit of prospective business students.

This article unpacks the types of questions, underlying skills assessed, and optimal strategies for both the Quantitative and Verbal sections, offering insights that illuminate how to master these critical areas in the new GMAT Focus Edition.

The Quantitative Reasoning Section: Logic Over Calculation

Overview and Question Format

The Quantitative Reasoning section consists of 21 questions to be completed in 45 minutes. Unlike its predecessor, this version of the GMAT eliminates Data Sufficiency from the Quantitative section and focuses entirely on problem-solving questions.

Problem-solving questions are multiple-choice and assess the test-taker’s ability to analyze quantitative problems, interpret information, and determine the best method for solving each question.

The section does not permit the use of a calculator, reinforcing the importance of mental math, estimation, and efficiency. Most questions are designed to test logical reasoning more than intricate computation, staying true to the GMAT’s aim of evaluating how well candidates can reason through quantitative dilemmas rather than crunch numbers.

Core Concepts Covered

The Quantitative section leans on foundational mathematics. The scope does not exceed what is typically taught in secondary education. However, the complexity arises from the logical framing and multi-layered nature of the problems. The major topics include:

Arithmetic: ratios, percentages, integers, properties of numbers, fractions, and decimals
Algebra: linear and quadratic equations, inequalities, expressions, functions
Word problems: age problems, work/time, rate and distance
Number properties: divisibility, primes, remainders, exponents
Geometry: lines, angles, triangles, circles, coordinate geometry (no trigonometry)

A distinctive feature of GMAT math is its emphasis on how well test-takers can construct a solution path under timed conditions, often with minimal calculation. Questions may contain traps, such as extra information or cleverly designed answer choices that test logical consistency rather than just correctness.

Difficulty and Adaptive Nature

The GMAT is a computer-adaptive test. This means that the difficulty level of subsequent questions adjusts according to a candidate’s performance. As such, the first few questions in the Quant section carry disproportionate weight in setting the trajectory of the test.

Early questions are generally of moderate difficulty, but as the candidate answers correctly, the algorithm presents increasingly challenging items. Conversely, wrong answers may lower the subsequent question difficulty. This adaptation ensures that the test zeroes in on a test-taker’s true ability level.

Effective Strategies for Quantitative Reasoning

Prioritize mental math and estimation
Since calculators are prohibited, efficient calculation and estimation skills are critical. Rounding values or estimating proportions can expedite the process in many cases.

Focus on understanding over memorization
GMAT math is conceptual. Rather than memorizing formulas, understand how and why they work. The test is notorious for posing problems in unfamiliar formats to test conceptual flexibility.

Use back-solving and plugging in
Many questions can be tackled efficiently by substituting answer choices or testing values. These techniques are particularly useful when variables are involved.

Pace through checkpoints
With 21 questions in 45 minutes, candidates should aim for approximately two minutes per question. It is essential to monitor time and move forward without overinvesting in a single item.

Practice with official materials
Familiarity with the GMAT’s phrasing, logic, and traps is vital. Practice with official GMAC materials ensures exposure to the nuances of real test questions.

Sample Question

A retailer sells a jacket at a 20% discount from its original price. If the discounted price is $80, what is the original price of the jacket?

(A) $96
(B) $98
(C) $100
(D) $102
(E) $104

Solution:
Let the original price be x.
Discounted price = x – 0.2x = 0.8x
0.8x = 80 → x = 100
Correct answer: (C)

This problem is a classic example of proportion-based arithmetic with a focus on percentage and linear equations.

The Verbal Reasoning Section: Precision in Logic and Language

Overview and Question Types

The Verbal Reasoning section contains 23 questions to be completed in 45 minutes. The revised GMAT Focus Edition excludes Sentence Correction, narrowing the focus to:

Reading Comprehension (RC)
Critical Reasoning (CR)

This adjustment sharpens the assessment of skills most relevant to business school success: reading complex texts, synthesizing information, evaluating arguments, and making reasoned judgments under time constraints.

Reading and reasoning skills are universal, and the GMAT measures them through diverse topics ranging from business, law, economics, and politics to social sciences and the natural world. Importantly, no prior knowledge is required—comprehension and logic are key.

