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Important Factors to Consider for GMAT Books
Successfully passing the GMAT requires strategic study. Here, we explore the essential factors to ensure your resources offer comprehensive and quality practice questions regarding the GMAT format, and clear explanations to solidify your understanding. Below we mention the factors to consider when choosing the books for GMAT.
1. Follow the Syllabus and Pattern
Selecting effective GMAT prep books requires a focus on relevancy. Crucially, the books should strictly adhere to the latest GMAT syllabus and exam format. This ensures you're practising with the most current question types and content areas, maximising your preparation's effectiveness.
2. Finding the Set of Questions
Practising the right set of questions from popular GMAT books is crucial. These books provide a wide range of questions that accurately reflect the exam's format and difficulty level. You can identify your strengths and weaknesses, develop effective strategies, and build the necessary skills to excel on the exam.
3. Focus on the Questions and Answers
When it comes to GMAT books, the availability of comprehensive answer keys is essential. These answer keys should not only provide the correct solutions but also offer detailed explanations for each question type.
4. Devise a Strategy
Preparing for the GMAT exam goes beyond just tackling intricate questions. It involves developing a comprehensive strategy that can help you perform well across all sections of the test. This could involve identifying the section you should prioritise and focus on first or developing effective time management skills.
Why are GMAT preparation books important?
If you are aspiring to pursue your higher education in an international business school, then having a good GMAT score is essential. GMAT study guides offer a vast knowledge of all the topics, concepts, and questions a student can expect in the exam. With top books for GMAT preparation, you get a direction for your efforts and give you an understandable explanation for complex topics and concepts.
While GMAT focuses more on the reasoning and analytical abilities of the candidate, resources and books for GMAT will help students understand what they can expect from the test. GMAT study guides and prep books give you direction for your GMAT preparation. After the changes in the GMAT exam format, the study resources for the test are limited. So, students need to invest in the right resources to ensure higher success chances in the GMAT exams.
GMAT Prep Books and Online Resources
There are thousands of resources and books for GMAT available both online and offline. However, reading them all is not a feasible option, so finding the most useful GMAT prep books can be a task. The list below aims to simplify it for you. Below listed are the top 5 books for GMAT exam preparation that will help you crack the GMAT Focus Edition format.
1. GMAT Official Guide 2023-2024 Focus Edition
Price: $64.74
In the bundle:
- GMAT Official Guide 2023-2024 Focus Edition Book
- GMAT Verbal Review Book
- GMAT Quantitative Review Book
- GMAT Data Insights Review Book
- Online Question Bank
GMAT preparation cannot be finished without going through the GMAT Official Guide. The new 2023-2024 Focus Edition of the book aligns with the new GMAT exam format. You can purchase the entire bundle of four books from Amazon. The entire bundle includes 1100+ questions for all three GMAT exam sections and 300+ additional questions in the online question bank.
Theoretically, this entire bundle is enough to study and review each of the three sections of the GMAT exam. Alternatively, you can choose to purchase the online ebook of the GMAT Official Guide 2023-2024 & Online Question Bank. You can find the ebook on GMAC’s partner website, MBA.com.
2. Manhattan Prep All the GMAT
Price: $239.99
In the bundle:
- All the GMAT: Updated Syllabus for GMAT Focus 2024 Study Guide
- Online Starter Kit
- GMAT Navigator
All the GMAT: Updated Syllabus for GMAT Focus 2024 is the updated Manhattan Prep GMAT book series that offers students a wide range of questions and topics. The bundle consists of the updated GMAT study guide along with the online starter kit and a GMAT Navigator Tool. You can purchase the entire 7th Edition bundle of Manhattan Prep GMAT books from Simon & Schuster’s Official website.
Use this in addition to the GMAT Official Guide for an encompassing view of the entire GMAT Syllabus. Some parts of the book do offer information on the older format of the test. However, the newer edition marks those areas for you to choose whether you want to study or skip them.
3. Self Study Toolkit, GMAT Focus™ Edition
Price: $359
In the bundle:
- 6 Books for Quantitative, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning & Essay, Foundations of Math, Foundations of Verbal, and the Official Guide for GMAT Review.
- 6 Official GMAT Focus Edition Practice Tests and Assessment Reports
- GMAT Navigator
Manhattan Prep’s Self Study Toolkit is yet another book for GMAT that you can refer to for your preparations. The resource is made according to the updated GMAT Test format. This is a perfect resource for students who believe in self-study. With this toolkit, students can not only prepare for their GMAT entrance exams but also track their progress with the Assessment Reports available.
If you want to understand what type of questions are asked in the GMAT exams and want to know how you should be answering them, then this Self-Study Toolkit is for you. You will find the bundle on Kaplan’s official website.
4. The Princeton Review GMAT Premium Prep 2024
Price: $24.99-$49.38
In the bundle:
- 6 Computer-Adaptive tests
- Online Question Bank
- Review & Techniques
The Princeton Review GMAT Premium Prep, 2024 edition is an ideal resource for students aiming to have a set 2-week, 4-week, or 6-week plan to prepare for GMAT exams. The book comes with 120 + 180 additional questions that are sorted by their difficulty level to help students practice at their own pace. This GMAT study guide is also great for a quick recap with its bulleted summaries. It allows students to quickly skim-through the topics whenever they need.
