How to Prepare for the GMAT Focus Edition from Nigeria: A 12 Week Plan
The GMAT Focus Edition has three 45 minute sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Data Insights. Twelve weeks of steady work is enough for most candidates. Quant is where many Nigerian candidates are strongest, and Data Insights is where most are caught out.
Most of the GMAT candidates I teach studied a numbers-heavy course at university and expect Quant to be the easy part. Often it is. But the GMAT does not test whether you can do the maths. It tests whether you can do it fast, choose the shortest route, and know when to move on. That is a different skill, and it can be trained.
In this guide
How the GMAT Focus Edition works
The GMAT Focus Edition takes 2 hours 15 minutes, with three sections of 45 minutes each and an optional 10 minute break. It is computer adaptive, scored from 205 to 805, and you choose the order of the sections.
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Reasoning | 21 | 45 minutes |
| Verbal Reasoning | 23 | 45 minutes |
| Data Insights | 20 | 45 minutes |
You can bookmark questions and change up to three answers in each section before time runs out. That is a real advantage if you use it carefully, and a trap if you spend the last five minutes second-guessing.
Quantitative Reasoning
Quant covers arithmetic and algebra, mostly through problem solving. There is no geometry, and no calculator in this section. The level is secondary school maths; the difficulty is speed, about two minutes a question.
- Learn the shortcuts. Number properties, divisibility, fractions to percentages and quick estimation save more time than any formula.
- Test answer choices. Plugging in numbers is often faster than solving an equation.
- Know when to guess. A hard question costs the same as an easy one if you get it wrong; spending four minutes on it costs you two others.
Verbal Reasoning
Verbal is reading comprehension and critical reasoning. Critical reasoning asks you to strengthen, weaken or find the assumption behind an argument, and it rewards a clear, logical approach. Read the question stem first, find the conclusion of the argument, then look for the gap.
Data Insights
Data Insights is where many strong candidates lose their score. It combines data sufficiency, multi-source reasoning, table analysis, graphics interpretation and two-part analysis. A basic on-screen calculator is available here. The challenge is reading a lot of information quickly and deciding what actually matters.
Data sufficiency is the question type most candidates have never seen before. Learn the five fixed answer choices until you can recite them, and never actually finish the calculation: you only need to know whether you could.
A 12 week GMAT plan
| Weeks | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Official practice exam as a diagnostic. Set your target score. |
| 2 to 4 | Quant foundations and critical reasoning basics. Learn data sufficiency. |
| 5 to 7 | Data Insights question types, reading comprehension, timed sets. |
| 8 to 9 | Mixed timed sections. A second full mock in week 8. |
| 10 to 11 | One full mock a week, full review, work on the weakest question types. |
| 12 | A final mock early in the week, light review, rest. |
Test day strategy
- Choose your section order to suit you. Many candidates start with their strongest section to build confidence.
- Watch the clock at question 7, 14 and 21 in each section, not on every question.
- Never leave questions blank. Unanswered questions at the end are penalised heavily.
- Use the break. Eat, drink water and reset before the next section.
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Common questions
How long does it take to prepare for the GMAT?
Most candidates need about 12 weeks of steady study at 10 to 15 hours a week. Allow longer if your first practice exam is far from your target score.
What is in the GMAT Focus Edition?
Three 45 minute sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Data Insights, with an optional 10 minute break. It is scored from 205 to 805.
Is there a calculator on the GMAT?
Only in Data Insights, where a basic on-screen calculator is available. Quantitative Reasoning has no calculator.
Can I change answers on the GMAT?
Yes. You can bookmark questions and change up to three answers in each section before time runs out.
How much is GMAT registration with Mafit?
₦380,000 standard, or ₦345,000 with code GMAT26, including 12 weeks of free classes, six adaptive mocks and study materials.