Kaplan GMAT Math Workbook: Book Review
 |
Dana is a moderator for Beat The GMAT. Click here to learn how to get started in the Beat The GMAT community. |
The following book review was written by Dana Jinaru. Dana is currently a finance student in Europe and also serves as a moderator for Beat The GMAT. On May 13, 2009 she scored a 770 on the GMAT.
Here is Dana’s analysis of the Kaplan GMAT Math Workbook.
Overview
The Kaplan GMAT Math Workbook deals exclusively with the quantitative section of the GMAT. Even though the math tested in the GMAT is quite basic, even elementary math subjects will seem like rocket science if you’ve been out of school for a long time, which is why a good math review is always welcome. And here is where this book comes in. The Kaplan Math Workbook is both a general math refresher (with specific exercises for each topic) and a GMAT practice problem resource; a combination which means that this book is definitely worth some attention if you’re struggling with quant.
The book offers a wide range of practice problems, presented in both drill format and GMAT format. What you’ll find in the Kaplan Math Workbook:
- Arithmetic: 87 drills and 116 Problem Solving
- Algebra: 35 drills and 41 Problem Solving
- Geometry: 66 drills and 90 Problem Solving
- Word Problems: 10 drills and 103 Problem Solving
- 50 Data Sufficiency
Pros
- Solid math review, with well written content that will take you through most of the things you need to know in order to tackle the quantitative section of the GMAT. I’d say this book is particularly useful if math has not been a part of your life for some time. It’s good as an introduction as well as a supplement for intermediate study
- With over 600 problems and exercises, the book is well worth the money if you’re looking for practice
- Explanations for GMAT practice problems are detailed enough to make anybody understand the “why” and the “how”. I particularly liked the fact that some problems are dealt with in more than one way. The book generously providing several methods of solving a given question
- Each chapter’s practice sets are divided according to difficulty, so you can focus on whichever level suits you best if you’re pressed for time
- Backsolving and number picking are discussed, but only for a few pages, which is a plus, because in my opinion good test prep books should focus on a thorough concept review instead of tricks
Cons
- Not enough Data Sufficiency! This GMAT math question type is not presented as well as it could have been and there is a disproportionately small number of practice problems for the format. Since most people see this type of question for the first time while getting ready for the GMAT, I do believe it deserves more attention
- Some GMAT math concepts are not given sufficient attention and unfortunately it’s the topics that you’re likely to see if you’re aiming for a high quant score. Statistics and probabilities are reviewed in just two pages, while there is no separate section for permutations and combinations.
- The answers to drills are not detailed, since the book only gives you the right answer. While most drills are there just to enforce concepts and thus are pretty basic, the fact that almost half of the practice problems in the book are not explained as well as they could have been is definitely a minus
- As with other Kaplan material, this book could have been edited a bit more carefully. You will see a few errors here and there, but this does not have a dramatic impact on the quality of the book
Bottom Line
If quant is your weak area, the Kaplan GMAT Math Workbook could be a valuable tool in your prep, provided you take the time to properly review all the information it contains and carefully work through the hundreds of problems. The book is useful for all levels of math knowledge, but you will probably see the highest return on invested time if your math skills are basic or intermediate. While there’s no shortage of advanced problems, the workbook does not specifically target high-scoring test takers, as evidenced by the fact that topics perceived by most as difficult are not adequately addressed.
If you’re interested in purchasing the Kaplan GMAT Math Workbook, click here
Read more book reviews in the Beat The GMAT Book Recommendations section.
97 comments
amaven on February 3rd, 2010 at 10:33 pm
Hi Dana,
Thx for the review. In case Kaplan Math isnt very targeted to those gunning for very high scores in Quant (50,51+), what is a good way to get:-
1. detailed conceptual discussion about major & potentially complicated topics like statistics, probability, coordinate geometry, permutations & combinations, inequalities?
2. problems at an advanced level of difficulty which are across all math topics?
In case there isnt a good book you know out there, how should you suggest one should build those math skills?
rgds
DanaJ on February 4th, 2010 at 2:01 am
I hear the MGMAT guides to a pretty good job covering the topics you've mentioned, but unfortunately I have not 100% reviewed them. I will probably do so in the near future, but right now I can only partly advise you about this.
The MGMAT tests were (for me at least) considerably more difficult in quant than anything else I've ever tried. I think the best problems by far are those in the OG, but of course you won't find that many difficult problems.
I advise you to search this forum for keywords: people usually post only the problems they've had trouble with, which usually means harder stuff. You can also check out our Resources tab, where you'll find a list of links to useful links compiled by our founder, Eric.
Marcelo Pinto on February 25th, 2010 at 8:37 am
Dear DanaJ,
Which book can you recommend that contains more advanced maths problems?
Kind Regards,
Marcelo P.
DanaJ on February 25th, 2010 at 8:57 am
As I've said above, you might have better luck with the MGMAT series. I will probably be reviewing them in the near future (two weeks or so), so stay tuned!
The Kaplan Math Workbook also contains some tough problems, but not as many as you'd need.
