Week 4: How to Stop Overthinking Data Insights | GMAT Summer Study Series with Hailey Cusimano, Menlo Coaching
Inside the GMAT
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 focused on the task in front of you, why unfamiliar subject matter shouldn’t scare you, and how having a clear strategy for each question type can make the section feel much more manageable. Plus,...
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What Time Is Your Brain at Its Best? with Dr. Rodrigo Tello, Oklahoma State University
Inside the GMAT
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 employee ideas. He also shares what his research has found about the “synchrony effect”: what can happen when demanding tasks line up with the time of day your brain is naturally at its best....
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Week 3: Vexed by Verbal Reasoning | GMAT Summer Study Series with Hailey Cusimano, Menlo Coaching
Inside the GMAT
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 assumptions and outside knowledge can lead you toward tempting wrong answers, why reading faster isn’t necessarily the answer to pacing problems, and how process of elimination can help you make more...
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Week 2: Don't Sweat the Quant Stuff | GMAT Summer Study Series with Hailey Cusimano, Menlo Coaching
Inside the GMAT
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 one. You’ll learn why rushing into the first available approach can cost you time, how to identify the question’s true ask, and how techniques such as number picking, visual organization, and...
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Week 1: Building Your Study Plan | GMAT Summer Study Series with Hailey Cusimano, Menlo Coaching
Inside the GMAT
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: first developing the necessary foundations and strategies, and then practicing under increasingly realistic test conditions. She also shares why completing more questions does not automatically lead to a...
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Rewind: Meet with Admissions at GMAC Tours
Inside the GMAT
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 , the global events that bring top business schools and aspiring students together under one roof. Host Zach is joined by Maggie Cooley, Director of Events and Marketing for GMAC Tours, to unpack why these MBA & Masters Tour events are more than just...
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GMAT Superscore Explained with Charles Bibilos, GMAT Ninja
Inside the GMAT
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 Insights section scores across multiple eligible exam attempts. He also explains which candidates are most likely to benefit, why an uneven test day no longer needs to feel catastrophic, and how business...
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Financing Your MBA: What Every Candidate Should Know
Inside the GMAT
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 about loans and scholarships, strategies for building a realistic financial plan, and ways students can evaluate the long-term return on investment of their degree. Whether you're just beginning to...
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How to Use the New GMAT Official Guide 2026–2027
Inside the GMAT
“Nothing is better than the real thing. Official GMAT questions are the gold standard for getting ready for the test.” The 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 new in this year’s Official Guide collection and how candidates should actually use it. They discuss why official GMAT questions are so valuable, how to balance official prep with third-party learning resources, and why...
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The 5 Traits of Successful GMAT Test Takers with Hailey Cusimano, Menlo Coaching
Inside the GMAT
“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, consistency, resilience, and flexibility, Hailey explains why the GMAT is less about memorization and more about critical thinking, self-awareness, and intentional preparation. Whether you’re just...
info_outline“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 new in this year’s Official Guide collection and how candidates should actually use it. They discuss why official GMAT questions are so valuable, how to balance official prep with third-party learning resources, and why reviewing your practice questions is just as important as answering them.
Zach and Stacey also cover common prep mistakes, including burning through too many questions too quickly, studying one question type in isolation, and skipping review on questions you got right. Plus, Stacey shares practical advice for using the Official Guide, section-specific review books, online question banks, and official practice exams more strategically throughout your prep.
Whether you’re just starting your GMAT journey or looking for more official practice before test day, this episode will help you get more out of every question you study.
Purchase the new GMAT Official Guide: mba.com/prep
Register for the GMAT exam: mba.com/register
Get materials from Manhattan Prep: manhattanprep.com/gmat
About Stacey:
Stacey Koprince is one of the most recognized names in test prep, with over 15 years of experience teaching the GMAT, EA, GRE, and LSAT. As Manhattan Prep’s Director of Content & Curriculum, she has written countless articles, guides, and video explanations that thousands of students rely on. A former management consultant, Stacey now spends her days helping future business leaders master tricky concepts and find confidence in their prep—something she’s passionate about seeing “click” for every student.
Key Takeaways
- Official questions matter because they are real GMAT questions. Third-party prep can teach concepts and strategies, but official GMAT questions are the best way to practice what the real exam will feel like.
- The Official Guide works best after foundational learning. Candidates should first learn the underlying content, question types, and strategies, then use the Official Guide to quiz themselves.
- Review is where score improvement happens. Stacey emphasizes that every question should be reviewed, including questions answered correctly, because correct answers can reveal shortcuts, traps, and repeatable strategies.
- Mixed practice is more effective than over-drilling one question type. The GMAT requires candidates to shift between skills, formats, and sections. Prep should mimic that experience.
- The newest Official Guide may be worth it, but not always immediately. If a candidate already owns last year’s guide and still has plenty of unused questions, they can continue with it. If they are buying for the first time, the newest edition is the better choice.
- Practice exams should be used carefully. Candidates should review each practice exam thoroughly and complete targeted study before taking another one.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to the Official Guide 2026-2027
01:07 The Importance of Official GMAT Tools
03:20 New Features and Questions in the Official Guide
11:38 Exploring the Content of the Big OG
16:02 Strategic Use of the Official Guide
18:15 The Value of Reviewing Correct Answers
22:14 Common Mistakes in GMAT Preparation
27:44 Utilizing the Official Guide Effectively
29:24 Review Books and Their Importance
34:17 Integrating Official Prep Tools with Outside Learning
37:46 Pro Tips for Leveraging the New Official Guide