Working with Avi is more than just GMAT prep. It is psychological prep, it is honing your motivation, it is confidence building. And none of it is over-optimized. Taking the GMAT is a holistic process that Avi knows backwards and forwards. He is like a martial arts master, who, after scrutinizing his opponent, knows exactly the pressure points he must hit to win with the least energy on his part. Screw the online course, you will undoubtedly put in at least twice the effort you do with Avi for worse results and a semi-depressing time. Avi knows tricks-of-the-trade that you won't find online, and are unlikely to find with pretty much any other tutor out there. End result for me... I went from 640 to 760 (70th to 99th percentile) in a month... Not to say it will work the same for you, but, hey, results speak, and I'm sure if you look through the other reviews you will find similar results. I thoroughly enjoyed my time working with Avi (can't believe I'm saying that about GMAT prep). I hope you make the wise decision to invest in yourself by opting for an in-person experience at the least, and an Avi/Twainstein experience at best. UPDATE AS OF 10/18/18 [POST-APPS] Avi and Twainstein are not just about GMAT prep, but also about the end-to-end application process, and with Avi it is going to generally be a WINNING application process. Why? Because Avi knows the process inside and out, and is able to be very realistic about what you can achieve with him (which may very well be your dream school). Avi helped me hone my story and value-add of doing an MBA. Result? I was applying only in the LA area, got in everywhere I applied, including my top choice got at UCLA Anderson even though I applied 3rd round. Avi helped guide me from day 1 digging deep into why I wanted to do the MBA all the way through interview prep, where I went into the interview confident I was going to nail it. HUGE thanks to Avi, I can't recommend him and Twainstein enough. Axel CEO & Founder, Thought Lounge MBA Class of 2020 UCLA Anderson School of Business (and GMAT 760 thx to Twainstein :D) read more

I was a student with learning disabilities and because of Twainstein, I could not have asked for a better score than the one that I received. I would just like to take a moment to highlight some of the invaluable skills I gained at Twainstein. Avi was my instructor at Twainstein for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) exam in 2009 and then again in 2013 for private standardized test tutoring. I have to say, because of the training I got at Twainstein something magical happened. I needed to take the CSET and CBEST to become a teacher and the CSET I was told had three parts and you needed to study for 2 months for each part. I didn't have that kind of time and I was worried I couldn't do it. I confessed this to Avi and he said no you can do it in a month and half, it is possible, don't worry I will help you. And that is exactly what happened. By working with Avi in an intense, systematic manner I passed all three exams and the CBEST. I cannot thank him enough for his encouragement and for having faith in me. In short, Avi and Twainstein are exceptional. His teaching methods in either a classroom setting or tutoring impress me very much. Today, I am a teacher myself and I take inspiration from Avi's example and Twainstein. I hope that I can be as effective of a teacher and I commend his out of the box, unique, passionate, and enthusiastic teaching methods. I cannot say enough nice things about my experience with Twainstein. read more

I had a really good experience with Twainstein. My score went up, yes, but I was starting pretty high already and I just needed some fine-tuning. But what I want to say is that I agree with James W, who posted about the other test prep companies (I always read the reviews that aren't published since I like to get a balanced look at the place I'm dealing with). Anyway, many moons ago when I prepped for the SAT, I remember feeling like a number in a classroom. The strategies seemed helpful enough but the feeling of me as an individual wasn't there. I'm not saying test prep has to be all touchy feely but the GMAT is a BIG deal. I mean, your whole future rests on this one exam and so you want to feel like the person who you're handing over the keys to cares about getting you there safe and in one piece. Not sure if it's appropriate to write scores here but I got a 720. Pretty happy with it. Loved the books that were used, they were super streamlined and not a lot of fluff, the class I had was top-notch--only 8 people and the instructor (I had Avi) is a GMAT God! He knew the exam backwards and forwards. Sad in some ways, but good for me. I liked my experience with them. Oh, one last thing. I read a few reviews about the price. They're expensive, no doubt, but I have friends that paid way more by going to the wrong company and having to take an additional class. Anyway, I was happy. read more