You see, the reason why you don't see that many book specifically targeted for people looking for tough practice is that, in terms of numbers, there aren't many! Only around 8% of test takers make it over 700, and it takes a lot of money to develop a high quality product...
DJ on February 28th, 2010 at 8:30 am
Getting started on my prep and needed some advice on books. I'm looking to brush up on my math skills and would like a set of books that is thorough - soup to nuts type of detail and content. Time/money not a factor - just need a set of books that are comprehensive, detailed and give me the best foundation. I've read manhattan gmat series is good and found conflicting reviews on EZ Solution series. My plan is to use self-study to get my foundation skills up to speed and then sign up for a prep-class. Thanks for your advice!
DanaJ on February 28th, 2010 at 8:55 am
I have not personally reviewed any EZ books. However, they have been spotted self-promoting themselves, by posting as users in amazon.com or forums. This is why I'm slightly skeptical of this series.
Even though I have not personally gone through all the MGMAT guides in depth, I feel more comfortable recommending them. I've tried some of their tests and the SC guide and they're good stuff. I will be providing a more details analysis of these books in the coming weeks.
Olivier L. on June 8th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Good evening Dana,
I've just recently started to study for my GMAT and I just saw this website two days ago ... I'm glad I came across it before the test!
Since you are kind of an expert at GMAT, I would like to ask you a few questions. I am currently working with the Official guides (12th ed, quantitative and verbal books).
But as you mentioned earlier, they tackle mainly easy - medium questions. So it will probably not enable be to achieve above 720 (which I am aiming at) when I take the test at the end of July.
Do you think It's a reasonable target if I can work 3 - 5 hours everyday until the 29th of July ?
Do you know which books I could use to tackle advanced questions in both verbal and quant ? Because in the recommendations, they seem to be no real book that focuses specifically on tough questions.
What do you think about Grockit ? I recently subscribed there but I don't know if the questions are that advanced? Do you know where I could find some advanced material ?
Do you know if the AWA score is important in your applications to universities ?
Thanks a lot for your advice!
Olivier
Angie on March 1st, 2010 at 7:00 am
Hi Dana-
I am working through the EZ Solutions cuz i have no basics in math whatsoever...the series+beat the gmat flashcards got me to a 400 on my first test...
I am interested in raising my score to hit 700+...do you suggest anything else other than Kaplan's and MGMAT?
DanaJ on March 1st, 2010 at 9:13 am
I'm not going to lie to you, getting a 700+ when you're currently at a 400 is not an easy task. I advise you to schedule at least two months of dedicated prep. You might also want to consider taking a prep course that would take you from the basics to the tough problems. This advice comes because a 300-point increase is quite difficult to obtain (but obviously not impossible) and you need to be aware of that from the very beginning and prep accordingly!
Yes, the MGMAT and Kaplan books are good. These books plus the official guides should cover what you need to know in terms of quant. You did not mention your quant/verbal split, but I'm assuming you need to invest in both areas. If that's the case, be sure to also buy the PowerScore CR Bible for CR and RC help.
I wish you the best and hope to see a post from you in the "I just Beat the GMAT!" section!
Angie on March 1st, 2010 at 11:11 am
Hi Dana-
Thanks for the answer
)
I got a 400 without really solving over 80 questions on both the Quant and Verbal...i just brushed upon my math through the EZ, sat for one practice test [i got a 360 on that one], then studied the flashcards then sat for my official exam...end result: 400 [i was better than i expected, to be honest
]
I think the PowerScore book and the OG will give me a good boost in need in verbal...i'm worried about problem solving [i am pretty good in DS]...
My next exam is on the 8th of April; I have scheduled another one on the 9th of May just in case. if i can give it 6 hours of solid studying each day, do u think i can make it by the 8th of april? i really wanna start on my applications so i don't wannat sit for the May exam...
I would appreciate ur feedback...
thanks
)
Angie on March 1st, 2010 at 11:23 am
oh yeah, and i meant 80 questions on the Verbal and another 80 on the Quant...40 per each would me a thriller, which i am not
Angie on March 1st, 2010 at 11:23 am
make*me a thriller
DanaJ on March 1st, 2010 at 1:09 pm
Hmm... That's about one month and a half... I'm not entirely sure you can get a 300 point jump in that little time...
The EZ series might do the trick for quant, but you should take a practice test sometime like two weeks after you've started. If the results are good (i.e. scores are improving), then the books are helping you. If not, then you might need to search for something else (like the MGMAT guides). I'm only saying this because I have not reviewed the EZ series, so I can't say if they'll be good or bad.
So my advice would be to take the practice test after two weeks (maybe GMATprep #1, even if it's a retake; you'll only see a handful of repeats) and share your results. If you're improving at the proper pace, then I think you can get your 700 by April. If not, you will need to revise your time allotment and your book choice!
