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….

Ratios are mathematical expressions that compare two or more quantities. They show the relative size of one quantity to another and are commonly expressed in the form A: B or as fractions like A/B. In standardized tests like the GMAT, ratios are used to evaluate your understanding of proportional relationships, which appear in various quantitative problems. Ratios do not necessarily give you the exact value of each quantity, but rather the relationship between them. For example, a ratio of 2:3 means that for every 2 units of one quantity, there…

The Graduate Management Admission Test, commonly known as the GMAT, is a widely recognized standardized test used by business schools globally to assess applicants for MBA and other graduate business programs. Over the years, the GMAT has evolved, and recently, a newer format called GMAT Focus has been introduced alongside the traditional GMAT Classic. Understanding the fundamental characteristics of each exam is essential to appreciate how their scores may differ and what those differences mean for test takers. What is the GMAT Classic? The GMAT Classic refers to the original,…

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) has long been a key benchmark for business school admissions worldwide. Recently, the test has undergone a significant transformation with the introduction of the GMAT Focus edition. Unlike the traditional GMAT, this new format is designed to better align with the evolving needs of business schools and candidates by streamlining the test and focusing on skills deemed most relevant to modern business education and careers. The GMAT Focus test retains the core purpose of assessing a candidate’s readiness for graduate management programs, but it…

The Graduate Management Admission Test, commonly known as the GMAT, is an essential standardized exam used by business schools worldwide to assess applicants for graduate management programs such as MBA programs. Over the years, the GMAT has undergone several updates to better reflect the skills necessary for success in graduate business studies and beyond. Understanding the latest GMAT format is crucial for prospective test-takers to prepare effectively and maximize their scores. This article series will provide a detailed breakdown of the newest GMAT exam format, offering insights into each section,…

The GMAT Focus Edition marks one of the most significant overhauls to the Graduate Management Admission Test since its inception. As business schools evolve to align with the demands of modern industries and the data-driven global economy, standardized tests must also reflect these changing priorities. The GMAT Focus Edition is not merely a streamlined version of its predecessor; it is a strategically redesigned exam intended to emphasize skills most relevant to today’s business environment. Understanding this new version is not only essential for prospective MBA candidates but also for admissions…