You've probably heard the rumors that the GMAT is a math test. It isn't. Not really. If you walk into a testing center thinking you’re just there to solve for $x$, you are going to have a very long, very expensive afternoon. Honestly, the GMAT—specifically the GMAT Focus Edition that became the only version available in early 2024—is more of a "how do you handle pressure when we take away your calculator and give you a weird logic puzzle" test.
It’s shorter now. That’s the good news. The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) chopped off the essay and the geometry. But don't let that fool you into thinking it's easy. They kept the hard stuff. They kept the parts that make your brain itch at 2:00 AM.
Basically, the test is looking for one thing: can you think like a manager? Managers don't always have all the data. They have time constraints. They have people whispering contradictory things in their ears. The GMAT mimics that chaos through three specific sections.
So, What is in the GMAT Test Right Now?
The exam is stripped down to three 45-minute rounds. You can take them in any order you want, which is a massive psychological advantage if you hate starting with math. You’ve got Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and the new heavyweight, Data Insights.
Total seat time? Two hours and fifteen minutes. Plus a optional ten-minute break you should absolutely take to go splash water on your face.
The Quantitative Reasoning Section
This is where people panic. But here is the kicker: there is no geometry. None. No circles, no triangles, no coordinate planes. If you spent weeks memorizing the area of a trapezoid, I’m sorry to tell you that knowledge is now useless for this specific exam.
Instead, it’s all about Arithmetic and Algebra. It sounds middle-school level, right? It's not. The GMAT takes basic concepts like prime numbers, ratios, and linear equations and twists them into "Problem Solving" questions that feel like traps. You aren't allowed a calculator here. You have to do the scratchwork on a laminated booklet with a marker that always feels slightly too thick.
The goal isn't to see if you can divide 4,560 by 12. The goal is to see if you realize that 4,560 is a multiple of 12 before you even start the long division. It's about number sense.
Verbal Reasoning: Reading Between the Lines
The Verbal section used to have sentence correction—those annoying questions about dangling modifiers and "whom" vs "who." That’s gone. Now, it’s just Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning.
Reading Comprehension is exactly what it sounds like, but the passages are often about things like the symbiotic relationship between fungi and Douglas firs or the economic impact of the 14th-century guild system. They are dry. Intentionally. You have to find the main idea, the author's tone, and make logical inferences.
Critical Reasoning is the fun part, or the frustrating part, depending on how your brain works. You get a short argument—maybe a mayor defending a new tax—and you have to find the flaw in their logic. You’re looking for the "weakener," the "strengthener," or the underlying assumption. It’s pure logic.
The Data Insights Section (The New Boss)
If you’re wondering what is in the GMAT test that makes it different from the GRE or older versions of the GMAT, this is it. Data Insights (DI) replaced the old Integrated Reasoning. It’s the only section where you get an on-screen calculator.
Why? Because the math isn't the point—the interpretation is.
🔗 Read more: Federal Tax Explained: Where Your Money Actually Goes and Why It Matters
You’ll see Data Sufficiency questions, which are unique to the GMAT. They don’t ask "What is $x$?" They ask "Do you have enough information to find $x$?" It sounds simple, but it’s the most common place for high-scorers to mess up. You also get "Multi-Source Reasoning" (tabs of emails and charts) and "Table Analysis." It feels exactly like a Tuesday morning at a consulting firm.
The Computer Adaptive Nightmare (and Blessing)
The GMAT is "computer adaptive." This means the test watches you. If you get a question right, the next one is harder. If you get it wrong, the next one is easier.
The test is trying to find your ceiling.
In the old days, you couldn't change your answers. Once you hit "confirm," that was it. Your fate was sealed. In the Focus Edition, they finally became a bit more human. You can now bookmark questions and go back to change up to three answers per section.
This is huge. But it’s a trap if you’re a perfectionist. If you spend ten minutes obsessing over one question, you’ll run out of time for the last five, and the GMAT punishes empty answers more severely than wrong ones.
Real Talk: The Scoring Scale
The score isn't 200-800 anymore. It’s 205 to 805. Every score ends in a five. Why? To distinguish it from the old GMAT scores so admissions officers don't get confused.
A 645 on the Focus Edition is roughly equivalent to a 700 on the old exam. It’s a bit of a mind-shift. Don't look at your score and cry because it looks lower than your older brother's score from 2018. Check the percentiles. Percentiles are the only currency that matters in MBA admissions.
The Logistics Most People Ignore
You can take the test at a center or at home.
If you take it at home, you have to deal with a "Proctor" who watches you through your webcam. They will make you show them every corner of your room. They will tell you to move your water bottle. If your cat jumps on the desk, the test might be canceled.
In a testing center, you have to deal with the "palm vein scan" and the sound of other people typing. Honestly, the center is usually better because if the internet goes down, it’s their problem, not yours.
Why Bother?
Is the GMAT still relevant? Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton still take it. While many schools are "test-optional," submitting a high GMAT score is a signal. It says, "I can handle the quantitative rigor of a finance core."
It’s also about the scholarship money. Schools use these scores to justify giving out those $20k or $40k grants.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Prep
If you’re just starting to look into what is in the GMAT test, don't buy five different books yet. Start small.
- Take a Diagnostic: Go to the official MBA website (mba.com) and download the free "Official Starter Kit." It has two full-length practice exams. Take one cold. No studying. Just see where you land.
- Analyze the Data Insights: Since this is the newest section, most old prep materials are outdated. Make sure you use resources specifically designed for the Focus Edition.
- Master the "Three-Answer Rule": Practice your timing. Learn when to "guess and move on" so you have time to use those three answer changes at the end of a section.
- Mental Stamina: Two hours sounds short, but the GMAT is intense. Practice sitting in a quiet room with no phone for the full duration.
- Check Your Schools: Look at the average scores for the "Class of 2026" or "Class of 2027" at your target programs. Aim for 10-20 points above their average to be safe.
The test is a hurdle, but it's a predictable one. Once you understand that it's a game of logic and time management rather than a math competition, the whole thing becomes a lot less intimidating.
Focus on the official materials. The people who write the test have a very specific "voice," and third-party prep companies sometimes miss that nuance. Trust the official guides first.