Hi all, Posting my experience with the EA using the
TargetTestPrep (TTP) Course.
I elected to take the EA relative to the GMAT due to the shorter exam length and omission of geometry content. I found most of the MBA/EMBA programs I was interested in accepted the EA. I began my study journey in April/May and opted for a guided self-study program. I shopped around and narrowed my choices to
Magoosh, TTP, and Manhattan Test Prep. After tinkering with the trial versions for each, I went with TTP because 1) it was among the most economical options, 2) I liked the various delivery formats and 3) I thought the actual learning content and curriculum was far more robust relative to the others. All offer plenty of practice questions and examples, but I found the strategies and learning content to be far more in-depth with TTP than the others. Note that this program is not something you can just fly through in 2-3 weeks time; it uses the 'go deep' approach which is how it delivers the results that it does. If you're looking for something more condensed, quick, and dirty, I'd suggest looking elsewhere with the leveled expectation that you may not progress or score as high as the 90th + percentile. I wanted something weighty and comprehensive given that I am >12 years out of undergrad and have not studied for or taken a standardized exam since the SAT.
I took 1 official practice exam from GMAC to gauge my baseline and scored a 153. I'm targeting top 5 schools; as such, I wanted to ideally break 160 and knew I needed work to do, particularly in the IR and QR sections which these programs tend to weigh more heavily relative to VR. I dedicated 15-20 hours/week for 3.5-4 months to studying with TTP. I completed all of the learning content, examples, practice exams, and about 75% of the practice questions bank (there are >1,000). I also took the other 3 official practice exams and a few practice questions from GMAC. At this point in August, I was scoring between 157-164 on my practice exams. Quite a spread, but I felt strongly prepared for the real thing and took the exam at the end of August and scored a 157. I felt I could do better based on my practice exams, so I elected to retake the exam 2 weeks after retooling from the first exam. The second run, I scored a 161, which is about the middle of the range of my practice exams. I elected to stop here and invest the remainder of my time in my applications.
I can't say enough about TTP. Beyond the robust curriculum, Scott, Jeff, and staff of instructors go above and beyond and make themselves available for additional questions or requests you may have. During my program, I reached out to them for guidance on a few items, and they answered them thoroughly and thoughtfully. What's also great is that the program goes over exam content AND test taking strategies, including breath-work, note-taking, and time management strategies. I'd highly recommend giving them a try if you're looking for a comprehensive study program and trying to earn a considerable increase in your score like I was. So long as you put in the work from your end, you will not be disappointed by the TTP programming.
Now it's on to the application process! I hope this provided value, and wishing you all the best in your journey!