It is with great enthusiasm that this newbie Yelper writes this review testifying to the great work that Yuri and Seth do with their TestCrackers GRE Prep Classes. They have an uncanny ability to deliver intuitive quantitative and verbal test taking strategies in a light, interesting, and humorous way. As you can imagine, that's a tall order considering the rather mundane subject matter content they teach that separates us from our target schools and programs. They are truly experts in the field of standardized testing, adding a touch of personalization that makes the investment worthwhile. With that said, I recently completed both Yuri's GRE Quantitative Class and Seth's GRE Verbal Class in tandem. My personal strategy meant 2 Class commitment/week, in addition to Yuri's office hours and assigned homework that should receive anywhere from 5-10+ hours/week/Class. Not including 3-4 practice exams over the same period, the demand on time was difficult to manage as a working professional. So, you may consider taking one Class at a time based on personal scheduling and timing needs. Things I wish I knew ahead of time: -If you're on the fence with TestCrackers, give Yuri or Seth a call to see if the Classes are a right fit before you invest -The intention of the Quantitative and Verbal Classes is to deliver test taking strategies for you to digest over several weeks. Be prepared to continue applying test taking strategies through practice problems if, like me, you're not at your target score by the time you finish the Classes. It will take additional time for me to fully digest all that I learned in Yuri and Seth's Classes. As a result, I ended up rescheduling my test date that was originally scheduled a week following the end of the Classes. -Yuri and Seth want to stick with you and craft a study plan post-Classes to keep you on track to meet your target scores. They do this by honing in on your test taking limitations after 4 practice exams that forms the basis for your personal study plan. All in all, thank you for a great experience, Yuri and Seth! read more

Pre-Testcrackers Score (using Kaplan to study): 157v and 159q Post-Testcrackers Score (3 years after first test): 160v and 160q Testcrackers definitely stands out from any of the other big test companies. As someone who used materials and an online platform from one of the big test companies, TestCrackers provides much higher quality tutoring and support. There are several things that make TestCrackers stand out: Classes with Yuri and Anisa were incredibly engaging and both have very warm personalities that made participating very enjoyable. I was constantly amazed at how smart they both were and was so happy to be getting taught by them. Yuri and Anisa really dedicated themselves to providing me ongoing support well after my class ended and up until the day of my test. I was consistently taken back by how committed they were to making sure I got a score that made me confident in my applications. Yuri gave me a full in-depth study plan following the end of the class based on what areas I needed to work on and another study plan the week and a half before the test. On top of that, he continuously gave me moral support when I felt that studying wasn't looking too good for me. TestCrackers has a large library of ETS study materials that you will need and can borrow to help you prepare for the test. All for free! TestCrackers has office hours!! This has to be the hallmark of TestCrackers as every week, you can attend office hours for Quant and these are so incredibly beneficial and I think really helped me get to a 160 (I had to relearn math because it had been so long since I graduated from college). TestCrackers is truly unparalleled in test prep in the Bay Area. I've begun referring all my friends and feel bad for my friends not living in the Bay Area who will be taking the GRE and can't enroll in TestCrackers. If you're super serious about your score and are looking to invest in your score (because it's an investment in yourself), love yourself and choose TestCrackers. read more

There are so many moving parts to preparing a graduate school application, and amidst all the chaos, sifting through the options for test prep can be quite a daunting task. Well, skip the hassle. I researched for weeks every option out there and TestCrackers is far and away the BEST choice, both in value and efficacy. All test prep courses are expensive, but this one is actually well priced and - unlike many other options out there - will definitely work! Make sure you enroll early because this service is so effective that spots fill up fast. I took Yuri's GRE quant class with just six weeks between me and my scheduled GRE test. My math skills were comparable to those of a second-grader, but Yuri actually helped me get a great score on the GRE! His teaching style is accessible and encouraging, and he really invests in his students' understanding of the material. The classes are small and Yuri makes sure that all students participate, which really allows everyone to get their money's worth from every class. He is able to support students at any level, and works with each person to help them understand the concepts without making anyone feel stupid. I have to confess that when I first walked through his door I knew that nothing short of a miracle could raise my math abilities from such a low starting point and in such a short amount of time. Well, it turns out that Yuri and TestCrackers are, indeed, miracle workers. What's more is that Yuri does everything in his power to help students succeed, even making himself available for questions outside of class. The two days prior to my exam, Yuri had family visiting from out of town, yet he welcomed me to contact him to ask last-minute questions and strategy advice in preparation for the GRE. His dedication to students' success apparent in every interaction. If you want to get the best score possible, enroll NOW in TestCrackers. You definitely will not regret it. read more

