General Books

The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 11th Edition

Graduate Management Admission Council

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 151 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Essential for good score....master it completely 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Official Guide, as the name suggests, is an official collection of retired GMAT questions, published by GMAC, who own GMAT. Here, I will review this book and its importance in the overall preparation.

First, I was short on time in preparing for GMAT and applying in time. So, I didn't had time to go over all the material and guides available in this universe, and then compare and review them.

Second, before you start your preparation, or make your plan, you need to understand what GMAT is and what it measures. Then try to understand how much time and effort you will need to achieve a good score, for the school(s) you are applying to.

- OG will certainly help you to understand what is GMAT, what it measures and how the different sections test your those capabilities.
- The Diagnostic Test, taken under strict examination conditions, will measure your current performance and identify the areas you need to focus.
- The Verbal and Quant sections of OG are mainly a collection of past GMAT questions, their answers, and explanatory solutions.
- There is very little theory/concepts and very generic strategies. However, do read them carefully.

Once you identify the areas you need to focus on, find the guides with concepts, fundamentals, and tips and tricks. Do your research by reading reviews, and consulting your peers who have used them in past. Every guide is different and have different difficulty levels. What works for one may not work for another.

For Sentence Correction, I will recommend Sentence Correction GMAT Preparation Guide (Manhattan GMAT Preparation Guides). For other sections, I used an old, borrowed edition of Nova's GMAT Prep Course (with Online Course). Unfortunately, I cannot comment about Kaplan, Princeton, Veritas etc since my aim was to get a good score and not compare all these guides. (I spent 3 weeks overall and got a very decent score)

Coming back to OG, here is what I recommend:
- Do all the questions.
- Do all the questions, at least three times. By doing so, you can master a lot of concepts and calculations.
- Do not get discouraged if you get low scores on simulated tests of the other study guides. Actual GMAT level is closest to this OG. Other guides' sample exams have a hidden marketing motive too. They want you to buy their books or take their course. So, their questions' level may not be same as that of actual GMAT. In fact, I found some of them very difficult. (Won't take names, but I took those online free sample exams from those famous names in Study Guides & preps)
- If you have time, get GMAC's Verbal and Quant supplements to practice more & more.

At last, it's all about speed & accuracy. Best of Luck!

The Official SAT Study Guide

The College Board

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 113 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Good, solid study guide 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book for my daughter. It is easy to navigate, well laid-out, and fairly clear and precise in its presentation.

No explanations!?? 2 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book comes in handy because it has great tips and sources coming right from the creator of the SAT's and also tells you what to expect on test day. The only problem is that it gives no explanations for the answers.There are explanations on the sample questions only, but there are none on the practice tests(there are eight practice tests). It is so frustrating, especially in the math section, don't just tell me the answer is "B", explain to me WHY it is "B" and HOW to solve the problem. If you want an effective and easy to understand study guide, I recommend "11 Practice tests for the SAT's and PSAT's" by the princeton review. That one actually explains the answers for every single question(both math and English) in the book. You can buy the college board's if you want great tips but don't rely on it for your practice tests because its not going to help.

Editorial Review:

The Official SAT Study Guide is the only book that features official SAT practice tests created by the test maker. It's packed with the information students need to get ready for the exam. They’ll gain valuable experience by taking eight practice tests and receiving estimated scores. With 900 pages and 21 chapters, the book helps students raise their confidence by reviewing concepts, test-taking approaches, and focused sets of practice questions.

Kaplan GRE Exam 2009 Premier Program (w/ CD-ROM) (Kaplan Gre Exam (Book & CD-Rom))

Kaplan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The Education Testing Service continues to make gradual changes to the content of the GRE. But with this unique multi-format preparation program, students will receive the most accurate, timely details on the GRE test change.

With features such as updates and useful resources on test changes posted directly to your online syllabus, test takers can depend on Kaplan for the most complete and up-to-the-minute information.

This customized study program includes:

-- The latest information on the November 2007 updates, including samples of the two new question types with detailed answer explanations.

