GMAT

The GMAT Focus Edition was not developed in a vacuum. It is the result of years of feedback, data analysis, and strategic forecasting by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the organization responsible for administering the exam. As graduate management education evolved, so too did the needs of both business schools and applicants. Increasingly, admissions committees began emphasizing skills like data literacy, problem-solving, and critical thinking over more traditional language mechanics or esoteric math content. The original GMAT, although widely respected, was seen by some as increasingly misaligned with the…

HEC Paris holds a distinguished position in the world of global business education. With its rigorous curriculum, deep connections to the European business ecosystem, and a diverse student body, it is a top destination for ambitious professionals looking to elevate their careers. For many candidates, one of the most common and pressing questions is about the GMAT score: what does it take to be competitive, and how does that number fit into the larger admissions process? In this section, we begin by understanding the place of the GMAT in the…

When considering an MBA, many applicants look for a program that not only delivers world-class education but also offers a global network, diverse perspectives, and career mobility. INSEAD stands out as one of the few institutions that offer all of this within a compact one-year format. Often referred to as “The Business School for the World,” INSEAD attracts thousands of applicants from across continents who are drawn by its international footprint, rigorous curriculum, and unparalleled diversity. With campuses in France, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and a new hub in San Francisco,…

The GMAT is more than just a test of quantitative skills and verbal reasoning. It is a test of strategy, pattern recognition, and mental discipline. Every test-taker, regardless of their starting point, must find a way to track progress, reinforce learning, and sharpen weak areas. Among the many strategies available, the creation and use of an error log stands out as one of the simplest, most powerful, and most underutilized. In this section, we will explore what an error log is, the psychology behind its effectiveness, and how it lays…

It’s easy to assume that admissions to top MBA programs function like a numbers game. You score a 770 or 780 on the GMAT or GRE and that golden ticket to HBS, Stanford GSB, or Wharton is yours. But each year, hundreds of applicants with scores in that upper range are quietly rejected, while others with lower scores are welcomed into the incoming class. That contradiction might seem confusing on the surface, but it actually reflects something deeper and more nuanced about what MBA programs are really seeking: a community…

Gaining admission to a globally recognized MBA program such as the one offered by London Business School demands more than just a well-written resume and strong professional background. Among the various application requirements, the GMAT or GRE score stands out as a crucial metric for the admissions committee. While LBS emphasizes a holistic review process, your performance on these standardized tests can have a major influence on your candidacy. To properly approach the LBS application, it’s essential to understand what the GMAT and GRE measure, why they matter to LBS,…

Over the last decade, business school admissions have undergone a series of gradual changes, but few transformations have been as visible and consequential as those made recently to the GMAT and GRE exams. The revised versions—officially rolled out in late 2023—have not only changed the format and length of the tests but have also redefined what these exams are intended to measure and how they reflect the evolving priorities of graduate programs and test takers alike. The new GMAT Focus Edition and the shortened GRE are both direct responses to…

For decades, the GMAT and GRE stood as dominant gateways to graduate programs, especially MBA degrees. They were lengthy, high-stakes exams requiring extensive preparation, often dictating the trajectory of an applicant’s future. But by late 2023, both the GMAT and GRE underwent transformative revisions. The GMAT Focus Edition was launched to replace the traditional GMAT, and a new, shorter GRE format emerged. These weren’t minor updates. They were fundamental shifts in how each organization envisioned the future of standardized testing. To fully grasp the significance of these changes, it’s essential…

The Columbia Business School MBA program is globally recognized for its rigorous academic standards, real-world orientation, and unique access to one of the most vibrant business hubs in the world: New York City. For students looking to study abroad, the CBS MBA offers a distinctive opportunity to immerse themselves in both academic growth and a deeply connected business ecosystem. This section lays the foundation for understanding what makes the CBS MBA program a compelling choice, particularly for those aiming to develop a globally minded, analytically strong, and professionally agile career….

The GMAT, or Graduate Management Admission Test, is a standardized exam that plays a crucial role in the admissions process for graduate business programs across the globe. Administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the GMAT is designed to assess a candidate’s analytical writing, integrated reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and verbal reasoning skills. Business schools use GMAT scores as a significant component in evaluating a candidate’s readiness for the academic challenges of MBA programs. The test lasts three hours and thirty minutes and includes four distinct sections that collectively aim…

The GMAT score has long served as a benchmark for graduate business school admissions. As a standardized test designed to measure critical reasoning, quantitative ability, and verbal skills, the GMAT offers business schools an objective means of comparing applicants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds. More importantly, it gives insight into an applicant’s potential to succeed in a rigorous academic setting. Admissions officers view the GMAT as a predictor of first-year MBA performance, and it often becomes a key differentiator in a highly competitive application process. A strong GMAT score…

The GMAT Focus Edition, launched officially on February 1, 2024, represents a foundational shift in the way graduate business school applicants are assessed. More than just a rebranded version of the traditional GMAT, the Focus Edition is a streamlined, modernized exam with a revised structure, new scoring system, and a greater emphasis on real-world analytical skills. For test-takers and admissions committees alike, the changes are not cosmetic—they signal a deeper shift in what is being measured and how performance is interpreted. The original GMAT, first administered in 1953 and last…

The GMAT Data Insights section was introduced in 2025 as part of the new GMAT Focus Edition, a redesigned version of the traditional GMAT exam. This section was developed to reflect the evolving demands of graduate business education, particularly the growing emphasis on data-driven decision-making. Data Insights occupies a full one-third of your overall GMAT score, underscoring its importance in the admissions process. With 20 questions to be answered in 45 minutes, this section is time-pressured, cognitively demanding, and strategically unique. It blends verbal and quantitative skills, requiring test-takers to…

Many GMAT test-takers carry with them a simplified memory from high school algebra: to solve for two variables, you need two equations, and more generally, to solve for n variables, you need n equations. This idea feels intuitive and often helps guide early problem solving. However, the GMAT is not designed to reward mechanical application of classroom rules. Instead, it tests critical thinking, subtle reasoning, and an understanding of how mathematics works in real-world scenarios. That means some of the rules test-takers think they remember correctly are actually incomplete or,…

Consider the following Data Sufficiency question: Is y an even number? (1) y = 2x, where x is an integer (2) y² is divisible by 4 Step 1: Evaluate Statement (1) Alone This statement tells us that y is twice an integer. Since 2x for any integer x always results in an even number, y must be even. Therefore, Statement (1) is sufficient. Step 2: Evaluate Statement (2) Alone If y² is divisible by 4, then y² is an even square. However, this does not guarantee that y is even….