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Title: Cracking the GMAT with Sample Tests on CD-ROM, 2004 Edition by Princeton Review ISBN: 0-375-76324-4 Publisher: Princeton Review Pub. Date: 17 June, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $35.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 2.94 (16 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: Ripped off by Princeton Review
Comment: I bought the book primarily because it comes with the CD sample tests. Well, the problems on the CD are also in the book so you only get to use one or the other to test your skills. In addition to that, the CD tests don't run correctly, don't show the underlines on the sentence correction problems, and score some of the math questions incorrectly. The highest score I got using the CD was 590 but got 730 on the actual test. The CD has no relevence to the GMAT. I e-mailed Princeton Review to explain this. I already know the CDs don't work but continue to sell them. They also were uninterested to know which problems were scored incorrectly. They did send me a new CD they said would work but it arrived 6 days AFTER I took the test. Do not support these guys. They are knowingly selling a broken product.
Saving grace was the book. It was actually OK.
Rating: 5
Summary: Invaluable
Comment: Background - I am 13 years out of college. My test taking and math skills were pretty rusty. I want to get into a top 20 MBA program to make it worth the investment. Consequently a great score was very important. I was shooting for 700.
I bought the Princeton book / CD, the Kaplan book / CD, and the Official Guide from ETS. I also downloaded the PowerPrep software from ETS for free. I completely exhausted the Princeton and Kaplan material - test strategies, exercises, practice tests. I did all the practice tests in PowerPrep. Moreover, I did the last third of the questions from the Official Guide (the harder questions are in the back).
I did not take a training class. I took a Kaplan class 14 years ago for the LSAT and was not happy with the investment. Better would be to find a study partner in your area.
My assessment:
1. The Princeton book by far has the better explanations of test taking strategies, as compared to Kaplan.
2. The Princeton questions are much more similar in structure to the real GMAT questions, as compared to Kaplan.
3. The verbal sections of Princeton practice tests are pretty similar in terms of difficulty to the real GMAT verbal section, as compared to Kaplan.
4. The quantitative section of the real GMAT is far more difficult than Princeton practice tests.
5. The Kaplan practice tests are much harder than the real GMAT.
6. The free online tests that come with the Princeton book / CD are a great added bonus.
7. The PowerPrep software is identical in look and feel to the real GMAT, but the quant questions are definitely easier.
8. The Princeton book has the best approach to the writing sections, but do review the Kaplan material as well.
If you want a top score then my advice is to get all three books and download PowerPrep. You also need a lot of time to prepare, particularly if you're working full time or if you've been out of college for a while. I studied and practiced for about 8 weeks. You also need to be comfortable with taking the test on a computer. It is more difficult than on paper - harder to read on the screen, harder to take notes, etc.
First, start with the Princeton book - this will give you a solid foundation. Next, exhaust the PowerPrep software. This will give you a good baseline of where you are and where you need to focus. (I scored 730 and 740 w/ the PowerPrep software.)
Next tackle the Kaplan book, but only focus on sections where you are having trouble. Then exhaust the Princeton Software. (I scored 720 and 730 on the practice tests on Princeton's CD.)
Then do the Kaplan CD practice exercises and practice tests. The tests are very hard, more difficult than the GMAT . . . particularly the verbal. You will score lower on these tests. The practice exercises don't give you enough time to answer all of the questions. Nevertheless, try not to become too frustrated. Keep in mind that you are building stamina and you are improving by seeing new, challenging quant questions. (I scored 640 on the diagnostic, and 680, 580, 650, 600 on the Kaplan CD practice tests, much lower than Princeton and PowerPrep.)
When you're finished w/ the Kaplan CD, start doing the last 1/3 or so of each section in the Official Guide, 20 questions at a time. These are ACTUAL GMAT questions. The explanations are EXCELLENT, far better than either Kaplan or Princeton. Unfortunately some Official Guide questions are repeated from the PowerPrep software.
Meanwhile, mix in online practice tests from Princeton; again you'll have seen some questions before. Don't sweat the recycled material. You won't remember the answers to many of them and you'll have to rework the quant questions anyway. At this point it is more important to understand why you are missing certain types of questions repeatedly and to improve how you attack specific question types. (I scored 750, 710, 690, 730 on the Princeton online practice tests. However, these scores are suspect due to the recycled questions.)
My advice is to take NO tests the day before the GMAT. Clear your head some. Spend time getting comfortable with a template for the writing section. Review specific questions that you've missed in the past - the Official Guide is ideal for this - understanding the correct approach. Relax if you can and get a good night's sleep.
Last piece of advice, bring a snack and use ALL of BOTH breaks. Stand up, stretch, whiz, drink something, eat something. The test is exhausting and you need to use the breaks to clear your head and refocus.
If you do all this you should get a great score. The real GMAT was VERY difficult, even after all of my preparation. I even guessed on a few quant questions that I had no idea how to attack. The whole test went by in a blur. Stamina and timing, however, were not an issue with so much full-length practice.
I ended up with a 760, far better than I targeted and expected, even better than on any practice test I took. This was a pleasant surprise, given how difficult the test was as compared to much of the practice material. However, by using all of the practice material effectively I am now able to look at top 10 programs instead of top 20! Yeah!
Rating: 5
Summary: The Princeton Review is Very Accurate
Comment: All that you need to be a success on the GMAT is the Princeton Review's book, and the disk that comes with it. However, you must also study the 10th Edition ETS book before utilizing the Princeton Review. This will allow you to get "warmed up" and get the cob webs out of you quantitative ability, and it will also allow you to start getting down a system for attacking GMAT problems. I did every problem in the book at least once. The thing I like about the Princeton Review is that it teaches you how to guess wisely. My score improved by 100 points using the Princeton Review's materials and concepts. This has allowed me to focus on the top ten schools. I will put it to you this way..my neighbor studied using only the Princeton Review, and he attends NYU's Stern School of Business, my good friend used only the Princeton Review and he is starting Stanford this fall! I received the exact same score from the Princeton Review's practice GMATs that I recieved on the actual test. Infact, some of the problems were exactly like the ones I reviewed minutes before I took the actual GMAT! I believe the Princeton Review is a must have if you are serious about doing well on the GMAT!!!!
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Title: Kaplan GMAT 2004 with CD-ROM by Kaplan ISBN: 0743241401 Publisher: Kaplan Press Pub. Date: 01 July, 2003 List Price(USD): $37.00 |
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Title: Verbal Workout for the GMAT (The Princeton Review) by Douglas French ISBN: 0375754172 Publisher: Princeton Review Pub. Date: 23 November, 1999 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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Title: The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 10th Edition ISBN: 0886852404 Publisher: RSVP Pub. Date: January, 2003 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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Title: GMAT Math Workout (Princeton Review Series) by Jack Schieffer ISBN: 0679783733 Publisher: Princeton Review Pub. Date: 29 December, 1998 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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Title: Kaplan GMAT Verbal Workbook, Second Edition by Kaplan ISBN: 0743250990 Publisher: Kaplan Press Pub. Date: 01 September, 2003 List Price(USD): $18.00 |
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