GRE/GMAT Math Review 5th ED (Arco GRE GMAT Math Review) [Paperback]

Arco (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0028632478 | ISBN-13: 978-0028632476 | Publication Date: June 6, 1999 | Edition: 5th

Here is the ideal self-study math course for all graduate school admissions tests. Includes topic-by-topic review and practice, hundreds of sample problems with worked-through solutions, and test-busting techniques for special problem types. Line drawings, diagrams and charts.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 390 pages
• Publisher: Arco; 5th edition (June 6, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028632478
• ISBN-13: 978-0028632476
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,295,849 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Went from 39 (57%) to 50 (96%) for a 760 GMAT finish., November 8, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: GRE/GMAT Math Review 5th ED (Arco GRE GMAT Math Review) (Paperback)

My quant score killed me the first time I took the test--57 percentile. I had thought I was prepared with the general Kaplan GMAT book with CD-ROM. Wrong.

For the quant-challenged, there are two general prep strategies. One, you can dish out a couple grand for Kaplan tutoring. Personally, I recommend the following three-book approach, assuming you have time. Get the ARCO GRE-GMAT Math Review. It is basic, but trust me, if you don't know/review the basics cold, you are done. This book would also be a fine starting point for people who would score less than 57%, so don't let that put you off. The section on word problems was particularly helpful. Each topical area (such as factoring) has practice problems, and each section (such as Algebra) has a practice test to reinforce what you are reviewing (or learning).

The second book I recommend is the Kaplan GRE-GMAT Math Workbook. It will take you the next step, assuming that you know the basic math and getting more into how to manipulate certain figures and math concepts to get the answer you need. Test taking strategy is also addressed in this book, which it is not in the ARCO. There are far more practice problems in the Kaplan than in the ARCO, and they are divided into "Basic", "Intermediate" and "Advanced."

I used only these two books, and my quant score went from 57 percentile to 96 percentile. I reviewed for two weeks, one book a week, about 4 hours per day.

I called this a three-book approach; the third book is one that I wish I had bought--GMAC's current edition of previous tests. Practicing in this book would probably have increased my confidence a bit more going into the test--I must admit that I did not fully trust Kaplan's problems to be truly representative of the real GMAT. Judging from my results, this mistrust was unfounded. I did use GMAC's PowerPrep software, which you get when you register for the GMAT. A big drawback with PowerPrep is that it uses the questions from a paper test, and just levers them into the CAT format. The questions don't really get harder if you answer them correctly (as of November 8, 2002). Use them for math practice, but keep in mind that the CAT is designed to challenge you by offering you harder and harder questions as long as you keep getting them right. Don't learn a time managment strategy on the paper tests and expect to use it on the CAT. Don't expect your CAT to be as easy as the paper tests.

I also got Kaplan's GMAT 800 at a local bookstore, and returned it two days later. After the other two books, I could not see that it was helping me much at all. I don't recommend that one.
Not for math anyway--I am not addressing verbal anything in this review.

One final note--none of the books address probability, which exists on the GMAT in rudimentary form. I didn't need to know permutations or combinations either time I took the test, but that's not to say that you will not--I just don't know. I did need to know basic probability calculation, and that's not in any of the books above. So, spend an hour at the library and nail that down--it's not difficult.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for students with Math phobia., September 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: GRE/GMAT Math Review 5th ED (Arco GRE GMAT Math Review) (Paperback)

This book is essential for anyone who needs a refresher in Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry. It teaches the rules very well -- better than many math courses I have taken. It is extremely beneficial in increasing GMAT score. Definitely worth the investment. I also used the Princeton version. I found it less effective in teaching math concepts.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible help for students that hate numbers, August 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: GRE/GMAT Math Review 5th ED (Arco GRE GMAT Math Review) (Paperback)

Sorry if you find grammar mistakes, but my first lenguage is spanish. In high school my nightmare was math, I even studied Political Science because it had the least amount of quantitive classes. Now I have to face the challenge of the GMAT, lacking from any proficiency in numbers. From all the books I have read, The GRE-GMAT Math review is with not doubt the best one available in the market. It has easy examples, step by step, that make you feel that you are understanding things you otherwise would not imagine. If you have time for reading it, be sure is a good investment. BUY IT!!!!