-- Up-to-the-minute GRE updates online

-- 5 full-length practice tests (1 in the book, 1 online, and 3 on CD-ROM)

-- Hundreds of additional practice questions

-- Detailed answer explanations

-- Interactive online study plan and progress report that adapts to your goals and schedule

-- Diagnostic test to target areas for score improvement

-- Kaplan-exclusive score-raising strategies

-- Essential tactics for the computer-adaptive test (CAT) format

Cracking the GRE with DVD, 2009 Edition (Graduate Test Prep)

Princeton Review

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Cracking the GRE offers major features on DVD, including engaging video tutorials from The Princeton Review’s top instructors. The 2008 edition includes over 300 practice questions in the book and exclusive free access to 4 practice exams and expert advice online.

Of course, you’ll also get all the test-prep techniques you expect from The Princeton Review. In Cracking the GRE we’ll teach you how to think like the test writers and

·Solve analogies even when you don’t know the meanings of all the words in the problem
·Crack even the most complex algebra problems by plugging in numbers in place of variables
·Master even the toughest problems in the Verbal and Quantitative sections
·Learn directly from our teachers in a GRE strategy session on DVD

We give you plenty of practice problems to help you master our proven techniques. Our practice questions are just like those you’ll see on the real GRE—but with detailed answers and explanations for every question.

The Real ACT Prep Guide: The Only Official Prep Guide From The Makers Of The ACT (Real Act Prep Guide)

ACT Inc.

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Great practice tests, -1 star for lack of review material 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This is the best book for ACT practice tests. for starters this book actually contains 3 "retired" Act tests from the past. For EVERY question it has: The right answer + explanation, and the wrong answers + explanation on why they are wrong.

for those of you looking for more review material i suggest Kaplan ACT 2008 Comprehensive Program (Kaplan Act) or Kaplan ACT 2008 Premier Program (w/ CD-ROM) (Kaplan Act (Book & CD-Rom)) . Not only does it have a ton of review, it has practice tests that are very similar to this book(which means they are also very similar to the real thing)

btw with the help of this book + kaplan i got a 28 composite score on the June ACT (93 percentile)

It helped me - maybe you too 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I think that this book did a pretty good job helping me prepare for this test. The practice tests are the best part. The rest is okay, but the practice tests seemed pretty similar to the actual test. By using this book, I made a 33 composite on the ACT.

If you would like some pointers or interesting ways to remember hints, try The ACT For Dummies in addition to this book, but not alone!

Editorial Review:

The Real ACT Prep Guide is the only book with insider test-taking tips and strategy, practice, and insight from the makers of the ACT.

Kaplan GRE Vocabulary Exam in a Box

Kaplan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 24 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Great idea but poor definitions 3 out of 5 stars.
15 of 15 people found this review helpful.

As others have written in, while the cards cover most of the frequently used GRE vocab words and are an extremely helpful way to study, be wary of the some of the definitions. Kaplan doesn't always provide the best definitions or example sentences. They often define the word as a verb and then use it as an adjective in a sentence, for example. In addition, they often don't provide all of the possible definitions, and it's the secondary definitions that get you on the GRE. The card design is extremely helpful, but I had to relearn many words from other vocab sources.

Great Idea Poorly Executed 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Vocabulary flash cards for the GRE are a great idea. The 500 words given from Kaplan are fine. Unlike previous reviewers, I find the definitions to be sufficient. They're short and could definitely be more involved, but they're sufficient.

I was most disappointed with the presentation and actual execution of the idea. The flash cards themselves are very small, about the size of a "Chance" or "Community Chest" card in the classic monopoly game. The writing is even smaller, and after a little bit of time studying, it becomes a bit straining on the eyes. The poorest part, however, are the cards themselves. They're not glossy or laminated, such as a nice deck of playing cards. They're just paper, thinner than a notecard. They're easily ripped, would stain with any water or food, and bend and wear very easily. I'm disappointed. I've used Kaplan a lot, this is the most inferior product I've seen from them. I will most likely return the cards for a vocab building book and just make my own cards.

Editorial Review:

-500 flashcards covering the most-tested GRE vocabulary words

-Sample sentences provide the words in context

-Also includes synonyms and a pronunciation key

The Official Guide for GMAT Quantitative Review

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 24 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

GMAT Books you must have! 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I have been studying for GMAT for a few weeks now and I think the OG is a great source for a good practice on real GMAT questions. But having said that, use the OG only once you grasp all the basics and when you are almost ready to take the GMAT. The OG does not contain any math conceptual content, so use it only for practice towards the end.

