Manhattan Prep GMAT Review 2025: Is 'Interact' Worth the Premium?

If you ask a Harvard MBA student how they studied for the GMAT, there is a very good chance they will say “Manhattan Prep.”

For two decades, Manhattan Prep has positioned itself as the premium choice for high achievers. They don’t just teach you math; they teach you how to think like a CEO.

But with the GMAT Focus Edition changing the landscape, and competitors like Target Test Prep dominating the Quant space, is Manhattan Prep still the king of the hill?

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The “Interact” Difference

Most online courses (like Magoosh or TTP) give you a static video. You press play, you watch, you take a quiz.

Manhattan Prep’s Interact™ is different. It is an interactive video lesson that adapts to you in real-time.

• The instructor will ask a question.
• You click an answer on the screen.
• If you get it right: The video jumps forward to a harder concept.
• If you get it wrong: The video branches off to explain why you got it wrong and gives you a simpler example to practice.

It is the closest thing to having a private tutor inside your computer. For students who get bored watching standard lecture videos, this is a game-changer.

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Curriculum & Strategy

Manhattan Prep has always been famous for its Strategy Guides. These books (which are included digitally with the course) break down the GMAT into specific topic areas.

The “Executive Reasoning” Approach

Manhattan Prep emphasizes that the GMAT is not a math test; it is a decision-making test. They teach you:

• When to guess: They explicitly teach you how to identify “time-suck” questions and skip them to save your score.
• Smart Numbers: A powerful strategy for replacing variables with numbers to solve algebra problems instantly.
• Working Backwards: How to use the answer choices to find the solution without doing the full calculation.

The Focus Edition Update

Manhattan Prep was quick to update their curriculum for the Focus Edition. They have:

• Removed the Sentence Correction and Essay modules.
• Heavily revamped their Data Insights curriculum to include more integrated reasoning strategies.
• Updated their practice tests to match the new scoring algorithm (205-805 scale).

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Instructors: The 99th Percentile Standard

This is Manhattan Prep’s biggest selling point. To teach for them, you must:

1. Score in the 99th percentile on the official GMAT.
2. Pass a rigorous audition process (they hire less than 5% of applicants).
3. Be a genuinely good teacher, not just a smart test-taker.

When you take a Live Online class or watch an Interact video, you are learning from the absolute best in the business.

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Pricing

Manhattan Prep is a premium product, and the price reflects that.

• Interact™ (Self-Paced): ~$999
• Live Online: ~$1,599+ (includes live classes + Interact)
• Private Tutoring: ~$250+/hour

Is it worth it? If you are aiming for a top 10 MBA program, the ROI on a 700+ (or Focus 645+) score is millions of dollars in lifetime earnings. In that context, $1,500 is a drop in the bucket.

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Final Thoughts

If you want the best Quant prep and don’t mind reading, go with Target Test Prep.

But if you want the best overall learning experience-engaging videos, brilliant strategy, and a focus on the “soft skills” of test-taking-Manhattan Prep is the gold standard.

Check current prices for Manhattan Prep