top of page

Everything you need to know about preparing for the GMAT exam in 2024

In this blog post, we will delve into the details of the GMAT™ Focus Edition, including the timeframes for Official Prep, registration, and testing availability, as well as the exam overview and test structure.

GMAT Focus Edition is offering test center as well as online test appointments from 7 November 2023 onwards.


Updates on 2024 GMAT test acceptance in MBA Programs:


What is the GMAT Focus Edition?


GMAT Focus Edition Exam Overview:

  1. The GMAT™ Focus Edition is a 2-hour and 15-minute exam (with one optional 10-minute break) that comprises 64 questions in total.

  2. There is no AWA Essay section in the GMAT Focus Edition.

  3. Test Structure - Three 45-minute Sections, No Essay

  4. The GMAT Focus Edition consists of three sections, each lasting 45 minutes, and there is no essay section.

  5. The Quantitative Reasoning section comprises 21 Problem Solving questions and lasts for 45 minutes.

  6. Verbal Reasoning Section duration is 45 minutes and has 23 questions. Each question will have five answer options that can either strengthen or weaken an argument, explain why the argument is flawed, or provide strong support or damage to the argument. Data Insights Section.

  7. The Data Insights section comprises 20 questions and lasts for 45 minutes. The Data Insights section of the GMAT Focus Edition exam requires analysis graphical, numerical, and text information, to evaluate how they relate to one another.

  8. The Question Review & Edit feature allows test-takers to bookmark and review questions as many times as they want.

  9. They can also change up to three answers per section, giving them more control over their exam-taking experience.

  10. The Select Section Order feature enables test-takers to take the exam in any section order they prefer, providing them with greater flexibility and allowing them to play to their strengths.

  11. The Improved Score Report provides detailed performance insights with each exam, allowing test-takers to see where they excelled and where they can improve.

  12. During the exam, you have the option to mark questions for review and return to them later in the section. However, if you run out of time in the section, you will not be able to access the Question Review & Edit screen and will move on to your optional break or the next section.



Target GMAT Scores for ISB PGP and other Business Schools ( Tentative)


PERCENTILE

GMAT FOCUS EDITION

GMAT CLASSIC EDITION

BUSINESS SCHOOLS

99.40%

735

760

M7 to Top 20

99.20%

725

760

M7 to Top 20

98.70%

715

760

M7 to Top 20

98.60%

715

750

M7 to Top 20

98.10%

705

750

M7 to Top 20

97.90%

695

750

M7 to Top 20

96.90%

695

740

M7 to Top 20

96.70%

685

740

M7 to Top 20

96.10%

685

730

M7 to Top 20

95.20%

675

730

M7 to Top 20

94.00%

675

720

ISB

93.20%

665

720

ISB

92.60%

665

710

ISB

89.60%

655

710

ISB

89.30%

655

700

IIMA, IIMB, IIMC

86.70%

645

700

IIMA, IIMB, IIMC

85.10%

645

690

IIMA, IIMB, IIMC

83.50%

635

690

IIMA, IIMB, IIMC

82.70%

635

680

IIMA, IIMB, IIMC

80.10%

625

680

IIMA, IIMB, IIMC

80.10%

615

680

IIMA, IIMB, IIMC


How is the GMAT Focus Edition be scored?

  1. Each section is scored on a scale of 60 to 90, with a standard error of measurement of 3 points. For the GMAT Focus Edition the test score starts from 205 with the maximum score being 805, with score intervals of 10.

  2. It's important to note that the Total Score values in the GMAT™ Exam - Focus Edition end in 5, which is different from the previous version of the GMAT.

  3. The reason for this change is to provide more granularity in the scores, enabling better differentiation between test takers' performance levels.

  4. On each of the sections from the Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights, an individual can score from 60 to 90.

  5. In terms of the standard error of measurement, the Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights sections have a standard error of measurement of 3 points, while the Total Score has a standard error of measurement of 30-40 points.


What is the difference in the score interpretation of the existing GMAT exam vs GMAT Focus Edition?


If you're preparing for the GMAT exam, you might have heard of the GMAT Focus Edition, a computer-adaptive test designed to help you identify your strengths and weaknesses before taking the real thing. But how do the scores on the GMAT Focus Edition compare to those on the GMAT exam?


