GMAT Focus Edition vs Previous GMAT: What the Score Shift Really Means
If you’ve been exploring MBA admissions recently, you’ve probably heard about the GMAT Focus Edition, a re-engineered version of the traditional GMAT launched in 2023.
On the surface, it’s still a standardized test aimed at evaluating business school readiness. But dig deeper, and you’ll find that not only has the structure of the test evolved, but so has its scoring system – and that has serious implications for how you prepare for new GMAT, interpret scores, and position yourself as a candidate.
In this blog, we’ll break down how the scoring works, what’s changed, and what it means if you’re comparing Focus Edition scores to the older GMAT format.
Highlights
The Scoring Scale: From 200–800 to 205–805
Let’s start with the basics.
- The old GMAT (used until early 2023) had a total score range from 200 to 800, reported in 10-point increments.
- The GMAT Focus Edition now uses a range from 205 to 805, also in 10-point steps.
So what gives? Why the tweak?
According to GMAC (the test maker), the scoring system was recalibrated to create a more even score distribution, especially at the top end where too many students were bunching around similar scores. The goal is to help admissions committees better differentiate high-performing applicants.
But this change means that a 700 in the old GMAT is not the same as a 700 in the Focus Edition – and making a direct score comparison without adjusting for this is a big mistake.
What Counts Toward Your Total Score?
Here’s another critical change: the components that contribute to your total score.
Old GMAT Total Score:
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Verbal Reasoning
Sections like Integrated Reasoning (IR) and Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) were scored separately and didn’t factor into your total score.
GMAT Focus Edition Total Score:
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Verbal Reasoning
- Data Insights
Yes, Data Insights (which replaces IR) is now part of your main composite score, making it much more important than the old IR section ever was. If you’re skimming past DI content in your prep, you’re doing it wrong.
Adaptive Scoring: Still in Play
Both versions of the GMAT use computer-adaptive testing – meaning the test adjusts the difficulty level of the questions based on your performance.
However, the algorithm has been refined over time, especially in the Focus Edition. It still heavily weighs where you finish in a section rather than how you begin. Time management and consistency are more critical than ever.
In simple terms: the test doesn’t reward a strong start if you fall apart at the end.
Comparing Scores: Use Percentile Ranks, Not Raw Numbers
Let’s address the most common confusion: Is a 625 in the Focus Edition the same as a 700 in the old GMAT?
No – it’s not even close.
GMAC has provided a concordance table that maps scores between the two versions based on percentile ranks, which is the only meaningful way to compare scores.
Example from GMAC’s Concordance Table:
| Previous GMAT Score | Percentile Rank | GMAT Focus Equivalent |
| 700 | ~87.7% | 655 |
| 670 | ~63.7% | 625 |
That means:
- A 625 in the Focus Edition corresponds to a 670 in the old GMAT, and
- You’d need a 655 in the Focus Edition to match the prestige of a 700 from the previous format.
So if you’re aiming for a “700+” benchmark from past admissions cycles, know that your new target is more like 655–705 under the Focus scoring system.
Strategic Implications for Test-Takers
Understanding this shift isn’t just academic – it changes how you prep and benchmark.
1. Reset Your Score Goals
Don’t walk into the Focus Edition thinking your “700 goal” from the old test still applies. Update your benchmarks based on percentile equivalence, not raw numbers.
2. Don’t Underestimate Data Insights
DI is now part of your total score. That makes it just as important as Quant and Verbal. If you’re weak in interpreting charts, graphs, or data sets, you need to shore that up – fast.
3. Reevaluate Study Resources
Most legacy GMAT prep materials still emphasize AWA and treat IR as optional. That won’t cut it. You need Focus-specific prep resources that treat DI as core.
4. Check School Score Ranges Carefully
Many MBA programs are still updating their reported “average GMAT scores” to reflect the new format. If you’re applying with a Focus score, check whether the admissions team has released updated percentile-based benchmarks or conversion guidelines.
Final Thoughts: Focus Edition Is a Smarter Test – but Requires Smarter Prep
The GMAT Focus Edition was not designed just to be shorter or more modern – it was designed to be more precise, more relevant, and more challenging to game. The score recalibration is part of that.
If you’re preparing for the GMAT in 2024 or beyond, don’t just follow the old playbook. Study smarter, not harder:
- Focus on all three sections equally.
- Track your performance by percentiles, not scores.
- Align your goals with current scoring standards.
And most importantly – don’t panic about the numbers. Schools are aware of the changes, and as long as you understand how to interpret your score, so will they.