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EMPOWERgmat is a subscription-based Test Preparation service for the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), created by GMAT experts Rich Cohen and Max Peterson. The service trains clients in easy-to-use tactics to answer GMAT Test questions in the most efficient ways possible, without restricting clients to a set period of study time. The EMPOWERgmat program helps clients to succeed by offering a competitively priced monthly subscription plan that may be cancelled with one click.
Joined: Jul 20, 2016
Purchased Course: Nov 11, 2015
Purchased Course: Nov 11, 2015
Country: Germany
EmpowerGMAT a must for strategy
July 20, 2016
- Teacher:
- Recommended for —Verbal: Yes Math: Yes
- GMAT Scores —Before: N/A After: 690
EmpowerGMAT helps you so much with the strategic/tactical aspect of the GMAT.
When I started studying for the GMAT I used the Manhattan Prep books to brush up my basics. It helped me quite a bit, however, my score improvements remained small. In my first cold attempt at the GMAT prep test I scored a 590. After studying with the Manhattan books, I scored a 620. I knew I had to change something in my practice methodology.
I needed someone to tell me how to approach problems. I needed strategy for certain problem types. Especially, however, I needed help in Quant. I decided to go with Empower since their tutor Rich is highly active here in the forums and already helped me out with some problems. Also, their monthly payment option is great to talor exactly to your needs without having to pay "dead months".
I could not have made a better decision. Rich is extremely motivational and modules do not just tell you the basics and concepts (they do that as well), but most importantly, they show you how to tackle the problems. Before starting Empower I was actually quite scared and frustrated because of reaching a plateau. After starting Empower, after one day, I knew, something had changed. I had my drive back, even with problems I couldn't solve, I didn't feel completely lost anymore. I always had an approach ready. I had tactics for easy problems as well as difficult problems. For any kind of problem I had a tactic, even if it was to take and educated guess. That way, I never felt lost anymore.
Another great aspect of Empower is that they teach you how the GMAT works. This is extremely underrated. It shows you which questions count and which ones do not. I have yet to come to another company that teaches you that. It is EXTREMELY helpful, especially, since it lets you skip too difficult questions with ease because you know they do not count.
In regards to the modules, both Quant and Verbal are great, however, I feel, that the Quant module is definitely a tad better. This is not because Verbal is poor but more because the Quant module is just absolutely amazing. Also, since I pretty much started with a Verbal score of 39 it was actually harder for them to improve my Verbal score. So here my opinion could definitely be subjective. I feel like their Verbal module is more tailorded towards beginners while their Quant definitely helps you out a lot when you already have a high level.
To conclude, I would definitely recommend Empower when you have the basics but still struggle with the questions (most likely because of strategy). If you want the full Gmat preparation package, I would recommend buying the complete Manhattan series for basics and the Empower course for the tactics and strategies to KILL the Gmat.
When I started studying for the GMAT I used the Manhattan Prep books to brush up my basics. It helped me quite a bit, however, my score improvements remained small. In my first cold attempt at the GMAT prep test I scored a 590. After studying with the Manhattan books, I scored a 620. I knew I had to change something in my practice methodology.
I needed someone to tell me how to approach problems. I needed strategy for certain problem types. Especially, however, I needed help in Quant. I decided to go with Empower since their tutor Rich is highly active here in the forums and already helped me out with some problems. Also, their monthly payment option is great to talor exactly to your needs without having to pay "dead months".
I could not have made a better decision. Rich is extremely motivational and modules do not just tell you the basics and concepts (they do that as well), but most importantly, they show you how to tackle the problems. Before starting Empower I was actually quite scared and frustrated because of reaching a plateau. After starting Empower, after one day, I knew, something had changed. I had my drive back, even with problems I couldn't solve, I didn't feel completely lost anymore. I always had an approach ready. I had tactics for easy problems as well as difficult problems. For any kind of problem I had a tactic, even if it was to take and educated guess. That way, I never felt lost anymore.
Another great aspect of Empower is that they teach you how the GMAT works. This is extremely underrated. It shows you which questions count and which ones do not. I have yet to come to another company that teaches you that. It is EXTREMELY helpful, especially, since it lets you skip too difficult questions with ease because you know they do not count.
In regards to the modules, both Quant and Verbal are great, however, I feel, that the Quant module is definitely a tad better. This is not because Verbal is poor but more because the Quant module is just absolutely amazing. Also, since I pretty much started with a Verbal score of 39 it was actually harder for them to improve my Verbal score. So here my opinion could definitely be subjective. I feel like their Verbal module is more tailorded towards beginners while their Quant definitely helps you out a lot when you already have a high level.
To conclude, I would definitely recommend Empower when you have the basics but still struggle with the questions (most likely because of strategy). If you want the full Gmat preparation package, I would recommend buying the complete Manhattan series for basics and the Empower course for the tactics and strategies to KILL the Gmat.
Joined: Jul 3, 2013
Purchased Course: Aug 5, 2015
Purchased Course: Aug 5, 2015
College: Johns Hopkins University
Country: United States
From 660 to 730 -- Learn to beat the test not just learn the material
July 19, 2016
- Teacher:
- Recommended for —Verbal: Yes Math: Yes
- GMAT Scores —Before: 660 After: 730
EmpowerGMAT was very different from the other GMAT prep companies and materials. They were the only company that I research that used videos as the basis of their lessons and taught directly from official questions. I had originally taken the GMAT with the help of the OG13 guide and the Manhattan books. These materials are perfectly sufficient if you have an obvious weakness in a particular subject area or deficiency in knowledge.
My weakness was in test taking strategy and stamina. EmpowerGMAT has several modules in which they address strategies to deal with limited time, how to guess on difficult questions, and how to approach a particular question based on the type. After learning and implementing these strategies I was able to score a 730 and place myself in a great position to apply for top business schools. Thank you Empower!
My weakness was in test taking strategy and stamina. EmpowerGMAT has several modules in which they address strategies to deal with limited time, how to guess on difficult questions, and how to approach a particular question based on the type. After learning and implementing these strategies I was able to score a 730 and place myself in a great position to apply for top business schools. Thank you Empower!
The Most Effective Course
July 14, 2016
- Teacher: Rich Cohen and Max Peterson
- Recommended for —Verbal: Yes Math: Yes
- GMAT Scores —Before: 680 After: 710
My new GMAT score is a 30-point improvement over my previous highest. Over the last couple of years I struggled a lot on the GMAT, but only after meeting EMPOWER GMAT did my struggles stop. Many of those stories and reviews I've read on EMPOWER GMAT's website would come true during my final preparation and on Test Day. In short Rich and Max are brilliant!
Rich: his overall advice are spot on and his Quant approach brilliant. His Quant approach should be only approach you take. His style is perfectly crisp.
Max: his verbal lessons not only helped me tackle the V problems but also helped me improve in my overall V skillset - and that skillset is a must in everyday business writing within and beyond the GMAT.