Here's what you need to know:

  1. For a score of 660 on the GMAT exam, you can expect a 605 on the GMAT Focus Edition with a 75 percentile ranking.

  2. A score of 670 on the GMAT exam is equivalent to a 615 on the GMAT Focus Edition with an 80 percentile equivalence.

  3. A score of 680 on the GMAT exam would translate to a 625 on the GMAT Focus Edition at an 83 percentile.

  4. If you score a 690 on the GMAT exam, you would likely score a 635 on the GMAT Focus Edition at an 85 percentile.

  5. Similarly, a 700 on the GMAT exam would be comparable to a 645 on the GMAT Focus Edition with an 89 percentile.

  6. For a GMAT Exam score of 710, you would compare with a 655 on the GMAT Focus Edition, amounting to a 93 percentile.

  7. A 720 GMAT scorer would have a close cousin with a GMAT Focus edition scorer at 665 at a 94 percentile ranking.

  8. The 730 on the GMAT exam score would on the GMAT focus edition become a 675 at a 96 percentile ranking.

  9. With a 740 on the GMAT exam, you would probably score a 685 on the GMAT Focus Edition at a 97 percentile rank.

  10. A 750 GMAT exam score with 98 percentile rank would be a 695 on the GMAT Focus Edition.

  11. The game changes once more at the 99 percentile and above. While on the GMAT exam, a 760 is the 99th percentile rank, on the GMAT Focus Edition, it could be a 705 or a 715 or a 725.

  12. Similarly, while an 800 on the GMAT Exam is the 100 percentile, on the GMAT Focus Edition, it could be a 735 or a 745 or a 755 or a 765 or a 775 or a 785 or a 795 or an 805.

Here are some key points to consider regarding the section-wise percentile benchmarks for the GMAT Focus edition:

1. Quantitative Reasoning Section of the GMAT Focus Edition:

  • Scoring an 81 lands you in the 71 percentile

  • Scoring an 82 brings you to the 76 percentile

  • Scoring an 83 relates to 81 percentile

  • Scoring an 84 on this section places the applicant in the 85 percentile

  • Scoring an 85 means that you are in the 89 percentile

  • Scoring an 86 brings you to the 92 percentile

  • Scoring an 87 is equivalent to the 94 percentile

  • Scoring an 89 is equivalent to the 97 percentile

  • Scoring a 90 brings you to the 100 percentile

2. Verbal Reasoning Section of the GMAT Focus Edition:

  • Scoring an 81 lands you in the 70 percentile

  • Scoring an 82 brings you to the 79 percentile

  • Scoring an 83 relates to the 86 percentile

  • Scoring an 84 on this section places the applicant in the 91 percentile

  • Scoring an 85 means that you are in the 96 percentile

  • Scoring an 86 brings you to the 98 percentile

  • Scoring either 87 or 88 is equivalent to the 99 percentile

  • Scoring a 89 or 90 is equivalent to the 100 percentile

2. Data Insights Section of the GMAT Focus Edition:

  • Scoring a 78 gets you to the 73 percentile

  • Scoring a 79 brings you to the 79 percentile

  • Scoring an 80 relates to the 86 percentile

  • Scoring an 81 is equivalent to the 90 percentile

  • Scoring an 82 brings you to the 94 percentile

  • Scoring an 83 is equivalent to the 96 percentile

  • Scoring an 84 brings you to the 98 percentile

  • Scoring between 85 to 88 lands you in the 99 percentile

  • Scoring between 89 to 90 is equivalent to the 100 percentile.

These percentile benchmarks provide valuable insight into how the GMAT Focus edition scores compare to the previous version of the exam. By understanding these benchmarks, test-takers can accurately assess their competitiveness and identify the right scores for applying to their desired business schools.


It is not only the score that is important, but also the percentile ranking on the GMAT Focus Edition. To accurately assess your competitiveness based on the GMAT™ Exam - Focus Edition, it is recommended to compare percentile rankings instead of total scores when comparing it to the previous version of the GMAT™ Exam. This is because the percentile ranking takes into account the performance of other test-takers, giving a better indication of where you stand in comparison to others.


Top Indian Schools that accept GMAT Score For the One year MBA program are ISB Hyderabad, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta .


Therefore, while the scores on the GMAT Focus Edition and GMAT Exam may differ, understanding the percentile ranking can help you gauge your strengths and weaknesses, and work towards improving your chances of success on test day.


Get in touch to discuss your profile and get application assistance for applying to MBA programs with an MBA admission consultant at GOALisB. Email us at contact@goalisb.com or Call us @ +91 7719497187.