Angie on March 2nd, 2010 at 7:58 am
Thanks Dana...I wonder if you have a page on beat the gmat where u tell us how you have beaten the gmat yourself...
also, it would be great if you could review the EZ series...they have helped me loads since i used to flunk my math courses, but i don't know if i have made the right selection because you mentioned that people from EZ are promoting the series on amazon [i have read the reviews again today and I believe u are right: there are people who recommend you buy the entire series when they are reviewing just one of the books]...
i guess you can pretty much judge the series by first reading the Word Problems book...it says a lot about how the material is broken down and the attitude of the authors in general...
thanks again, Dana, God bless
Angie, Egypt
DanaJ on March 2nd, 2010 at 9:47 am
Well, the EZ solutions book is not currently on my to-do list (I plan on reviewing the Manhattan GMAT set in depth in the following weeks), but I'll definitely keep an eye out for them.
Actually, there is a thread about my GMAT experience and you can see it here:
http://www.beatthegmat.com/dana-s-tale-t36576.html
I was not your average test taker, though... My very first practice test was a 700... So overall, I did not improve that much!
Good luck with the GMAT&app process!
Kathy on March 4th, 2010 at 8:37 am
Hi Dana,
I'm currently preparing for my GMATs. My target is above a 750 and I have about 2-3 months to study. I haven't taken a diagnostic test recently but I believe my score would be around a 600-650. I have a wide collection of books already. I've just finished the Power Score SC Bible and and am studying the CR Bible now. I've heard a lot of great things about the Manhattan SC, so I'll be buying that and the RC book. Even though I already have the PS CR Bible, would it be beneficial for me to get the Manhattan CR book as well?
Also I really need to brush up on math. I have the EZ solutions set but haven't started reviewing them yet. I've been trying to look up reviews on them to see how helpful the set is. I'm afraid of dedicating a month to studying and then finding out that they aren't that great. Since I have limited time to study, I want to use my time efficiently. I'm considering buying the Manhattan math series and using that instead of EZ solutions. What would you recommend? I can either stick to EZ solutions or use Manhattan prep instead. Would using both sets be overkill? Thanks.
DanaJ on March 4th, 2010 at 9:07 am
The very first step would be to go for a diagnostic. It's easy to guess why: adjusting your plan to your best interest and not wasting time with the stuff you already know!
Secondly, I'm not sure it's worth it to get the Manhattan GMAT SC and CR guides. I can personally say for sure that the PowerScore CR Bible is just awesome for CR. If you've already gone through it properly, then you won't need anything else. Same goes for the SC Bible: even though I have not personally had the chance to review it, PowerScore has a solid reputation on the verbal field. I say take your diagnostic and see how you do in SC and CR and then decide whether you feel like investing some more time&money into other stuff!
I think using both Manhattan and EZ for your quant prep would be waaay too much. As I've mentioned above, I have not reviewed the EZ set, so I cannot comment on their value. However, you don't need to waste a month to figure out if they're good or not. My advice is to try to work through a part of one of the books for something like 3 or 4 days. If you feel a "connection" with the books (like their style) and this shows in your practice (i.e. after the 4 days you take on a set of questions from the Official Guide and you're doing a bit better), then there's no need to go for MGMAT. If not, you'd best just go ahead and buy the MGMAT set!
Let me know how it goes! You can also share your diagnostic scores on the forum/PM me for a reply!
Marie on March 21st, 2010 at 8:04 pm
Hi Dana!
I will be taking the gmat in the summer of 2011. I have decided to start studying now because I know my math skills need refreshing. Im fine with RC and pretty bad at CR. SC is average too. I am looking for a 700+ hence why I am starting now. From your reviews, I see that the CR Bible and the Manhattan SC guide will help me. Also the OG 12th. Is there anything else I would need? Should I get a quant book too?
Thanks in advance,
Marie
DanaJ on March 21st, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Summer of 2011?! But there's no need to start right now! You don't need more than 5 months to finish everything up... Fact is, you don't want to have that long of a studying period simply because you will inevitably forget and redo some of the stuff... I've seen people getting lower scores because they scheduled more than 6 months of study!
Yes, you do need a quant guide. I think the Kaplan Math Workbook is pretty OK. I've also been reviewing the Manhattan GMAT quant series: up until now, they seem pretty good, albeit a bit too much (i.e. you are given formulas for stuff that you might not see on test day because some types of problems are pretty rare).
DanaJ on April 16th, 2010 at 9:24 am
In the interest of fair disclosure, I think I should probably mention this: the math review chapters in the Kaplan Math Workbook are pretty much the same thing as the corresponding chapters from the Kaplan Premier Live Online. However, the Math Workbook does contain considerably more practice questions (hundreds more, to be precise)! I've only just recently discovered this and thought I'd share it with you so that you make an informed purchase.
Adeleke Adeyinka on May 21st, 2010 at 8:14 am
pls i want a detailed explanation on permutation and combination. thanks
DanaJ on May 21st, 2010 at 8:32 am
I think the best I've reviewed so far is in the Manhattan GMAT Word Problems guide. You should check that one out!