Rich: his overall advice are spot on and his Quant approach brilliant. His Quant approach should be only approach you take. His style is perfectly crisp.
Max: his verbal lessons not only helped me tackle the V problems but also helped me improve in my overall V skillset - and that skillset is a must in everyday business writing within and beyond the GMAT.
Joined: Jul 10, 2016
Purchased Course: Feb 10, 2016
Purchased Course: Feb 10, 2016
College: Northwestern University
Major: Chemical Engineering
Major: Chemical Engineering
Industry: Energy/Extractive Minerals
Country: United States
Country: United States
Great course, unbeatable value
July 10, 2016
- Teacher: Rich / Max
- Recommended for —Verbal: Yes Math: Yes
- GMAT Scores —Before: N/A After: 770
I have an unusual work schedule, so I needed an online course. I have always naturally performed well on standardized tests, but I needed to absolutely kill the GMAT. I spent substantial time researching various options, initially focused on big-name prep companies. I even briefly considered paying $$$ for a private tutor.
I landed on EmpowerGMAT for three reasons:
1.) They advertised producing the most 700+ scores. I read in some forums that the big-name prep companies were geared to bringing an average test taker (550- 600) up to a respectable score (660 - 680). That wasn't going to cut it for me.
2.) Number one rated review program by GMATClub. I try to take ratings with a grain of salt, but in this case it lent a little credibility to the claim stated above.
3.) I liked the idea of pay-as-you-go for $99 /mo., compared to the lump-sum for ~$1200 that other companies charge. I figured, "What's the risk?" I didn't like I could cancel and hire Manhattan Prep or some such name-brand. $99 was a very reasonable wager compared to >$1000.
I completed the full program over ~3.5 months, totaling <$400 in costs for the prep course. I think results speak for them-self (1st time taking the actual GMAT):
770 (99%) / Q50 (88%) / V47 (99%) / IR 8 (82%) / AWA 5.5 (81%)
The course strategies work if you dedicate the time. I really liked some of the podcast lessons, which include some quirky little tid-bits that are not covered in other programs (i.e. strategically planning your breaks, studying with gum, etc.). I used all of it. Some of it seemed a tad bit corny, but I went with it anyway, and all I can say is I am very satisfied with the overall outcome.
Nonetheless, I do have a few minor recommendations to consider in addition, for anyone really aiming for a monster score.
Overall --
I'm not sure if Empower is still recommending purchasing the Manhattan Prep Practice CATs (... at the time I signed up, GMAC had not released CAT Pack 2), but don't waste your time with them. Stick to the Official GMAC Practice CATs. If it's not an official question, it's NOT an official question.
Quant --
If you're particularly strong in math, definitely consult the Official Guide solutions in addition to the Empower Video Solution. Particularly for some DS questions, algebraically combining the two facts can be faster than using Test It (i.e. when Test It values are not obvious). Other times Test It dominates -- it depends. At the end of the day, seeing multiple perspectives provides more options, so diversify.
Verbal --
1.) I can't over-emphasize the value I obtained from Empower Strategies on RC & CR -- most notably, approaching reading passages with genuine interest & slowing my reading pace. Slowing down was completely contradictory to other guides, but it works! Another guide I read even recommended taking a speed-reading course!
2.) While I definitely found a lot of value in the Empower SC tactic, I did find the grammar review in the SC error type break-down to be a little high-level for my particular style of learning. It was a reasonable summary, but I found it to be more based on on heuristics than hard & fast grammar rules. I'm more of a concepts person than a memorization person, so I didn't personally take to this section naturally. I found value in reviewing the GMAT Club Grammar Book that was provided as optional review. The Grammar Book was recommended primarily for non-English speakers, but I found value even as a native English speaker. Doing so, I managed a perfect score on SC, which definitely contributed to my high Verbal score.
3.) The AWA section is near the end of the Empower program. I'd recommend jumping ahead & completing this one module in the course. It doesn't build on previous knowledge, so it can be taken at any point. And the sooner you take it, the more opportunity you'll have to practice the Empower AWA strategy on Practice CATS.
That's about it, otherwise, I just used the Empower Tactics & worked all the practice problems in the course, and took all 6 Official GMAC CATs.
I landed on EmpowerGMAT for three reasons:
1.) They advertised producing the most 700+ scores. I read in some forums that the big-name prep companies were geared to bringing an average test taker (550- 600) up to a respectable score (660 - 680). That wasn't going to cut it for me.
2.) Number one rated review program by GMATClub. I try to take ratings with a grain of salt, but in this case it lent a little credibility to the claim stated above.
3.) I liked the idea of pay-as-you-go for $99 /mo., compared to the lump-sum for ~$1200 that other companies charge. I figured, "What's the risk?" I didn't like I could cancel and hire Manhattan Prep or some such name-brand. $99 was a very reasonable wager compared to >$1000.
I completed the full program over ~3.5 months, totaling <$400 in costs for the prep course. I think results speak for them-self (1st time taking the actual GMAT):
770 (99%) / Q50 (88%) / V47 (99%) / IR 8 (82%) / AWA 5.5 (81%)
The course strategies work if you dedicate the time. I really liked some of the podcast lessons, which include some quirky little tid-bits that are not covered in other programs (i.e. strategically planning your breaks, studying with gum, etc.). I used all of it. Some of it seemed a tad bit corny, but I went with it anyway, and all I can say is I am very satisfied with the overall outcome.
Nonetheless, I do have a few minor recommendations to consider in addition, for anyone really aiming for a monster score.
Overall --
I'm not sure if Empower is still recommending purchasing the Manhattan Prep Practice CATs (... at the time I signed up, GMAC had not released CAT Pack 2), but don't waste your time with them. Stick to the Official GMAC Practice CATs. If it's not an official question, it's NOT an official question.
Quant --
If you're particularly strong in math, definitely consult the Official Guide solutions in addition to the Empower Video Solution. Particularly for some DS questions, algebraically combining the two facts can be faster than using Test It (i.e. when Test It values are not obvious). Other times Test It dominates -- it depends. At the end of the day, seeing multiple perspectives provides more options, so diversify.
Verbal --
1.) I can't over-emphasize the value I obtained from Empower Strategies on RC & CR -- most notably, approaching reading passages with genuine interest & slowing my reading pace. Slowing down was completely contradictory to other guides, but it works! Another guide I read even recommended taking a speed-reading course!
2.) While I definitely found a lot of value in the Empower SC tactic, I did find the grammar review in the SC error type break-down to be a little high-level for my particular style of learning. It was a reasonable summary, but I found it to be more based on on heuristics than hard & fast grammar rules. I'm more of a concepts person than a memorization person, so I didn't personally take to this section naturally. I found value in reviewing the GMAT Club Grammar Book that was provided as optional review. The Grammar Book was recommended primarily for non-English speakers, but I found value even as a native English speaker. Doing so, I managed a perfect score on SC, which definitely contributed to my high Verbal score.