Reading Comprehension (RC)

RC questions are designed to assess the ability to read and understand complex written material. Each passage is followed by 3–4 questions that test:

Main idea identification
Inference
Supporting detail
Author’s tone and purpose
Logical structure

Passages typically range from 250 to 350 words and are intentionally dense. Candidates must extract relevant information efficiently without becoming mired in unimportant details.

Effective strategies for RC:

Skim strategically: Focus on structure (introduction, body, conclusion) rather than trying to absorb every detail.
Highlight keywords: Transitions, quantifiers, and conclusions help clarify argument flow.
Paraphrase the passage’s core message before tackling the questions.

Critical Reasoning (CR)

CR questions involve short arguments (usually 100 words or fewer) followed by a prompt requiring logical evaluation. The typical question types include:

Strengthen the argument
Weaken the argument
Find the assumption
Identify the flaw
Evaluate the argument
Inference or conclusion

These questions test deductive and inductive reasoning and are closely aligned with real-world decision-making processes.

Sample CR Question:

Argument: A recent study found that employees who work from home are more productive than those in office settings. Therefore, companies should encourage remote work to improve overall efficiency.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

(A) Employees working from home report higher job satisfaction.
(B) The study was conducted during a short-term trial period.
(C) Office-based employees have more face-to-face interactions.
(D) Remote employees save time by avoiding commutes.
(E) Productivity was measured by self-reported output.

Answer: (E)
Self-reported output introduces bias and questions the study’s validity, directly weakening the argument’s foundation.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Misreading dense text
The GMAT often includes long and complex sentences with abstract ideas. Read slowly and look for topic sentences in each paragraph.

Overlooking answer traps
Many wrong answer choices are plausible but irrelevant. Focus on what the question actually asks.

Answering based on prior knowledge
Especially in science or economics topics, candidates may assume facts not stated in the passage. Always rely strictly on what is presented.

Neglecting logical structure
Understand how arguments are built. Identifying premises, conclusions, and assumptions is critical to answering CR questions accurately.

Time imbalance
Some passages may seem more engaging or easier, tempting test-takers to spend extra time. Allocate time uniformly across the section.

Strategies to Improve Verbal Performance

Daily reading practice: Read opinion-heavy material such as editorials, business reports, and academic essays to improve comprehension.
Argument mapping: Practice identifying the logic behind claims and the relationship between evidence and conclusions.
Timed practice: Since time pressure affects performance, simulate real test conditions during preparation.

Integration of Quantitative and Verbal Skills

While Quantitative and Verbal are treated as distinct sections, success in both depends on higher-order reasoning. GMAT questions often require:

Pattern recognition
Process of elimination
Decision-making under pressure

Mastery of these shared cognitive skills enhances overall performance across the test. Furthermore, these skills reflect the real-life challenges of business management—analyzing data, interpreting financial reports, making persuasive cases, and drawing inferences from incomplete information.

Role of Adaptive Testing in Performance

Computer-adaptive testing significantly influences test dynamics. Since the system adapts to individual performance, no two test-takers see the exact same set of questions. This means that:

There is no benefit to skipping easier items to save time.
Guessing randomly can mislead the algorithm, especially early in the section.
Building a strong foundation is more important than trying to game the system.

As a result, preparation should focus not on trickery, but on cultivating solid conceptual and strategic proficiency.

Should You Focus More on Quant or Verbal?

This is a frequent dilemma for many candidates. The answer depends on personal strengths, but a few general observations help:

If you’re a non-native English speaker, the Verbal section may require more practice to match native-level fluency in nuance and inference.
If you come from a non-quantitative academic background, the math portion may feel daunting and require more foundational work.
Ultimately, since both sections carry equal weight, neglecting either is detrimental. Balanced preparation is ideal.

The Foundations of Business Readiness

The Quantitative and Verbal sections of the GMAT Focus Edition are finely tuned to assess intellectual skills that translate directly to business school success. They challenge candidates not just to calculate or comprehend, but to analyze, strategize, and articulate under time constraints.

Mastery of these sections demands deliberate, structured preparation and frequent practice under timed conditions. As the GMAT has evolved, so too must candidate strategies, shifting from rote memorization to integrated thinking.

we will explore the new Data Insights section, its hybrid question types, and how it prepares candidates for a data-saturated business environment. We will also cover the test-day experience, question review features, and strategies for post-exam success.