Arjun Sekhar on May 24th, 2010 at 1:57 am
Hi Dana,
Firstly, thanks a ton for all the immensely helpful advice. I will be giving the gmat in about 3 months and was setting up some sort of timetable for myself. So far i've finished with the Kaplan premier online book & OG 11. Books that i also plan on going through are obviously the OG 12 (Quant & Verbal Supplements), Manhatten SC & CR Bible. i believe I'll still require a little more practice with the maths section and was wondering which other books i can get. Find below a list from which i was thinking of buying a couple of books. Which ones would you recommend? Any help would be greatly appreciated
1) Kaplan 800
2) Kalpan Math Workbook
3) Manhattan Maths Set
DanaJ on May 24th, 2010 at 2:28 am
Well if you have 3 months, then the Manhattan set might really interest you. If you had less time, the Kaplan Math Workbook would have been the pick because it's more condensed. However, since you have quite some time on your hands, the Manhattan series is probably the more complete.
Arjun Sekhar on May 24th, 2010 at 3:02 am
WOW Dana, that was an unbelievably prompt reply. Thanks sooo much.
Just one last question- i guess the best way to go about it would be to get 7 out of Manhattan guides and the CR Bible? Also on a completely different tangent, one CAT a week is fine right?
DanaJ on May 24th, 2010 at 5:29 am
I think it's a good combo. One CAT per week is fine, try not to do more and focus on concept building for the first two and a half months.
DanaJ on June 8th, 2010 at 9:50 pm
@Olivier: 3-5 hours per day is OK, but you also need to work on the strategy bits and not just practice. The OG is good and has a reasonable amount of 700+ questions, but very few 760+ questions. For some tougher problems, try the Manhattan GMAT series. They have 5 quant guides (out of which Number Prop and Word Translations are the best) and their SC guide is also pretty good.
For tough CR and RC, try some LSAT sets (but only after going through a strategy guide such as the CR Bible). Here are a couple: http://www.beatthegmat.com/suggested-lsat-material-cr-rc-t44191.html
Grockit it pretty addictive... I've tried it myself. They do have relatively OK tough questions, but also need work on the tougher CR and RC (not entirely representative of the GMAT, IMHO). It's a decent resource overall, especially if you're a fan of social networking games.
The AWA is really not that important. As long as you make it over a 5, it's fine. I myself got a 5 and only studied for one day before the exam.
amaven on June 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
Hi Dana, is there a good resource you can recommend for geometry qs in particular?
I am familiar with the gmat geometry concepts quite well by now (so dont need a concept review), but scratchy on some solid practice. I think if I do abt a 100 mixed bag geometry qs of the 49-50-51 level (Quant) over a couple of days, I'll be much more comfortable with applying the concepts. Let me know pls in case you can recommend something. Online resource will also work or say, qs on the BTG forum.
rgds
DanaJ on June 9th, 2010 at 6:00 am
I can't point out to a certain resource for some tough geometry, sadly... The Manhattan Geometry guide has a few, but not too many challenging ones (only 8 questions in its second section). I say browse the forum for some questions: type in keywords and do a search, some good problems are sure to pop up.
Frank on June 30th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
Hi,
I am new to the GMAT world and need help on the book recommendations.I have an official guide but I think its good enough for practice.I am looking for books which can first help me build the concepts first rather than the practice problems itself for both verbal and quant section.I would also like to know what are the other books one can follow apart from official guide for practice.Coud you also recommend some books or websites where I can get free gmat practice test
DanaJ on June 30th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
The books you should buy depend on where you stand. Please let me know if you've taken a practice test or self assessed your current level. Are you having trouble with quant, Reading Comp, Sentence Correction or Critical Reasoning? Which one seems more challenging to you?
Frank on July 1st, 2010 at 12:33 pm
I took the test from the official guide and my score came to be avobe average,although my score in verbal and data sufficiency were better.I feel I am rusty with quant but I am confindent to pick up once I start from buliding the concepts(basics) for both verbal and quant.I want to start from basics, then go on to practice problems from official guide(or some other books) and then take on the practice test.Please advise
DanaJ on July 2nd, 2010 at 5:46 am
For quant, try the five books of the Manhattan GMAT series. It's an 8-guide set and five of them are quant. For verbal, you can also try some of the Manhattan books (although for CR the PowerScore CR Bible is better) or the Kaplan Verbal Workbook for a more condensed overview of the concepts - that is, if you feel your verbal score is strong enough.
Chetan on July 5th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Hello Dana,
I took my GMAT in May and received the following scores: 690, V: 38, Q 47. I used the MGMAT books and official guides to study. I have been asked by the school I want to go to to increase my score by 20-30 points. Do you think I should use the powerprep books, SC in addition to and CR instead of the MGMAT books?
Thanks,
Chetan
DanaJ on July 6th, 2010 at 12:16 am
I think the PowerScore CR Bible is the best in terms of CR, so I would definitely advise for it. However, I have not had a chance to look over the SC Bible. Since grammar is largely the same everywhere *wink wink*, you probably won't need 2 books for SC. However, it's a different story with the finesse of CR.
Just one more thing though: if you can pull a 49 in quant, you'll be set for the improvement you need, so don't neglect it!