3.) The AWA section is near the end of the Empower program. I'd recommend jumping ahead & completing this one module in the course. It doesn't build on previous knowledge, so it can be taken at any point. And the sooner you take it, the more opportunity you'll have to practice the Empower AWA strategy on Practice CATS.
That's about it, otherwise, I just used the Empower Tactics & worked all the practice problems in the course, and took all 6 Official GMAC CATs.
Joined: Jun 30, 2016
Purchased Course: Mar 14, 2016
Purchased Course: Mar 14, 2016
College: National Taiwan University
Major: Management/Business Administration
Major: Management/Business Administration
Industry: High Technology/Electronics
Country: Taiwan
Country: Taiwan
If you are looking for maximum gain in minimum time, this is it
July 4, 2016
- Teacher: Rich and Max
- Recommended for —Verbal: Yes Math: Yes
- GMAT Scores —Before: N/A After: 760
I knew I had very very limited time to prepare for the GMAT, so I looked not for a prep course that covered as much as possible, but one that is as effective as possible. I have not used other courses, so I cannot compare, but I feel EMPOWERgmat is just what I was looking for and enabled me to score 760 (Q51, V41) on my first try in well under 100 hours of preparation.
I must say that it?s always about the fit (same as choosing which MBA program to apply for). I have always been good at basic math and my English is quite good for a non-native speaker, so I didn?t need something that spent too much time covering those. EMPOWER did taught me that basic math is all I needed for the GMAT and that you don?t need to know every word in the passage. The course gave me all the tools I needed to answer all CR and RC questions correctly in my final two practice CATs (I only took 3 in total).
On a side note, their service is great, their people always upbeat. This won?t increase your GMAT score, but to me it?s an indicator of a good business and a good product.
I must say that it?s always about the fit (same as choosing which MBA program to apply for). I have always been good at basic math and my English is quite good for a non-native speaker, so I didn?t need something that spent too much time covering those. EMPOWER did taught me that basic math is all I needed for the GMAT and that you don?t need to know every word in the passage. The course gave me all the tools I needed to answer all CR and RC questions correctly in my final two practice CATs (I only took 3 in total).
On a side note, their service is great, their people always upbeat. This won?t increase your GMAT score, but to me it?s an indicator of a good business and a good product.
Joined: Jun 28, 2016
Purchased Course: Mar 6, 2016
Purchased Course: Mar 6, 2016
College: United States Military Academy
Major: Engineering
Major: Engineering
Industry: Government
Country: United States
Country: United States
Unparalleled Prep with Incredible Customer Service
June 28, 2016
- Teacher: Rich & Max
- Recommended for —Verbal: Yes Math: Yes
- GMAT Scores —Before: 600 After: 690
For context, I am a military veteran who had taken in-person prep courses prior to using EMPOWER GMAT. I had been attempting to raise my score for roughly 4 months before I started using EMPOWER.
I can now report that EMPOWER Prep has helped me move from a 540 to a 690! Any amount of in-person prep or even private tutoring cannot compare to the tactical approach EMPOWER takes. The online curriculum is demanding and you do need to put in additional prep outside of the tutorials, but the instruction is above the best. Rich and Max take a systematic approach to question type and wrong answer analysis that cannot be beat.
Not only is the instruction top notch, but the customer service provided by the EMPOWER Support Team was unmatched by even the largest test prep companies. After they reached out to me, I was able to provide detailed feedback of my weaker areas and they replied within 24 hours with detailed guidance and additional instruction options for me to make the most of my prep.
Overall, this is a phenomenal program!!! Easily customizable with multiple curricula to chose from and a multitude of resources, all at a fair price point.
I can now report that EMPOWER Prep has helped me move from a 540 to a 690! Any amount of in-person prep or even private tutoring cannot compare to the tactical approach EMPOWER takes. The online curriculum is demanding and you do need to put in additional prep outside of the tutorials, but the instruction is above the best. Rich and Max take a systematic approach to question type and wrong answer analysis that cannot be beat.
Not only is the instruction top notch, but the customer service provided by the EMPOWER Support Team was unmatched by even the largest test prep companies. After they reached out to me, I was able to provide detailed feedback of my weaker areas and they replied within 24 hours with detailed guidance and additional instruction options for me to make the most of my prep.
Overall, this is a phenomenal program!!! Easily customizable with multiple curricula to chose from and a multitude of resources, all at a fair price point.
Joined: Jun 24, 2016
Purchased Course: May 2, 2016
Purchased Course: May 2, 2016
College: Ukraine
Major: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities
Major: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities
Industry: Highly Diversified Manufac and Service
Country: Ukraine
Country: Ukraine
Boost your GMAT with EMPOWERgmat!
June 24, 2016
- Teacher: Brian
- Recommended for —Verbal: Yes Math: Yes
- GMAT Scores —Before: 600 After: 700
Well, this is my turn to share some thoughts about what took me to 700 score in GMAT. I just would like to say that this journey was stressful and interesting, sometimes depressing but always exciting! Thanks to EMPOWERgmat and their team, especially Brian, who supported me a lot during my preparation phase.
First of all, I did appreciate the style of the lessons. Video format is MUCH MORE helpful than a classical text lesson. I understood that finding a proper answer is only a half of the deal - another one is HOW exactly you go through the process, and EMPOWERgmat is great in setting you on the right trail. The material is given in a consistent and concise way, without some additional burdensome information which was there when I tried other courses. So, video video and video! I am not kidding ? you?ll feel the difference! Possibly there are some similar resources which do the same, I don't even exclude that there are some free resources in YouTube or elsewhere, but consistency is the MUST! Therefore, guys, you just take this course and you have all you need in one place. That is very important! Even if I say that there are no exaggerated loads of materials - this is widely enough to achieve what you really need - boost your GMAT score. And EMPOWERgmat creators put in there so many efforts ? you?ll be amazed! After all, it?s worth paying a bit, not really a fortune.
Now I?ll tell you some history. My first attempt in Feb 2016 was 600 (43, 29) and I didn't practice seriously - just re-read some formulas and got the overall idea what GMAT is. It was quite arrogant from my side or better to say ignorant. I just couldn't imagine what specifically one could practice on verbal if he/she already speaks and reads English^)) My score proved how wrong I was! Nevertheless, I decided not to retake and went to Indonesia where ancient scent of local magic whispered to me that I should retake. While being there I registered for the test and started reading some verbal related materials. I must admit that the resources I used were somehow boring, uninformative, unappealing and finally useless. Well, I did practice maybe 3 weeks or so but, again, my next score proved that I did something wrong. I got 560 with quant and verbal even weaker than before! I don't exclude that ancient scent of Indonesian magic had something to do there but all that was about the same thing - lack of consistency. I was so angry, frustrated and disappointed! It hit my self-esteem a lot! I said to myself that I need to improve seriously and that jokes are over and that I should start serious games. I started researching. I remember I noticed a post from a guy who wrote about EMPOWERgmat and how helpful it was especially in boosting his verbal skills since he had applied mathematics background. That guy was also from Ukraine and I thought that possibly our hurdles in English must be the same or it was just the feeling of brotherhood, doesn't matter. I decided to boost my GMAT and I picked EMPOWERgmat for the job.
