Learn More about the Knewton GMAT Prep Course

Knewton founder, Jose Ferreira, is a former Kaplan executive and master teacher who designed the GMAT and GRE courses Kaplan still teaches today. He is also the only person ever to devise test-taking strategies so effective that the test-makers were forced to remove a question type from an exam.

Jose recently took time to answer a few questions about the Knewton GMAT Course. Here's what he had to say:

Can you provide us with an overview of the Knewton GMAT Course?

There are two components of our course. The first is our interactive, online video classroom. Through our online platform, we are able to bring the best teachers to greatest number of people. All fifteen lessons are also available on-demand.

The second component is what happens on the back end, where we offer both adaptive testing and adaptive learning. The original developers of the actual GMAT, Len Swanson and Rob McKinley, work for us and designed our diagnostic exams. Meanwhile, our adaptive learning engine tests students' mastery of hundreds of very specific skills tested on the GMAT and assembles a mixture of practice questions and review materials designed to provide each student with exactly what he or she needs.

Knewton uses adaptive learning and adaptive testing. Can you tell us more about this technology?

Knewton has developed and pioneered the test-prep industry's only adaptive learning engine, which harnesses the power of web-based technology to identify and address the individual pedagogical needs of each student. The GMAT is a computer-adaptive test, which means it is extremely difficult to replicate. You start with a question of medium difficulty, and if you answer it correctly, you get a harder question. If you answer it incorrectly, you get an easier question. Sounds simple enough to design, but it's not. Realistic GMAT CATs are the Holy Grail of the industry. We're very lucky to have Len and Rob; they literally wrote the original GMAT algorithm. Now they've written Knewton's.

We've taken that adaptive approach and applied it to our pedagogy. We've tagged literally hundreds of concepts in each subject area. Most courses can only identify, for example, that you need help with geometry. By contrast, Knewton is able say with certainty: You're in full command of the fact that all radii in the same circle are equal, but you do need strategies for 3-4-5 right triangles. Oh and by the way, here are ten questions on 3-4-5 right triangles. That's adaptive learning, and it's a very powerful tool.

Who teaches your GMAT courses?

The vision for Knewton has always been to bring the brightest, most experienced teachers to the greatest number of people. Only thirty people can fit inside a traditional classroom. The possibilities are endless in the virtual world. Some traditional test-prep companies employ over 5,000 teachers to staff physical locations across the country. With that large a pool, teacher experience and quality varies widely. On the other hand, we have lured top-ranked Master Teachers away from the industry giants. These people are very excited about the opportunity to reach hundreds of students through our platform. Plus, I still teach several courses each week, and I have 18 years of experience teaching and designing GMAT courses.

What will students learn in the 8-lesson MBA mini course that comes free with the Knewton course?

Business school is a completely new experience for most grad students, and it's really helpful to know what to expect before arriving on campus. One of the top professors at Harvard Business School teaches an invaluable class on case studies for us. We also have lessons addressing nuts and bolts issues like statistics, modeling, and spreadsheets.

Knewton offers a unique money-back guarantee. Can you tell us how it works?

It's very simple. Attend class, complete your homework, take our practice tests. If your score still doesn't improve by at least fifty points, you get a full refund. No questions asked.

Can students try the Knewton GMAT course for free?

Absolutely. We offer almost 20% of the course before students pay a penny, which means that they'll see real score improvement before even having to decide whether to continue. Other courses offer nothing more than an introductory seminar up front. Knewton goes the extra mile because we believe so strongly in the value of our service.

Why should students choose Knewton over another GMAT prep course?

Knewton's GMAT course and overall approach to test prep offer three key advantages to students. The first is the superior quality of our level of instruction. Industry pioneers created our computer-adaptive tests, and we have attracted a select group of the most dynamic teachers in the country. Second is our technology, which makes our program both more effective and more convenient. Students can set their own schedules for test prep; all of our materials are available on-demand, around the clock. And, last but not least, we stand by our claims. Knewton guarantees that a student's score will go up by at least 50 points and if it doesn't, we'll refund all the money immediately.