Arjun Sekhar on July 6th, 2010 at 4:31 am
Hi Dana,
its me again, back for a little more advice
. So i am almost done with all 5 Manhattan quant quides (they really helped thanks) and should be done with the SC & CR with about 3 weeks to spare till D-Day.
1) I feel like i have totally forgotten all the questions in the OG 11 & Kaplan live premier though, is it worth doing the prac questions again? Also is it worth doing the OG 10?
2) During the last 3 weeks i was thinking of just focusing on timing, maybe take a practice test every 3 days, do practice questions & review notes. is that a good strategy?
3) I am still not clear on permutations & Combinations - Any resource you could recommended?
Help would be awesome. Thanks.
Arjun
DanaJ on July 6th, 2010 at 6:55 am
1) You could redo questions in the OG 11 or OG 10. It's best to practice official questions and move on to other resources only when you've exhausted everything else. OG 11 is probably better than OG 11 because it's more recent.
2) Yes, your final days should contain some practice tests and reviewing of the stuff you feel are still weaknesses. A test every three days might be a bit tiring though, but I guess it depends on each and everyone.
3) The Veritas Prep book on Combinatorics could help you with that. Look it up on amazon.com!
vinaina on November 28th, 2010 at 10:30 am
Hi Dana,
Ive recently started preparing for the test. Wanted your advice on the study material i should begin with.
I have OG11 and in addition to that should i pick up Kaplan Premier or Kaplan Maths workbook. How are they different?
Quant is my weekest area as ive been out of touch for many years.
Pls suggest.
Thanks!
DanaJ on November 28th, 2010 at 10:50 am
The Kaplan Math book contains more quant exercises than the Kaplan Premier book. However, on the theoretical side, they're pretty much the same thing. It depends whether you need more practice or not. Note that the Kaplan Premier book also contains a bunch of verbal chapters.
For the most complete quant series, buy the Manhattan GMAT set of 5 quant guides. Good luck!
vinaina on November 28th, 2010 at 8:55 pm
Hi Dana,
Thank you so much for your recommendation.
I think ill go in for Kaplan Math workbook since I need a lot of practice in quant. Once i get over with that I'll pick up the Manhattan quant guides. Or should I do it the other way round - Manhattan guides first & then Kaplan workbook?
Pls suggest.
Thanks. So sorry to bother you.
DanaJ on November 29th, 2010 at 2:02 am
I think it's best to go with the Manhattan guides and use the Kaplan book only if you still feel the need for more practice. The Manhattan books are potentially the most complete in terms of theoretical coverage.
vinaina on November 29th, 2010 at 2:31 am
Thanks a lot!
Rashmi on December 20th, 2010 at 3:46 am
Hi Dana,
I am new to GMAT and need guidance as to how to go about it.
My skills with respect to quants, verbal, RC and other sections in GMAT are not that good enough and also have not been in touch from a very long time. Probably what I feel is that I may be required to start from scratch and need to be more clear on concepts.
Please recommend books to start with.
DanaJ on December 20th, 2010 at 7:24 am
You can try the Manhattan GMAT set of 8 guides, they're pretty complete on the topic.
chandra on December 22nd, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Hi Dana,
I am taking my gmat in march and have just started preparing for it. For quant I am planning to purchase the following books
1.Combinatorics & Probability (Veritas Prep GMAT)
2.Word Translations GMAT Preparation Guide (Manhattan GMAT
Preparation Guide: Word Translations)
3.Number Properties GMAT Preparation Guide (Manhattan GMAT
Preparation Guide: Number Properties)
4. Data Sufficiency (Veritas Prep GMAT)
My questions are Combinatorics & Probability
A) Will the Item #2 be sufficient for Combinatorics & Probability
to obviate the need for Veritas book (item#1)
B) Is it advisable to purchase item#4. I need a good book for DS, so if your answer is "no" then please suggest a book for DS.
C) Between Official guide for GMAT Quantitative Review and kaplan math workbook which one should I buy. Is there any need to buy anyways, if I complete the books listed above.
Thanks,
Chandra
chandra on December 22nd, 2010 at 1:26 pm
Few corrections to the above post
1) I am taking GMAT in MARCH 2011.
2) Please read the sentence "My questions are Combinatorics & Probability" as "My questions are: ". Sorry, for that.
DanaJ on December 22nd, 2010 at 1:34 pm
Hmm... The Word Translations book should be enough, unless you want to practice more. I like the Veritas Prep book too because it's got a ton of practice and stuff is really laid out nicely, but the WT book covers other topics too.
I'm guessing you should go with the Kaplan book, because it contains more strategy that you need (for instance geometry). The OG quant is kind of easy for many.
chandra on December 22nd, 2010 at 10:48 pm
Hi Dana,
Thanks for the clarification. One more question, for DS should I go for Veritas book (please suggest any other if this is not good). I need some good amount of practice on this section.
Thanks,
Chandra
DanaJ on December 23rd, 2010 at 1:41 am
I think that's probably the best one as far as I know. It also contains quite a bit of practice on the subject!
chandra on December 23rd, 2010 at 7:19 am
Many thanks for your help....
sachin on December 30th, 2010 at 9:20 pm
Hi DanaJ,
Hope you are doing good.
