The GMAT Official Guide is more than just a book. It’s your direct line to real GMAT questions and the best possible test-day preparation.

In this episode, GMAC Zach is once again joined by Stacey Koprince from Manhattan Prep to explore how to get the most out of the Official Guide and other GMAT official tools. You’ll learn why practicing with real GMAT questions is essential, how to use them effectively alongside third-party resources, and the strategies that can turn your study time into score gains. The conversation also covers how to analyze mistakes, track progress, set realistic goals, and maximize efficiency.

Purchase the GMAT Official Guide: mba.com/prep

Register for the GMAT exam: mba.com/register

Get materials from Manhattan Prep: manhattanprep.com/gmat

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction
01:06 Why Official Questions Matter
06:00 Navigating the New GMAT Official Guide
11:23 Analyzing Weaknesses
14:14 Reviewing Answer Explanations
16:47 Tracking Progress
20:18 Setting Goals and Priorities for GMAT Success
23:23 Understanding GMAT Scoring and Practice Tests
26:16 Using Official Materials Alongside Others
29:26 Choosing the Right Test Prep Program
32:52 Leveraging Difficult Questions
35:44 Balancing Question Difficulty in Practice
37:44 Utilizing Free Resources Effectively
38:31 Pro Tips for Efficient Test Prep

“Don’t prepare until you can get the questions right. Prepare until you can’t get them wrong.”

What if mastering the GMAT wasn’t about doing more—it was about doing less, but smarter?

In this episode of Inside the GMAT, Zach is joined by Scott Woodbury-Stewart, Founder and CEO of Target Test Prep, to explore how simplifying your prep can lead to better results. With over 20 years of experience helping test-takers turn confusion into clarity, Scott shares why most people struggle—not because they're not "math people," but because they’ve never been taught the right way to learn.

From building a strong Quant foundation to avoiding traps in Verbal Reasoning and Data Insights, this episode is packed with practical advice on how to stop overcomplicating your prep and start studying with purpose. You’ll also hear how Scott’s own journey—from blowing up hydrogen balloons in high school classrooms to building one of the most well-known names in GMAT prep—has shaped his keep-it-simple philosophy.

Whether you're just starting or feeling stuck on the GMAT, this episode will help you reset, refocus, and prep smarter.

Contact Scott & Target Test Prep: www.gmat.targettestprep.com

Register for the GMAT exam: mba.com/register

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction
07:20 The "Math Person" Myth
13:02 The Prep Mindset & Value of Critical Thinking
15:53 Quant: Prep Linearly
18:33 Solving Problems with Logic, Not Math
24:58 Verbal: Reading is Fundamental
31:37 Data Insights: Correlation is Not Causation
36:55 Perfecting Time Management
41:13 Can You Over-Prep?
42:25 The Importance of Consistency

An MBA can open doors to top jobs and bigger paychecks—but what about the value that doesn’t show up on a resume?

In this episode, Zach is joined by Melody Jones, founder of Vantage Point MBA Admissions Consulting, to uncover the hidden ROI of business school: confidence, personal growth, lasting relationships, and the transformational power of human skills like communication.

If you’re wondering what an MBA can offer beyond a job title, this conversation is for you.

Contact Melody & Vantage Point: www.vantagepointmba.com

Register for the GMAT exam: mba.com/register

Chapters:

03:55 - The ROI of Confidence

06:52 - The ROI of Personal Growth

10:19 - The ROI of Relationships

14:20 - The ROI of Networks

19:42 - The ROI of...ROI?

20:57 - The Big Picture: ROI is Personal

Not sure whether you should pursue a full-time, part-time, or executive MBA program? You're not alone!

Oren Margolis from Pinetree & Palm Consulting joins the pod to dive deep into the crucial decision-making process of choosing the right type of MBA Program. As an experienced MBA admissions consultant and executive coach, Oren and Zach explore the nuances between the three program types and discuss how each format aligns with different career goals, personal circumstances, and professional aspirations.

Whether you're looking to pivot careers, accelerate to executive leadership, or balance work and study, this episode offers valuable guidance to help you make an informed choice. Tune in to gain clarity on your MBA journey and find the path that best suits your ambitions.

