Private GMAT Tutoring — NYC, San Diego & Online
Expert one-on-one GMAT Focus Edition preparation with Dr. Stuart Donnelly, Oxford Ph.D. Personalised strategies for Quant, Verbal, and Data Insights.
One-on-One GMAT Tutoring for Business School Admissions
A strong GMAT score is one of the most important components of your business school application. At Tutors of Oxford, Dr. Stuart Donnelly provides focused, private GMAT tutoring designed to maximise your score on the GMAT Focus Edition — the only version of the GMAT offered since February 2024 and accepted by business schools worldwide.
With a Ph.D. from the University of Oxford and more than twenty years of private test-prep experience, Dr. Donnelly has guided hundreds of students to the GMAT scores they need for admission to top-tier MBA programmes. His approach starts with a diagnostic assessment, identifies the specific areas where targeted work will produce the largest gains, and builds a study plan calibrated to your timeline and target score.
Sessions are available in person in Manhattan and San Diego, or live online via Zoom from anywhere in the world. Sessions can be recorded if you wish, so you can review key explanations between lessons.
Book a Free GMAT ConsultationWhat Makes Our GMAT Tutoring Different
Every GMAT programme at Tutors of Oxford is built around your specific needs, timeline, and target business schools.
Oxford-Educated Tutor
Dr. Donnelly holds a doctorate from the University of Oxford and brings two decades of test-prep expertise to every session. You work directly with him — never a teaching assistant or junior instructor.
Diagnostic-Driven Plans
Your programme begins with a comprehensive diagnostic to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses across Quant, Verbal, and Data Insights. Every hour of study is directed at the areas that will move your score the most.
In-Person or Online
Meet face-to-face in Manhattan or San Diego, or connect via Zoom from anywhere. Students frequently mix formats as their schedule demands — with no difference in session quality or pricing.
Proven Score Gains
Many students gain 80+ points after working with Dr. Donnelly. Regular practice exams under timed conditions track your progress and build test-day stamina.
About the GMAT Focus Edition
The GMAT Focus Edition launched in November 2023 and has been the only version of the GMAT since February 1, 2024. GMAC now simply calls it “the GMAT exam.”
The GMAT Focus Edition is a computer-adaptive test of 64 questions in 2 hours 15 minutes, plus one optional 10-minute break. It has three equally weighted sections — Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights — and you choose the order in which you take them. The total score runs from 205 to 805 (in 10-point steps), with each section scored 60–90. There is no essay (AWA), no separate Integrated Reasoning section (those question types now sit in Data Insights), and no Sentence Correction. Scores cannot be compared directly with the old 200–800 scale; compare percentiles instead.
| Section | Content | Questions / Time |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Reasoning | Problem solving in arithmetic, number properties, algebra, and word problems (no geometry; no calculator) | 21 questions / 45 min |
| Verbal Reasoning | Reading comprehension and critical reasoning | 23 questions / 45 min |
| Data Insights | Data sufficiency, multi-source reasoning, table analysis, graphics interpretation, two-part analysis (on-screen calculator allowed) | 20 questions / 45 min |
The computer-adaptive format adjusts question difficulty based on your performance, making strategic accuracy more important than speed alone.
GMAT Key Facts (2026)
- Retakes: up to 5 attempts in any rolling 12-month period, with no lifetime limit, and at least 16 days between attempts.
- Fees: in the U.S., currently about $275 at a test center and $300 for the online exam; fees vary by country.
- Percentiles (GMAC 2025 table): a 605 is roughly the 70th percentile, 655 roughly the 90th, and 705 roughly the 98th.
- Score validity: scores are reportable for 5 years.
Always confirm current policies and fees on mba.com before you register.
Our GMAT Tutoring Approach
Dr. Donnelly’s GMAT tutoring addresses every section of the Focus Edition with strategies designed for maximum score impact.
Quantitative Reasoning
Sessions cover the full range of GMAT Quant content: arithmetic and number properties, algebra, rates and work problems, statistics, and combinatorics. Geometry is no longer tested, and there is no calculator in this section. Dr. Donnelly teaches efficient problem-solving methods that prioritise accuracy under time pressure, including back-solving, estimation, and strategic use of answer choices to eliminate wrong options quickly.
Verbal Reasoning
The GMAT Focus Edition Verbal section tests reading comprehension and critical reasoning — no sentence correction. Dr. Donnelly teaches structured approaches to identifying main ideas, evaluating arguments, finding assumptions, and strengthening or weakening conclusions. You will learn to read GMAT passages efficiently and answer questions with precision.
Data Insights
Data Insights is the newest GMAT section, combining data sufficiency, multi-source reasoning, table analysis, graphics interpretation, and two-part analysis. Dr. Donnelly builds your ability to synthesise information from multiple formats, evaluate data sufficiency with a systematic framework, and handle the multi-part questions (which must be fully correct to earn credit) that many test-takers find most challenging.
Every GMAT tutoring programme includes regular full-length practice tests under timed, test-day conditions. Dr. Donnelly reviews each practice exam in detail, analysing missed questions to identify patterns and adjust the study plan as your skills develop.
Not sure whether to take the GMAT or the GRE? Most MBA programmes accept both — see our private GRE tutoring page, or ask during your free consultation. If your quant fundamentals are rusty, we can start with targeted math tutoring.
What Our GMAT Students Say
I took the GMAT today and scored a 710 (80 point jump from the first test)! Very happy with the results.
I had been out of school for eight years and was terrified of the GMAT. Dr. Donnelly was incredibly patient, broke down the quant concepts I had forgotten, and built my confidence week by week. I scored well above my target and got into Columbia Business School.
I was admitted to NYU's Stern School of Business today! Thank you for all the help!
GMAT Tutoring FAQs
The GMAT Focus Edition launched in November 2023 and has been the only version of the GMAT since February 1, 2024. It is a computer-adaptive test of 64 questions in 2 hours 15 minutes (plus an optional 10-minute break) with three sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights. Total scores range from 205 to 805. There is no essay and no geometry.
Most students benefit from 10 to 16 weeks of structured preparation, depending on their starting level and target score. Students with strong quantitative backgrounds may need less time, while those returning to academics after several years in the workforce often benefit from a longer timeline. Dr. Donnelly assesses your baseline during a free consultation and recommends an appropriate schedule.
It depends on your target programmes. On GMAC’s 2025 percentile table, a 655 is roughly the 90th percentile and a 705 roughly the 98th, and the most selective MBA programmes typically report class averages well above the 90th percentile. Every programme weighs the GMAT alongside your GPA, work experience, and essays, so check each school’s class profile. Dr. Donnelly helps you set a realistic target based on your specific programme list.
Rates depend on the number of sessions and the length of your study plan. Dr. Donnelly offers a free 30-minute consultation to evaluate your needs and recommend a package. Contact us by phone or through the contact page to discuss pricing and scheduling.
Yes. Dr. Donnelly provides live one-on-one GMAT tutoring via Zoom to students anywhere in the world. Online sessions include screen sharing and a digital whiteboard, and they can be recorded if you wish so you can review between sessions. Many students combine online and in-person sessions depending on their schedule.
As of 2026, you can take the GMAT up to 5 times in any rolling 12-month period, counting online and test-center attempts together, with at least 16 days between attempts. There is no longer a lifetime limit. Check mba.com for the latest policy before you book.
Results depend on your starting point, your target, and the practice you put in between sessions, but many of Dr. Donnelly’s students gain 80+ points. He sets a realistic target after reviewing your diagnostic results.