I had already applied to my schools with 600 and was anxious to retake as soon as possible so my task was a bit more complicated (you may notice how many strategic faults I committed). So this time I started practicing like crazy and right from the gate I was surprised how I enjoyed the process. Actually GMAT is all about processes at which your skills are tested. Somehow you should learn to enjoy what you are doing since this takes quite a considerable part of your life. First I tried an assault and now can say: never take GMAT by assault.
The interesting thing is that I committed there one more serious mistake. And I paid for it! Exactly 250 USD))) My third attempt, after completing almost 100% of the course, was 550!!! I can?t express how shocked I was! And at this point Brian from EMPOWERgmat team helped me a lot! He was able to set my mind to win and persuaded me to go on. Thanks a lot, Brian! The EMPOWERgmat gave me one month of complementary use after I had failed and supported during 17 days which separated my third test from the forth one. To be frank, the mistake was to go and take the test right after so intense practicing. Now I understand that I just couldn?t get higher score with the head packed with all the things I learned ? I needed some time to put everything in order. Brian let me understand that and he also gave me the feeling that I was ready BUT had to consider the whole thing under a slightly different angle. So I used the course for some rehearsal and some practicing. No major efforts during this period ? just concentrating on the future result (which was also awaited by my preferred school as 600 appeared to be too low, of course!).
You may imagine the stress I had the test day after all the previous bad steps I had already made. When 700(47 38) appeared on my screen it was so fantastic! Here I would add that I took only one practice exam before the last official test and also scored 700(49 35). It means that math in the course was very very helpful while my target improvement was obviously verbal.
Now I hope that my school will be finally happy with my score and as I?ve finished my GMAT story I hope that other test takers won?t repeat the same silly mistakes. Take GMAT seriously and you will be rewarded! And EMPOWERgmat is here to help you! In my case it was only one month during which I passed almost the whole course but it was not a good idea at all. I?d say 3 months would be just great and thus the score might be much better than mine. Yet, I was pleased by friendly feedback I got from Brian when I dropped a note that I finally could beat the GMAT.
It is a bit long post ? the point is to prevent people from the mistakes I did. You better go to the right place and start right preparation. You?ll see the difference! I am ready to provide more details in case someone would be interested in (structure of the course, video modules, error log sheets, grammar and math rules etc.).
My guess is that even without summing up you understand my point. The only thing I would like to emphasize is that you won?t be disappointed if you finally choose EMPOWERgmat even after other courses that you eventually have already tried. Good luck to everyone and know that if one can do it being 33 y.o. and unorganized then you?ll do it for sure!
First of all, I did appreciate the style of the lessons. Video format is MUCH MORE helpful than a classical text lesson. I understood that finding a proper answer is only a half of the deal - another one is HOW exactly you go through the process, and EMPOWERgmat is great in setting you on the right trail. The material is given in a consistent and concise way, without some additional burdensome information which was there when I tried other courses. So, video video and video! I am not kidding ? you?ll feel the difference! Possibly there are some similar resources which do the same, I don't even exclude that there are some free resources in YouTube or elsewhere, but consistency is the MUST! Therefore, guys, you just take this course and you have all you need in one place. That is very important! Even if I say that there are no exaggerated loads of materials - this is widely enough to achieve what you really need - boost your GMAT score. And EMPOWERgmat creators put in there so many efforts ? you?ll be amazed! After all, it?s worth paying a bit, not really a fortune.
Now I?ll tell you some history. My first attempt in Feb 2016 was 600 (43, 29) and I didn't practice seriously - just re-read some formulas and got the overall idea what GMAT is. It was quite arrogant from my side or better to say ignorant. I just couldn't imagine what specifically one could practice on verbal if he/she already speaks and reads English^)) My score proved how wrong I was! Nevertheless, I decided not to retake and went to Indonesia where ancient scent of local magic whispered to me that I should retake. While being there I registered for the test and started reading some verbal related materials. I must admit that the resources I used were somehow boring, uninformative, unappealing and finally useless. Well, I did practice maybe 3 weeks or so but, again, my next score proved that I did something wrong. I got 560 with quant and verbal even weaker than before! I don't exclude that ancient scent of Indonesian magic had something to do there but all that was about the same thing - lack of consistency. I was so angry, frustrated and disappointed! It hit my self-esteem a lot! I said to myself that I need to improve seriously and that jokes are over and that I should start serious games. I started researching. I remember I noticed a post from a guy who wrote about EMPOWERgmat and how helpful it was especially in boosting his verbal skills since he had applied mathematics background. That guy was also from Ukraine and I thought that possibly our hurdles in English must be the same or it was just the feeling of brotherhood, doesn't matter. I decided to boost my GMAT and I picked EMPOWERgmat for the job.
I had already applied to my schools with 600 and was anxious to retake as soon as possible so my task was a bit more complicated (you may notice how many strategic faults I committed). So this time I started practicing like crazy and right from the gate I was surprised how I enjoyed the process. Actually GMAT is all about processes at which your skills are tested. Somehow you should learn to enjoy what you are doing since this takes quite a considerable part of your life. First I tried an assault and now can say: never take GMAT by assault.
The interesting thing is that I committed there one more serious mistake. And I paid for it! Exactly 250 USD))) My third attempt, after completing almost 100% of the course, was 550!!! I can?t express how shocked I was! And at this point Brian from EMPOWERgmat team helped me a lot! He was able to set my mind to win and persuaded me to go on. Thanks a lot, Brian! The EMPOWERgmat gave me one month of complementary use after I had failed and supported during 17 days which separated my third test from the forth one. To be frank, the mistake was to go and take the test right after so intense practicing. Now I understand that I just couldn?t get higher score with the head packed with all the things I learned ? I needed some time to put everything in order. Brian let me understand that and he also gave me the feeling that I was ready BUT had to consider the whole thing under a slightly different angle. So I used the course for some rehearsal and some practicing. No major efforts during this period ? just concentrating on the future result (which was also awaited by my preferred school as 600 appeared to be too low, of course!).
You may imagine the stress I had the test day after all the previous bad steps I had already made. When 700(47 38) appeared on my screen it was so fantastic! Here I would add that I took only one practice exam before the last official test and also scored 700(49 35). It means that math in the course was very very helpful while my target improvement was obviously verbal.
