OG vs Others - Is OG really the bible of GMAT?

[GMATCHPOINT]

I started my preps recently and, due to my heavy daily workload, I have roughly 2 hours per day (max max) to dedicate to gmat prep.

I have the following questions and I would like (if possible) to hear from someone that already took the exam

As everyone says that OG is the bible for a good gmat prep, lets assume that I work only on OG (ie not using any other book). Lets assume also that I go thru the OG (as many time I need) to fully understand and master let say..80% of it (would be it too much?).
Well, then I wonder if I would be in good shape to score btwn 650-700.

I know this question sounds a bit stupid, I just want to prepare my strategy but don’t want to waste time on super hard questions as I don’t need to get above 700. Actually 650 would be all I need.

Cheers!

[raju232007]

OG is definitely the bible for GMAT preparation..There is no doubt about it..I may not be the right person to answer your question as I am yet to take the exam.But I have heard from many of the GMAT aspirants that for getting >650 working out all the problems in OG shall suffice.But then If you want to break the 700 barrier you should definitely work on books such as Kapan 800,GMat difficult problems(which can be found in the resources section) etc..
All the best...

[VP_Jim]

I worked exclusively from the OG and did very well. I do agree that the OG doesn't have many 750+ level questions it, but it should be fine if you're shooting for 650.

A couple things to note:

1. The OG generally goes in order of difficulty; the first 1/3 or so per section is probably too easy for most people.

2. The explanations in the OG aren't always the best. Make sure you analyze each problem trying to find a better method than the one given.

Good luck!

[lunarpower]

I started my preps recently and, due to my heavy daily workload, I have roughly 2 hours per day (max max) to dedicate to gmat prep.

I have the following questions and I would like (if possible) to hear from someone that already took the exam

As everyone says that OG is the bible for a good gmat prep, lets assume that I work only on OG (ie not using any other book). Lets assume also that I go thru the OG (as many time I need) to fully understand and master let say..80% of it (would be it too much?).
Well, then I wonder if I would be in good shape to score btwn 650-700.

I know this question sounds a bit stupid, I just want to prepare my strategy but don’t want to waste time on super hard questions as I don’t need to get above 700. Actually 650 would be all I need.

Cheers!

yeah, if you're looking to score in that range, the official guide (along with its verbal and quantitative supplements) should be plenty for you.

just make sure that you're not concentrating exclusively on solving the problems - a focus that, in the big picture, is actually irrelevant: if you are blazing through these quant guides at top speed, then there's a chance that you're not learning enough from the problems. remember, you aren't going to see those problems again - but you WILL see problems that share common elements with them. therefore, those common elements - generalized "takeaways" from those problems, which can then be applied to other problems - are all that really matters when you go over the problems.

check out my advice about takeaways in
this post, and apply that advice to the quant sections in particular.

[GMATCHPOINT]

Thank you very much guys.
Jim and Ron, I’ve seen other posts from you guys and they are absolutely fantastic. My game plan is to work on OG and time-to-time check the BTG website.
Ron, thanks you for your link to your advice/takeaway post. I haven’t read yet as I am still working but will do so as soon as I arrive home (after a nice diner and shower).

Jim, I agree that some of the explanations on OG are not that clear (and for some of them there may be a better method to solve it. Do you think I can find them (ie. Alternatives explanations to OG questions) in this website? If not, where?

Take care.

[tngearhart]

To add to the other comments. The OG with a sumplemental book that referrences the OG will get you to a 700+ score.

So if you have problem ares, like Fractions, use the MGMAT book for Fractions and learn MGMAT's way of solving the OG fractions questions. I think the books that create their own GMAT "like" questions come up short because the questions "feel" different than the actual GMAT and its harder to recognize problem types on the real GMAT if you've prepared using just KAPLAN, ARCO, or Princeton. That's why the last leg of your study should be almost exclusively OG and GMATprep.

[pokearound]

I have ogs as well. The problems are good and real, but the explanations are just okay. Also there are quite some errors on the way they categorized the problems in the solutions.

There are more retired tests on mba.com. Not expensive. Should be another pool of practice questions closely resembling real questions now.