The 800score GMAT course sets the standard for low-cost test
preparation. The tests are wonderfully designed and easy to use. The
questions are challenging and the explanations are above anything else
in the industry.
The course guide is rich with graphics
and easy to read. The content is funny and well written. There
are HUNDREDS of pages of materials, making this nearly as extensive as
an online course.
The tests are highly intuitive and
allow you to print out answers. Explanations cover the right answer
and common wrong answers. Altogether, a highly effective product.
Epinions Review
This is a very good course for the money and it WILL make a difference on test day.
Epinions Review
800score.com,
based in New York City, was founded in 1999 and is the largest online
GMAT test preparation service. They have recently introduced an updated
version of their course and within a few months plan on introducing an
"advanced" version that will sell for $99. The "advanced" course
features content beyond the scope of a typical GMAT textbook. The good
news is that most of the "advanced" content is already integrated into
the $39 course. So you are effectively getting a course worth $100 for
$39, which is why the product is an exceptional value.
The 800score GMAT tests are computer adaptive, just like the
real GMAT. The unique benefit about the content being online is that it
allows 800score to cost-effectively offer a 600+ page course. The
content is also printer friendly and can be downloaded for use offline.
1. 5 GMAT CAT Tests
(These are tests in the GMAT CAT format that
simulate the actual GMAT. This means that the questions get harder or
easier depending on your performance.)
a. Technical Features
b. Test Review
2. AWA Essay Prep
a. Online Essay Grading
b. Essay Prep Guide
3. Verbal Prep Guide
a. Sentence Correction
b. Reading Comprehension
c. Critical Reasoning
4. Quantitative Prep Guide
a. Math Introduction
b. Fundamentals (Algebra, Geometry)
c. Word Problems & Strategy
d. Permutations, Combinations, Probability
e. Data Sufficiency & Strategy
f. Standard Deviation
1. 5 GMAT CAT Tests
The 800score tests offer a wide range of features.
1a. Technical Features
1b. Test Review
800score.com tests are easily the most user-friendly in the
industry. The flash format is big, easy to read and quick to download.
You can print out the explanations to each question, so you aren't left
staring at a computer screen for another hour.
2. AWA Essay Prep
800score goes beyond typical GMAT courses with a
comprehensive 60-page section on the GMAT essay section. This provides
templates, strategies and 20 sample essays from the real GMAT essay
questions.
2a. Online Essay Grading
800score also offers 20 practice timed essays. 10 are available on
the "public" 800score course and 10 are integrated into the 5 sample
tests. You can take these 30-minute timed GMAT essay simulations and the
essay will be mailed to you with sample answers from previous students.
800score uses ivy-grad NYC tutors with several years of essay coaching
experience for feedback. If you want an evaluation, they charge $19.95
for a full essay grading and feedback. To try out an essay, go to: www.800score.com/takeessay.html
2b. Essay Prep Guide
This is a 60-page guide to writing for the essay section. It
includes essay templates, strategies, tips and sample answers to 20 real
GMAT essay questions.
3. Verbal Prep Guide
800score's verbal material is a standout among other GMAT
products where the verbal sections tend to be weak. They are catering
to international students, who constitute a large number of 800score
students and who tend to have the most trouble with the verbal section.
3a. Sentence Correction
The Sentence Correction section has over 60 pages of content,
including 30 timed online practice questions divided by skill level. The
concept behind the section is that grammar can by taught by effectively
using graphical layout diagrams so, as 800score puts it "we've made
grammar exciting again!". They invested heavily in hiring talented
graphic artists to produce well-rendered diagrams to teach grammatical
concepts. It is about as much of a"page turner" as a grammar guide can
be. The content focuses narrowly on the common error types found on the
GMAT and it is interspersed with specific advice about "GMAT" grammar.
There is plenty of introductory material for non-native speakers along
with more advanced content.