Now I hope that my school will be finally happy with my score and as I?ve finished my GMAT story I hope that other test takers won?t repeat the same silly mistakes. Take GMAT seriously and you will be rewarded! And EMPOWERgmat is here to help you! In my case it was only one month during which I passed almost the whole course but it was not a good idea at all. I?d say 3 months would be just great and thus the score might be much better than mine. Yet, I was pleased by friendly feedback I got from Brian when I dropped a note that I finally could beat the GMAT.
It is a bit long post ? the point is to prevent people from the mistakes I did. You better go to the right place and start right preparation. You?ll see the difference! I am ready to provide more details in case someone would be interested in (structure of the course, video modules, error log sheets, grammar and math rules etc.).
My guess is that even without summing up you understand my point. The only thing I would like to emphasize is that you won?t be disappointed if you finally choose EMPOWERgmat even after other courses that you eventually have already tried. Good luck to everyone and know that if one can do it being 33 y.o. and unorganized then you?ll do it for sure!
feedback
June 22, 2016
- Teacher: Brian
- Recommended for —Verbal: No Math: No
- GMAT Scores —Before: N/A After: N/A
I work with empower GMAT for one month to bost my GMAT Scoore (EmporwerGmat Score Booster)
I must say that firstly I was somewhat reluctant with this type of as I already have taken others, but afterwards, I felt it was a great help.
The course helps you not only to clarify your concepts avoiding silly mistakes but also to follow the right strategy on the exam day.
Your capabilities will be leverage granting your acceptance to your dream school. In the end, the solution was always with you.
I definitely recommend the Score Booster from EmpowerGMAT. I hope you also enjoy!
I must say that firstly I was somewhat reluctant with this type of as I already have taken others, but afterwards, I felt it was a great help.
The course helps you not only to clarify your concepts avoiding silly mistakes but also to follow the right strategy on the exam day.
Your capabilities will be leverage granting your acceptance to your dream school. In the end, the solution was always with you.
I definitely recommend the Score Booster from EmpowerGMAT. I hope you also enjoy!
Joined: Oct 30, 2015
Purchased Course: Apr 16, 2016
Purchased Course: Apr 16, 2016
Country: United States
A focus on strategy and what you need to know
June 17, 2016
- Teacher:
- Recommended for —Verbal: No Math: Yes
- GMAT Scores —Before: N/A After: 500
I've tried other GMAT prep courses such as Magoosh and several other trial versions from other companies. This course was the best for me because it focused on what I needed to know and didn't spend a lot of time teaching the nitty-gritty details that take lots of time. I had 2 months to prep and I was able to get the score I needed. My practice test scores improved every time. It was a big focus and strategy in the section on triage was really helpful to help Focus my time where I needed on the test. Overall this course was great for me and I would recommend it for anyone wanting to boost their score and improve their strategy.
Strategy is Key!
June 5, 2016
- Teacher:
- Recommended for —Verbal: Yes Math: Yes
- GMAT Scores —Before: N/A After: 700
EmpowerGMAT was pivotal in improving my strategy for GMAT. This exam is not all about what you know. Strategy is extremely important. EmpowerGMAT is exceptional in the strategy game.
I started my GMAT journey using another prep company and was fortunate to also get free access to EmpowerGMAT for a month before my exam. Before EmpowerGMAT I was scoring about 600 on my practice CAT?s. I used their guidance and was able to score 700 (Q49, V35) on the GMAT.
I highly recommend this program not only for GMAT preparation but also for the exceptional customer service. In the days before and after my exam Brian, my EmpowerGMAT advisor was very helpful and prompt in all his communications with me. His advice was very helpful in getting me to shed those test day nerves.
I started my GMAT journey using another prep company and was fortunate to also get free access to EmpowerGMAT for a month before my exam. Before EmpowerGMAT I was scoring about 600 on my practice CAT?s. I used their guidance and was able to score 700 (Q49, V35) on the GMAT.
I highly recommend this program not only for GMAT preparation but also for the exceptional customer service. In the days before and after my exam Brian, my EmpowerGMAT advisor was very helpful and prompt in all his communications with me. His advice was very helpful in getting me to shed those test day nerves.
Joined: Jun 1, 2016
Purchased Course: Jan 14, 2014
Purchased Course: Jan 14, 2014
Major: Chemical Engineering
Industry: Investment Banking
Country: United States
Country: United States
EmpowerGMAT turned me into a GMAT Assassin
June 1, 2016
- Teacher:
- Recommended for —Verbal: Yes Math: Yes
- GMAT Scores —Before: N/A After: 740
To provide a little background on myself, I have always been pretty good on standardized testing, achieving high scores on SAT, etc. However, when I took my first CAT completely cold as a diagnostic, I was nervous when I saw my score in the lower 600s. I had hoped to score a minimum of 720 to make me a competitive applicant for the top 10 or so MBA programs. It was around this time that I heard about the EmpowerGMAT course from various reviews on BeatTheGMAT and other sites. I checked out the site and did their 24 free trial and loved it. It was exactly what I needed.
EmpowerGMAT provided me the structure and blueprint to become a GMAT Assassin, I just needed to follow along and put in the time. Well thanks to the awesome videos and study sheets I ended up scoring a 740 (Q48/V44) on my first testing day. I enjoyed Rich's teaching style, and could literally hear him in my head on test day, "If it seems too easy, prove it. Put it all on the paper and prove it to yourself." Well this idea alone saved me from getting 2-3 easy questions wrong on test day, which would have destroyed my already borderline quant score!
Finally, I am not sure what it was about reviewing through EmpowerGMAT, but when I sat for the actual exam it actually seemed too easy. I thought for sure I was getting crushed and it was going to be an embarrassing score, but was happily surprised with my 740.
EmpowerGMAT truly prepared me; definitely the best $300 I ever spent!
EmpowerGMAT provided me the structure and blueprint to become a GMAT Assassin, I just needed to follow along and put in the time. Well thanks to the awesome videos and study sheets I ended up scoring a 740 (Q48/V44) on my first testing day. I enjoyed Rich's teaching style, and could literally hear him in my head on test day, "If it seems too easy, prove it. Put it all on the paper and prove it to yourself." Well this idea alone saved me from getting 2-3 easy questions wrong on test day, which would have destroyed my already borderline quant score!
Finally, I am not sure what it was about reviewing through EmpowerGMAT, but when I sat for the actual exam it actually seemed too easy. I thought for sure I was getting crushed and it was going to be an embarrassing score, but was happily surprised with my 740.
EmpowerGMAT truly prepared me; definitely the best $300 I ever spent!
Joined: Jan 2, 2015
Purchased Course: Feb 4, 2016
Purchased Course: Feb 4, 2016
College: Johns Hopkins University
Major: Economics
Major: Economics
Industry: Investment Banking
Country: United States
Country: United States
Excellent Course - Helped out my Quant Tremendously
May 10, 2016
- Teacher: Rich
- Recommended for —Verbal: No Math: Yes
- GMAT Scores —Before: 640 After: 270
I cannot be more thankful for the course. Rich was tremendous in giving quant feedback and this is by far the best ROI GMAT solution out there. I didn't have the money to afford a more expensive program. I did not really utilize the verbal, but I know that this program has helped a couple of my friends with the verbal. Trust me if you want to increase your Quant this is the #1 program. I used others sources. Amazing experience and I got into my dream MBA school!!!
