LBS MBA ESSAY ANALYSIS PART II Here's an analysis of the other questions interspersed in the rest of the LBS application.
Academic Performance:Q. Do you feel that your academic performance so far gives an accurate indication of your potential for success on the programme? If so, why? If not, why not?The best way to address this prompt is to first give a straightforward answer—do your academics indicate your ability to succeed on the LBS programme?
We have read many essays where, instead of directly addressing the question, applicants mention their ECAs or other college achievements. There are more essays and a résumé where you can highlight notable ECAs; in this essay, focus on proving only your academic competency.
If you answer in the affirmative, you can mention subjects where you excelled or ranked at the top. You can also note where you explored specific subjects beyond the coursework through their practical application, or where you undertook notable academic projects, wrote research papers or won awards for academic performance.
If your undergraduate grades were low, briefly explain the reason without giving excuses. Additionally, identify and mention trends that explain the low GPA. These could be an upward trajectory in later semesters or stronger performance in specific subjects (such as practical/quantitative modules over theoretical ones). Many applicants cite ECAs as the reason they did not perform well; however, ECAs should not be a justification for poor academic performance, as this signifies a lack of judgment and priorities.
You should also assure the Admissions Committee that you have the quantitative and analytical skills needed to succeed at LBS. If your GMAT/GRE supports this, state your score and note that it better represents your current ability to handle quantitative rigour. If you hold a Master’s degree or a professional certification, such as CPA/CA/CFA, include it as evidence of your quantitative strength. Similarly, if your work is highly analytical—such as building models or working with data—use it to demonstrate your academic readiness.
If you are applying with a lower GMAT/GRE score, you can use this essay strategically to highlight your quantitative and analytical capabilities, which were more prominent in your undergraduate coursework.
If your undergraduate coursework didn’t have many quant-focused subjects, you can reference a high GMAT/ GRE score or quant skills that you have developed at work.
Keep the word limit within 300.
English Language Ability:Q. Please outline your experience of working or studying in an English-speaking environment. Do you plan to take further English language tuition before the programme starts? (300 words max)This should be a factual answer outlining your experience of studying and/or working in English-speaking environments. Briefly explain the setting (e.g., degree taught in English, years in an English-first workplace) and note how you demonstrated competency in both written and verbal communication (reports, decks, meetings, presentations).
If you consistently collaborate with global teams of varying English proficiency, describe how you adapt your communication to ensure their understanding. Conclude with a direct statement on taking tuition: either confirm you do not plan further English study because your day-to-day work and/or test evidence already meet LBS's expectations, or specify any planned steps (e.g., a short business writing or pronunciation course) before the programme starts.
Additional Information:This section has a multitude of questionsQ. Tell us about your main interests and activities in your free time. (300 words max)Most business schools offer a plethora of student-led features, including professional and social clubs, events, and co-curricular activities, to make the MBA program vibrant. Applicants who have meaningfully invested time in such pursuits in the past are more likely to contribute on campus and enrich their classmates’ experiences. With this question, LBS aims to determine whether you have interests beyond work that add layers to your personality. They’d also want to assess whether you will contribute to the student community, not just focus on your own development, but also support your classmates’ growth.
Use this essay to describe interesting pursuits outside work . These may include (but are not limited to):
1. Hobbies and interests (Example- being part of a book club, photography, playing an instrument, cooking),
2. Personal development activities (example- language learning, challenging yourself through endurance sports)
3. Volunteering and social impact (example- working with an NGO, helping your local community, or undertaking CSR initiatives)
4. Community building initiatives (example- being part of a cricket club, Women in Business group or PRIDE allyship at work; managing an online community of finance enthusiasts, mentoring as a YouTuber).
Given the 300-word limit, select 2-4 activities and cover:
- What motivated you to pursue this activity, and what joy do you derive from this?
- What do you do, what is your level of involvement, and what impact have you created?
- What have you learned or how has this activity enriched you?..
- If space allows, demonstrate how you will continue one or two of these activities at LBS, naming relevant clubs and explaining how you would contribute.
The activities you choose—and the joy you take in them—reveal your personality and values. Therefore, choose wisely and focus on what is most relevant to a business school community.Q. Please tell us your most significant international experiences to date. (100 words max)With a 100-word limit, highlight 1–2 of your most notable international experiences. Briefly state the context, your role, the outcome, and what you learned or how the experience shaped your growth. You may use personal or professional examples, or a combination of both. If you haven’t travelled abroad, highlight work with global teams: explain how you contributed across cultures and what you learned from international teammates and stakeholders.
Caution: We’ve seen applicants mention a country’s scenery, its infrastructure, or other features that are common and generic observations. Don’t bother about these as they don’t offer insights into how you process new experiences. Instead, highlight situations and experiences that challenged your existing assumptions, gave you a new way of thinking or made you appreciate something new and different. Possibly, even adapt it.
LBS Related Questions:This section has a bunch of questions. Some of them have a drop down menu and you are required to only select an option. Some other require you to write a few characters upto a few words of essays.
LBS is possibly the only b-school that asks so many questions related to their programme, which again proves how much they value your research and conviction that LBS is the right programme for you. Read the questions here:
- Are you interested in the option of completing your studies in under 21 months? (Minimum 15 months)
- Roughly when did you start researching MBA programmes in general? (drop down menu)
- How did you first hear about London Business School? (Max 200 characters)
- How did you hear about this programme? (Max 100 characters)
- When did you decide to apply for this programme? (drop down menu)
- What's your main reason for wanting to do this programme at this point in your career?
(drop down menu that has the following choices: Advance current career, change industry, educational advancement, start own business, Other)
- Have you attended an event on or off campus, or online where you met with representatives from the school? If yes, please tell us when, where and who you met (100 words max).
- If you know any London Business School Alumni or Students, please give their names, graduating class and tell us how you know them. (300 words max)
We recommend that you talk to atleast 4-5 people to understand how you will benefit from the LBS MBA. In this essay, use the insights from those discussions to make a mention of different resources you hope to benefit from and how you will contribute at LBS.Reapplicants Essay: How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please comment on how you have grown personally and professionally. (300 words)
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