Which is the best GMAT prep course to go for?

Question

Hello everyone! I took the GMAT a month ago, scored a very poor 480 (Q31, V25)

However, out of all the mock tests I took during my prep, I constantly scored around 580-600. At that time, I was utilising the resources of an Indian Prep company, which did help me clear most of the basics (i'm not a math student btw). I am planning to re-take the GMAT in the coming months, probably 2-3 months from now. I'd love to get some feedback on prep companies like Princeton Review, Manhattan prep and their prep plans. Is it worth going for a prep course? and if it is, would it be better to go for a self paced course or a live online class course? Please advise. Thanks!

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

Consider checking out the Share GMAT Experience subforum to see what others have done/used to successfully improve their score. Fair to say including the Official Mocks/Guides into your prep path would be a solid choice. Leveraging trial periods before committing to a long term decision may be helpful as well.

All the best with the retake.

All the best with the retake.

MartyTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi Manav.

You could check the GMAT Club course reviews to see what people say about different courses.

Also, how you use resources will matter as well. So, it would be helpful to understand some basics of how to prepare.

You can learn from the following post how to best to prepare increase your Verbal score.

How to Score High on GMAT Verbal

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi ManavMistry,

Regarding prep courses, in addition to seeking advice in this thread, take a look at the GMAT Club reviews for  the best quant  and  verbal courses , and also read through some  GMAT success stories  to see what materials have worked well for other test-takers.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi ManavMistry,

I'm sorry to hear that Test Day didn't go as well as planned. When these types of score drops occur, the two likely "causes" involve either something that was unrealistic during practice or something that was surprising (or not accounted for) on Test Day. Before we discuss any of those potential issues though, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) How long have you studied in total? How many hours do you typically study each week?
2) What specific study materials have you used so far? What “brands” of CATs/mocks have you used?
3) On what dates (or approximate dates) did you take EACH of your CATs/mocks and how did you score on EACH (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?

Goals:
4) What is your overall goal score?
5) When are you planning to apply to Business School and what Schools are you planning to apply to?

If you took your Official GMAT at a Test Center, then you might also choose to purchase the Enhanced Score Report. While the ESR doesn’t provide a lot of information, there are usually a few data points that we can use to define what went wrong on Test Day (and what you should work on to score higher). If you purchase the ESR, then I'll be happy to analyze it for you.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Contact Rich at: [email protected]

ManavMistry · Answer

Hey, thanks for replying. 
As per your suggestion, I quickly went through the forum and I guess TTP as a good reputation among all. 
However, after going through the same, what materials would be the best for my prep? I see people talking about OGs and Manhattan Prep ( All the GMAT guides and Foundations books). This has left me slightly confused in terms of which material is suitable for which levels of prep?

As for me, I'm not too comfortable with quant, verbal on the GMAT is quite different (i'm not a native English speaker but I can communicate effectively if needed).

ManavMistry · Answer

Hi!
After looking at the forum, I noticed TTP has a positive feedback from the GMATCLUB community in general. I'm taking this course under consideration as of now.

About prep resources, I understand that OGs are crucial for practice in general. However, for additional resource, i'm not sure about sticking with only OGs or to extend my prep using Manhattan's books? And if so, there's the "All the Verbal/Quant" series and "Foundations" series. This has me a little confused right now.

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

Taking an Official Mock after getting a bit familiar with the material/structure of the exam could help give a sense where you currently stand/what to work on. 2 of these mocks are freely available through the main MBA website. Purchasing/using the remaining 4 at some point would be a solid choice, though you may want to consider saving one or two in case you retake for any reason.

5 Quant tips

ManavMistry · Answer

Hello!
Thanks for replying, from the forum and success stories, I understand that people used a combination of prep course (TTP being the most mentioned) and physical/book resources.

I'll still look for more reviews and pick the best combination for me.

I'd appreciate some suggestions from your end, if there are any.

Thanks!

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