As an undergraduate, my SAT scores qualified me out of any math classes and my major required none, so I was pretty scared of what the GRE had in store for me as far as the quant. I decided I needed a tutor but didn't want someone who was just going to treat me like another fish in a sea of students preparing for the GRE. Twainstein came and presented on my college campus and from the second I entered the room, I could tell that this was the company for me. After signing up and receiving my study guides, I could tell Twainstein actually cared about my worries, my successes, my future, and of course helping me hit that score I really wanted. Twainstein was flexible in their schedule and meeting places and I left every single session feeling more and more confident that I was going to get an awesome score. The lessons were usually on one or two subjects so it was manageable. They taught test taking strategies as well as substantive material. They made it clear that they were in it for the long haul with you. I cannot stress enough how working with Twainstein was like having a companion on the journey toward an awesome GRE score. I only had to take the test once and I ended up with scores that will make me competitive when applying to Yale and Columbia, among others, next fall. Choose Twainstein and you'll be happy you did! read more

Like the other reviews on here, I'd highly recommend Avi and his team. The way they approach the test is very practical (don't overstudy, think conceptually first, then worry about pacing/timing). I almost took the GMAT a couple years back, but self-studying couldn't get me the score I wanted. While I didn't score nearly as high as I wanted to post-Twainstein, that result was 95% due to my own anxiety and 5% to my knowledge of the material. I was very well prepared, and I owe that to Avi, Andrew and Kasey. They are well equipped to help you get into a school of your choice assuming you do the work. Go in with an open mind, a willingness to work hard, and you will be fine. I am incredibly grateful to have found this resource as I got into the one school to which I applied. Note: I don't believe a test score alone will get you into a top MBA school, so if you are lacking in other areas (essay, GPA, work experience, etc.) you might want to allocate more time to the test. I'd suggest one-on-one Twainstein classes w/Avi in addition to the class course with Andrew, and several months to prepare. It's a beast of a test and I'm so glad to be finished with it :) Good luck future grad students! You're in the best of hands w/Twainstein. read more

I cannot begin to say enough great things about Twainstein and Avi. I took a GRE prep class with Avi and loved it so much I also hired him to help me with my school applications and it is the best decision I've ever made. The GRE class was unlike any other that I had heard about from friends who had signed up for something similar. The classes were very small and Avi took the time to get to know everyone in the class and their strengths and weaknesses. He ALWAYS made himself available no matter what time or day to answer any questions you had. Even after the course ends he makes a promise to be there with you every step of the way until you reach your goal score. I ended up scoring higher than I ever thought I could and it was all thanks to Avi. He has since been helping me craft my grad school applications and I couldn't be happier. He is not only a great coach, but will be your number 1 cheerleader all the way though. I was completely lost coming into this process and he has made me feel so comfortable and so confident about my applications. I could not have done any of this without him. Thank you Avi for everything! You are truly the best of the best! read more

Avi is a stellar teacher and is committed to seeing you succeed in achieving you goal. Taking the GRE can be a very daunting task, Avi breaks it down for you in such a way that you are able to manage this mammoth of an exam. He is great at focusing on developing the areas requiring coaching. In addition, he teaches you key elements of the exam which aren't evident unless you are continuously taking the test, which Avi does. In my particular case, I have been out of school for a long time and have, for a while been considering taking the leap into doing a PhD. I came across Avi through my internet search and decided to give him a try because I wasn't making much progress studying on my own, but more importantly because I was struggling with gaining the confidence to take this step. Avi was encouraging and receptive to my situation, he was also honest with his feedback and able to clearly point out where I needed to focus my efforts. This was very valuable for me since I didn't have a lot of time to get prepared. I feel really fortunate to have found Twainstein and would recommend it to anyone looking to take the GRE, read more

