Inside the GMAT

This episode originally aired May 28, 2025.  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 o...

"Just because it's written online, just because it's on your screen, doesn't make it true." There's no shortage of GMAT advice online. The harder part is figuring out which advice is actually worth following. In this episode of Inside the GMAT , GMAC Zach sits down with GMAT tutor and test prep advisor Rowan Hand to talk about how candidates can become smarter consumers of GMAT information. Rowan...

Choosing a business school isn't just about choosing a program. It's also about choosing a city, a culture, a professional network, and a place you may call home long after graduation. In this episode of Inside the GMAT , GMAC Zach sits down with Jinnie Hinderscheit, Head of Marketing for Post-Experience Programs at  GEM Alpine Business School , to explore what it really means to study business in...

AI can help you research business schools, brainstorm essay ideas, prepare for interviews, and organize the application process. But how much AI is too much? In this episode of Inside the GMAT, GMAC Zach is joined by Hannah Artis, Senior Director of Graduate Admission, and Frank Fletcher, Senior Director of MBA Programs at the Masagung Graduate School of Management at the University of San Francis...

After almost five years at GMAC, Inside the GMAT host Zach Fernebok is moving on to a new opportunity. In this special short episode, GMAC Zach reflects on why he relaunched Inside the GMAT, what he learned from talking directly with test takers, and why helping candidates cut through misinformation became one of the most meaningful parts of his time at GMAC. Before signing off, he shares one fina...

"We're not looking for people who know about business. We're looking for people who are ready to learn about business and who are ready to grow and to lead." Is an MBA right for you? And what if you don't come from a traditional business background? In this episode of Inside the GMAT , GMAC Zach is joined by  Sandra Richez, Global MBA Program Director at EDHEC Business School , to explore how the...

"Companies want to know the real person, the human behind those applications." AI, technological innovation, and economic change are transforming the workplace—and creating new challenges and opportunities for professionals at every stage of their careers. So, what skills will be most valuable? Where are the growth opportunities? And how can you stay competitive in an evolving job market? In this...

Spoiler Warning: This episode discusses questions from the second free Official GMAT Practice Exam on mba.com. If you haven't taken that exam yet, there will be some spoilers. What should you do after taking a GMAT practice test? For the final installment of our six-week Summer GMAT prep series, GMC Zach and Menlo Coaching Director of Tutoring Hailey Cusimano go inside the results of a real studen...

Practice tests are an essential part of GMAT prep—but are you using them the right way? In Week 5 of our Summer Prep Series, GMAC Zach is joined once again by GMAT expert Hailey Cusimano to explore how candidates can make the transition from learning GMAT concepts to performing under test-like conditions. They discuss why a practice test should be treated as data rather than a verdict on your read...

Data Insights gives you a lot to look at, but that doesn't mean you need to understand all of it. In the latest installment of our GMAT Summer Prep Series, GMAC Zach and Hailey Cusimano of Menlo Coaching break down how to approach one of the GMAT's most distinctive sections without getting lost in the data. They explore why timing can be particularly challenging in Data Insights, how to stay focus...

In this episode of Inside the GMAT, GMAC Zach sits down with Dr. Rodrigo Tello, MBA Program Manager at Oklahoma State University and a researcher studying chronobiology and circadian rhythms in organizational management. Rodrigo explains how our chronotypes—whether we naturally perform better earlier or later in the day—can affect focus, decision-making, learning, and even how managers respond to...

Knowing how to read doesn't automatically mean you know how to approach GMAT Verbal. In the latest episode of our summer GMAT prep series, GMAC Zach and GMAT instructor Hailey Cusimano dig into Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning—and some of the habits that can make these questions harder than they need to be. They explore why GMAT Verbal is more objective than it may seem, how assumption...

GMAT Quant questions can look intimidating—but the hardest part is not always the math. In week two of our six-week GMAT study series, GMAC Zach is joined once again by Hailey Cusimano of Menlo Coaching for a hands-on Quantitative Reasoning session. Together, they work through three challenging problems and explore what actually separates an efficient GMAT solution from a long, calculation-heavy o...