In order to get a real GMAT prep - I would recommend you buy the set of 9 books of "EZ Solutions," or whichever book(s) you think you need most help with. These books are very detailed oriented and cover everything on the GMAT math. First use the review modules to get the concepts and then use the workbooks for practice. Some of the most challenging topics in GMAT math, such as permutation/combination, probability, geometry problems, complex word problems, etc., are brilliantly explained in these books. Also, the EZ Advanced Workbook is a "must have" if you are aiming for a high score. It may be a good idea to buy Barron's without the CD (don't waste money on the CD version for any book). After doing all this, use the OG and you will see a dramatic difference in your scores. If you still need more practice, you may consider buying the Kaplan book (but really not needed). Save your money by not buying anything else. You don't even have to take any of those pricy courses. I followed this process and my scores have jumped from the 500-range to the 700-range. Good luck!

Kaplan GMAT Premier Program, 2009 (Book & CD-ROM)

Kaplan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 24 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Horrible 1 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I've heard that kaplan under calculates your CAT scores by 100 but when I actually did it, I found the practice tests pretty ridiculous. Its not because the questions are harder, but the fact that the scoring algorithm intentionally underestimates your score significantly.
Ex: the official practice test gave me a 660, where as kaplan gave me a 560.

Also the CAT math sections are full of errors. The verbal sections have a real problem it comes to double spacing. Its really annoying when you have spend time to distinguish between when the passage ends and when the actual question begins. I also found a reading passage where the final paragraph was full of wingdings and incomplete sentences. Some Critical reasoning questions are really unsolvable. I remember one question that assumed a higher draft pick always resulted in a better team winning record.

Another problem I have with the test is the horrible explanations. Really really dissapointing, especially on sentence correction.

Comparing Kaplan to Manhattan GMAT, which has really tough questions but also very detailed explanations, Kaplan seems to have been written by some of the most careless people ever. It really takes a lot of guts for a company to publish something that was this full of errors.

Editorial Review:

Features:

• NEW! Essential math basics review section with practice drills
• 6 full-length practice tests (1 in the book, 1 online, 4 on the CD-ROM)
• Diagnostic test to target areas for score improvement
• Proven score-raising strategies
• Hundreds of additional practice questions
• Detailed answer explanations
• Personalized online progress report that adapts to a student's goals and schedule

The Official Guide for GMAT Verbal Review

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 24 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Not a good book 3 out of 5 stars.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful.

If you already have the Official Guide for GMAT review, then this book is not worth the money.
All the questions have been picked from the Official guide for GMAT review. So if you already have the GMAT review then this book has nothing additional.

Must Have Book For GMAT Preparation 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book is an excellent book, no doubt about it. It is a must have book. I have yet to take my GMAT test but I do know this book is very helpful in my preparation. I especially admire the answer reviews b/c every question is explained in great details. Basically the book teaches you the tricks about each question and every given answer.

Have not received! 1 out of 5 stars.
0 of 14 people found this review helpful.

I have yet to receive the book after more than one month since the purchase date.
Could someone tell me why?!?

A must have! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

You must get this guide book if you want to prep for GMAT. While it doesn't cover strategy or the AWA section it does give you lots of great practice! I ended up with an 89% ranking on the verbal section thanks to this guide.

good book for GMAT 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Basically I use this book to enhance my reading skill and writing skill because I am writing my dissertation. Although I read academic journal almost every day, when it comes to writing it becomes difficult. This book can help me to organize complicated sentences.

Cracking the GRE, 2009 Edition (Graduate Test Prep)

Princeton Review

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Good basics 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Good review of the basics. Only downside is that you need to go online to get the full benefit of all the lessons (and buy another book).

Editorial Review:

Cracking the GRE brings you proven techniques from the test prep experts! The 2009 edition includes over 300 practice questions and exclusive free access to practice exams and further review online. In Cracking the GRE we’ll teach you how to think like the test writers and

·Solve analogies even when you don’t know the meanings of all the words in the problem
·Crack even the most complex algebra problems by plugging in numbers in place of variables
·Master even the toughest problems in the Verbal and Quantitative sections

We give you plenty of practice problems to help you master our proven techniques. In addition, you can access 2 full-length GRE practice tests online. Our practice questions are just like those you’ll see on the real GRE—but with detailed answers and explanations for every question.