Studying for the GMAT was not fun. After buying the OG and Kaplan guides, I was studying on my own after work. I felt pretty comfortable with the verbal section but I could not quite figure out the quant. Practice test after practice test, I scored above the 90th percentile in the verbal but blew up in the quant section. I knew above 700 was the goal, and without some drastic change in my quant skills, that was not going to happen. That's when I reached out to Twainstein. I was able to schedule one-on-one tutoring sessions customized around my full-time job. Similarly, I didn't have to waste time studying the verbal section, which I already felt comfortable with. I was able to customize my curriculum based on my needs. By focusing my time and energy on improving my quant skills, I learned proper timing. Specifically, what types of questions were in my wheelhouse and what types of questions I should skip. Your GMAT score is extremely important when it comes to getting into a top program. Through Twainstein, I was able to improve my overall score by 80 points. It was worth every penny. read more

Like many, I was a bit intimidated and uneasy about the GRE and all of its inner-workings going in. I was also on-the-fence about whether I would sign up for an online course or sign up for an in-person class like Twainstein, as there are so many different courses and prep centers to choose from in Los Angeles. In short, choosing Twainstein for my GRE test prep was an incredible decision and one that I am so happy I made. Not only was I able to consistently score much higher in both the Quant and verbal sections over the course of the program, I also gained the confidence and mindset to get a very competitive score, which is half the battle. Andrew is an incredible instructor who truly cares about the success of his students. And Avi is a wonderful resource who is super knowledgable about the many graduate school programs out there and exactly how to attack the application and essay to maximize your acceptance chances. Whether you are looking for admissions consulting or test prep, I would highly recommend Twainstein. read more

I cannot express how grateful I am for having found the perfect GMAT tutor in Avi. His support, personalized approach, and incredible strategies were the game-changer I needed to achieve my goals. From the outset, Avi demonstrated a deep understanding of the GMAT exam and tailored his teaching to my specific needs. His patience and encouragement created a positive learning environment that boosted my confidence. He not only simplified complex concepts but also equipped me with invaluable techniques to tackle challenging problems efficiently. The results were noticeable - my scores improved significantly, and I felt well-prepared for every section of the GMAT. Avi goes beyond being just a tutor; he is a mentor who genuinely cares about his students' success. His dedication and belief in my abilities motivated me to push my limits and strive for excellence. If you're looking for a GMAT tutor who combines expertise, support, and effective strategies, Avi is the one. read more

Avi and his team at Twainstein are amazing. I called him in late September freaking out about how I was going to prepare for the GRE given my background (I was a music major). Avi was so helpful and I could tell really believed in my capacity to do well on this test. Andrew was my teacher for the course and honestly I've never had such a great math teacher in my life. For context, I have always struggled with Geometry and beyond, it was a miracle in my freshman year of high school that I was able to get by with a C+. Andrew was extremely patient and his teaching style along with Avi's methods made great sense. I ended up scoring well above the medians for my school and even got a perfect score on my AWA! I can't thank this team enough from the Avi, to Andrew and to Kasey (administrator) this program really is something special. I can't thank you guys enough, and to anyone on the fence about which program to choose I recommend Twainstein all the way! read more

Ok everybody is going to think I am crazy for saying this, but Avi makes studying for the GRE fun. I looked forward to coming to class and would laugh and have so much fun doing this. He spells out complicated math equations and creates a sort of cheat that allows you to memorize a quick shortcut that allows you to solve things faster and with less brainpower. He helps you not get lost in the jumble of words and tells you how to approach every different kind of question! If you need extra help Avi is always there whether it's on email or staying late after class. He also is available for phone calls if you're having a real freak out moment :) Even though it is a group class, the class is small and he gives you one on one attention and advice. Really whatever the reason I would recommend Avi. He's a great, super caring guy and he's an amazing teacher. I ended up scoring a combined score of 309, and I'm usually terrible at standardized tests. read more

I was introduced to Twainstein through a friend who tried the service for GRE prep. I was using one of the larger known GMAT prep services, but was unhappy with the lack of personal attention to my own needs and more importantly my disappointing results. My friend saw my frustration and thought Twainstein could help me as it did him. I was hesitant at first, but I am so grateful I took his advice and used Twainstein's test prep service. The teachers were extremely knowledgeable, I received the personal attention I needed, felt a lot more confident in my prep work than I ever did with the previous service, and most importantly- I got the results I wanted. This company helped me. In the end, I felt like the teachers were friends who actually cared about my future and were not just paid tutors. I got into a top B-school and now laugh when I hear my cohort mention the dreaded GMAT test. Highly recommend. read more