Anisa & TestCrackers provided unparalleled GRE prep, and my entire experience was incredible from start to finish. I was studying for the GRE on my own, but given some ambitious target scores began comparing GRE prep courses to boost my studying. After a request for more information, Seth & Yuri reached out to me, answered all of my questions, and even provided guidance on how to prepare in advance of the course. Anisa was my instructor for both the quant and verbal courses, and she is a masterful instructor - the classes are truly like small group tutoring! Anisa is brilliant, extremely patient, and does a fantastic job relating material and strategies in a meaningful way so that it really sticks. Additional office hours are provided outside of class time and are an incredible resource as well - often, only one or two students took advantage, so there is ample opportunity to get even more dedicated help. Throughout the course, Anisa went above and beyond: she provided a daily breakdown of the weekly coursework (in itself was worth the cost of the course, in my opinion); answered questions during breaks and after class; made herself available for questions in between classes and office hours; and shared study resources to support the class as we completed her course. After the course was complete, Anisa provided personalized feedback based on practice test performance, guidance, and tools to support continued study - she even spent time on the phone with me to help me through the home stretch! The return on investment was unbelievable: throughout my time with TestCrackers, I saw a 10 point improvement in both my quantitative and verbal practice scores and scored in that range on the GRE itself. Don't bother with any other test prep service - TestCrackers & Anisa are your best bet. read more

Once I was finished with the GMAT I wanted to make sure Test Crackers got the credit it deserved for helping me achieve my score. Here's my story. I had been out of school for a long time and had a lot of work to do in order to prepare for the GMAT. I took a Manhattan Online course and still was not scoring where I needed to be at. I knew that I needed to find another source that could teach me what I needed to know in order to do well on the test, and in particular the quant section of the test. After vigorous research I stumbled upon Test Crackers while searching on the web. I saw (here on YELP) all of the awesome reviews. So long story short, I ended up getting private tutoring in quant from Yuri (same material he teaches in his quant class, but I needed extra one on one help) and took the verbal class with Seth. I also had some private tutoring with Seth for the verbal section and this was a huge help too! Yuri and Seth are experts in both quant and verbal. With the help and patience of Yuri and Seth I was able to raise my GMAT score from a 590 to a 670! These guys have the GMAT mastered. Both of them are excellent teachers and can make difficult material easy to learn. On top of everything they are both great guys with integrity. I can't recommend this program enough! Thanks Yuri and Seth for helping me achieve my score! read more

I've never been good at math. It was always my hardest subject in school, and my lowest score on the SAT, ACT, and the practice GRE tests when I was studying by myself. I was anxious that it would stand between me and getting into my school of choice. Chapter by chapter, Yuri not only decoded complicated math problems and answered any and all questions I had patiently and repeatedly, but was also always available by e-mail. Seth teaches the qualitative side. He's great - patient, available, and was actively involved in my progress during the class. He took what seemed like nonsensical questions and made them simple. 4 weeks with Seth, and with the strategies he taught us I increased by score my 7 points on the second practice test we took! Going through the books on my own to study for the test would have been a mistake. The many resources they provide are invaluable (I'm confident in saying that you can't find them anywhere else) and the relaxed (dare I say fun?!) atmosphere makes for a really great 4/5 weeks. They try to get everyone in the class to answer questions (unless you opt out of being called on!) and their positive, energetic nature made these classes one of the the best investments I've made towards my future. Each class is small, and individual attention is easy to come by. I highly recommend Testcrackers! read more

Yuri provides a great service at a reasonable cost. I utilized his services for Quant. prep. for the GRE in December of 2014 and just took the exam yesterday. This review is part of the closure process. Yuri is the reason I increased my Quant. score by 8 from intake, the reason I hit my overall goal score, and the reason I will only have to sit for this exam once. He is a very accessible, down-to-earth person who hosts a non-judgmental, participatory environment. You will not just be sitting in class listening to a lecture, you will be using his methods to attack various forms of math in a supportive environment. While classes are packed with information and strategy, there is still time to ask questions and time for Yuri to make sure everyone understands his methods for success. He sincerely cares about the outcomes of his students and will help outline a realistic plan for you to hit your goal score. If you feel like you need a tutor for the GRE or GMAT, call Yuri. *Side note: I took the 2.5 week (5 classes, 3 hours each) accelerated course and it is doable, but homework and remediating are a big part of the process. If your personal or professional life won't allow for the time, I would sign up for the conventional course length of 5 weeks. Good Luck! read more