I am also planning to buy quant books, but after reading all the comments, now i think that i should go for "Manhattan GMAT set of 5 quant guides" and if there is any need for additional practice then only i should go for "Kaplan".
I already have "Veritas Prep Combinatorics and Probability"
My target score is above 750+
What is your opinion on this "DanaJ" ?
Thanks
Sachin
DanaJ on December 30th, 2010 at 11:02 pm
The MGMAT guides are a more complete option. However, they also require a lot more effort on your part, so be prepared.
sachin on December 31st, 2010 at 2:47 am
Thanks for your help. I hope giving seven to eight hours and a complete thorough reading on all the MGMAT quant books would be sufficient in two months that can take me to atleast 720+.
Currently i am not worried about verbal. I am weak in quant because it is more than 10 years now.
Please suggest.
sachin on December 31st, 2010 at 2:49 am
Just want to correct :- "seven to eight hours a day"
DanaJ on December 31st, 2010 at 3:37 am
I think that's more than enough - you should get a good quant score. Of course, in order to hit 720, you need to do pretty well in verbal as well, so don't neglect that section.
sachin on December 31st, 2010 at 4:53 am
Thanks for your advice and help.
Aaditya on January 18th, 2011 at 1:31 am
Hi Dana, you really write good reviews of the books and am really thankful to you for that, Dana i bought three boks for my GMAT prep- The official guide, Kaplan GMAT math workbook and Kaplan GMAT verbal workbook and i have some questions for you
1. do you think these three books are enogh for a very high score(>720) as i badly need it because of low GPA
2.if not please suggest some books for advanced prep(having most nasty problems one may need for GMAT)
3. also please tell me if one has official guide does one need official guide for GMAT verbal review and quantitative review also?
Thanks a lot and i shall be really very grateful if you clear my doubts, warm regards
Aaditya
DanaJ on January 18th, 2011 at 2:04 am
It all depends on your starting score. If you're still having trouble with some aspects of the whole thing, then you can try going for the Manhattan GMAT Number Properties, Word Translations, Sentence Correction and the PowerScore CR Bible. Whether you need the other OGs also depends on this.
Aaditya on January 18th, 2011 at 8:53 am
Thanks for replying Dana, do you know about Kaplan GMAT math fundamentals and verbal fundamentals books, are they different from the Workbooks????
DanaJ on January 18th, 2011 at 12:52 pm
I honestly have not tried those so I can't respond!
aditya on February 1st, 2011 at 2:47 am
Hi Dana, please tell me have you seen practice questions of Official guides, do the official guides for GMAT verbal and quantitative have different questions than the Offficial guide for GMAT review, also please tell me the books that have the most difficult questions for practice that can appear on GMAT. Thanks and warm regards
DanaJ on February 1st, 2011 at 3:18 am
The questions in the OGs do not overlap. However, they're not very difficult - at least not until the last 50 or so per section. I think the more challenging questions I've seen are in the Manhattan GMAT books for quant and LSAT sets for CR and RC.
Ravi on March 25th, 2011 at 6:46 am
Hi Dana,
I am planning to take GMAT in mid-June. For maths section, I am using
1). OG for GMAT
2). Kaplan math workbook
3). BTG questions
What else would be a good resource for maths, and I generally weak on data sufficiency and probability.
thanks in advance.
Ravi
DanaJ on March 25th, 2011 at 12:11 pm
The Manhattan GMAT set of 5 guides is also a good resource for math, but I doubt you'd need all 5 of them given the stuff you already have. You might want to try the Number Properties and Word Translations guides (the latter covers probability as well, I believe). For DS in particular, I can only think of the Veritas book on the subject, although there are some books out there that cover DS mixed with PS (the Kaplan book you mention is such an example). Good luck!
Rockerzz_11 on April 3rd, 2011 at 7:28 am
Hey Dana,
I am confused regarding books in the area of maths. I have solved OG 12 and gone thru MGMAT guides. I want more practice of level more than OG 12. I am thinking of Kaplan gmat 800- advanced and Kaplan's maths workout. I have 1 and half month on ma stake. Which of the two books would serve to ma purpose of good practice? Please suggest.
Thanks
DanaJ on April 3rd, 2011 at 7:58 am
It's a bit difficult to say, really... The Kaplan Math Workbook might be a little bit on the easy side for you, since you've already gone through so much stuff. However, I wouldn't necessarily recommend the Kaplan 800 either since I wasn't particularly happy with its structure (you can read my review on it too). I believe MGMAT has a challenge question bank that might suit your needs. You should also consider reviewing some stuff, especially as you get closer to your exam date.
Rockerzz_11 on April 3rd, 2011 at 8:12 am
challenge question bank..??havent found or heard yet .newaz will search, if u have ne hint do let me know. Thanks for the reply.
DanaJ on April 3rd, 2011 at 8:37 am
I think you can find all their products here: http://www.manhattangmat.com/Store.cfm There's a challenge question bank in there somewhere! I haven't tried it myself, but I've read some reviews on BTG claiming that it's a pretty hard question bank. You can also search the forums for more direct feedback!