Contact Pinetree & Palm Consulting: https://www.pinetreepalm.com/

Register for the GMAT exam: https://www.mba.com/exams/gmat-exam/register

Chapters:

01:59 - Career Moves Supported by an MBA

05:09 - Full-Time vs. Part-Time MBA Considerations

07:47 - Balancing Work and MBA Studies

10:11 - Time, Energy, and Flexibility in MBA Formats

16:09 - The MBA as an Insurance Policy

18:51 - The Role of Prestige in Decision-Making

25:37 - Assessing ROI

29:53 - Profiles of MBA Candidates: F/T, P/T, and EMBA

33:14 - Quiz Time! Choosing the Right MBA Path

39:20 - Final Thoughts

Season 5 is on the way! In this quick update, host Zach shares what’s coming in the next season of Inside the GMAT, how you can get involved, and one big announcement: the Official Guide 2025–2026 is out now! Whether you're prepping for the exam or just starting your journey, this is your moment to get ahead.

📝 Get the new Official Guide: mba.com/prep
📩 Have a story to share? Email us at InsideTheGMAT@mba.com

This episode was originally published on September 7, 2023.

GMAC's Eric Chambers is joined by Charles Bibilos, Founder of GMAT Ninja, where they do things a bit differently by tackling your test anxiety head on. Charles talks all things assessment anxiety, from how it can manifest in an exam environment to how to overcome it, with a lively discussion about how the latest edition of the GMAT helps reduce your chances of experiencing anxiety on test day. Tune in to get over your testing jitters!

References:

GMAT Ninja

How GMAT™ Reduces Test Anxiety

It’s the season finale, and we’re going deep!

In this solo episode, host Zach breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the GMAT exam. Whether you’re just starting to explore business school or already deep in prep mode, this is your all-in-one explainer for what’s on the exam, how it’s scored, how to prepare, and how to use your score to stand out.

Zach walks through each section of the exam, plus testing options, prep resources, accommodations, and what your score report actually tells you. You’ll also get the facts on percentile rankings, test day logistics, and why a GMAT score is more than just a number.

No hype, no gimmicks—just real talk about the #1 test in business school admisions.

WATCH ON SPOTIFY OR YOUTUBE TO SEE ACCOMPANYING SLIDES & VISUALS

Register for the GMAT: https://www.mba.com/exams/gmat-exam/register

Chapters:

01:02 - Exam Overview & Features

03:48 - Scoring Explained

08:06 - Quantitative Reasoning

10:08 - Verbal Reasoning

13:06 - Data Insights

20:22 - Accessing & Sending Your Score

25:22 - Planning for Test Day

Artificial intelligence is here, but how much is too much when it comes to your MBA application?

This week, host Zach Fernebok sits down with Loubna Bouamane, founder of Admission Concierge and former Director of MBA Admissions, to explore the nuanced role AI now plays in business school applications. From brainstorming essays to managing deadlines, AI tools like ChatGPT can support candidates, but there's a fine line between using AI and outsourcing your voice.

Loubna shares the real risks of overrelying on AI, explains how admissions teams are adapting to this new landscape, and offers actionable advice on preserving authenticity in an increasingly automated world. If you're considering using AI in your MBA journey (or already are) this episode is your guide to staying smart, ethical, and unforgettable.

Admission Concierge: https://admissionconcierge.com/

1. AI can help, but it can’t (and shouldn’t) tell your story.
Using AI for structure, grammar, and idea generation can be helpful, but outsourcing your personal voice leads to generic, shallow, and forgettable applications.

2. Authenticity is your biggest competitive edge.
Admissions officers can spot essays that lack real reflection. What stands out isn’t perfect prose. It’s self-awareness, emotional honesty, and clarity of purpose.

3. Schools aren’t anti-AI. They’re anti-fake.
Top programs are updating their policies to emphasize ethics. Many condone AI for brainstorming, but warn against using it to write essays or letters of recommendation.

4. Interviews and real-time assessments are gaining importance.
Expect more behavioral, values-based, and spontaneous prompts as schools look to assess consistency between your written and spoken narrative.

5. Use AI wisely: treat it like a project assistant, not a ghostwriter.
Smart uses include organizing deadlines, shortening essays, or improving clarity, not generating full drafts or making up content.

00:55 - The Beginning of AI in Applications

02:48 - The Role of AI in Application Strategy

05:29 - Common Uses of AI by Applicants

09:45 - Business School Response to AI

12:03 - Smart and Responsible AI Usage

12:54 - The Risks of AI in Applications

15:09 - The Importance of Authenticity

17:45 - Strategies for Authentic Writing

18:51 - Exercises for Developing Personal Narratives

20:50 - Real-Life Examples of Authenticity

22:53 - Future of Admissions in the Age of AI

24:31 - Final Thoughts