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Manhattan Prep Review

Wednesday, June 7th

2023 GRE Test Prep Company Reviews

Manhattan Prep Review 4 Star Rating

Manhattan Prep

4 Star Rating
  • Cost: From $249 to $1,399

The idea for Manhattan Prep came about in 2000 when Zeke Vanderhoek, a Teach For America alumnus and Yale graduate, wanted to find better resources for students studying for tests such as the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, SAT/ACT, and EA. Vanderhoek started scouting the best teachers for course studies. His goal was to have the best and most accomplished educators in order for students to achieve academic success.

Expert teachers

Teachers who work for Manhattan Prep have scored in the 99th percentile in whatever test they are instructing for. We like the idea of such high-quality test prep services, but we wish they made it easier to see exactly what was offered on their platform and how much each option costs.

More expensive

Manhattan Prep has reached over 1 million students, taught over 16,000 classes, sold over 1 million books, and served over 190 countries. Their four courses range from $199 - $1,399, so they are one of the more expensive GRE test prep services. Students do have the ability to try out the first 15 lessons of the GRE prep courses that Manhattan prep offers for free. This way, a student gets to feel more comfortable with their decision to purchase the full course if they choose to.

Best GRE Test Prep Courses

4 GRE test prep options

There are four options for GRE study materials at Manhattan Prep. They include:

  • GRE for MBA Course: For $1,399+, this includes 9 live sessions with a focus in math.
  • GRE Complete Course: For $1,199+, this includes verbal and math content and can be online or in-person.
  • GRE Just Math Course: For $699+, this includes GRE math content and can be online or in-person.
  • Interact for GRE: For $249+, this includes branching video lessons, 100,000+ practice questions, and 6 GRE practice tests.

Private tutors

In addition to signing up for one of the courses listed, students have the option of paying for a private tutor to go over specific areas of weakness and set individual goals. The cost for this is between $225 and $255 per hour depending on how many hours are needed. Another paid option for students needing a refresher in a specific area would be the Foundations of Math GRE course for $199. This includes 6 hours of instruction, and a big. book of practice problems, the official guide to the GRE, 6 online practice tests, and a syllabus. Students will choose from the available schedules and tune into the online lectures.

Freebies

Manhattan Prep not only provides paid study plans, but you'll be happy to know that there are some freebies to take advantage of as well. There is a free GRE practice test, GRE flashcards to help with vocab skills, a mobile app for on-the-go studying, and study guide plans. Although these aren't all that would be required for succeeding on the GRE, they are sure to give a taste for the full Manhattan Prep platform as well as some added assistance for students dipping their toes into GRE test prep.

Experienced instructors

We really like that all the instructors at Manhattan Prep are extremely qualified. The fact that all instructors scored in the 99th percentile on the GRE means they will have much knowledge to impart to students as well as tips and tricks for getting a good score.

Enthusiastic student reviews

Students have great things to say about the instructors, course material, and their performance after using the GRE test prep from Manhattan Prep. There is almost nothing negative to be found about their services, which is unusual for any company. We are very surprised to find that the Better Business Bureau (BBB) only gave Manhattan Prep a D+ rating. Typically, we would be leery of a company with such a low rating, however the customer satisfaction makes us quite confident in Manhattan Prep. At the time of the review, the BBB low rating was the result of 1 bad unanswered complaint related to a customer who bought the material used. Regardless, Manhattan Prep has earned one of our highest ratings among GRE test prep services.

Who Provides the Best GRE Test Prep?

For students hoping to get into specific schools and programs, their performance on the GRE is important. Having to retake this test for a higher score is both expensive and time consuming.

Each GRE test costs around $205 and scores are sent to the designated schools chosen by the student. Test takers will want to be prepared by reviewing all relevant content so they can be confident on test day and get a GRE test score that will open educational doors for them.

