Manhattan GMAT Experience

I started the Manhattan GMAT online course in the last week of August and scheduled my test for the last weekend in October. This gave me exactly 9 weeks to finish the class and take the exam following the Manhattan course syllabus.

My first test score was a 610. My second test score the next weekend was a 590. I had a lot of work to do.

The Manhattan course intuitively presented the course material and challenge problems in an effective and efficient manner. Over the course of the next 8 weeks I devoted over 200 hours to class and study time. Most of this time was doing problems on Manhattan's OG Archer software and watching their video solutions.

I used the Manhattan course books to refresh math concepts and learn strategies to tackle verbal problems. I then followed the OG / GMAC books on a subject by subject basis. This was my instructor Avi's suggestion. He suggested that I identify a weakness and strengthen it by doing large sets of just that concept or subject. I liked this strategy a lot and started to see big improvements. I took another test at the halfway point and scored a 670.

During the last two weeks of prep I scored 700, 710, 710 and 710 on practice exams so felt ready for test day.

I felt good on test day and scored a 730. I felt I could have done even better but got flustered during the math section by a problem that completely stumped me.

I would highly recommend the Manhattan program to anyone who is looking for study material for the GMAT. I also bought the Kaplan online program and did not find it as helpful. Kaplan's tests were quality but I didn't find their recorded classes to be effective. Make sure to ask for Avi and Liz. They are the real deal.