GMAT Accepting Schools in India in 2024:


  1. Acharya Group of Institutes, Acharya School of Management

  2. Acharya Institute of Management and Sciences, AIMS School of Business

  3. Adani Institute of Infrastructure Management

  4. Aditya Institute of Management Studies & Research

  5. Administrative Staff College of

  6. Aegis School of Business and Telecommunication

  7. Ahmedabad University, Amrut Mody School of Management

  8. Alliance University, Alliance School of Business

  9. Amity Business School

  10. Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Amrita School of Business

  11. Apeejay Education Society, Apeejay School of Management

  12. Apeejay Stya University, School of Management Sciences

  13. Asia Graduate School of Business

  14. Asia Pacific Institute of Management

  15. Asian School of Business Management (ASBM)

  16. Athena School of Management

  17. Axis Institute of Planning & Management

  18. B.S. Abdur Rahman Institute of Science and Technology, Crescent School of Business

  19. Bangalore Institute of International Management, B I I M

  20. Bangalore Institute of Management Studies (BIMS)

  21. Bennett University, School of Management

  22. Bharathidasan Institute of Management

  23. Birla Institute of Management Technology

  24. BITS Pilani

  25. BITS Pilani, BITS School of Management

  26. BML Munjal University, School of Management

  27. BSE Institute Ltd.

  28. Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University, School of Management (PG)

  29. Entrepreneurship Development Institute of

  30. Europe Asia Business School

  31. Flame University, School of Business

  32. Flame University, School of Communication

  33. FORE School of Management, Foundation for Organisational Research and Education (FORE)

  34. Foundation for Liberal and Management Education, FLAME School of Business

  35. Ganpat University, S. K. Patel College of Pharmaceutical Education & Research

  36. GITAM University, GITAM School of International Business

  37. Global Institute of Business Studies, GIBS Business School

  38. GNIOT Institute of Management Studies

  39. Goa Institute of Management

  40. Great Lakes Institute of Management

  41. Grow Talent Company Limited, SOIL institute of Management

  42. Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, HITS Scholarship Schemes