Joined: May 10, 2016
Purchased Course: Nov 23, 2015
Purchased Course: Nov 23, 2015
College: Georgetown University
Major: Psychology
Major: Psychology
Industry: Consulting
Country: United States
Country: United States
Great Course for a Great Value
May 10, 2016
- Teacher: N/A
- Recommended for —Verbal: Yes Math: Yes
- GMAT Scores —Before: N/A After: 700
Look, taking the GMAT isn't fun and neither is studying for it. Here's why I liked EMPOWER:
VALUE:
I've read a fair amount about the diminishing returns of more expensive, more hands-on tutoring for standardized tests and I'm a firm believer in self-study for these sorts of things. I don't want to fork over thousands of dollars for a class or tutor if I can get roughly the same results on my own time at a fraction of the price. EMPOWER was $99/month, which is extremely fair.
RESULTS:
Before starting EMPOWER I took a practice CAT to see how I would do and scored a 650. I took a real GMAT about 2 months into using the course and scored a 660, and then took the GMAT for a second time after a month of relaxing and another month of studying just the areas that I was weak in and scored a 700.
SELF-PACING:
I studied when I could and where I could: sometimes consistently, sometimes in spurts, sometimes at my office, sometimes in my bed. It was all on my terms.
PERSONALITY:
EMPOWER did a good job of transforming GMAT questions from a chore into a challenge. The people coaching you through the strategy and tricks of the test really make it seem like a game and tap into your competitive side.
Like I said, taking the GMAT isn't fun and studying for it isn't either, however, EMPOWER was fantastic and I would recommend it to anyone hoping to prepare as best they can. Paradoxically, I'm thankful that I never have to use EMPOWER again, and that's because of how good it was; it helped me get the score I wanted and now the GMAT is behind me and business school awaits.
VALUE:
I've read a fair amount about the diminishing returns of more expensive, more hands-on tutoring for standardized tests and I'm a firm believer in self-study for these sorts of things. I don't want to fork over thousands of dollars for a class or tutor if I can get roughly the same results on my own time at a fraction of the price. EMPOWER was $99/month, which is extremely fair.
RESULTS:
Before starting EMPOWER I took a practice CAT to see how I would do and scored a 650. I took a real GMAT about 2 months into using the course and scored a 660, and then took the GMAT for a second time after a month of relaxing and another month of studying just the areas that I was weak in and scored a 700.
SELF-PACING:
I studied when I could and where I could: sometimes consistently, sometimes in spurts, sometimes at my office, sometimes in my bed. It was all on my terms.
PERSONALITY:
EMPOWER did a good job of transforming GMAT questions from a chore into a challenge. The people coaching you through the strategy and tricks of the test really make it seem like a game and tap into your competitive side.
Like I said, taking the GMAT isn't fun and studying for it isn't either, however, EMPOWER was fantastic and I would recommend it to anyone hoping to prepare as best they can. Paradoxically, I'm thankful that I never have to use EMPOWER again, and that's because of how good it was; it helped me get the score I wanted and now the GMAT is behind me and business school awaits.
Feel Empowered
May 5, 2016
- Teacher: Rich and Max
- Recommended for —Verbal: Yes Math: Yes
- GMAT Scores —Before: N/A After: 760
This course was a gamechanger for me. I began my studies some time in mid-December with the Kaplan Premier book. After 3 or 4 days I realised it wasn't going to cut it for me. Upon my friend's advice, I bought the Manhattan books as well as the Foundation for GMAT Math book that they make (highly recommend to begin your studies with this book if you have any doubts about your math skills). After finishing the math books (I initially did not intend to study Verbal) I posted in the GMATclub forum asking for direction (where to from here?). Rich, Empower co-founder/math instructor, was the only person to respond to my message. I took a practice CAT, as he suggested, and scored a 680 but genuinely felt very flustered. The Math section in particular did not fill me with confidence. Long story short, I ended up trying the Empower course. It's cheaper than most of the other courses so I thought "what the heck, why not?". This was a great, great decision.
This course is priceless. So priceless that I kept my subscription going for a third month despite the fact that I had completed the course. The Quant part of this course is immense. The Verbal may help some people (prior to the course I only had an issue with SC. After one month of this course I hit 730 in a practice CAT. After about 14 weeks of studying I scored a 760 on my official GMAT (First try). I don't really know what else I can say about this course because words don't do it justice. Thank you Empower
This course is priceless. So priceless that I kept my subscription going for a third month despite the fact that I had completed the course. The Quant part of this course is immense. The Verbal may help some people (prior to the course I only had an issue with SC. After one month of this course I hit 730 in a practice CAT. After about 14 weeks of studying I scored a 760 on my official GMAT (First try). I don't really know what else I can say about this course because words don't do it justice. Thank you Empower
EMPOWER Gave Me the Confidence Boost that I Needed To Beat The GMAT
April 30, 2016
- Teacher: Rich
- Recommended for —Verbal: Yes Math: Yes
- GMAT Scores —Before: N/A After: 640
I am an African American female working in advertising who was having a ton of trouble making progress on the GMAT while trying to self study. I used the Manhattan GMAT books and the Official Guide for self study and no matter how much I studied I could barely crack a 500, after a month of studying. Then while at a BBQ a woman raved about EmpowerGMAT and how she did the 3 month study plan and got a 660.
I figure what could I lose if I tried. EmpowerGMAT was very affordable. $99 a month and instead of overwhelming me with information it more so taught me the strategy on how to take the test and how to "PUT EVERYTHING ON THE PAD." I found tactics that considerably helped me improve my QUANT and VERBAL scores and let me know when to dump questions but more so than anything it provided me with some serious confidence. EmpowerGMAT got me to the low 600s. Once I finished the course I got a tutor to help me with my problem areas to take me over my hump.
I convinced a friend of mine to use EmpowerGMAT and he was able to get over 650. We both struggled initially and EmpowerGMAT just helped us gain the tactics that we needed to be GMAT ninjas. I am very satisfied with my experience.
I am now on my way to a Top 12 MBA program and I couldn't be happier.
I figure what could I lose if I tried. EmpowerGMAT was very affordable. $99 a month and instead of overwhelming me with information it more so taught me the strategy on how to take the test and how to "PUT EVERYTHING ON THE PAD." I found tactics that considerably helped me improve my QUANT and VERBAL scores and let me know when to dump questions but more so than anything it provided me with some serious confidence. EmpowerGMAT got me to the low 600s. Once I finished the course I got a tutor to help me with my problem areas to take me over my hump.
I convinced a friend of mine to use EmpowerGMAT and he was able to get over 650. We both struggled initially and EmpowerGMAT just helped us gain the tactics that we needed to be GMAT ninjas. I am very satisfied with my experience.