The Best GRE Test Prep Companies Compare GRE Test Prep Companies Compare GRE Test Prep Company Reviews What are the best GRE Test Prep Companies Best GRE Test Prep Company Reviews

GRE Test Prep Company FAQ

GRE stands for Graduate Record Examinations. This is a standardized test required by many graduate schools in the US and Canada. The scores that a student receives on their GRE test play a role in whether or not they are accepted into a potential graduate program. Sometimes the GRE is taken multiple times until a satisfactory score is received.
The GRE tests students on critical thinking, analytical writing, quantitative reasoning, and verbal reasoning. An individual score is given for verbal reasoning (130-170), quantitative reasoning (130-170), and analytical writing (0-6). The test questions consist of multiple choice, numeric entry, and essay writing.
There are six total sections on the GRE exam. It usually takes about 3 hours and 45 minutes to complete the test from beginning to end. For verbal reasoning there are two 30-minute sections, each containing 20 questions. For quantitative reasoning there are two 35-minute sections, each containing 20 questions. The third section is analytical writing with two separately-timed tasks. One asks you to analyze an issue and one asks you to analyze an argument. After the third section, there is an optional 10-minute break for test-takers to get refocused for the remainder of the exam. You may be asked to complete an unscored, research section at the end of the test.
Most people would agree that you can't cram for the GRE. If you do, you'll likely get an unsatisfactory score that reflects how little effort you put in. It is recommended that you heavily study for at least 4-12 weeks before attempting the GRE. Many test prep courses are designed to help you study over the course of a year, to make sure you are familiar with the material and are able to obtain a high score on your first try.
The cost for the GRE test can vary slightly year to year. Most recently, the fee was $213 for test-takers within the United States. If you are signed up to take the GRE and need to reschedule, you'll pay a fee of approximately $50 to have the exam administered at another time.
Many GRE test prep services offer some free resources to get you started with your studies. For tutoring services or monthly subscriptions to books, practice tests, flash cards and more, you can expect to pay anywhere from $150 to $2,000. Some of the most expensive courses include access to materials for a year or more and usually guarantee a certain test score. They include everything you need to succeed and feel confident when you take the GRE.
Not all test prep services offer the same study materials for the GRE. You'll find a mix of resources like practice tests, one-on-one tutoring, practice essay questions, vocabulary flashcards, diagnostic tests, strategy sessions, and more. The tools that you need to get a good score on the GRE are readily available through many different GRE test prep services.
If you are unhappy with your GRE score, you can retake it every 21 days. However, you are only allowed to take it 5 times within a period of 12 months. Taking the test multiple times will not hurt your chances of getting into graduate school, since you can choose to only submit your highest score.
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Continued from above...

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized test required for admission for many graduate schools in the U.S. and Canada. It was first established in 1936 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Essentially, the score that a student receives on the GRE measures the student's readiness for graduate or business school.

In this 3 1/2-hour test, students are tested on their abstract thinking skills in the areas of vocabulary, mathematics, and analytical writing. The test scores are sent to graduate schools to help them with admission decisions. Students are assessed in their algebra, arithmetic, geometry, grammar, and multi-source data analysis skills. The GRE is a long test, so it's not something that students will want to have to retake multiple times.

The best way to secure a high GRE score is to study all the relevant content ahead of time so you know what to expect. This might come in the form of watching videos, working with a tutor, taking practice tests, and answering practice questions. There are many online resources that offer all of these things specifically for students taking the GRE. Most of these programs come at a cost, but it will be worth it when you receive a satisfying test score.

There are a few GRE test prep services to choose from out there. Before buying a membership for one of them, we suggest you keep the following criteria in mind:

  • Cost. Does the price of the course reflect the amount of material you're getting? How do prices compare with other GRE test prep sites?
  • Instruction Method. Do they have one-on-one tutoring as an option? Does the course content come in the form of videos? Reading material? Practice tests?
  • Use of Materials. How long will you have access to the materials you pay for? Will you have enough time to study all of the content before taking the GRE?

To help you find the best GRE test prep service, TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked a variety of options. We hope this information helps you feel confident and successful when you take the GRE!

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