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Choosing Books and Strategy

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Choosing Books and Strategy

by bgpower » Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:44 am
Dear members,

thank you very much for the helpful information in this forum.

I am starting my GMAT preparation this month, so, as many others, I wanted to get your responce regarding the most appropriate books.

My general strategy would be to get at the beginning familiar with the format of the exam, revise theory (most probably Maths) and then check with the help of a first CAT which my weaknesses are. Afterwards, I will tackle every area of the exam, focusing on the weaknesses, but not forgetting the remaining topics. I aim to use DanaJ's strategy, namely starting the first week with the area I have significant problems in, and moving on, while still practicing some (10?) questions of the area.

I am not in a hurry, though preparing some consulting job applications, but would allow myself a max. 6 month preparation period, because without a clear goal it would be problematic to structure the whole process. The main question here is IF there really will be a change in the GMAT in Mid 2012, because this definitely would mean me to prepare until then. Information would be appreciated. Can anyone provide us with information concerning the changes in the exam format, planned for June 2012? Is it going to change dramatically?

After reading many posts, I settled down to the following books:
Entire Manhattan GMAT Preparation package - 8 (for revising theory)
OG 12, OG Quant, OG Verbal
Aristotle SC Grail, Aristotle RC 99.
PowerScore CR Bible

Would you add something - especially from the Kaplan package, which contains more practice questions? And generally, which is the best book providing test exams for the last days prior to the test date?
Are there any plans for some of the above-mentioned book to be newly issued in the comming months?

Thanks in advance!
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by bgpower » Tue Aug 09, 2011 6:50 am
It would be very niche if someone could share his/her suggestions!

Thanks in advance!
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by gaurav081 » Tue Aug 09, 2011 12:18 pm
Hey,

The list narrowed by you seems very good. However, I can't say for Aristotle since I haven't used it myself. My only suggestion is not to get overwhelmed with the material. Also, study one topic from one place so that you wouldn't get confused. I just did my gmat and scored 650(disappointed) will attempt it again in 6 week's time.

Good Luck !

Thanks,
Gaurav
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by bgpower » Wed Aug 10, 2011 5:07 am
Dear Gaurav,

thanks for the informative reply.

I did an observation of various sources dealing with GMAT (mainly BTG forum) and found some interesting feedback regarding the different preparation materials. It turns out to be really difficult to decide which source to use.

On the one hand I find many people which are very sattisfied with the Manhattan collection, who used it mainly for refresh their knowledge, but describe it as a good 650 preparation. Kaplan, on the other hand, with the Kaplan Premier has the image of a book with very tough questions, which aim to prepare you for 700+ questions, which makes me shift my thoughts in this direction.

Once you have refreshed the basics (MGMAT and probably Kaplan Premier), many people use the PowerScore Bibles, Kaplan 800, OG 12 in order to polish their skills and practice more questions, as Kaplan and MGMAT offer 5 respectively 6 CATs, which together with the 2 CATs of GMATPrep should be enough to evaluate your improvement through the process.

That`s how I understand the preparation process in general. As my goal really will be 720+, I would like to focus on the first, but even more on the second part of the preparation process, in order to, first, have good basics, but, second, also practice them hard enough so to be prepared for the tough moments ;)
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by prateek_guy2004 » Wed Aug 10, 2011 8:26 am
bgpower wrote:Dear Gaurav,

thanks for the informative reply.

I did an observation of various sources dealing with GMAT (mainly BTG forum) and found some interesting feedback regarding the different preparation materials. It turns out to be really difficult to decide which source to use.

On the one hand I find many people which are very sattisfied with the Manhattan collection, who used it mainly for refresh their knowledge, but describe it as a good 650 preparation. Kaplan, on the other hand, with the Kaplan Premier has the image of a book with very tough questions, which aim to prepare you for 700+ questions, which makes me shift my thoughts in this direction.

Once you have refreshed the basics (MGMAT and probably Kaplan Premier), many people use the PowerScore Bibles, Kaplan 800, OG 12 in order to polish their skills and practice more questions, as Kaplan and MGMAT offer 5 respectively 6 CATs, which together with the 2 CATs of GMATPrep should be enough to evaluate your improvement through the process.

That`s how I understand the preparation process in general. As my goal really will be 720+, I would like to focus on the first, but even more on the second part of the preparation process, in order to, first, have good basics, but, second, also practice them hard enough so to be prepared for the tough moments ;)
Hi BG

I think with little practice and time You can easily push it to 700+.

