Cracking the GMAT with DVD, 2009 Edition (Graduate School Test Preparation) (Paperback)

by Princeton Review (Author) "In the next few chapters, you'll find the strategies that have given our GMAT students the edge for the past 20 years..." (more)
Key Phrases: comedic first novel, current scoring level, first phrase states, Joe Bloggs, United States, Process of Elimination (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Cracking the GMAT offers major features on DVD, including engaging video tutorials from The Princeton Review’s top instructors. We also bring you over 200 practice questions in the book and exclusive free access to 4 practice exams and expert advice online.

Of course, you’ll also get all the test-prep techniques you expect from The Princeton Review. In Cracking the GMAT, we’ll teach you how to think like the test writers and

·Solve complex sentence correction problems by recognizing key errors
·Crack tough data sufficiency questions using simple techniques
·Practice online with full-length tests, lessons, and drills
·Get the most out of your prep time with the study plan that’s right for you

We give you plenty of practice problems to help you master our proven techniques. Our practice questions are just like those you’ll see on the real GMAT–but with detailed answers and explanations for every question.

From the Inside Flap
If It's on the GMAT, It's in This Book

The Princeton Review realizes that acing the GMAT is very different from getting straight A's in school. We don't try to teach you everything there is to know about math and English–only the techniques you'll need to score higher on the exam. There's a big difference. In Cracking the GMAT, we'll teach you how to think like the test writers and

-Eliminate answer choices that look right but are planted to fool you
-Raise your score by practicing with our GMAT Warm-Up Test, Scoring Guide, and Explanations
-Master even the toughest sections: Reading Comprehension, Sentence Correction, Data Sufficiency, Critical Reasoning, and more
-Practice online with full-length GMAT exams and instant score analysis

Study the techniques and strategies in this book, and then perfect your skills on more than 200 practice questions inside. We also give you four full-length practice GMAT exams on CD-ROM with instant score reporting. Our practice test questions are just like the ones you'll see on the actual GMAT, and we fully explain every solution. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 608 pages
• Publisher: Princeton Review; Pap/DVD edition (June 10, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375428593
• ISBN-13: 978-0375428593
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.4 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #8,207 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money., July 9, 2008

By	D. Rich (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book does a nice job of introducing the format of the GMAT, what it is, etc. If you are completely ignorant about what the GMAT is, then it may be worth your time to drive over to the local bookstore and thumb through the first couple of chapters. Beyond that there is very little useful information to be found in this book. In fact, I think that the strategies outlined for the quantitative section are simply misleading and wrong.

For example, early on the book describes a guy named "Joe Bloggs," who is essentially a complete idiot who did not prepare at all for the exam. Most every math problem explanation shows one or two answer choices that Joe would have selected because either they are intermediate solutions (solutions that are found during necessary, but preliminary steps on the way to the final solution), or they are just "too obvious." That's real cute, and perhaps makes people more comfortable with the test, but let me tell you that it will not help you on test day, and will likely hurt you.

The best thing that you can do in your preparation is learn the basics cold. Do this by frequenting some of the GMAT prep site forums, where a plethora of practice problems with expert solutions can be found. To sum up the quantitative tutorials in this book- "Make sure that you find out what the question is asking, and make sure that you do not stop short of the full solution, as they will tempt you with answer choices that they know you will encounter during your work to solve the problem." Well, that is sound advice, and much harder in practice than it sounds, but hardly worth basing an entire book upon.

If you are somebody who is really struggling with sentence correction, I would actually recommend that section, as I feel it does do a nice job of summing up the ideal approach to those questions.

In closing, I would say that if you are somebody who is simply trying to get to a 550-600 score, then this book may well be right up your alley, as the concepts are introduced in a very friendly and frankly, childish way. However, if you aspire to a 700+ score, this book is beneath you, and you really need to pass this one up. I bought this book on a whim early in my preparation, because I heard good reviews of it, but promptly closed it and set it aside for the duration of my studies and only used it once for the aforementioned reasons, and I scored a 750. I honestly believe that the reason these books sell so well is that reading them is in a way therapeutic, as it makes you feel comfortable with the test. Trust me that that is not a good thing. You have to make a realistic assessment of your weaknesses, and work to improve those, not waste your time practicing some cutesy methods that you won't have time to use on test day.

50 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, Don't Get The DVD, July 21, 2007

By	K. Moulton - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Cracking the GMAT with DVD, 2008 Edition (Graduate School Test Preparation) (Paperback)

The DVD is very low budget and does not give very useful information. The DVD is short, with only 2 or 3 example questions from each the verbal and quantitative sections. Not a good effort. This is the first book review I have ever written and I only wrote it because I felt so incredibly ripped off by the DVD. Get the book, but not the DVD.

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Getting Most out of This book, December 4, 2004

By	AA (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cracking the GMAT with Sample Tests on CD-ROM, 2005 Edition (Graduate Test Prep) (Paperback)

I bought this book as my first GMAT prep guide because I had heard a lot about Princeton Review series. From the very beginning I felt that writers of this book hate ETS. They kept talking about how ETS doesn't care about real intelligence or capabilities but only about money.
That said, the book was helpful, even though a little inconsistent at times. Here are all the positives and negatives:

Positives:
1) Great Quantitative section. You will learn all high school math quickly and efficiently.
2) The tricks and tips described in this book really work. The POE and Joe Bloggs become part of your problem solving strategy.
3) Covers all aspects of preparation, from the day you buy the book, to the application strategy

Negatives:
1) Seriously flawed AWA section. Everything they said about writing a great essay goes contrary to what ETS suggests. I would rather trust ETS than Princeton.
2) Inconsistencies confuse the reader: Sometimes they talk about moving on as quickly as possible. At other times they advice spending enough time on some questions.
3) Wrong answers: A number of answers provided by them are wrong confusing the reader even further.
4) Illogical explanations are provided for some of the concepts. It seems the writers were in a hurry to finish the book.

CONCLUSION: Worth Buying but you cannot rely upon this one book alone. For top 10 schools, score of 700 is average today. This means you cannot afford to make many errors. Princeton is not sufficient to gaurantee that. You must download the free material provided by ETS at www.mba.com and buy a few other books like Kaplan's.