Summer can be a great time to prepare for the GMAT...but only if you have a plan! In the first installment of our summer GMAT study series, GMAC Zach is joined by Hailey Cusimano, Director of Tutoring at Menlo Coaching, to discuss how candidates can build a study timeline that is structured, realistic, and flexible. Hailey explains why GMAT preparation should generally move through two phases: fir...

This episode originally published in 2025, but since a new round of GMAC Tours just started up again, I want to make sure new listeners have a chance to learn all about these one-of-a-kind, free events.  Enjoy! - GMAC Zach Thinking about business school? Don't go it alone. In this episode, we're hitting the road as we explore  GMAC Tours , the global events that bring top business schools and aspi...

GMAT Superscore is coming, and it could change how candidates think about retesting, performance anxiety, and an imperfect test day. In this episode of Inside the GMAT , GMAC Zach sits down with Charles Bibilos, founder of GMAT Ninja, to explain what GMAT Superscore means in practice. Charles breaks down how a superscore combines your strongest Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data In...

Paying for business school can feel overwhelming—but it doesn't have to. In this episode of Inside the GMAT , Zach sits down with Allie Danziger, Chief Marketing Officer at Ascent Funding, to discuss one of the biggest concerns facing prospective students: how to finance graduate management education. Together, they explore why cost remains a major barrier for candidates, common misconceptions abo...

"Nothing is better than the real thing. Official GMAT questions are the gold standard for getting ready for the test." The  GMAT Official Guide 2026–2027 is here, and that means new official questions, updated online practice tools, and fresh ways to prepare for test day. In this episode of Inside the GMAT , GMAC Zach is joined once again by Stacey Koprince of Manhattan Prep to break down what's n...

"Anxiety and excitement are chemically the same reaction — context changes how we interpret it." What actually separates top GMAT performers from everyone else? In this episode of Inside the GMAT, GMAC Zach sits down with Hailey Cusimano, Director of Tutoring at Menlo Coaching, to unpack the five traits she's observed that that drive GMAT success. Through the lens of curiosity, balance, consistenc...

"Candidates aren't chasing career switches—they're investing in long-term skills." If you're considering business school, you've probably asked yourself some big questions: Is it worth it? What should I prioritize? And how are other candidates making this decision? In this episode of Inside the GMAT , GMAC Zach sits down with his colleague Andrew Walker, Director of Industry Communications at GMAC...

"Testing isn't just about checking a box—it's about proving you're ready to succeed." When most people think about business school admissions, they focus on test scores, essays, and interviews. But for many candidates around the world, there's another critical piece of the puzzle: proving you can succeed in an English-speaking academic environment. In this episode of Inside the GMAT , GMAC Zach is...

"It's not about the rules and formulas—it's about the decisions you make in how you approach a question." Most GMAT candidates start their prep the wrong way: by diving straight into content, formulas, and practice questions. But what if that approach is actually holding you back? In this episode of Inside the GMAT , GMAC Zach sits down with Brian Prestia, founder of Reason Test Prep , to break do...

"The score isn't the end. It's just the starting point." After ten weeks, GMAC Zach has finally taken his EA exam! In this candid debrief episode of Inside the GMAT , Zach sits down with instructor Stacey Koprince from Manhattan Prep to break down his real testing experience—from last-minute rescheduling to test-day distractions and everything in between. Zach walks through how he handled each sec...

"Lose the urgency. Accept the learning process." In a world where AI can generate answers instantly, what actually sets great decision-makers apart? In this episode of  Inside the GMAT , GMAC Zach sits down with GMAT tutor and founder of  GMAT Buddy , Ayham Shakra, to unpack the real skill behind success—not memorization, but reasoning. Ayham explains why the GMAT isn't a math or English test, but...

"You should actually get a little bit excited when you make a careless mistake—because you're about to get better." Everyone makes careless mistakes on the GMAT—even well-prepared test takers. In this episode of  Inside the GMAT , GMAC Zach sits down with Manhattan Prep instructor Stacey Koprince to break down why these mistakes happen and what you can actually do to prevent them. Stacey explains...