Worth every penny!! If I could give more than 5 stars to TestCrackers, I would! Anisa was my teacher for Quant and Verbal, and I only have good things to say about her classes and the center. She is calm, reassuring, and so incredibly smart. I am not a confident test taker and she made me actually *want* to come to class and study for the GRE every day. She really cares about her students, and her enthusiasm is contagious. She taught us all of the strategies we'd need to be successful on the test, including mindfulness practices and quick meditations! I never thought that I would be excited about taking a standardized test, but she made it happen. Along with the interactive and informative classes, TestCrackers give you a book of practice questions, class booklets, vocabulary flash cards, and access to videos of every class. All of these materials were super helpful to me when the class was over and I had to continue studying on my own. TestCrackers went above and beyond my expectations, and I am so grateful that this place exists! Without it, I definitely would have run away from the GRE. Instead, I was confident and had the right tools and strategies to do my best on the exam. read more

** Go to office hours to get so much more out of the courses! I recommend Yuri for quant and Anisa for verbal (because they're both great teachers and they're the ones I had...). Yuri makes classes entertaining and interactive so you are guaranteed not to get bored, even if math is normally boring for you. They were both really friendly and definitely care about each student. I took the GRE test the day right after I finished the courses and managed to get a 97th % score on the verbal! I was definitely not expecting to do that well. Before the class I think it was only in the 80's or something like that. My quant score also went up like 6 points or something but with more studying I could've done a lot better. I recommend leaving maybe a couple of weeks between ending the courses and taking the test, though, so you can have more time to study. On the other hand, having a lot of the classes' tips and strategies fresh in mind helps a bunch. It was a good investment and I think it made me much more likely to be accepted to schools I would like to attend. read more

After going it alone my first attempt at the GMAT, my quant score was in need of some serious improvement. I needed instruction, but with a busy weekday travel schedule this was looking like a very daunting task. I found Testcracker's here on Yelp, and discovered exactly the class I was looking for - weekend small-group sessions, targeting quant strategies and content, in detail, along with 2 hours of private tutoring prior to my retest date - all at an unbeatable price. Yuri is friendly, calm, and a natural teacher. With his guidance, I approached the quant section with a sound game-day strategy that centered on much improved timing. I was ecstatic when I saw my score of 700 on the screen. To be honest, I could have done a lot better had I more thoroughly engaged the homework and supplemental materials Yuri generously provided, but luckily the foundation of understanding built during class was all I needed. Don't pass up a chance to work with Yuri - and Seth, the new verbal specialist - they should be able get you as fall as you want to go, or further! read more

I just finished the Verbal section of this course with Anisa and it was honestly far better than I expected. From day one it was clear that Anisa knew her stuff. She walked the class through the curriculum at a great pace, making sure that we all understood the concepts and reviewing anything anyone had an issue with. She made the class fun and engaging which is no small feet at 6:30 after a long day of work. I highly recommend this class with Anisa or any class at TestCrackers. The curriculum was really well laid out and easy to follow. They provided all necessary resources including the GMAT OG, snacks (trail mix for the win!) and loaner books for the Quant course (which I have just started with Anisa). I haven't taken my test yet so I can't speak to the outcome of a final score, but I feel much more confident with the verbal class under my belt. Anisa has even offered some additional advice as a followup to the class to help me as I continue my prep for the exam. I 100% recommend this course! read more

Yuri took my GRE math score from a 152 (48 percentile) to a 164 (88 percentile). His class helped transform previously panic-inducing math problems into manageable tasks that I felt confident tackling. It is amazing that he did all of this with a sense of humor and genuine care for our class' success. In addition to the 6 weeks of class, Yuri scheduled calls with me to go over my study plan and identify the areas where I should focus. Twice, at no extra cost, Yuri spent an hour with me one-on-one to review problems that gave me trouble on practice exams and offered extra advice on test taking strategies. Even though I didn't take Seth's course, he gave me some great pointers over email on the verbal section. Before taking this course, I approached the GRE with fear. While I was a little nervous on test day, I felt confident and prepared because of Yuri's help. I could not recommend TestCrackers more highly! read more

