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- ISBN13: 9780470449745
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Product Description
A review guide for the GMAT, prepared by the creators of standardized exams, features previously administered exams for practice tests and more.Amazon.com Review
Product DescriptionThe Official Guide for GMAT Review, 12th Edition is the only book on the market written by the creators of the GMAT exam. Inside you’ll find more than 800 actual GMAT questions from previous tests with answers and detailed explanations. There’s also a grammar review, math review, actual essay topics, sample responses, and scoring information insights into the GMAT exam that debunk test-taking myths. Plus, use the diagnostic section to pinpoint your skill level and focus on the areas where you need the most help.
Top Myths About the GMAT®
Myth – If I don’t score in the 90th percentile, I won’t get into any school I choose.
Fact – Very few people get very high scores.
Fewer than 50 of the more than 200,000 people taking the GMAT test each year get a perfect score of 800. Thus, while you may be exceptionally capable, the odds are against your achieving a perfect score. Also, the GMAT test is just one piece of your application packet. Admissions officers use GMAT scores in conjunction with undergraduate records, application essays, interviews, letters of recommendation, and other information when deciding whom to accept into their programs.
Myth – Getting an easier question means I answered the last one wrong.
Fact – Getting an easier question does not necessarily mean you got the previous question wrong.
To ensure that everyone receives the same content, the test selects a specific number of questions of each type. The test may call for your next question to be a relatively hard problem-solving item involving arithmetic operations. But, if there are no more relatively difficult problem-solving items involving arithmetic, you might be given an easier item.
Most people are not skilled at estimating item difficulty, so don’t worry when taking the test or waste valuable time trying to determine the difficulty of the questions you are answering.
Myth – You need very advanced math skills to get a high GMAT score.
Fact – The math skills questions on the GMAT test are quite basic.
The GMAT test only requires basic quantitative analytic skills. You should review the math skills (algebra, geometry, basic arithmetic) presented in both The Official Guide for GMAT® Quantitative Review, 2nd Edition, and in The Official Guide for GMAT® Review, 12th Edition, but the required skill level is low. The difficulty of GMAT Quantitative questions stems from the logic and analysis used to solve the problems and not the underlying math skills.
Myth – It is more important to respond correctly to the test questions than it is to finish the test.
Fact – There is a severe penalty for not completing the GMAT test.
If you are stumped by a question, give it your best guess and move on. If you guess incorrectly, the computer program will likely give you an easier question, which you are likely to answer correctly, and the computer will rapidly return to giving you questions matched to your ability. If you don’t finish the test, your score will be reduced greatly. Failing to answer five verbal questions, for example, could reduce your score from the 91st percentile to the 77th percentile. Pacing is important.
Myth –The first 10 questions are critical and you should invest the most time on those.
Fact – All questions count.
It is true that the computer-adaptive testing algorithm uses the first 10 questions to obtain an initial estimate of your ability; however, that is only an initial estimate. As you continue to answer questions, the algorithm self-corrects by computing an updated estimate on the basis of all the questions you have answered, and then administers items that are closely matched to this new estimate of your ability. Your final score is based on all your responses and considers the difficulty of all the questions you answered. Taking additional time on the first 10 questions will not game the system and can hurt your ability to finish the test.
Myth – I need to speak US English in order to do well on the GMAT.
Fact- Essay grading is not affected by dialect of English. Questions on the GMAT are evaluated to ensure they are fair for all examinees, whether in the US or around the world.
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Customer Reviews
2010-10-01
By Silvio
Great book, lots of exercises! Update version, got tips for the test and online backup, such as GMATPrep(TM).
2010-09-26
By GMAT
I bought a book from this seller and it was labeled as looks like new. It was not. It had the answers to the test beside the questions. It is not the meaning for looking new. Only the cover looks new.
I was charged for looks like new because the price was not low.
