Cracking the GMAT with Sample Tests on CD-ROM, 2004 Edition (Graduate Test Prep) (Paperback)

by Princeton Review (Author), Geoff Martz (Author), Adam Robinson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
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
·Use Process of Elimination to solve tough Data Sufficiency problems
·Master even the toughest sections: Reading Comprehension, Sentence Correction, Data Sufficiency, Geometry, Writing Assessment, and more

Study the techniques and strategies in this book, and then practice them on the 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.

From the Inside Flap
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
·Use Process of Elimination to solve tough Data Sufficiency problems
·Master even the toughest sections: Reading Comprehension, Sentence Correction, Data Sufficiency, Geometry, Writing Assessment, and more

Study the techniques and strategies in this book, and then practice them on the 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.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Princeton Review; Bk&CD-Rom edition (June 17, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375763244
• ISBN-13: 978-0375763243
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #723,529 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

85 of 85 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable, March 4, 2004

By	"scsweeney" (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews

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!

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars By far the best instruction on the market, January 10, 2004

By	Sophie Martin (Albuquerque, NM United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm a GMAT tutor with 15+ years working with successful students. Here's what I suggest for the GMAT:

1. Use the Kaplan CD (as cheesy as the presentation is, the tests are very good). I've heard complaints that the prep tests from Kaplan are too hard, and I have to disagree with the point being made by these students. The only way, on a computer-adaptive test, to increase your score is to test using HARDER, not easier problems. I may kick ass at medium level questions, but unless I want a medium level score, practicing at a lower level hurts rather than helps.

2. Ignore the Kaplan book. Use The Princeton Review books (either Cracking the GMAT or GMAT Workouts for Math and Verbal) for tricks and psychology. Try the Official Guide or Kaplan for extra problems and basic review issues (but use as much of the Princeton psychology as you can -- the Official Guide encourages you to do the problems straight, and that's a huge waste of time). The Princeton tests are buggy for sure (Hello! Princeton Review! Fix this!) but are still fairly accurate.

3. Take as many practice tests as you can. That means Kaplan, Princeton Review, PowerPrep. Arco, Barrons, Petersons, and Dummies are all awful. Don't bother with their instruction or their tests. On Princeton Review and PowerPrep, knock 30 points off your score, just to be safe.

4. Check out your local library. Many public libraries have crazy collections of old, out of print Official Guides, chock full o paper-and-pencil tests going back a good 20 years. By all means, use these -- they're a goldmine of practice questions.

Good luck!

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK, October 27, 2003

By	"sarah_604" (Austin, TX United States) - See all my reviews

Why you should not purchase this book:
(1) The CD is FULL of bugs.
(2) The SAME question on the CD may have a different answer. (For example, for question 3, sometimes the answer is (a) othertimes (b)!)
(3) The answers are not explained on the CD (So, if you don't understand why something is wrong, you never will)
(4) My sample GMAT scores are: 420, 780, 570, and 675. Consistancy?!?!?
(5) The book itself is alright, but I wish I bought the Kapalan book. I used Kapalan when I studied for the GRE and raised my score signifigantly.

I would STRONGLY advise against anyone purchasing this book. I feel it's a complete waste of $$.