The PowerScore GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible [Paperback]

David M. Killoran (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 1, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0972129634 | ISBN-13: 978-0972129633 | Edition: 1st

The PowerScore GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible will teach you how to break down GMAT argumentation, how to recognize GMAT question types, and how to separate correct answers from incorrect answers. You will improve your accuracy in answering questions and your speed as well. If you are shooting for the highest score possible, the Critical Reasoning Bible will help you maximize your performance. The approaches discussed in the Critical Reasoning Bible are also useful when attacking Reading Comprehension questions. The Critical Reasoning Bible is supplemented by an exclusive website that provides additional material for the book, including suggested study plans and answers to frequently asked student questions.

About the Author
Dave Killoran, a graduate of Duke University, is an expert in test preparation with over 20 years of experience teaching classes for graduate school admissions tests. In addition to having written PowerScore's legendary LSAT Bible Series, and many other popular publications, Dave has overseen the preparation of thousands of students and founded two national test preparation companies. Read the acclaim for some of PowerScore's other publications: The PowerScore LSAT Logic Games Bible, The PowerScore GMAT Sentence Correction Bible, and The PowerScore GMAT Verbal Bible.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible is a terrific book. However, I didn't read it to prepare for the GMAT. I read it to better understand company assessment/evaluation exams. Many companies hire outside firms specializing in assessments (tests), to help evaluate management personnel. Your book helped me become more familiar with these types of corporate exams. Also, it's helped me in my own outlook and approach to conducting interviews. Thank you. Elizabeth Sanchez --PowerScore student comment

About the Author

Dave Killoran, a graduate of Duke University, is an expert in test preparation with over 20 years of teaching experience and a 99th percentile score on a Law Services-administered LSAT. In addition to having written PowerScore's legendary LSAT Bible Series, and many other popular publications, Dave has overseen the preparation of thousands of students and founded two national LSAT preparation companies.

Read the acclaim for Dave's other books, The PowerScore LSAT Logical Reasoning Bible and The PowerScore LSAT Logic Games Bible.

Product Details

• Paperback: 305 pages
• Publisher: Powerscore Publishing; 1st edition (August 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972129634
• ISBN-13: 978-0972129633
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,960 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > Business & Investing > Job Hunting & Careers > GMAT

More About the Author

Dave Killoran, a graduate of Duke University, is an expert in test preparation with over 20 years of teaching experience and a 99th percentile score on a Law Services-administered LSAT. In addition to having written PowerScore's legendary LSAT Bible Series, and many other popular publications, Dave has overseen the preparation of thousands of students and founded two national LSAT preparation companies.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Defenitly Deserves the Title. (Add "And A Quick Reference too!" March 25, 2007

By K. Zuriqat

Format:Paperback

Defenitely deserves the title and what'smore, this book can be a very quick reference, making it very practical and helpful.

Don't be afraid to buy a whole book for this question type. All the other books (Princeton, Kaplan, Official Guide, etc...) do not cover this GMAT speciality topic in depth. This book will clear all your doubts about how to solve and how to think about CR questions. It also provides a quick reference. For example, if you think you need to review how to best think about "Weaken" questions, you can very easily in five minutes read the section summary and be confident again. Tomorrow is my exam and in 1/2

an hour I reviewd the whole book!

This book clearly divides the CR question types into ten and not eight like most of the other question types and believe me knowing the question type is a fundamental that you need to master. Even more, it gives you innovative specific techniques for each question type, example, Fact Test, Variance Test, Assumption Negation Techniques. All these techniques are simplifying techniques that allow you to intelligently tackle CR questions.

The book also discusses why its techniques are different from and better than those of other books. Eg: This book unlike Princeton (I am not Against Princeton, in fact I think it is much better that Kaplan) teachs you and convinces you to read the Argument first and then questin.

By exactly knowing what you should do for eah question type you can become an expert in solving CR questions. The thinking process becomes "automatic" one, that is you don't have to think really hard because the strategies that you learned become natural.

I recommend this book to anyone seriously preparing for the GMAT.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ultimate Answer to Your Critical Reasoning Needs April 24, 2009

By GMAT Club (Expert)

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is the best CR book out there. Though pretty similar to Manhattan GMAT book, it offers more practice questions in the book and has a slightly better overview of the Critical Reasoning questions.

~~~ Strengths: ~~~
1. In-depth overview of the Critical Reasoning strategies and approaches to questions
2. Clearly divides the CR question types and provides specific strategy for each type as well as the pitfalls and common errors. You will also get to know how the CR questions are made.
3. Good quality GMAT-like practice questions
4. Created by the authors of the best LSAT books (LSAT logic section is much harder than CR on the GMAT; there is actually a decent amoount of overlap in this book with the LSAT book). Speaking of which, for extra hardcore (and absolutely not necessary but still), you can get the PowerScore LR book (comes with quite a few LSAT questions)

~~~ Weaknesses: ~~~
1. Could use more practice questions (more than mgmat though); you will need to find another source of CR questions such as GMAT Official guide 12 or the verbal supplement to the Official Guide (though the verbal OG has questions on the easier side)
2. Some explanations are too convoluted
3. No tests or online excercises/additional content

~~~~ My Suggestions ~~~~
- Read explanations to every question. Even if you got a question right, it does not mean, you solved it correctly (that is you used the correct approach or found all the shortcusts). You will be surpised sometimes and will pick up helpful tips even from explanations of questions you answered correctly
- Follow the actual strategies (DUH). This is probably the most common mistake people make - they start inventing their own approaches. Don't do it until you have a high verbal score. If you don't, just follow!
- If you don't have any Manhattan GMAT books, you want to get at least one, as each comes with access to 6 online CAT tests (these tests are worth the purchase). There is not a whole lot of value to get both Powerscore CR and MGMAT CR; the content is by large the same.

Good luck on your GMAT!
BB, Founder of GMAT Club
GMAT 750 (q49, v42)

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for CR and RC, too! September 2, 2009

By J. Chiu

Format:Paperback

I took my first GMAT and scored 670 (Q44 V38). After evaluating my performance, I realized that CR was definitely a weak spot, so I browsed [...] and found many recommendations for PowerScore's CR Bible. I purchased the book just two weeks before my GMAT re-take and studied the book religiously. After a basic understanding of the principles (identifying premise and conclusion, etc...), I re-took the GMAT and scored 750 (Q49 V44). As you can see, my verbal score jumped six points - I attribute much of that improvement to the principles I learned in this book.

So, get this book early in your GMAT preparation and understand these fundamentals before tackling the OG problems. Good luck!