Is the GMAT getting harder?

The GMAT itself hasn’t necessarily become harder, but the way students prepare and the competition has definitely changed. In recent years, business schools have started seeing more applicants with 700+ scores, which makes the test feel tougher for many.

With the launch of the new GMAT Focus Edition, the test format has changed a bit. It’s now shorter, with fewer sections, but more emphasis on logic, data interpretation, and efficiency. The overall difficulty level is designed to stay the same, but time pressure and question style might feel different to students used to older formats.

You’ll also find that online prep has improved a lot. More students use advanced tools and mock tests, which raises the average preparation level. That can make the scoring curve feel steeper especially in Quant and Verbal.

So the test itself hasn’t officially become harder, but how you prepare and how others perform can change how hard it feels. With the right prep and practice, you can still score well  even with the new format.