Data Insights, Test-Day Experience, and Strategic Review

In the evolving landscape of business education and digital intelligence, the GMAT Focus Edition has introduced substantial changes not only in its structure but also in its core philosophy of assessment. Aimed at measuring the decision-making acumen and analytical depth expected from future business leaders, this latest iteration includes an all-new section called Data Insights. Combined with procedural improvements such as the question review tool and the reimagined test-day experience, the GMAT 2024 format positions itself as a modern, adaptive, and more business-aligned assessment.

This final installment in our series examines the Data Insights section in detail, uncovers the nuances of the new review-and-edit feature, and outlines what candidates can expect on test day. Together, these insights equip aspirants with a thorough understanding of how to approach the GMAT Focus Edition strategically and confidently.

A New Dimension: The Data Insights Section

The Data Insights section is perhaps the most telling sign of the GMAT’s evolution. With a growing emphasis on analytical literacy and data-based decision-making in the corporate realm, this section replaces both Integrated Reasoning and elements of the Analytical Writing Assessment. It is now a full-fledged pillar of the exam.

The section consists of 20 questions to be completed in 45 minutes. Unlike the Quant and Verbal sections, candidates are provided with an on-screen calculator for Data Insights, underscoring the nature of the tasks, which often involve large or complex numbers presented in data-heavy formats.

This section synthesizes various cognitive demands. It assesses how well a test-taker can interpret graphs, assess tables, reconcile information from multiple sources, and reach logical conclusions under timed conditions.

Common Formats in the Data Insights Section

Although question types are not always explicitly labeled, candidates can expect five commonly recurring formats:

Table Analysis

In this format, a sortable table of figures is presented. The challenge lies not only in reading the data but in assessing the veracity of accompanying statements. Often, only a portion of the table is needed to reach a correct answer, requiring precise targeting of relevant data points.

Graphics Interpretation

Here, data is visualized through pie charts, line graphs, bar charts, or scatter plots. Candidates must interpret what the chart implies by selecting correct phrases or numbers from dropdown menus. This format mirrors the visual data presentation styles used in boardrooms and performance reports.

Two-Part Analysis

This versatile question type presents a problem with two interrelated components. The subject may vary across logic, arithmetic, or decision-making. A shared scenario leads to two simultaneous questions, each with the same set of answer options, and the candidate must select one answer per column.

Multi-Source Reasoning

Presented in tabbed documents, this format simulates the experience of synthesizing information from emails, reports, press releases, or graphs. Candidates are tasked with answering questions that may require detecting contradictions, logical flaws, or data overlaps across sources.

Data Sufficiency in Context

Although this format is primarily removed from the Quant section in the Focus Edition, its spirit persists within Data Insights. Candidates are sometimes asked to determine whether given data sets are sufficient to answer a specific query. This tests judgment rather than calculation.

Skills Evaluated in Data Insights

The section is designed to test a composite of verbal and quantitative abilities contextualized in real-world scenarios. Core competencies include:

The ability to analyze and sort large sets of data efficiently
Proficiency in interpreting graphical representations of complex information
Logical consistency and reasoning with incomplete or partial datasets
Strategic decision-making based on quantitative evidence
Adaptability in switching between document formats and content types

Unlike purely academic skills, these abilities are directly aligned with managerial roles where professionals must make informed decisions based on dashboards, reports, and inconsistent or incomplete information.

Preparation Strategies for Data Insights

Success in this section requires more than rote practice. A multi-pronged strategy is advisable.

First, familiarize yourself with different chart and graph types. The more formats you are exposed to, the quicker you will interpret visuals under time pressure.

Second, practice reading for purpose. In multi-source problems, it is unwise to read every document thoroughly at first glance. Learn to skim and search for data relevant to each question prompt.

Third, cultivate your calculator use. While not necessary for every question, there are cases where its judicious use can save precious time and prevent errors in decimal work or ratio calculations.

Fourth, reinforce your logical parsing. Even when numbers are involved, the logic behind sufficiency, implication, and inference plays a crucial role. Avoid over-interpreting or reading beyond what is stated.

Finally, train your timing instincts. With only 45 minutes for 20 complex questions, average time per question is just over two minutes. Practice pacing yourself during mock sessions.