There are lot of books available according to your need and preference. Iam glad that you have already narowed a choices.

If you are starting with gmat preparation I would suggest some valuable books that even i am following below--

Quant

1 base book- Kaplan premier Or princeton review
2 Tought math practice - Kaplan 800

Verbal

Manhatan SC For SC

Power score CR bible for CR



With this material u must practice a lot from OG12 and Almost all gmat book publishers offers a free full length mock test.

My advise to you !st review basics from the above books and get down to tough problems
Let me know bout ur stratergies and if any other prob u facing.

Chaw
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by bgpower » Wed Aug 10, 2011 10:45 pm
Hi Chaw,

thanks for the opinion. It is exactly my wish to dedicate enough time, first, to review the basics, and afterwards practice. Therefore I am really looking for the best book to buy. Money is not too important, though I don't order something, which I am not goint to use.

As I understand mock exams seem to be pretty substantial, so that's the main reason I will most probably end up with Manhattan and Kaplan. While at the beginning I wanted to rely on a system (MGMAT resp. Kaplan) now I get the feeling that every publisher has some very good, but also some rather unpopular preparation books. That's why I tend to buy the best from different companies.

1. Should one buy the entire package of Manhattan?
2. Would MGMAT Math Foundations be useful for a quick revision of math principles prior to quant book from Manhattan and Kaplan?
3. Do I need OG Verbal and OG Quant if I get more specified books in this area or in other words - Are the practice questions that good to make me buy these books?
4. Would you choose as a general preparation book for a hardcore plan Kaplan premier or Kaplan 800?
5. Regarding Verbal - would you suggest Manhattan or Powerscore?

Thanks for the help ;)
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by prateek_guy2004 » Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:31 am
bgpower wrote:Hi Chaw,

thanks for the opinion. It is exactly my wish to dedicate enough time, first, to review the basics, and afterwards practice. Therefore I am really looking for the best book to buy. Money is not too important, though I don't order something, which I am not goint to use.

As I understand mock exams seem to be pretty substantial, so that's the main reason I will most probably end up with Manhattan and Kaplan. While at the beginning I wanted to rely on a system (MGMAT resp. Kaplan) now I get the feeling that every publisher has some very good, but also some rather unpopular preparation books. That's why I tend to buy the best from different companies.

1. Should one buy the entire package of Manhattan?
2. Would MGMAT Math Foundations be useful for a quick revision of math principles prior to quant book from Manhattan and Kaplan?
3. Do I need OG Verbal and OG Quant if I get more specified books in this area or in other words - Are the practice questions that good to make me buy these books?
4. Would you choose as a general preparation book for a hardcore plan Kaplan premier or Kaplan 800?
5. Regarding Verbal - would you suggest Manhattan or Powerscore?

Thanks for the help ;)
Hi Bg

I will tell You exactly which books i am using to clear your confusion

OG 12 Review is must....Apart from this for only quant for kaplan premier and later kaplan 800.

For verbal only go for manhattan SC and power score CR bible.

with this practice a lot from gmat prep.

Chaw
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by bgpower » Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:56 am
Without OG Verbal and OG Quant, right?

What do you think about Math Foundations? Is such a Maths basics revision book needed?

Thanks!
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by prateek_guy2004 » Thu Aug 11, 2011 6:54 am
Hi

For math foundation kaplan premier is enough.....

and yes without verbal and quant review.....

the above listed material is enough to fetch 700 + score..

chaw
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by Luke.Doolittle » Sun Nov 13, 2011 8:09 am
Without an analysis of your initial weaknesses its hard to tell you what to get. I would suggest taking a practice test BEFORE buying materials. It could be, for example, that your reading comprehension is already stellar and thus there is no need to invest in strategy materials for it.

However, from this board and others here is the list:

For Strategy
Must Haves
  • 5 MGMAT Quant Guides (minus possibly the geometry; its kind of lacking)
    PowerScore CR Bible
    Manhattan SC Guide
Would Be Nice
  • Thursdays With Ron (its free!!!)
    GMATClub GMAT Math book (its free also!!!)
    Veritas Reading Comprehension
Possibly Overkill
  • The "Logical Fallacies" section from the LSAT PowerScore CR bible (or just google informal logical fallacies)
    Veritas Probability and Combinatorics
    "Doing Grammar" (not really a strategy book but for sure helps with SC)
For Questions
Must Haves
  • OG 12
    Verbal Review
    Quant Review
    Practice problems in GMATPrep software
If You Run Out...
  • GMATFix (it has ALL the GMATPrep problems in it; don't use until you have exhausted GMATPrep exams)
    LSAT CR
    LSAT RC
    GMATClub Math Exams
    Manhattan Quant QBanks (Come with guides)
    Veritas RC (questions in guide)
Controversial Sets
  • 1000SC
    Other random floating documents (300+ math questions, etc)
    Aristotle RC99
    Kaplan 800
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by bgpower » Fri Nov 25, 2011 1:44 pm
Hi Luke,

