GMAT Prep course reviews - reviews of test prep courses by GMAT Club members prior to 2012

General Discussions:
Online courses - so many to pick from added 7/1/2010

Kaplan GMAT Course Reviews

Special Offer: $100 discount on Kaplan GMAT Courses [size=200]+ free GMAT Club tests, a $250 value!

Satisfied Reviews:

• http://gmatclub.com/forum/gmat-journey- ... 77005.html
• http://gmatclub.com/forum/prep-courses- ... 78959.html (Advanced Class and comparison to Manhattan)
• View of a Kaplan GMAT instructor:
• View of 720 scorer (2005)

Negative Reviews:

• http://gmatclub.com/forum/is-manhattan- ... 47787.html
• http://gmatclub.com/forum/kaplan-or-pri ... 47337.html
• http://gmatclub.com/forum/my-kaplan-cou ... 23896.html
• Misahari improved from 490 to 700 but not because of Kaplan
• Improved 50-100 points but felt could have done better with Manhattan GMAT by benpack03

Manhattan Prep Course Reviews

Special Offer: $75 discount on Manhattan Prep courses for GMAT Club members + free GMAT Club tests, a $250 value!

Satisfied Reviews:

• http://gmatclub.com/forum/gmat-prep-courses-57323.html
• http://gmatclub.com/forum/kaplan-prep-c ... ml#p583575
• http://gmatclub.com/forum/manhattan-gma ... -4393.html
• http://gmatclub.com/forum/review-of-man ... 42404.html - Review of GMAT Instructor

• http://gmatclub.com/forum/kaplan-premiu ... 50076.html
• http://gmatclub.com/forum/manhattan-gmat-56742.html
• http://gmatclub.com/forum/your-thoughts ... 26145.html (vs. GMAX Online)
• http://gmatclub.com/forum/mgmat-online- ... 88771.html (vs. Knewton)
• http://gmatclub.com/forum/second-try-is ... 79956.html (vs. Kaplan)
• Review by a 700 Exec MBA (EMBA) test taker (6/20/2010)
• MGMAT Class result = 750 (7/18/2010)
• Self study course results into 700 (10/19)

Neutral Reviews:

• http://gmatclub.com/forum/570-q30-v38-t ... 84094.html

examPAL GMAT Course Reviews

Special Offer: 10% discount on GMAT Courses + free GMAT Club tests, a $250 value!

Satisfied Reviews:
Full List of Reviews for examPAL



Princeton Review GMAT Course Reviews Special Offer: 10% discount on Princeton Review GMAT courses for GMAT Club members

View of a 740 scorer:

• http://gmatclub.com/forum/740-46-46-hum ... 73097.html

Satisfied Reviews:

• http://gmatclub.com/forum/gmat-prep-cou ... 41411.html

Negative Reviews:

• http://gmatclub.com/forum/got-a-640-tod ... ml#p586060
• http://gmatclub.com/forum/best-gmat-tes ... ml#p416108

Manhattan Review GMAT Course Reviews
Satisfied Reviews:
http://gmatclub.com/forum/manhattan-rev ... 24#p551724
http://gmatclub.com/forum/manhattan-gma ... 78#p627278
Review of single class attendance (free class):
http://gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-manha ... 42#p377042


GMAX Online GMAT Course
Special Offer: $199 for the math- or verbal-only courses and $299 for the full course

GMAT Club Review by Praetorian - http://gmatclub.com/wiki/GMAX_Online
Satisfied Reviews:
http://gmatclub.com/forum/gmax-online-o ... 73548.html
http://gmatclub.com/forum/thank-you-gmax-38776.html
http://gmatclub.com/forum/gmax-online-review-45632.html
http://gmatclub.com/forum/from-having-a ... 80315.html (GMAT Score 760 6/30/09)


Test Prep NY GMAT Course

Satisfied Reviews:
http://gmatclub.com/forum/3rd-trial-710 ... ml#p631891


Master GMAT Online GMAT Course

Satisfied Reviews:
http://gmatclub.com/forum/master-gmat-o ... 87931.html
Master GMAT vs Knewton vs GMAT Pill
Review of Trial Only:
http://gmatclub.com/forum/my-mastergmat ... 53#p654353


Some external reviews
Test prep companies overview by ClearAdmit (independent profiles of every major GMAT test-prep company)
http://www99.epinions.com/Test_Prep_Courses--gmat (kaplan and PR)
http://www.gmat-mba-prep.com/gmat-review.html (Manhattan and Veritas)
Business Week Article - Paying for Points on GMAT Classes and Tutoring - May 2007


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It's nice to have a post consolidating all the information and reviews. Thank you!