The Review-and-Edit Feature: A Game-Changer in Exam Strategy

One of the most noteworthy changes in the GMAT Focus Edition is the ability to review and edit previously answered questions within a section. This tool was absent in the classic GMAT format, where answers were final once submitted.

Now, candidates can bookmark questions and return to them later within the allotted time for that section. This seemingly minor procedural change introduces major strategic implications.

Benefits of the Review-and-Edit Tool

The flexibility to revisit questions allows candidates to allocate their time more efficiently. One might choose to address straightforward items first, leaving trickier problems for a second pass. This triage approach can prevent early bottlenecks and maintain confidence levels throughout the exam.

Furthermore, error-checking becomes possible. If a misreading or miscalculation is noticed later, corrections can be made without penalty, provided the section has not been submitted.

Additionally, the psychological advantage is significant. Knowing that mistakes can be corrected or uncertain answers revisited can reduce stress, particularly for high-stakes test-takers prone to anxiety.

Strategic Considerations

However, this feature is best used judiciously. Excessive second-guessing or jumping between questions can waste time and increase cognitive fatigue. The best practice is to flag only genuinely uncertain items and avoid overthinking those you have already resolved with confidence.

Moreover, because each section is still time-bound, a disciplined approach is critical. Candidates should monitor their pacing and reserve a small buffer of time for final review.

Test Day Experience: Online vs Test Center

Choosing between an online and in-person GMAT experience depends on one’s personal preferences and logistical convenience. Both modalities are nearly identical in structure and scoring, but there are differences in environment and rules.

At a Test Center

Testing centers offer a standardized, distraction-free environment. Candidates are monitored via webcam and proctor, provided with a physical erasable notepad, and subject to strict check-in protocols. Identification verification is conducted through government-issued ID and sometimes biometric scanning.

One ten-minute break is allowed between sections. Personal belongings, including phones and bags, must be stored outside the testing room. Scratch paper is not allowed; instead, candidates use a laminated booklet and marker.

Online GMAT

The online GMAT can be taken from home, provided a quiet and isolated room is available. Candidates must perform a 360-degree room scan, ensure no other persons are present, and disable virtual assistants or recording software.

Digital scratchpads are used instead of physical writing tools. While the interface remains consistent with the test-center version, some candidates find the absence of a physical writing medium to be a limitation, particularly for complex problem-solving.

On the upside, the online version provides greater scheduling flexibility, faster score reporting, and fewer logistical hurdles for those in remote locations.

Section Order and Break Management

The GMAT Focus Edition allows candidates to choose the order in which they take the three sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights. This added customization enables test-takers to play to their strengths.

Those who feel freshest at the start of the exam might begin with their most challenging section to clear it while concentration is highest. Others may prefer to warm up with their strongest section to build confidence and rhythm.

A ten-minute break can be taken after the first or second section. Many candidates opt to insert the break after the second section, allowing a pause before tackling the final portion with renewed focus.

Scoring, Reporting, and Retakes

The GMAT Focus Edition uses a new scoring scale ranging from 205 to 805, with increments of 10. Each section—Quant, Verbal, and Data Insights—is scored individually on a 60 to 90 scale, and each contributes equally to the total score.

This is a departure from the classic GMAT, which placed more emphasis on Quant and Verbal while treating Integrated Reasoning and Analytical Writing as separate metrics. The new system reflects a balanced model that considers business-relevant skills as equally important.

Candidates receive their unofficial scores immediately after the test, and official scores are available within three to five days. One notable advantage is the ability to view scores before choosing to send them to schools, offering candidates more control over the application process.

Retakes are permitted after a 16-day waiting period, up to five times in a rolling 12-month period, with an overall lifetime cap of eight attempts.

Conclusion:

With the addition of the Data Insights section, the GMAT Focus Edition expands the range of abilities it evaluates—bridging numerical reasoning, verbal comprehension, and real-world data analysis. The review-and-edit functionality introduces a strategic layer to time management, allowing candidates to tailor their approach to their strengths.

Moreover, the flexible section order, equal section weightage, and multiple test-taking modalities underscore GMAC’s intention to modernize the exam and align it more closely with the realities of global business education.

Aspiring MBA candidates must now approach the GMAT not merely as a test of aptitude, but as a simulation of business intelligence in action. Mastering this exam requires more than practice—it demands insight, reflection, adaptability, and above all, a calm command of complexity under pressure.