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GMAT Tutor in San Diego, Near You, & Online

Need to take the GMAT for business school applications?

The good news is your GMAT verbal abilities have probably gotten better over the years without you even trying, since you've been reading this whole time - which passively develops your vocab, comprehension, grammar, and even writing skills.

The bad news? Your math ability, unless you were extremely good at math back in the day, may have atrophied if you've been out of school for a while, and if you don't use those skills in your day-to-day life. I won't sugarcoat it - it'll take some hard work to get that ability back, but it can be done. The GMAT doesn't test hard math concepts - it's just the greatest hits from arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and statistics.

If you're interested in GMAT tutoring, we'll start off with a free phone call to discuss your situation and goals, and from there, develop a study and tutoring plan to make the most of the time you have. We also offer GRE tutoring, since now nearly all B-schools take either test.

Active-duty military members receive a 15% discount on GMAT tutoring - contact Vince for details.

P.S. We also help people write their graduate school admissions essays and statements of purpose!

Expert GMAT Prep

In our view, the most important question for you to ask is this: "Who will be the person teaching me?" Our competitors hire college students and train them, whereas we only hire long-time teachers who are already extremely good at what they do.

Blake Jensen is our GMAT specialist. He has worked with dozens of students over the years to help them tackle this tough test.

Blake Jensen

Blake: I’m a native San Diegan, father, and an aficionado of basketball, vintage video games, pitchy karaoke, and lecturing my son on how much better Star Wars was "back in the day." I played college basketball at St. Mary’s College and Whittier College, where I earned my B.A. in Psychology in 2002.

Having been a full-time test prep coach for over 15 years, I have seen just about every type of student and tutoring situation. This allows me to give my students exactly what they need to reach their goals.

My years of experience have also led me to coach my students a little differently than most. A lot of test prep revolves around how to answer a question. While that is a necessary component, identifying what is needed to answer a question is at least as important, especially for timed tests like the GMAT. I show my students how to look at the test the way I do, to the patterns and tendencies of the test to make them faster and more accurate.

GMAT tutoring with Blake is $275 / hour (or $248 / hour for 15 or more hours).

He meets clients in his Carmel Valley office or online via Zoom.

Contact Blake

GMAT vs. GRE: Making an Informed Choice for Your Business School Journey

In the world of graduate admissions, two tests often dominate the conversation: the GMAT and the GRE. Both are crucial, but in different ways, and your choice between them can shape your path to graduate school. Let's dive into what sets these exams apart and how you can smartly decide which one to take.

GMAT: The Business-School Darling

The GMAT is the traditional favorite for MBA programs. It's a test that's unapologetically business-oriented, focusing on the skills deemed essential in the corporate world. The test includes sections like Quantitative Reasoning and Integrated Reasoning, which are specifically designed to assess your ability to analyze data and make decisions – skills that are gold in business school.

GRE: The Versatile Contender

The GRE, meanwhile, is the more versatile of the two. It's not just for business school applicants; it's used for admission to a variety of graduate programs. This test is more about general academic ability, with a strong emphasis on verbal and quantitative reasoning. The GRE is often perceived as more balanced, testing a wide array of skills from vocabulary to basic math.

Dissecting the Differences

Content and Structure: The GMAT zeroes in on analytical writing, integrated reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and verbal reasoning. Its integrated reasoning section is unique, testing your ability to synthesize information from various sources. The GRE, on the other hand, focuses on verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing, with a broader approach to these areas.
Scoring System: The GMAT scores you on a scale of 200-800, integrating the quantitative and verbal scores. The GRE provides separate scores for verbal and quantitative sections, each ranging from 130-170, plus a score for analytical writing. This allows for a more nuanced understanding of your strengths and weaknesses.
Test Format: The GMAT is known for its computer-adaptive testing, where the difficulty of questions adapts to your performance. This can be challenging but also rewarding if you're well-prepared. The GRE offers a more traditional structure, with a fixed set of questions allowing you to navigate back and forth.

Making the Choice: Which Test is for You?

When choosing between the GMAT and GRE, consider:

Your Target Program: Research the test preferences of your dream schools. Some programs have a strong preference for the GMAT, especially traditional MBA programs.
Your Strengths and Weaknesses: Evaluate where your strengths lie. If you excel in verbal reasoning and a diverse set of skills, the GRE might be more suited to you. If you have strong quantitative skills and are comfortable with data analysis, the GMAT could be your best bet.
Your Career Goals: If you're firmly committed to a career in business, the GMAT can signal this dedication to MBA programs. The GRE, with its broader application, is suitable if you're considering a range of graduate options.