Save time, go with a private tutor. Its a bit more expensive but it will save you a ton of study time. I strongly suggest City Test Prep. They have solid materials, online work, and are great to work with. I did Manhattan GMAT and wasn’t too impressed and really felt that CTP tutoring covered a lot of ground and really honed in on my weak spots.

Darren

CTP preparation was world-class and I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. I had heard that they set the standard for standardized test preparation and they not only lived up to, but exceeded, that reputation. Their techniques, with respect to all aspects of preparation, both tangible and psychological, were what directly enabled me to achieve an excellent score on the GMAT and ultimately be admitted to a top MBA program. But beyond just the preparation itself, I very much enjoyed meeting and working with the people who make CTP as good as it is. Specifically, it was a pleasure to work with Bara, Bob, and Karen, as they are consummate professionals and true subject matter experts in their respective fields. Just having the opportunity to personally interact with them and tap into their love for, and expertise in, their fields of study was inspiring. This one-on-one attention was not only indispensable to my success on the GMAT, but was a highly memorable life experience in and of itself.

Ron, University of Chicago

Working with Bara was one the best decisions I’ve made. I’ve not only increased my GMAT score, but I have learned things from Bara that I can apply to other parts of my life. For example, effective stress management and being more in tune with myself…. And….I just got a phone call from the admissions committee. I GOT IN!!!!! I can’t believe it!!!!!!!!! I can’t believe it. Thank you so much for all your help!!!

Lucille, Tuck

I have never realized my full potential, always scoring lower on actual exams than on practice exams. Then, after working with City Test Prep and their Full Potential audio program, I was able to gain the confidence, focus, and skills sets to increase my score. I found the first section most helpful; using the techniques and visualizations, I was able to walk into the exam relaxed, focused, and confident! Now, I was skeptical that an audio would be able to make inroads over years of test taking anxiety – but I stand corrected! Full Potential was a professional and well-organized tool that serves as a great addition to the amazing teaching staff. Taking the time to focus on the audio program, I believe, made all the difference; and I thank you for it!

Again, thank you for all your help and support. It’s been a

long road, but I think I’ve made it.

Andrew, Emory

Working with Bara was the perfect preparation for the GMAT. Her program helped me walk into the test center in a relaxed and comfortable state of mind. I knew I was capable of scoring (marks) high based on past practice exams but was pleasantly surprised on how well she prepared me for the real thing. Bara is the only one in the business that not only teaches how to master the material but also how to prepare your body and mind for the actual stress of test day. I would recommend her to anyone looking to master the test. She will show you the way!

Bruce, Finance Director for Presidential candidate. Wharton School of Business

For my GMAT prep last year, I used, unsuccessfully, Kaplan, and then an outfit called City Test Prep. CTP is a 1-to-1 individualized tutoring environment that was so much better than Kaplan, it’s almost silly. My score went up 80 points from where it was after Kaplan. Also, several of my friends have found similar success with Bara and her staff. Interestingly enough, they were largely Kaplan and Manhattan GMAT exiles as well.

– Tommy, Finance

My b-school application process will come to a close later this week and I cannot tell you how proud I am with being able to apply with a 680 rather than a 560. I credit you for helping me, as your website says, ‘reach my full potential.’ You did not raise my score 120 points; I did. And I’m very proud of that. But you did give me the tools and techniques to overcome a challenge and to soar.

Glen

Bara’s unique approach helped me open up and feel comfortable with my test. She changed my attitude in attacking my problem areas, which refined my approach and strategy. As a result, not only did I relax, but after a couple of months my score improved dramatically and I exceeded my desired goals.

Brian, Associate
Capital Markets, Citigroup
 New York University

Working with Bara and CTP was an invaluable experience! I had taken a GMAT course with no improvement before working with Bara and her team, and I was incredibly stressed and frustrated with the whole process. Bara and her team not only helped me get more comfortable with the test material but also helped me to relax. I worked with tutors on the content and they incorporated various study methods and created a customized program just for me. My score went up 120 points and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without Bara and CTP.

Hae Seon

Focus, Fearlessness, & Fight: Three integral test taking qualities Bara Sapir at City Test Prep instilled in me during our work together. I improved my GMAT score from a 620 to a 680 within a month… and this is after another test prep course! If you are looking for quality in test prep, look no further.

Joseph, London School of Economics

Working with Bara/CTP is the best thing you can do towards making sure you will enroll into your program of choice. I improved my score about 200 points. The great thing about working with Bara was addressing my issues and not anyone else’s she understood where my issue originated – and then worked on it. On a more personal note, I’m not sure if you ever met Bara, but she has a great personality; which makes a difficult learning experience more enjoyable and painless… I can go on and on, but the bottom line is that if you are committed to get an MBA, Bara and City Test Prep is the way to go.

Tal, New York University Executive Program

My actual GMAT results were dramatically lower than all of my practice tests even after a Princeton Review course. After working with Bara I learned techniques that not only improved my focus and concentration and eliminated test day anxiety, but also afforded me an easy 60-point increase in my scores. I would highly recommend City Test Prep/Bara to anyone.

Richard, Columbia University

I’m always willing to share with prospective students my experiences with CTP, especially since it’s critical to find the right person and/or service to hire for test preparation.  About three years ago, I found CTP through an online search.  I had worked with Veritas previously (in fact, I attended the course a second time to get back up to speed to retake the GMAT) but I had hit a ceiling with them.  For the most part, Veritas is a classroom-based repetition model, which I think can be very effective.  That said, it’s a one-size-fits-all approach and I realized that I needed to target certain areas; I needed to break through that ceiling. CTP not only coaches you in problem-solving methods, but also test-taking ones.  They has an expansive toolkit and they are willing to work with you to find out which ones work best.  If you need more permutation drills, CTP has them.  If you need a trick to understand inferences on the reading section, they have them.  If you need relaxation techniques, they have them.  For me, my tutor zeroed in on a certain type of math problem and then worked on building my skills trying multiple techniques, while also building my confidence in using these techniques.  Looking back, I wish I had gone to CTP first. They could have provided everything that Veritas provided and also helped me break through that ceiling.  Also, all along the way they would have worked on my test-taking confidence.  There’s something about a competitive test preparation environment that is counterproductive to learning.  Sure, it provides motivation in the beginning but when you need to concentrate on the “problem areas”, competition doesn’t help. Save the competition for the classroom or the job search, after you get into business school.  And CTP will help you get there. 
For the record, I started with CTP at an official 670 and then went to a 710.  I only took the test twice. 

Johnson, University of Michigan