thanks for the in-depth answer. In the end all books are now at home - 7 strategy guides from MGMAT (without Critical reasoning), Powerscore CR Bible, MGMAT Math & Verbal Foundations and MGMAT Advanced Math. Currently strugling if to order Aristotle SC, RC99 and Dpoing Grammat. But for sure will test my self in the very beginning of December in order to gauge my level. Until now I have completed only a preliminary test of GMATClub, where I scored only 18 out of 45. Well, it was my first contact with GMAT type of questions.

Will start with both Foundations books and would like to complete both in December and in 2012 to move on with the other things. Currently looking for the exact strategy, which I am going to follow with the MGMAT strategy guides. I thought to complete them in a raw starting with either Quant or Verbal - the area in which I am weaker. And once I have read all guides really perform weekly CAT's to record my improvement and pay attention to my error log. Do you have any suggestions?

Regards,
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by AbhiJ » Sun Nov 27, 2011 10:54 pm
-Read Luke's debrief where he talks about having a 2 week plan and achieving it. Its difficult to plan 2 months in ahead.
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by ikaplan » Mon Nov 28, 2011 1:39 am
The initial materials you plan to use for the preparation are just fine- start with them. Based on the scores from your first mock test, decide which patterns/problems you should focus your additional work on.

Do not make the same mistake as I did (my shelves are packed with GMAT prep books).
"Commitment is more than just wishing for the right conditions. Commitment is working with what you have."
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by bgpower » Tue Nov 29, 2011 1:02 pm
Abhi, ikaplan, thank you very much for the reply! Yep, you are right - I have a big amount of books, which I would definitely need about 2 months to study, and that's only the first phase - the additional CATs are even more important. Some questions popped into my mind - would be tahnkful four your opinion.

Is there a need to buy Aristotle SC and RC99? I have the respective MGMAT books, but have read that the Aristotle SC is a good preparation for MGMAT SC and that RC99 is with better RC questions. Do they add value to my big, big shelf?
Would you generally suggest me buying a Grammar book as GMATClub Ultimate Grammar or Doing Grammar by Max Morenberg as I already have the MGMAT Verbal Foundations book?

My GMAT journey will start in December with both Foundation books (will open an separate diary thread). I have already prepared an error log, but I do have some questions regarding my general strategy.

1. Is it a good idea to use a CAT and gauge my level prior to starting the MGMAT Foundation workbooks (1.Quant and then 2. Verbal)? Or should I test myself after I have completed those two books?
2. Do you enter all questions in your error log, or only those which you had wrong/had difficulties with?
3. Would you recommend taking my own notes when going through all strategic guides?
4. Should I do OG12 questions or the MGMAT online questions banks alongside the MGMAT Strategy guides, or both right with the first reading?
5. When is the best time to do the problems from OG Quant and OG Verbal - again together with the strategic guides, or afterwards?
6. Does it make sence using a CAT test prior to finishing the first reading of all books? Or should I first finish Quant & Verbal, then gauge my level and then decide which strategy guides to read a second time (weakness areas)?
7. Assuming I decide to read the MGMAT guides only once and then try to improve myself based on more practice questions, which CAT's would you recommend to me? I have heard good things of Jeff Sackmann's Quant questions, as well as GMATClub's math tests, but are there others?
8. And generally, when should one incorporate things like: time strategies; start working with the simulation booklet; in his approach?

OR SHOULDN'T I WORRY TO MUCH AND JUST START READING? :)

I am pretty sure those questions seem a bit stupid, but it is always that way, when you are at the beginning! Thank you in advance for you informative posts and your time!

Regards,
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by AbhiJ » Wed Nov 30, 2011 9:04 am
Read twinsplitter's debrief - 790 scorer - how to pick one area solidify it and move on to next topic.
Don't worry collecting all the book in the start. Its better to study one book thoroughly than studying 3 books once. You may feel that you donot need more books in one area after you finish reading a book. You can always buy books in 2-3 days as and when you need it. More cluttered desk will only demotivate you.
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