I am now on my way to a Top 12 MBA program and I couldn't be happier.
Provides psychological tips and GMAT hacks to help boost your score to the next level
April 26, 2016
- Teacher:
- Recommended for —Verbal: Yes Math: Yes
- GMAT Scores —Before: 700 After: 730
The Empower GMAT course provides excellent test taking tips from timing to understanding which questions to dump to which questions will occur most frequently on the test. Even with knowledge on how to work each problem, Empower GMAT provides excellent test day tactics and strategies that will get your score to the next level. I was able to boost my score from 700 to 730 largely from their TEST IT methodology that I found to be highly effective. Empower GMAT is able to differentiate itself from its competitors through these tactics and makes it a great tool to have in your arsenal with tackling the GMAT. I strongly recommend to all test takers.
Joined: Apr 4, 2016
Purchased Course: Nov 22, 2015
Purchased Course: Nov 22, 2015
College: ICEF
Major: Economics
Major: Economics
Country: Russia
No verbiage, pure facts and knowledge
April 4, 2016
- Teacher: Support team and lessons
- Recommended for —Verbal: Yes Math: Yes
- GMAT Scores —Before: 600 After: 710
Overall courses are really helpful, and there are some great lessons on psychology of GMAT and facts, that are important to BEAT THE GMAT. A lot of useful strategies and ideas to use on the day of the exam. Tricks and techniques that can boost your score in several days!
Moreover, the support team is a great example of how the team should work! Every member will be able to ask a piece of advice from anyone, who works in EmpowerGMAT. In my opinion, EmpowerGMAT team values clients and is happy to help you with any difficulties you may face.
Moreover, the support team is a great example of how the team should work! Every member will be able to ask a piece of advice from anyone, who works in EmpowerGMAT. In my opinion, EmpowerGMAT team values clients and is happy to help you with any difficulties you may face.
Simply effective, I highly recommend it!
March 25, 2016
- Teacher: Richard and Max
- Recommended for —Verbal: Yes Math: Yes
- GMAT Scores —Before: 590 After: 700
I studied extensively for the GMAT using The Economist GMAT Tutor. I found the course quite thick with detail and theory, which I thought was extremely useful. The course has alot of practice questions and long answer explanations. However, my GMAT exam was very disappointing (590) despite having scored always above 650 in the CAT of the course. I was quite frustrated and decided to let go.
Several months later, I decided to give it another try. I was about to start studying again with the same prep course, but then thought that it was probably not suitable for me. There are so many prep course out there, so I thought changing might be a good idea.
I came to know about the EMPOWERgmat course on this blog, and registered for a free trial of the course. I found it so simple and straightforward in the beginning that I thought it was useless. The way Rich and Max (the two professors of the course) show you how to solve problems seemed too easy and poor in theoretical background (the same impression I got when I downloaded all the EMPOWER study material). But THAT was exactly the key! Thanks to the EMPOWER course I came to understand that the GMAT is actually quite easy and straightforward once you master a couple of tricks, and that too much theory is actually counterproductive. The course teaches you the few theoretical fundamentals, and really focuses on answering strategy. This helped me overcome my main mistake which was to answer questions using a theory-based approach (which comes from my background in Engineering), and significantly improved my pacing throught the exam.
In sum, I was really amazed by how my perception of the GMAT changed after taking the course. I highly recommend it to anybody willing to beat the GMAT.
Several months later, I decided to give it another try. I was about to start studying again with the same prep course, but then thought that it was probably not suitable for me. There are so many prep course out there, so I thought changing might be a good idea.
I came to know about the EMPOWERgmat course on this blog, and registered for a free trial of the course. I found it so simple and straightforward in the beginning that I thought it was useless. The way Rich and Max (the two professors of the course) show you how to solve problems seemed too easy and poor in theoretical background (the same impression I got when I downloaded all the EMPOWER study material). But THAT was exactly the key! Thanks to the EMPOWER course I came to understand that the GMAT is actually quite easy and straightforward once you master a couple of tricks, and that too much theory is actually counterproductive. The course teaches you the few theoretical fundamentals, and really focuses on answering strategy. This helped me overcome my main mistake which was to answer questions using a theory-based approach (which comes from my background in Engineering), and significantly improved my pacing throught the exam.
In sum, I was really amazed by how my perception of the GMAT changed after taking the course. I highly recommend it to anybody willing to beat the GMAT.
Joined: Feb 25, 2014
Purchased Course: Oct 11, 2015
Purchased Course: Oct 11, 2015
Major: International Business
Country: Germany
Great value for money!
March 22, 2016
- Teacher: Rich & Max
- Recommended for —Verbal: Yes Math: Yes
- GMAT Scores —Before: N/A After: 640
Hey folks!
about two months ago I wrote the GMAT after learning with the Empowergmat 3 month prep course. Retrospectively, I can say that the prep course offered a great foundation for successfully taking the Gmat exam. This is attributable to two main aspects of the Empowergmat curriculum that really helped me out.
Firstly, the two tutors - Rich and Max - know what they're talking about. They have a thorough understanding of the essentials that are key in order to be successful in the quantitative and verbal part. Surely, you'll have to invest a lot of time and energy into the learning process but Rich and Max do a good job in setting the right direction during this process.
Secondly, Rich and Max help you to think outside the box when it comes to acing the Gmat on test day. This is done by providing various drills and podcasts about how to prepare both physically and mentally for test day (eating the right stuff, battling fatigue, etc.). In addition, it's very refreshing to listen to them after a long reading comprehension or quant drill.
All in all, I can say that the Empowergmat course was the right choice for me as it offered a lot of helpful insights for an awesome price!
Good look to all future test takers!
about two months ago I wrote the GMAT after learning with the Empowergmat 3 month prep course. Retrospectively, I can say that the prep course offered a great foundation for successfully taking the Gmat exam. This is attributable to two main aspects of the Empowergmat curriculum that really helped me out.
Firstly, the two tutors - Rich and Max - know what they're talking about. They have a thorough understanding of the essentials that are key in order to be successful in the quantitative and verbal part. Surely, you'll have to invest a lot of time and energy into the learning process but Rich and Max do a good job in setting the right direction during this process.
Secondly, Rich and Max help you to think outside the box when it comes to acing the Gmat on test day. This is done by providing various drills and podcasts about how to prepare both physically and mentally for test day (eating the right stuff, battling fatigue, etc.). In addition, it's very refreshing to listen to them after a long reading comprehension or quant drill.
All in all, I can say that the Empowergmat course was the right choice for me as it offered a lot of helpful insights for an awesome price!
Good look to all future test takers!
