Do I need to write an essay on the GMAT Focus Edition?
No, the GMAT Focus Edition has no writing or essay section, unlike the older GMAT format. It tests you only across three multiple choice sections, Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Data Insights, covering 64 questions in 135 minutes, so your prep can stay focused on quantitative and analytical questions.
No, you will not write any essay on the GMAT Focus Edition, so you can skip that part of your preparation entirely. The exam instead tests you purely through multiple choice questions across three sections. This is one of the biggest structural changes from the older GMAT format that many applicants still ask about.
What Replaced The Essay And Sentence Correction Sections
| Older GMAT Element | GMAT Focus Edition Status |
|---|---|
| Analytical Writing Assessment | Removed entirely |
| Sentence Correction | Removed entirely |
| Integrated Reasoning | Replaced by the new Data Insights section |
Only Three Sections Remain
Your GMAT Focus Edition now consists purely of Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Data Insights, all in multiple choice format, totalling 64 questions across 135 minutes with an optional 10 minute break. Every question counts equally toward your final score.
My Advice
Since there is no essay to prepare for anymore, redirect that saved prep time toward strengthening your Data Insights skills, since this section is newer and less familiar to most applicants than Quant or Verbal. Practising data interpretation questions specifically will help you more than reviewing old essay writing templates that no longer apply.
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