Yuri is the man! The GRE Quant course was extremely helpful in preparing me for the test, and I'm happy to report that my scores jumped from the low 140's on the practice tests up to the 160's for the real thing! Yuri is awesome at conveying even the most difficult concepts in ways that everybody can understand. I never once felt stupid or judged for asking a question with an easy answer or something we had already covered. He also makes sure to take time with each student individually to make sure they are fully grasping the material. The homework can feel like a lot sometimes, but it really goes by fast if you break it up over a few days and he is more than happy to help with some of the more difficult questions. If you are searching for the best way to boost your Quant scores quickly for a great price, look no further! read more

I am delighted to write the review for TestCrackers, especially for Anisa. I enrolled in the verbal program at the Berkeley facility. I am a non-native speaker and verbal section had been my Achilles heel. I enrolled in a class taught by Anisa and I am glad I did. She really provided a structure and science to the art of critical reasoning, reading comprehension and importantly sentence correction. Her years of experience shows in the way she teaches. The class is very interactive and that is part of the success of so many students. I ended up by improving my verbal score from 32 to 36 within a short period of 3 weeks. I have been able to get into an Evening and Weekend program at a premier school in Bay Area. I have already recommended her class to a friend and would be glad to endorse her here for the yelpers. read more

TestCrackers is a great investment for anyone who wants to improve their GMAT score. Before starting with TestCrackers I had been studying for a few months but my test scores plateaued and I couldn't break 710. After taking the Verbal class with Isaac I not only learned great strategies for the Verbal section but also general test taking strategies that really helped with my timing. After taking the class I ended up with a 770 on my official test and got into my dream school. Isaac's instruction really narrowed my focus and allowed me to take a look at what the test was actually evaluating and how best to approach it, step by step, and breaking it down this way made it much more manageable. I couldn't recommend this course more for anyone who feels like they're have room to improve their test score. read more

I took their GMAT Quantitative section with Seth and their GMAT Verbal section with Anisa. Both Seth and Anisa are great instructors who engage with and care about their students. Both of these courses helped me tremendously in improving my understanding of the material and gave helpful test taking tips and strategies. They helped me achieve a score way better than what I had hoped for on the exam. I could hardly be more excited about the score I got and I have Seth and Anisa to thank for that. The three hour classes seemed to fly by every week, both Seth and Anisa do a great job presenting the material in an engaging manner. Seth and Anisa were some of the best instructors I've had in my academic career thus far. I really enjoyed my time with Testcrackers and can not recommend them enough. read more

I feel so fortunate to find TestCrackers on Yelp and made the decision to take their classes. Seth and Isaac are fabulous teachers. They made the classes a lot fun, and in the same time you learned a lot. They are very patient with every student and always willing to help. I feel empowered by the knowledge they taught and the environment they created as a group fighting GMAT together. Also, Anisa's Q/A session on every Sat was a saver for me to further enhance my learnings. I absolutely recommend TestCrackers if you want to take GMAT but not feel confident. Thanks Seth, Isaac and Anisa for your great help during the preparation. 1st GMAT Q49 V33 Total660 (before taking TestCrackers' classes) 2nd GMAT Q49 V42 Total740 (after taking TestCrackers' classes) read more

Taking and studying for the GRE can be extremely nerve-racking. Before TestCrackers, I did not have a set studying plan and I was only memorizing at most....10 vocab per day and I also had trouble understanding long passages on my practice exams. Enrolling with TestCrackers is one of the best decisions I've ever made. I took both my Quant/Verbal courses with Anisa and she was a great instructor/motivator. All of the instructors at TestCrackers are excellent, but I would highly recommend Anisa because she is very friendly, approachable and genuine at helping out her students the best she can. After implementing the strategies Anisa taught in class, I was able to memorize up to 22-25 vocab per day and long reading passages weren't as daunting anymore! read more

Can't say enough about Seth and Yuri. I was looking for an organized, straightforward approach to studying for the GRE that presented all the relevant topics along with the strategies for tackling them. This is exactly what I found with TestCrackers. Additionally, both Seth and Yuri went above and beyond responding to my questions outside of class quickly and thoroughly. They even offered additional study session opportunities outside of the scheduled classes. Between the classes, materials they provide, and extra support this review class was by far the best value I found in the bay. And the bottom line - I was able to improve my score and even beat what I thought was my best potential score of 325 by four points with a 329. read more