Want a Better GMAT Score? Try Princeton Review!
Written: Mar 04 '03 (Updated Jan 28 '06)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: The test itself, and the questions, are almost exactly like the actual GMAT
Cons: No cons come to mind!
The Bottom Line: Princeton's on- line course is probably the best one I've used for GMAT preparation.
|
|
|
| Bryan_Carey's Full Review: Princeton Review GMAT Online Course |
College admission tests are a normal part of the admission process to most every university in the nation. Starting at the undergraduate level, you are required to take either the SAT or ACT test. Once you complete this level of schooling, if your ambitions are high and you want to continue your studies, you will likely have to take another test. And if those ambitions include acceptance into a business school, you will probably be required to take the GMAT, which stands for “Graduate Management Admissions Test”.
I have taken the GMAT, once on paper and once on a computer. The test is now administered only on computer, which presents many unique challenges that didn’t exist before. Because of this, it’s imperative that one properly prepare himself/herself for this undertaking.
Fortunately, there are many useful on- line resources to help students get ready for the GMAT test. I have utilized several of these resources in the past few months. The subject of this review is the one that I consider the cream of the GMAT prep crop: The Princeton Review.
What Does This Service Offer?:
Princeton Review offers several different services to aid the future GMAT taker with the necessary preparation to improve his/her final score. For the purpose of this review, I will focus on the on- line course. (Note: Epinions has separate categories for reviewing the Princeton Review GMAT course, which takes place in a classroom, and the Live on-line course, which involves a private tutor).
Many helpful tips and practice sessions await you in the Princeton Review GMAT on- line course. Here’s a breakdown of the areas:
Improve Your Score- This is simply a link into the three basic services that Princeton offers: classroom courses, on- line courses, and private tutoring. Depending on how much refreshing you think you need (and how much money you are willing to part with), you can select your choice accordingly.
Try us for Free- This includes two interactive options that will come in very handy to the GMAT student. One is a free, full- length on-line test. The other is a GMAT on- line course demo. The test is 150 minutes in length, and it times you, just like the actual test. The demo is a warm- up session that includes a sample GMAT math lesson, reading comprehension lesson, and other helpful refresher courses.
Learn About the GMAT- This is a breakdown that tells you some basic facts about the new GMAT test. It explains such important information as the length of the test, how the computer based system works, how the test is scored, the cost of taking the test, etc.
International- This contains some valuable information for foreign- born students who wish to take the GMAT. There are links to Princeton’s international offices, advice on how to acquire a student visa, etc.
Enroll- This is where you go to sign up for Princeton’s services. If you are uncertain whether there’s a course offered in your area, you can enter your city, state, and zip code and Princeton will display the closest cities in your area that are offering live classroom instruction. If you plan to just take the on- line course, you can enroll immediately.
Setting up an Account:
You must setup an account with Princeton, even if you plan only to use the free services. To add an account, you need to enter your e-mail address, setup a password, and enter your full address. You will also be prompted to enter your phone number and your annual household income (I’m not sure why they ask for this, but you need to answer the question to complete your registration). There are a few offers that you can choose to accept, or not accept, which involve receiving newsletters, special bulletins, etc. After you decide what you want or don’t want, your registration will be complete.
Costs of This Service:
Princeton offers two free services: the on- line GMAT test and the practice demo, both of which are mentioned above. The remaining services will cost you some dough. The GMAT Live on- line course costs $799. Private tutoring will cost you $2,000 for 16 hours. And a classroom lecture will cost you $1,149. These amounts are all subject to change at any time, so you should consult the site, before you make any assumptions.
Final Thoughts:
Princeton’s GMAT on- line course is probably the best one I have experienced in cyberspace. This service can answer most any question you might have about the test, and if you cannot find an answer, you can call Princeton’s main office and speak live to a representative. You can take practice tests, utilize a training demo, and take a free, full- length test, all courtesy of Princeton.