Many courses have "3-step methods" or "4-step methods" for teaching
students how to attack grammar questions. 800score goes one step further
and integrates this strategy for deconstructing questions into their
examples, making the explanations highly effective. This section stands
toe-to-toe with anything available from a $1300 course and perhaps, with
the addition of a few more examples and a bit more content, would
exceed them.
3b. Reading Comprehension
This section is the most outstanding feature of the 800score course
and has about 100 pages of material. It is a well-written and insightful
breakdown of writing logic and structure combined with a thorough
analysis of how to systematically dissect academic writing. Most
students never developed these important critical reading and speed
reading techniques. 800score score describes the chapter as "what you
should have learned in college, but didn't."
The section includes a 10 complete sample essays. The content is
highly in-depth and comparable to that of a $1300 course. It is also
interspersed with cartoons t o keep the reader going through the
extensive content.
3c. Critical Reasoning
The emphasis here is on identifying common logical error types. The
theme from 800score on this section is that you "won't get fooled
again." They do this by teaching common logical error tricks and go
exhaustively through them using common examples from politics, media,
etc. The focus is on teaching reasoning skills to help identify
intentionally flawed arguments. This section, although comprehensive, is
not as exhaustive as the other sections because it remains under
development.
4. Quantitative Prep Guide
800score's concept is to focus heavily on different
types of question types, so that there are no surprises on test day. The
course is based on a neurobiological concept of the "chunks" developed
by a Nobel-prize winning psychologist. If you have "chunks" of knowledge
and experience, this helps you to solve questions. Creativity and
problem solving skills are derived from experience and prior knowledge.
Problem solving isn't about developing new solutions, but synthesizing
existing knowledge. The GMAT quantitative section has a finite number of
"tricks." If you can learn those tricks and the "chunks" the GMAT uses,
you will have a huge advantage on test day. 800score stuffs its course
with dozens of unique concepts and trick question types so you can think
like the GMAT and aren't left scratching your head when confronting a
difficult math question that seems unfamiliar.
4a. Math Introduction
800score includes "advanced" strategies designed for higher
scorers that are based on discussions with tutors who cater to 700+
scoring students. The content in the prep guides is highly comprehensive
and covers topics from standard deviation, to probability and
combinations.
4b. Fundamentals (Basic Algebra and Basics Geometry)
These sections are designed for beginners and intermediate-level
students. If you have already taken a GMAT course or read several books,
you can simply skim through this material. The course notates any
material that may be beyond what is covered in other GMAT prep
materials.
4c. Word Problems & Strategy
This is a more advanced section dealing with: Functions &
Symbols, Progressions & Sequences, Percentages, Ratio and
Proportion, Interest, Discounts and Markups, Uniform motion, Work,
Grouping and Counting, Data Interpretation, and Averages and Median. In
other words, all of the main topics on the GMAT math section.
4d. Permutations, Combinations, Probability
Because the GMAT is not so much interested in your memorization of
formulae, but more interested in your intuitive grasp of the abstract
concepts. The concept behind this chapter is to make these abstract
concepts highly intuitive. The result is that one of the most difficult
areas in GMAT preparation becomes demystified and simple. This section
is excellent for beginners and intermediates.
4e. Data Sufficiency & Strategy
The most interesting part of this is a discussion of common trick question types.
4f. Standard Deviation
Similar to the Permutations, Combinations and Probability chapter
above, this is a chapter designed to make abstract concepts simple.
Review Conclusion
800score.com has raised the bar by including this level of material
and services at this price point. The 800score course is specifically
designed so that any potential GMAT student can benefit from its
comprehensive material. If you find any problems or errors, please
email 800score.com and they will credit your sale.
Interview with Sean Selinger, founder of 800score.
Who develops 800score material?
We hire college professors or highly experienced tutors. Tutors
with several years experience and who have taken the test are the best.
Many of our main developers have scored above a 770 on the GMAT. We are
constantly improving our material and adding questions.