Marie on May 29th, 2011 at 5:16 am
Dana, which is the best book for the quantitative section, in terms of most helpful and most like the actual GMAT test? I'm hesitatnt to buy the Official GMAT Quantitative guide because your review said it just had easy/medium questions. Please advise, I need maximum scores.
DanaJ on May 29th, 2011 at 7:22 am
I'd probably rate the Manhattan GMAT set of 5 quant guides the highest. In fact, here's a big review of them all: http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/04/02/manhattan-gmat-set-of-8-strategy-guides-4th-edition-book-review
Ryan on December 4th, 2011 at 6:35 pm
Hey Dana,
Would you recommend Kaplan over the set of Manhattan books for someone with rusty math? The math on the GMAT I haven't dealt with in years so I need a refresher. With that said, I'm still looking to excel so I want the best study materials possible. I know the Manhattan set is quite extensive, but wasn't sure if they included refreshers where the Kaplan does.
DanaJ on December 5th, 2011 at 1:33 am
Hey Ryan,
If you're really rusty, just buy the Manhattan GMAT Foundations of Math book too. That should help you deal with the basics!
Sanghamitra Mitra on January 4th, 2012 at 10:23 pm
Hi DanaJ,
I am GMAt aspirant of 2012.I am planning to seat for the test in month of Jun.
I have not taked any test yet but I feel I will at 400-450 level.I am currently going trough Kaplan math book as per your recommendation.I think I will be bale to finish this first.but my main worry is my verbal.Please guide me how to process on thi asssuming I am '0' in Verbal
DanaJ on January 5th, 2012 at 4:22 am
My favorite resources for verbal:
- Manhattan GMAT Foundations of Verbal
- Manhattan GMAT Sentence Correction
- PowerScore CR Bible
- Veritas Prep Reading Comp or Manhattan GMAT Reading Comp
- Official Guide for practice
Other than that, my advice to you is to read newspapers or articles in English every day for at least 30 mins. The language skills won't pop up over night, they would take time to develop. Good luck!
priyal on January 10th, 2012 at 2:25 am
Hello Dana,
I have taken GMAT twice before and have got poor scores, attmpt 1. 420 (Q 25 V 16) attmpt 2. 490(Q 32 V 20). I studied using OG 11 guide, solved it twice , on my second attmpt i took Manhatn trial test got 620 , Veritas trial test 610 , kaplan trial test 490.
I took a break for abt 2 mths after my second attmpt. I want to restart from 0. Please recommend me books for both section. In my 2nd attmpt I had solved lots of qustns for q & v but got poor scores. On exam day verbal hit me badly and for Quant I got blank even on basic qustn. My mistake was i use to just solve and never think. Please advise I can give max 3 mths for my final prep.
Thank you
DanaJ on January 10th, 2012 at 3:09 am
The problem I see here is that you focused on practice questions without actually reviewing/learning the theory. You need to first use a few guides for the theoretical part and then do some practice. Otherwise, you're practicing, but there is no solid base for your exercise and chances are you won't be able to solve similar problems on test day. I recommend the following resources:
- Manhattan GMAT Sentence Correction
- PowerScore CR Bible
- Manhattan GMAT set of 5 quant guides
- Veritas Prep RC book
- Official Guide supplements (blue and green books)
Good luck!
chris on January 18th, 2012 at 1:00 am
Hey Dana,
Im wondering if i still need this workbook?
Im purchasing the 8 mgmat strategy guides along with the OG and OG Verba/ math
is that enough to get 700+? IF so what should my strategy be in terms of study plan?
I have 3 months to go for my test and I'm studying tomorrow to start!
was thinking of this:
1. take prep test
2. for 4 weeks go over 5 quant guides / practice problems attached to those guides
3. 4 weeks go over verb guides
4. last 4 weeks take 2 prac tests a week and go over any weaknesses from there,
what do you think?
DanaJ on January 18th, 2012 at 2:16 am
Hey chris,
Nope, if you use the Manhattan guides, then that's enough in terms of practice. I actually reviewed the full set here: http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/04/02/manhattan-gmat-set-of-8-strategy-guides-4th-edition-book-review I've also reviewed each of the 8 books, you can find the reviews by clicking on my name up next to the title of the book and then browsing that list.
I think your plan is pretty solid! It's also sort of what I did: focus on one section at a time.
chris on January 18th, 2012 at 7:17 pm
Hey dana,
I read your review, got 2 follow up questions:
whats the best strategy on tackling the 8 guides
I am thinking of doing a run through of ALL theory from the 8 guides for 4 weeks
then for 5 weeks doing practice problems and learning strategy for tackling question types
then last 3 weeks doing practice tests along with going over weak areas
also
for the first practice test BEFORE i even start studying, is it wise to use one of the 6 MGMAT tests instead of wasting the GMATprep? do the MGMAT ones have analysis after the test is given?
Thanks!
