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The current GMAT exam, which is the admissions test that most MBA applicants choose to take, includes three sections—Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights—each of which tests different skills. The current version of the exam is two hours and 15 minutes long and includes 64 questions. 

Section details are as follows, per GMAC, the organization that administers the GMAT:

Question types within Verbal Reasoning include Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension. The Verbal section of the exam aims to assess your ability to read and understand material, and to evaluate arguments and reason logically. 

All question types within the Quantitative Reasoning section are considered Problem Solving questions. Topics covered in the Quant section include number properties, arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. This section aims to assess your knowledge of algebra and arithmetic, as well as your analytical thinking skills. 

Question types within Data Insights include Data Sufficiency, Multi-Source Reasoning, Table Analysis, Graphics Interpretation, and Two-Part Analysis. This section aims to assess how you work with data in real-world situations. 

Overall, the GMAT also tests your ability to analyze and use data, work with incomplete information, communicate, make decisions, and manage your time under pressure. 

GMAT Score Breakdown

Total Scores for the current version of the exam (Focus Edition) range from 205 to 805, with scores ending in five (5). Scores on the prior version of GMAT (10th Edition) ranged from 200 to 800, with scores always ending in zero (0). 

The application essays for IE University’s International MBA Program are not overly taxing from a length perspective, but they require candidates to make some important decisions as to what they choose to share and how. We imagine most applicants will end up devoting a good bit of time to considering their options as far as topics to cover and just as much (if not more) time to crafting the presentation of that information. The school’s broad personal statement prompt instructs candidates to essentially tell the admissions committee the most important thing about themselves that has not been discussed elsewhere, and applicants can do so in a video, via a PowerPoint presentation, or in writing. At the other extreme is IE’s “online assessment,” which gives candidates almost no time to prepare their responses in advance. Read on for our advice on approaching the school’s essays for this season.

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The one required application essay for the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University gives candidates the opportunity to provide a little context, detail, and depth to complement the statistics and other basic data conveyed in the rest of the application. The essay is essentially a rather traditional career goals statement, allowing candidates one single-sided page in which to outline their professional aspirations and explain their need for an MBA. Applicants with unusual or unclear elements in their profiles, or who simply have more they feel they need to share with the admissions committee, can take advantage of a 500-word supplemental essay. All aspiring Fisher students must complete a video interview in conjunction with their application, and although this is not technically an essay, we offer tips on preparing for it as well in our complete analysis, which follows.

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The Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford takes a rather minimalist approach to application essays, asking its candidates to compose only one short, traditional written submission. The essay’s prompt gives applicants the leeway to share whatever additional information they believe the school needs to fully evaluate them, so they do not have to adhere any particular topic, though the 250-word limit might feel restrictive for some candidates. However, Oxford also requires applicants to complete an online assessment involving several competency-focused video questions. We imagine that many candidates would much prefer to write a second essay over contending with spontaneous queries on video, but applicants should embrace this opportunity to showcase themselves in a more dynamic way for the admissions committee. In our full analysis, we provide guidance on approaching Oxford Saïd’s single essay question and online assessment, as well as its separate prompts for 1+1 MBA candidates and reapplicants.

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Emory University’s Goizueta Business School demands three short-answer questions, two relatively brief written essays, and a one-minute “small talk” video essay from its applicants. Two of the three short-answer questions address common MBA essay topics: one’s short-term career objectives and how the school can help the applicant achieve them. The third, however, asks candidates to share a “fun fact” about themselves. Applicants have a choice of two prompts for the school’s first essay question, though both deal with a past leadership experience. And for the second essay, candidates are asked to discuss a person, event, or circumstance that has influenced who they are today. The school’s video essay might cause some applicants a bit of anxiety, because Goizueta provides no advance information about what the question will be. Candidates must therefore be ready to respond extemporaneously. If needed, applicants can use the optional essay to provide clarification or explanation about elements of their candidacy. Read on for our full analysis of all Goizueta’s 2024–2025 application essay questions.