25%. The increase is $20,000 on a base of $80,000, and 20,000 ÷ 80,000 = 0.25. Percentage change is always measured against the original amount.
GMAT Focus Edition Scoring & Practice
The GMAT Focus Edition uses a new total score scale of 205–805 (always ending in 5), based on all three sections equally — including Data Insights, which the old test did not count toward the total. Each section also gets a score from 60 to 90.
Because the scale is new, do not compare a Focus Edition number directly to an old GMAT score without GMAC's official concordance.
The GMAT Focus Edition score structure
| Section | Section score |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Reasoning | 60–90 |
| Verbal Reasoning | 60–90 |
| Data Insights | 60–90 |
| Total (all three equally) | 205–805 |
What score should you aim for?
Top MBA programmes typically look for a total in the higher percentiles. The best target is at or above the average GMAT of admitted students at your specific schools — check each school's published class profile rather than a single universal number.
Remember all three sections now count equally, so a weak Data Insights score pulls your total down just as much as a weak Quant or Verbal.
A study plan
- Take an official GMAC practice exam to baseline all three sections.
- Give Data Insights dedicated practice — it is new and the fastest area to improve.
- Drill Quant mental math and Verbal critical reasoning to consistency.
- Simulate full tests to calibrate pacing across three 45-minute sections, using bookmark-and-edit deliberately.
Sample question (original, in the GMAT format)
An original example in the official style — not a real test item.
Frequently asked questions
The total ranges from 205 to 805 (always ending in 5), built from three equally weighted section scores of 60–90 each.
Not directly — the scale changed. Use GMAC's official concordance to compare, and judge yourself against your target schools' current admitted-student averages.
Commonly two to three months of focused study, with dedicated time for Data Insights. Start with an official practice exam to set your plan.
What GMAT score do your schools need?
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