Of all the services offered by Princeton, the best one (by far!) is the full- length practice test. The reason this test is superior to the others offered on- line is because it’s the most true to form. The screen that pops up, when you access this test, is almost exactly like the one you will use in the testing center. Even the icons to click are the same as the actual GMAT test. After you make a selection, you must click two separate icons to move on to the next question. You are timed, seventy- five minutes total for each of the two sections. If you do not finish in the allotted time, the test will terminate. You cannot go back and change answers either. These are exactly the same qualities as the actual test.
With the computerized GMAT test, questions vary from one test taker to the next. The way it works, your question will change each time you select an answer, based on whether or not you got the previous answer correct. If you answer incorrectly, the computer responds with an easier question. If you answer correctly, it responds with a more difficult question. The sample test Princeton offers uses the same concept: it adjusts your questions based on whether or not you successfully answered the previous one. Again, this makes the Princeton practice test superior to most of the others. It’s almost a perfect duplication of the actual GMAT test.
The sample demo includes live discussion and it uses java script. A recorded voice explains how to tackle various problems, and shows you how to perform various algebraic functions. After you run through this demonstration, you can then take the sample tests, which consist of a few problems. One thing to note about the practice tests is that they allow only 15 minutes for each 15- question set. That’s only one minute per question, which isn’t like the actual test that allows closer to two minutes per question. The reason, I assume, that Princeton designed it this way is to get the student used to the necessity of speed when it comes to test- taking. You have limited time when you take the GMAT, and Princeton wants you to get ready for this by cutting the allowable time per question in half, on these practice tests.
Princeton also offers a live discussion group, where you can contact other GMAT test- takers who are using Princeton’s service and communicate back and forth about Princeton and the GMAT itself. This is a helpful way to exchange ideas and pick up some additional tips on how to master this college prep test. Since I have already taken the test, I was able to give some useful tips to others about how the new format works. The computerized system takes some getting used to, and I think it’s a good idea to find out as much as you can, before you dive head- first into this test.
Princeton also offers a free strategy session in various places across the country. To see if a session is going to be offered near you, just enter your zip code and conduct a search. Unfortunately, when I tried this, there were no free sessions in my area, so I cannot comment directly on this. But I think it’s nice that Princeton would offer a free live session. Most other GMAT prep services make you pay for all live services, with no exceptions.
You can only take one free full- length test. If you would like to take another, you will need to sign up again and make up a new account. This means having a new e-mail address handy, along with a different mailing address. As long as you have these pieces of data, you can sign up multiple times and take the free practice test as much as you like.
Overall, Princeton’s GMAT on- line course is very helpful in preparing a student for the actual GMAT test. The problems are almost exactly like the ones you will find on the real GMAT and the screen format Princeton uses is about as close to reality as you will find on the internet. If taking the GMAT is part of your future, then I recommend signing up on Princeton and taking advantage of what this site has to offer. There’s no guarantee you will do better, but with such realistic questions and such a perfect parallel to the actual GMAT, I don’t see how a student couldn’t benefit in some way from taking this course. Sign up now, and improve your GMAT score.
For More Educational Reading, Click on the Links Below:
Advice on College Admissions:
Choosing a College or University
How to Help Your Child Choose a College
How to Apply to College
Should I Transfer Schools?
Should I Take Time Off?
Should I Go to Grad School?
Advice on College Life:
College Survival Tips
What is College Really Like?
What I Should Know About Dealing with College Roommates
What Should I Know About Greek Life in College?
What I Should Know About Alcohol Abuse in College
What I Should Know About Spring Break Planning
What Should I Bring to School
How Can I Succeed in College Academics?
How to Manage Your Time
How Should I Deal With Tough Times in School?
How Should I Prepare for Life After Graduation?
Advice on College Finances:
Should I Take a Part Time Job?
How to Pay Off Student Loans
How to Manage Your Budget
How to Negotiate Financial Aid Packages
How to Apply for Financial Aid
Reviews of Test Prep Materials, Services, and “How To”:
800Score.com
How to Take the GMAT
How to Take the GRE
What is the GRE?
Kaplan GMAT On- Line Course
Reviews of Specific Universities:
Wright State University
University of Dayton
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.