Customer Reviews

Cracking the GMAT with DVD, 2011 Edition

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was not going to buy this book, but I did see it at the library and I was pleasantly surprised. Most of the test takers are not really taking the GMAT to get better at Math and English: they just want to pass the test and score high.

This book does not focus heavily on the intricacies of the subjects, rather it teaches you how to get the best marks. It teaches the reader how to think like the tester and zero in on the right answer. Let's face it, the GMAT is not a professional certification: one does not have a professional obligation to remember Pythagoras theorem after you getting your Biz degree.

I am not sure about the folksy style of delivery from the authors, but I got used to this. Martz and Robinson analyse every style of question: math as well as the English. This analysis is what makes this book different. However, I believe that this style of tutoring is also present in the manhattam series.

However, this book does have a slew of tricks for the reader. Apparently, sometimes there are no tricks: one just has to know the stuff. There are few places where the author shows some uncanny (almost evil) GMAC questions meant to trap the guesser. It pays to know how these questions work.

Is this book necessary? Yes, in order to know how the questions are presented and how they are designed. Is this book enough? No. "Thinking like the tester" is nice to have in your back pocket: even with this book I would purchase the Official Guide as well and practice, practice, practice!

The DVD that comes with the book is a waste of plastic: two or three somewhat cool looking people explain what is essentially already in the book. A few sample questions are thrown in for pedagogical effect.

Compared with the 2010 "Live" Kaplan, and the McGraw Hill books, this book was more effective.

I just made up my mind to submit my application for MBA. Therefore, I must take the test in 7 weeks to meet the deadlines. I really feel accompanied by the authors page by page. Since I have not done serious maths in a while, the folksy writing style makes it easier to digest. I am actually having fun. It's a good place to start, I had no idea whatsoever of what was a GMAT test, but now I do and I will even go visit the test center in advance as they suggest in the book.

My goal is to use this book as a warm-up preparation this week, then for the next weeks to concentrate on a maximum of exercises from other editions.
DVD is not really necessary...

I waited till june 15 to but the new edition 2005 of this book.The software seems to have bugs. To review the tests they provide a new feature where we can upload results to the website. I thought it was a good strategy to get people to the website. But good strategies also need be well implemented...

After completing my first test I chose an option "upload results later"
Without uploading the results I was not able to see my score.I could review the questions and see where I had gone wrong but the software doesnt give you a score. Unfortunately I couldnt "upload results later" as I couldnt find out how to.

After completing the second test I chose upload options now. The software ftp'ed my results and mentioned that I will be recieving an email and that I can check my results online. I still waiting for the email. Although I was able to log in to the princetonreview web site I cant find a test result section on the website.

Does anyone know if they improved the CD rom for the 2005 edition?