  43. ICFAI Business School, ICFAI Business School, Hyderabad

  44. ICFAI Business School, ICFAI Business School, Mumbai

  45. IFIM Business School

  46. IFIM College

  47. IIHMR University

  48. IILM Graduate School of Management

  49. IILM Institute for Higher Education

  50. IIMT School of Management, Business School

  51. iMET Global, School of Digital/Social Media & IoT

  52. Indian Institute of Foreign Trade

  53. Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad

  54. Indian Institute of Management Amritsar

  55. Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

  56. Indian Institute of Management Calcutta

  57. Indian Institute of Management Indore

  58. Indian Institute of Management Kashipur

  59. Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode

  60. Indian Institute of Management Lucknow

  61. Indian Institute of Management Nagpur

  62. Indian Institute of Management Raipur

  63. Indian Institute of Management Ranchi, IIM Ranchi

  64. Indian Institute of Management Rohtak

  65. Indian Institute of Management Shillong

  66. Indian Institute of Management Tiruchirappalli

  67. Indian Institute of Management Udaipur, Business School

  68. Indian Institute of Management Visakhapatnam

  69. Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management

  70. Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar

  71. Indian Institute of Technology, Madras

  72. Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management

  73. Indian School of Business

  74. Indian School of Business and Finance - City University of Seattle, Indian School of Business and Finance

  75. Indus Business Academy, IBA, Bangalore

  76. Institute for Financial Management and Research, IFMR

  77. Institute for Technology and Management, ITM Business School

  78. Institute for Technology and Management, ITM Global Leadership Center

  79. Institute of Insurance and Risk Management, IIRM Hyderabad

  80. Institute of Management Development and Research

  81. Institute of Management Education (IME), Institute of Management Education

  82. Institute of Management Technology, Hyderabad

  83. Institute of Management Technology, Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad, Delhi NCR

  84. Institute of Management Technology, Nagpur

  85. Institute of Rural Management Anand

  86. Institute of Technology & Management

  87. International Management Institute Kolkata

  88. International Management Institute of , Bhubaneswar

  89. International Management Institute of , New Delhi

  90. International School of Management Excellence

  91. International School of Management Patna

  92. ISBR Business School

  93. ISME School of Management & Entrepreneurship

  94. Jagan Institute of Management Studies

  95. Jagran Lakecity University, Jagran Lakecity Business School

  96. Jain University, CMS Business School

  97. Jaipuria Institute of Management

  98. JK Lakshmipat University, Institute of Management

  99. JRE Group of Institutions, JRE School of Management

  100. K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research

  101. Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, School of Management

  102. Kirloskar Institute of Advanced Management Studies

  103. Krea University, IFMR Graduate School of Business

  104. Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management

  105. Lamrin Tech Skills University, Lamrin Business School

  106. Lovely Professional University, Department of Management

  107. Mahindra University, School of Management

  108. Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur

  109. Management Development Institute

  110. Management Development Institute Murshidabad

  111. Manipal University Jaipur, TAPMI School of Business

  112. Manipur International University, School of Management

  113. Masters' Union School of Business

  114. MICA, Ahmedabad, Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad

  115. MKES Institute of Management Studies and Research, MKES Business School

  116. Mysore Royal Academy (MYRA), MYRA School of Business

  117. National Institute of Fashion Technology

  118. National Institute of Financial Management

  119. National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE)

  120. National Institute of Securities Markets, School for Securities Education

  121. National Institute of Technology Karnataka, DASA

  122. National Institute of Technology Srinagar, DASA

  123. National Institute of Technology Warangal, School of Management

  124. NIIT University

  125. NIMT Greater Noida, National Institute of Management Technology

  126. NMIMS University, School of Business Management

  127. NTPC School of Business

  128. O.P. Jindal Global University, Jindal Global Business School

  129. O.P. Jindal Global University, Jindal School for Psychology and Counselling

  130. O.P. Jindal University, School of Management

  131. Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU), School of Petroleum Management (SPM)

  132. Praxis Business School

  133. Prin. L.N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research

  134. PSG College of Technology, PSG Institute of Management

  135. Pune Institute of Business Management

  136. Punjab Technical University, Aryans Business School

  137. Punjab Technical University, Aryans School of Management

  138. Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Sidhuwal, Department of Management

  139. Reva University, School of Management Studies

  140. RIMT University, School of Management Studies

  141. Rishihood University, School of Entrepreneurship

  142. S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research

  143. Sadhana Centre for Management & Leadership Development, SCMLD

  144. SDA Bocconi Asia Center

  145. SDM Institute for Management Development

  146. SelaQui Academy of Higher Education, SelaQui Institute of Management

  147. Seshadripuram Institute of Management Studies

  148. Sharda University, School of Business Studies

  149. Shiv Nadar University

  150. Shoolini University, Faculty of Management Sciences & Liberal Arts

  151. Shree Dhanvantary College of Post Graduate Business Management

  152. Siva Sivani Institute of Management

  153. SRM University, Haryana, Faculty of Management Studies

  154. SRM University, Tamil Nadu, Faculty of Management

  155. St. Mary's Educational Society, South State Business School

  156. T. A. Pai Management Institute

  157. TASMAC

  158. Tata Institute of Social Sciences

  159. TERI University, TERI School of Advanced Studies

  160. Thapar University, LM Thapar School of Management

  161. The National Management School, National Schools of Business and Management Private Limited

  162. The NorthCap University, Center for Leadership

  163. Unitedworld School of Business

  164. Universal Business School

  165. University of Delhi, Faculty of Management Studies

  166. University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, College of Management & Economic Studies

  167. UPES, College of Management and Economics Studies

  168. Vanguard Business School

  169. Veltech Dr RR & Dr SR Technical University, Vel Tech Business School

  170. VES Institute of Management Studies & Research

  171. VIjaybhoomi University, School of Data Science

  172. Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur, Department of Humanities

  173. VIT University, VIT Business School

  174. Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, Delhi School of Business

  175. Woxsen School of Business

  176. Xavier University

  177. XLRI Jamshedpur


Navigating the Path to Success: Leveraging GMAT Scores for Admission


For aspiring MBA candidates, the acceptance of GMAT scores opens doors to a multitude of opportunities, both domestically and internationally. By meticulously preparing for the exam and showcasing their academic aptitude and analytical prowess, students can position themselves as strong contenders for admission to esteemed institutions.


Furthermore, GMAT scores serve as a common denominator, facilitating comparisons across diverse applicant pools. As such, candidates should strive to achieve competitive scores that not only meet but exceed the expectations of their target institutions.

In conclusion, the inclusion of GMAT scores in the admission criteria of institutions like the Acharya Group of Institutes underscores the growing emphasis on global standards of excellence in management education. As India continues to assert its presence on the world stage, these institutions play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of business leaders, armed with the knowledge, skills, and acumen to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape.


Stay tuned for more insights and updates as we continue to explore the dynamic realm of management education in India and beyond. Get in touch with an MBA admission consultant at GOALisB for a profile evaluation.

470 views

Recent Posts

See All

Best Executive MBA in India 2024-25

Applying to an Executive MBA in 2024-25? Get updates and insights into the full time and part time EMBA in India.

IIM Interview Questions

Sharing sample topics and practice topics to prepare for the WAT and MBA interviews 2024.

Is ISB worth the high fees?

Explore the value of the ISB Hyderabad PGP program and the ISB 2025 curriculum changes. Discover how ISB focuses on leadership.

bottom of page