Students may find the contents of the book a little outdated, considering the change in the test format. However, the book is still relevant if you are looking for a quality resource to practice your quantitative skills and verbal skills. You can purchase the book with all its resources on Amazon.
5. PowerScore GMAT Verbal Bible Series
Price: $69.99 or ($27.99/book)
In the bundle:
- GMAT Sentence Correction
- GMAT Critical Reasoning
- GMAT Reading Comprehension
The best GMAT preparation book to improve your verbal skills, the PowerScore GMAT Bible Series, addresses any question you may have about verbal comprehension. The books include all topics and concepts that students can expect in the GMAT exams.
Despite being based on the old format, the PowerScore GMAT Verbal Bible Series remains relevant for test-takers across the world. Apart from the bundled edition, students can purchase the Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension Bibles separately, considering that Sentence Correction is no longer a part of the Verbal Reasoning Section within the GMAT exam.
Study Planning with GMAT Books
Each individual has a unique learning pace, and that's perfectly normal. If your peers or friends achieved their desired GMAT scores within a shorter timeframe, such as 3 or 5 months, don't worry about it. Here is a comprehensive 6-month study plan using books for GMAT that you should follow during your preparation. Some students may reach the targets set in this 6-month guide ahead of time due to their full-time dedication to GMAT preparation, while others may need to balance their GMAT studies with work or other commitments.
First month (20-25 hours):
1. Take a diagnostic GMAT mock test
2. Understand the exam pattern and syllabus
3. Start with books for GMAT like the Official Guide and Manhattan Guides
4. Complete Quant Review and Sentence Correction, making notes
5. Take a full-length mock at month-end
Second month (minimum 30 hours):
1. Finish pending Quant and Sentence Correction portions
2. Complete Critical Reasoning from books
3. Take at least 2 full-length mocks
4. Revise completed topics
Third month (minimum 45 hours):
1. Revise previous months' work
2. Complete Reading Comprehension from the material
3. Finish the entire course syllabus from books
4. Take 3 full-length mocks, tracking performance
Fourth month (minimum 60 hours):
1. Complete AWA and Integrated Reasoning
2. Begin advanced questions from the best GMAT books
3. Take as many full-length mocks as possible
4. Revise everything you have learned so far
Fifth month (minimum 60 hours):
1. Practice varied prep materials covering all GMAT topics, including GMAT books
2. Revise notes from the preparation material
3. Reattempt GMAT Official Guides and advanced questions
4. Continue taking mocks, monitoring progress
5. Dedicate extra time to weaker areas using the study material
Sixth month (minimum 75 hours):
1. Focus primarily on mock tests and revisions
2. Take a break one day before the actual exam
Modify the plan as needed, taking breaks when necessary. Study systematically, one topic at a time, from the GMAT books to avoid confusion.
Identifying Your Best GMAT Prep Book
Use official resources like the GMAT Official Guide published by GMAC (the makers of the GMAT). These books provide authentic questions and accurately represent the exam format and difficulty level. Following are other ways one can find the best GMAT preparation material:
1. Third-Party GMAT Book Reviews
Research reputable third-party book reviews to gauge the strengths and weaknesses of various best GMAT preparation books. Look for books that align with your specific needs and learning style.
2. Practice Thoroughly
Evaluate the quality of practice questions in each of the best GMAT books. High-quality questions that mimic the actual GMAT are essential for effective preparation and building the necessary skills.
3. Explanations and Strategies
Choose the best GMAT preparation books that offer detailed explanations and effective strategies for solving different question types. Clear explanations can deepen your understanding and enhance your problem-solving abilities.
4. Supplementary Resources
Consider the best GMAT books that provide supplementary resources like online question banks, video lessons, or additional practice materials to complement your learning journey.
Benefits of Having the Right GMAT Book
The best GMAT books, especially those from official sources, provide authentic GMAT-style questions that accurately represent the exam format, allowing you to familiarise yourself with the real test environment. The following are the benefits of finding the right books for GMAT:
1. The best GMAT preparation books offer comprehensive coverage of all sections and question types on the GMAT exam.
2. Quality GMAT books often include proven learning strategies, tips, and techniques from experienced instructors.
3. The best GMAT books provide detailed explanations for each question to help you understand the concepts.
4. Many of the best GMAT preparation books include practice tests, score reports, and performance analysis tools.
Additional Resources: GMAT Focus Official Prep
GMAC offers this GMAT preparation resource for free on their official partner website, MBA.com. Apart from the GMAT Official Guide, you can check out several resources and books for GMAT preparation. These free resources include:
- 6-Week Study Planner
- GMAT Focus Official Starter Kit
- GMAT Focus Official Focus Practice Exam 1
- GMAT Focus Official Starter Kit + Practice Exams 1 & 2 Bundle.
Students will have to sign up to the website to get access to these free resources on the website.
The format for GMAT exams changed in November 2023, leading to a lack of quality resources and books for GMAT preparation. However, when you are adamant about finding the best book for GMAT preparation can simplify a lot for the students. The books for GMAT preparation listed above offer a roadmap for your study plan in addition to providing you with detailed explanations on each topic for easier understanding and higher memory retention. Make sure to go through the GMAT eligibility criteria to understand whether you qualify for the exams.