DanaJ on January 18th, 2012 at 11:41 pm
I think it's a better idea if you learn your theory and then practice immediately after. That way the concepts stick and you actually know how to apply them on test day. I don't think it's a great idea to do the theory first and then after a few weeks do the practice, again, for the same reasons.
GMATPrep actually doesn't have an analysis at the end of it, but MGMAT does. Use whichever you wish - indeed, MGMAT has that advantage, but at the same time there's nothing like the real thing in terms of accuracy.
Brajesh on February 28th, 2012 at 3:02 am
Hi DanaJ!
I've recently joined the beatthegmat community as I intend to take the GMAT in May 2012. My target score would be 700 with a 47 in quant and 42+ in verbal. I am more worried about my quantitative abilities. Do you think only the OG 12 guide and OG quant guide are enough to get 47 in quant?
DanaJ on February 28th, 2012 at 3:38 am
The two books are mostly about practice, so they may not be sufficient in terms of theory coverage. I also suggest supplementing those books with some sort of quant theoretical guide, like the one I reviewed above.
Tebogo on July 30th, 2012 at 2:44 am
Hi Dana
I took the GMAT in 2010 and got 470 score. (One of the problem was my preparation, I prepared using a calculator and was not aware that I actually cannot use a calculator to prepare and to sit for the GMAT). I am only using the OG to prepare for my test in 3 months time. I am intedning to improve my score to 700 and I intend buying the guides you recommend (MGMAT 5 quants strtegy, and
Powerscore CR).
Do you think that is enough?
Regards
Tebogo
DanaJ on July 30th, 2012 at 3:34 am
I think you also need some book for SC, but other than that you should be good. MGMAT is also one of the best in that field.
Tebogo on July 30th, 2012 at 5:50 am
Dana,
thank you so much for the reassurance. I will update my GMAT score on the "I beat the Gmat" section. I feel confident. Thank you lots
Siddhant on November 17th, 2012 at 9:42 am
Hi DanaJ ,i amm planning to take the GMAT in Jan 2013.I gave GMATPrep Test 1 as a Diagnostic test and scored 640(Q44,V34).Can you please suggest the books that should be bought,I am aiming for a score of 720+.pls reply asap.
DanaJ on November 17th, 2012 at 10:16 am
My favorites are the Manhattan GMAT quant set and the Sentence Correction guide. Then get Veritas Prep for Reading Comprehension and Powerscore Critical Reasoning Bible. For practice, always rely on the Official Guide.
Siddhant on November 18th, 2012 at 10:38 am
Thank u very much for your prompt reply.I have another request,can u suggest some study plan that I should follow as I have approximately 60 days for preparation.
DanaJ on November 18th, 2012 at 11:33 am
Here's a study guide based on 60 days that you could sign up for: http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-guide
Folake on April 9th, 2013 at 10:47 am
Dear Dana,
I have read most of the comments above and have found them useful. I have been dreading the GMAT since 2011 and finally plan on taking the exams in May of June. I just commenced my studies with the princeton review and not convinced it may be sufficient especially as i was not pleased with my scores in the data suffiency section.
My plan is on scoring above 700 and hope to get that score at once. What are your recommendations?. I am well above average in verbal and just average in maths.
Thank you
DanaJ on April 10th, 2013 at 3:19 pm
I honestly do not think that the Princeton book is sufficient for a good quant score. It's a bit too basic to take you beyond 600. I think for quant you should really take a look at the Manhattan GMAT set of books, of course complementing these with the OG 13.
Folake on April 15th, 2013 at 11:15 am
Dear Dana,
Thank you very much for the prompt respnse. I have ordered the MGMAT books.
Aj on May 13th, 2013 at 2:23 pm
Hi Dana:
Since most of the discussion on this forum dates back to 2010,11, & 12, Is your suggestion for the books mentioned above, still valid for 2013 or do you have some new additions to that list?
Please let me know. Thanks.
DanaJ on May 13th, 2013 at 10:51 pm
Nope, still think the MGMAT books are the ones to go for.
Aj on May 14th, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Hi Dana:
Thanks for your prompt reply.
After going through your previous posts, I have decided to go with the following books. Could you please go though the below given list and add/delete/change before I order them? Thanks.
Manhattan: Quant Prep Complete set (including number properties and Word Translations), Sentence Correction
Veritas Prep: Reading Comprehension, Data sufficiency, Combinatorics and Probability.
Powerscore: Critical Reasoning Bible.
Also, which books should I use for integrated reasoning and Essay writing?
It would be great if you could also suggest me a 90 day plan for the preparation as well. Your help is much appreciated. Thanks.
DanaJ on May 15th, 2013 at 1:15 am
Yes, these seem reasonable. You can try the Manhattan GMAT book for Integrated Reasoning. I wrote about a 3 month study plan here: http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2009/12/06/a-3-month-gmat-prep-plan Although please note that the books I listed there were a bit different. Since then I've had the chance to review other books as well and I believe those that you list are better.
Aj on May 15th, 2013 at 11:59 am
Thank you for your time and your excellent suggestions Dana. Appreciate it.