Joined: Mar 21, 2016
Purchased Course: Nov 26, 2015
Purchased Course: Nov 26, 2015
College: Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Industry: Investment Management
Country: India
Country: India
720 to 760 using EmpowerGMAT for 1 month
March 21, 2016
- Teacher: Rich and Max
- Recommended for —Verbal: Yes Math: Yes
- GMAT Scores —Before: 720 After: 760
By way of introduction, I had scored a 720 (Q50, V36, IR7, AWA6) on my first, completely self-prep attempt. I obtained an improved score of 760 (Q50, V42, IR8) in my retake after using EmpowerGMAT?s Online Course.
If I had to summarize EmpowerGMAT?s incredible value proposition in an elevator pitch, it would comprise:
1) From (but not solely limited to) a GMAT strategy standpoint, it is an indispensable asset to have in your repertoire of tools, either as a first-time test taker or a retaker. The tactics taught, and the pedagogy used, proved to be extremely valuable during game day.
2) Incredible support system. The pressure is real, and having a receptive point of contact at the other end with rational responses went a long way in not only solving my queries, but also calming my nerves. EmpowerGMAT always kept its channels of communication open and responded promptly.
3) Tremendous value for money vis-?-vis other alternatives available at the time, and in all likelihood, even at the time of your reading this review! Plus, their score guarantee was also the most robust and comprehensive that I could find then. Jump in now, before it decides to hike its rates.
As an engineering graduate with a fairly decent handle on the English language, my first attempt was purely self-prep. I had used the OG 13, taken any and all of the free mock tests made available by different test providers that I could find, and the Official GMAT Practice Tests. Only when I gave the exam and received my score of 720 ? I was admittedly disappointed ? did I begin realizing that knowledge and good pacing alone aren?t enough to break the upper 700?s. I knew I had left marks on the table, and that I was capable of scoring higher. Where do I turn to? My study material was exhausted, and there was little I could gain by going over the concepts again. Purchasing new mock tests was an option, but I had realized that my approach had been largely the same, and repeating the same approach with new mock tests would yield little incremental benefit. Clearly, I needed to change my approach and strategy towards answering the various types of questions.
Herein, EmpowerGMAT emerged as the clear-cut front-runner after a lot of research and comparison. The more I delved deeper into its program, the more I began loving what I saw. From a free trial of its course offerings which gave me some inkling of its tactical approach towards the GMAT (if you are still on the fence about going for it, I would recommend their 5-day trial), to their Score Booster plans which methodically outlined the core areas needed for a score boost, backed by their money-back guarantee ? for me, this was a clear win-win situation. Boost my score, or get my money back. Why not?
What made it even more perfect, was that the online material is self-paced and split in great detail among the sections and topics ? perfectly matching my learning style, wherein I could ramp up the pace and attack what sections needed most attention. Surprisingly, while I had initially planned to just focus on the Verbal Score Booster plan, I ended up devouring the entire collection of videos in about a month, so addictive were the lessons and the pedagogy used! With each video, each set of questions on their platform; I found my confidence levels increasing, realizing how silly I was to have given the exam without the right tactical strategies in place. And boy, did these work on game-day!
The laser focus on the ?right? difficulty (and topics) of questions to go for, the right approach and tactics to use to efficiently solve for each question type, the logic behind the GMAT, what it tests and why, its scoring algorithm, and the motivational podcasts and anecdotes ? all of these gave me valuable skills, and put me in the right mindset to deploy them. EmpowerGMAT helped me transition from a stubborn quant nerd (how I realize I was, in retrospect) to a calm, composed GMAT reasoner, who could reason his way through each type of question and have a set of tools to apply to each.
I would go so far as to say that given EmpowerGMAT?s focus on each and every aspect of the GMAT experience, from broader brush strokes such as topic coverage, to minutiae such as test-day tactics, all you need to score well on the GMAT are EmpowerGMAT and the OG.
If I had to summarize EmpowerGMAT?s incredible value proposition in an elevator pitch, it would comprise:
1) From (but not solely limited to) a GMAT strategy standpoint, it is an indispensable asset to have in your repertoire of tools, either as a first-time test taker or a retaker. The tactics taught, and the pedagogy used, proved to be extremely valuable during game day.
2) Incredible support system. The pressure is real, and having a receptive point of contact at the other end with rational responses went a long way in not only solving my queries, but also calming my nerves. EmpowerGMAT always kept its channels of communication open and responded promptly.
3) Tremendous value for money vis-?-vis other alternatives available at the time, and in all likelihood, even at the time of your reading this review! Plus, their score guarantee was also the most robust and comprehensive that I could find then. Jump in now, before it decides to hike its rates.
As an engineering graduate with a fairly decent handle on the English language, my first attempt was purely self-prep. I had used the OG 13, taken any and all of the free mock tests made available by different test providers that I could find, and the Official GMAT Practice Tests. Only when I gave the exam and received my score of 720 ? I was admittedly disappointed ? did I begin realizing that knowledge and good pacing alone aren?t enough to break the upper 700?s. I knew I had left marks on the table, and that I was capable of scoring higher. Where do I turn to? My study material was exhausted, and there was little I could gain by going over the concepts again. Purchasing new mock tests was an option, but I had realized that my approach had been largely the same, and repeating the same approach with new mock tests would yield little incremental benefit. Clearly, I needed to change my approach and strategy towards answering the various types of questions.
Herein, EmpowerGMAT emerged as the clear-cut front-runner after a lot of research and comparison. The more I delved deeper into its program, the more I began loving what I saw. From a free trial of its course offerings which gave me some inkling of its tactical approach towards the GMAT (if you are still on the fence about going for it, I would recommend their 5-day trial), to their Score Booster plans which methodically outlined the core areas needed for a score boost, backed by their money-back guarantee ? for me, this was a clear win-win situation. Boost my score, or get my money back. Why not?
What made it even more perfect, was that the online material is self-paced and split in great detail among the sections and topics ? perfectly matching my learning style, wherein I could ramp up the pace and attack what sections needed most attention. Surprisingly, while I had initially planned to just focus on the Verbal Score Booster plan, I ended up devouring the entire collection of videos in about a month, so addictive were the lessons and the pedagogy used! With each video, each set of questions on their platform; I found my confidence levels increasing, realizing how silly I was to have given the exam without the right tactical strategies in place. And boy, did these work on game-day!
The laser focus on the ?right? difficulty (and topics) of questions to go for, the right approach and tactics to use to efficiently solve for each question type, the logic behind the GMAT, what it tests and why, its scoring algorithm, and the motivational podcasts and anecdotes ? all of these gave me valuable skills, and put me in the right mindset to deploy them. EmpowerGMAT helped me transition from a stubborn quant nerd (how I realize I was, in retrospect) to a calm, composed GMAT reasoner, who could reason his way through each type of question and have a set of tools to apply to each.
I would go so far as to say that given EmpowerGMAT?s focus on each and every aspect of the GMAT experience, from broader brush strokes such as topic coverage, to minutiae such as test-day tactics, all you need to score well on the GMAT are EmpowerGMAT and the OG.