2010-09-25
By GMATClub.com (USA)
I started GMAT Club - online MBA community; my GMAT score is 750 (49, 42), and here are my thoughts about this book:
Strengths:
1. 907 real GMAT questions retired from past tests
2. Practice questions are organized by level of difficulty
3. Practice questions follow actual GMAT test patterns (it's great to have one's ear trained, esp. in verbal)
4. Contains a 100-question diagnostic test
Weaknesses:
1. Does not include any test-taking strategies
2. Though it has a few short review sections for each area, they are weak and very unfriendly
3. Questions are predominantly low to medium in difficulty which is often not representative of questions one encounters on the test
4. There is a 66% overlap with the previous version (11th edition)
Contents (number of questions per section):
1. Diagnostic Test - 100 questions
2. Problem Solving - 230 questions
3. Data Sufficiency - 174 questions
4. Reading Comprehension - 139 questions
5. Critical Reasoning - 124 questions
6. Sentence Correction - 140 questions
* Why is this book valuable/must-have?
The Official Guide is published by the creators of the GMAT and therefore it is the only source of actual GMAT questions representative of what you will see on the test.
* Why is the book not sufficient by itself?
This Guide contains only questions and lacks insightful information about the test, a math/verbal concept review section, or any test-taking strategies. To get up to speed, you will need to get a study guide such as Kaplan Premier Program or Princeton Review's Cracking the GMAT Cat.
* How should this book be used?
This book should NOT be used as a study-guide. It is a collection of questions - think of it as a way to practice your test-taking strategies but not a way to learn them.
* What if I own a previous edition of this book?
If you have the 11th edition, the only difference between the two is 300 new questions, or about 30%. Most test-takers agree that 300 new questions is not a compelling enough reason to own both editions, as the 11th edition offers enough practice. If you do need additional practice questions, get the Math or Verbal workbooks instead as they each have 300 questions.
* What is a recommended study plan using The Official Guide?
There are a number of approaches that work - here is one that most find reasonable:
Step 1: Take a GMAT Prep (2 free tests downloadable from MBA dot com) - these will give you a good idea where you stand. But don't waste these; these are free but very valuable tests. The results will be representative of your real GMAT score. As I said don't waste these, but you can actually retake these a few times. So if you take one in the beginning of your prep, for example, and score 540, and then retake same test at the end when you are closer to 650+ level, you should not see a single overlaping question.
Step 2: Buy a GMAT Guide from Kaplan (GMAT Premier). Get familiar with the test and brush up on fundamentals (math and grammar); also these books will give you a good base for test-taking and timing strategies.
Step 3: (Optional - if you want a 650+ score) Get either Kaplan Math and/or Verbal workbook or for the best chance, the 8-book set form Manhattan GMAT and do a deep dive into the fundamentals - this is what will help you crack the test - solid knowledge of Math and Grammar.
Step 4: By now you should have a good understanding of question patterns, strategies, and timing. Start working on the Official Guide and honing your skills - this is especially important for Critical Reasoning questions that have certain unspoken patterns and rules that only the Official Guide offers - work through the questions to train your ear. Keep in mind that these questions are on the easier side if you are aiming for 650+.
Top 6 Mistakes People Make on the GMAT:
1: Rushing to take tests before learning basics
2: Starting with the Official Guide instead of a guidebook/textbook
3: Giving GMAT the worst quality time of the day - studying after a long day
4: Skipping basics and rushing to advanced topics
5: Starting to prepare with poor English proficiency
6: Not following strategies exactly or cutting corners
Good Luck on the GMAT!
BB - Founder of GMAT Club
GMAT Score 750 (49, 42)
Let me know if you have any questions about GMAT books - I have read and reviewed all of them
2010-09-21
By frang15
i liked this book but some of the topic explainations were too stripped down and confusing. It had a ton of great practice questions which came in very handy the cd rom practice disk was nowhere near as helpful as the Kaplan disc.
2010-09-19
By Harish Sivaramakrishnan (New York, United states)
Satisfied with the purchase. Would be happy to come back to the same seller. Item arrived on time.!
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