Review of Veritas by BKD
Source: http://bkdunn.livejournal.com/34281.html



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Heres my review on Knewton

The Positives :

1) Very helpful set of people. They reply back to all your queries with a lot of detail and you can expect most responses back within 24 hours. I have got responses on Sunday as well, at times.

2) Online learning works . Their site is adaptive, and it generally throws questions to you which it feels you are weaker on.

3) 50 pt guarantee should work for most. I improved my score by 60 points from 660 to 720. Also I had a balanced score as Knewton focuses equally on Quant and Verbal . I have read that a lopsided high score is inferior to a balanced score with the same total.

4) Although many people feel that Knewtons questions are a rip off of the Official material, this strategy works. They drill the Test Prep Makers strategies into your head, and you are far better off doing questions that are similiar to those that you will see on the exam. The SC in verbal were a breeze, as I could spot most errors with ease.

6) Their Quant Strategy and Verbal strategy sections are excellent. They do significantly improve your skills at choosing the correct answer, or atleast chosing between 2 answers , when you are in doubt.

7) Despite many complaining that Knewton Diagnostic isnt a valid interpretation of your actual ability , the truth is that my final scores are more in line with their tests than the Official Gmatprep. This is also because many GMATPrep problems are already tackled by most of us on this forum or in the Vebal and Quant guides, while practicing.

Again for the money back guarantee , they chose the highest of your two previous scores. Either the Offical GMAT or their diagnostic.. So if you score a 660 on their test and have scored 690 on your actual test , earlier , your money back guarantee is based on your baseline of 690.
They could have very easily selected to use the lower of both scores, or just use their diagnostic for the money back guarantee. The fact that they used thehigher score means that they are confident in their material and techniques, and the overall Knewton product. I feel very comfortable in recommending Knewton to any future candidate looking for a one- two month testprep.
8) Instructors on Knewton are top notch, and the live sessions are fabulous. I attend the classes twice. Once live and once I went through the archives. It definiately helped. On many ocassions the TA spent more than 20 minutes with me after class to take me through individual concepts.

9) The guys are value for money. The course isnt expensive, given the fact that they have been offering discounts on most courses off late.

10) Videos of most individual topics , where you are weak, are an excellent way to strengthen your concepts.

11) You cant rewind a live class, but at Knewton you can see atleast two archived lessons on each class, with different instructors, and also attend a live class in addition to that.

12) Last but noth the least, Knewton promises a live Pre MBA class, which will include a live case study discussion with a Harvard Business School professor. This Pre MBA program will be offered free with their already excellent GMAT training package, making it one of the unique combinations in comparison to other GMAT training programs.

Negatives

1) The Quant sections on Knewton tests are simpler than the actual GMAT. I was able to complete all tests with 5 minutes to spare, but on my actual GMAT I was in a tight spot , trying to rush through the last few questions in Quant. I have read that their GMAT Quant questions are being revised for their CAT's to have them be as tough as those seen in the actual CAT's


Overall Review

Can confidently recommend Knewton to any candidate looking at improving his test score. They deserve a 5/5 . But Ill give them a 4.5, because they can still improve on the Quant practice tests.

Again with their killer money back guarantee , there will be no reason to regret joining Knewton . I can vouch for their program's efficacy.

I read all the reviews. RIght now, I am deciding between taking a GMAT course at Kaplan, Manhattan GMAT, or Testmasters. Any recommendations? Does anyone have any information on Testmasters GMAT course?