Working with Avi to prepare for the GRE was a truly game changing experience. I came in frustrated and defeated and he gave me the tools and confidence to tackle the test and achieve the score I needed to get into UCLA Anderson. Avi's approach was so much more than just honing my quant skills, he was personally invested in my success. I never thought I'd be a person who found glee in cracking the code to the test, but week after week I looked forward to my tutoring session and left with more self assuredness than when I arrived. He's calm, constructive and so astute. And beyond just the test prep, Avi knows the application process through and through. He helped me navigate the admissions process with grace and integrity. I always felt like I had an advocate in Avi, which is much more than you can say about most tutors. Don't bother with the other test prep companies, Avi and Twainstein are the best. read more

I can't recommend working with Avi enough. I gave him a very specific goal of taking the GRE once, achieving a great score, and moving on. I also only had about two months to do it. Well, I got the score I needed thanks to his work. Avi has strategies that you otherwise wouldn't know about or get on your own. He's got the whole thing covered- practice problems, analyzing your strengths and weaknesses, test anxiety and most of all using your inherent strengths to your advantage, and tackling the test in a way that will get you the score you want. There's no way I would've gotten the score I did without his help and drills. His tenure and experience dealing with this test really shines through. Not only is he a nice guy and easy to work with, you can tell he's passionate about what he does and cares about his students success. read more

If you're like me, then you work well with live instruction and being able to ask questions and all that good stuff. I know everything is online nowadays but I hate math and could barely learn it with a one-on-one tutor in high school. My requirements for a GMAT course were: 1.) That it be live 2.) That it be around $1,000 3.) Small class size so I can feel comfortable asking questions. Twainsteing didn't disappoint! Avi is an incredibly gifted instructor. It's not so much that he knows the test (which he does, he calls himself the ninth degree black belt super ninja of the standardized tests) it's that he was able to teach me how to see the test the way he does. Baseline Score: 560 Practice Test 1: 610 Final Practice Test: 620 Official GMAT: 650 (Yay! My goal was 600+) read more

I've been out of school for about 4 years and decided to go back. I bought a couple of study guides and books from Kaplan and started to study on my own. I was completely lost and kept scoring terribly on my practice tests. I needed help. I found Twainstein they were very flexible with working with me and worked around my schedule. Every session I had we would go off a couple of concepts in quant and verbal and kept adding on with every session. They made everything seem so much easier. They have a simple approach to the GMAT and helped me get in to the schools I wanted to. They helped me with the admission process, the prep for the GMAT, and the essay's needed to for admission. I would have not gotten into business school without their help. Thanks Twainstein. read more

I have been studying for the exam and taken the GRE several times and not getting the scores I needed. But thanks to Avi, I can finally put the GRE to rest and focus on Graduate School. Thanks to Avi I got accepted at USC, the school of my choice. Avi is the teacher who will know in a few sessions what you need to work on to get your score higher. His experience and method is like no other I have ever seen. I was able to take my quantitative from 144 to 152. He also helps you understand how the exam will be grading you so you can focus on what really counts and what will help you score higher. His techniques, experience and knowledge are unmatched. You are a true Master at what you do! Thank you so much for working with me, I will be forever great full! read more

I heard about Twainstein from a colleague who took the course and the GRE last summer. I really felt like I needed SOME sort of help for the GRE after trying to go through a workbook by myself and was getting so stressed out about it! Twainstein SAVED me...Avi helps you approach the exam purely by strategies. He helps you realize that you don't need to re-learn high school math. He makes the entire course actually super fun to learn (shockingly!). I just feel like he approaches the test in a super accessible and logical way! The classes are small and he's also super accommodating and gave me one on one time with questions. I highly recommend taking the course if you're trying to choose between different (a bit expensive) preps but know that you need the help. read more