Have not hear of TestMasters for a long time. They still around? Anything good?
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TestMasters is still around. But I think they mostly only have classes in Los Angeles.

Very nice review. I am planning to retake and Knewton looks like a road to me...

I might try Knewton. I underperformed so badly on test day that it's left me with all sorts of doubts (80 points worse than my 2 GMATPreps...)

I am sorry to hear about that. I thought the GMATPreps is a good indicator. I haven't taken the real test yet, still practicing. What do you think is the main different when you take the real test?

Hi wilbase, I think the following things affected me:

- Most importantly, when I practiced, I didn't do the AWA (just didn't consider it important). I underestimated the impact of expending 50 minutes of intellectual energy before the CAT.
- I was slightly dehydrated from an excrutiating soccer match in the sun two days earlier (I work in the Middle East and it gets very hot here, though right now it's pleasant).
- Cracked under pressure (I think I want this much more badly than I've wanted results in previous tests, in which I've usually done well).

So things to watch out for:
- practice PROPERLY
- stay well hydrated, fed, rested etc
- keep your cool!

I'm going to bounce back.

Great! I will be sure to practice properly. Thanks

I must mention that my preparation wasn't nearly as thorough as it could've/should've been. I used two books (McGraw Hill, Verbal and Math) which were enough to get me a double 710 on the GMATPreps with three weeks of practice, but no Official Guide, no Manhattan, nothing else... Come test day, I lacked DEPTH in my abilities and knowledge of the concepts, and I froze.

I intend on being much more thorough, with greater reservoirs of preparation. I've bought one more McGraw Hill book (low sample size but the reviews are poor!) which has four CAT tests in its DVD, as well as more test strategies; the OG Verbal and Quantitative; I'm considering getting Manhattan Number Properties, Inequalities and Sentence Correction; and considering trying Knewton. I refuse to improve by less than 100 points!

So, do you think the GMATPreps is a good indicator for your actually score? or was it way easier than the real test?

One would think that there's some reliability to the GMATPrep, normally, it should be in a plus or minus 20 point range, so normally I'd test anywhere between a 690 and a 730. My 630 was unusually poor. I really won't know until I try testing myself again after this second barrage of studying. A bit hard when you have a girlfriend, but we'll see...

After throughly analysing the reviews, I have enrolled myself in Knewton. Let us see how far it goes and I hope I can write a success story here.

Please do - will be very valuable for everyone to read your feedback.
Hope you took advantage of the holiday offer with them (ends today) http://gmatclub.com/blog/2009/12/knewto ... gmat-class
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I partially took a Manhattan GMAT course. I say partially because I didn't really avail myself mentally. I think that the materials are great but that one should do preliminary prep before enrolling in any course. It gives you a better idea of what you're dealing with content wise and also helps prepare you to be a better student, one who can truly take advantage of the knowledgebase of course instructors and tutors.

Hi Guys,

I have gone through a chunk of OG (and some of GMATCubs practice questions) and scored 690 on the OG's diagnostic tests but want to get up to 720. I took the diagnostic test twice - once before practicing and once after the score did not change whatsoever

From reading the reviews it does not sound like Kaplan's in-class prep would be a good fit for me. I am not sure whether Kaplan Advanced would be any good? Or if I should just go with Knewton because of the good reviews they get even though it is online.

My questions:
- What good in-class GMAT prep course would you recommend for someone who wants to increase their score by 30-50 points? Kaplan Advanced or Manhattan Review or...?
- If no such in-class course exists, would you simply recommend Knewton or even doing more practice problems through the many books/GmatClub's practice problems that are available?

You help is much appreciated. Thanks!

One advantage you have with Knewton is the 50-point money back guarantee (if you don't get 740, you get your money back). You will also get GMAT Club tests for free if you use our promo code to sign up (GC-Knewton-GMAT).

As to others, I have not taken any, so you have to rely on the feedback from reviews to make your selection.

Finally, consider browsing through this thread: should-i-retake-gmat-thread-retaking-gmat-strategies-83339.html
Do you really need to bump your score more?
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