Kaplan GMAT [With CDROM]

by Stanley H Kaplan Educational Centers, Donna Ratajczak, Kaplan Inc., et al.

This Graduate Management Admission Test book-and-software combination is designed for the many students who wish to prepare for this important exam on their own. The CD-ROM contains interactive... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684870088
• ISBN13: 9780684870083
• Release Date: March 2000
• Publisher: Kaplan Interactive
• Length: 371 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 8.3" x 10.9"

Customer Reviews

To get that GMAT advantage, this is a "MUST BUY!"

The Kaplan GMAT reviewer is INDISPENSABLE because of the companion cd. To those taking the GMAT, the secrets to success are practice, practice, and practice. No other test preparation tool gives you the kind of computer exam practice you'll need as the Kaplan cd.The Kaplan book is so-so. However, you will find its advice on "backsolving and plugging in the answer" invaluable strategies during the real GMAT. Further, the GMAT math reference containing 100 math concepts (easy,intermediate,difficult) is a good starting point for those rusty in their math.But the companion cd is something else. It has one diagnostic exam, 4 sample exams, and 3 sample exams each for sentence correction, critical reasoning, reading comprehension, problem solving and data sufficiency.Many people think that by just knowing the concepts, they'd do fine in the GMAT. But a computer adaptive exam is a totally different ballgame. The winning formula depends not only on one's knowledge but also on one's speed and fast thinking. Remember, in the quantitative section, one must answer 37 questions in 75 minutes, and in the verbal section, one should finish 41 questions in 75 minutes. Panic is the greatest enemy because it can block your ability to think. One should go into the exams mentally and physically prepared to tackle the gruelling 3 1/2 - 4 hour exams.Thus, you need to practice under true test conditions. The Kaplan cd is your best resource that helps simulate true testing conditions.Aside from the Kaplan, purchase the GMAT official reviewer by ETS. This is a must have too because it has hundreds of sample questions. Though a must-have, the GMAT reviewer will merely help one weave through the kinds of questions that may be asked but does not prepare one to deal with the time-pressure that one experiences in the real GMAT. Of course, the official reviewer comes with the powerprep software containing 2 sample exams. But these exams rehash the questions asked in the official reviewer. (Tip: Don't dwell too much on the topics on sets and the discussion on probabilities. They will just confuse you. The discussions were too academic. The Kaplan discussion on probabilities was better. But the official reviewer is a good resource for topics on arithmetic, algebra, geometry and coordinate geometry.)As a final resource, buy the Peterson Guide to the CAT GMAT. It has lots of sample questions too taken under true test conditions. (Junk its advice on timing - it does not work. Tip: think quick and answer quickly). Plus, its reviewers on Math concepts and sentence correction are top-notch!Believe me when I say that your success in the GMAT will depend on a large part on the PRACTICE YOU GET UNDER TRUE TEST CONDITIONS. I did not exactly get a score of 700 (+) but very close to that. I could not have gotten my near-700 score without the Kaplan. (Remember: A high GMAT score is very important but is not everything. You also need good grades, good work experience, g

Kaplan raised my score by over 100 points!!

Although the book has some interesting exercises, its value pales in comparison to that of the companion CD. The CD, stocked with a diagnostic test, four practice tests, and at least three practice sets for each question type (data sufficiency, problem solving, sentence correction, reading comprehension, and critical reasoning), is an invaluable part of any study regimen. The quantitative questions are harder than those on the "real" GMAT (a popular sentiment), whereas the verbal questions are right on. So, a word of advice, don't be discouraged by low scores on the practice tests as they tend to underestimate your true ability.In addition to the Kaplan book, another good resource is the PowerPrep software offered by ETS. PowerPrep's practice tests offer you the best approximation of your true score, familiarize you with the interface used on the real GMAT, and help you pinpoint areas for improvement. Before I purchased the Kaplan book I downloaded the Powerprep software and took the first practice exam cold. I scored a 660. I then bought this book and Princeton Review's Verbal Workout (another excellent book). I took all of Kaplan's practice exams, scoring 590, 610, 640 and 650 on consecutive tests. Two days before the GMAT, I took PowerPrep's second practice test and scored a 740, a sizeable improvement. I've no doubt most people experience the same improvement, giving them considerable confidence going into the exam (confidence that helped me score a 780).The bottom line - buy this book. Despite somewhat forgettable lessons and annoying typos in some of the reading passages, this book/CD succeeds. It will help you work out any timing issues and, unless you're already at 700 or above, it WILL raise your score.

Kaplan Delivers

Although the book has some interesting exercises, its value pales in comparison to that of the companion CD. The CD, stocked with a diagnostic test, four practice tests, and at least three practice sets for each question type (data sufficiency, problem solving, sentence correction, reading comprehension, and critical reasoning), is an invaluable part of any study regimen. The quantitative questions are harder than those on the "real" GMAT (a popular sentiment expressed in most of the reviews), whereas the verbal questions are right on. So, a word of advice, don't be discouraged by low scores on the practice tests as they tend to underestimate your true ability.In addition to the Kaplan book, another good resource is the PowerPrep software offered by ETS. PowerPrep's practice tests offer you the best approximation of your true score, familiarize you with the interface used on the real GMAT, and help you pinpoint areas for improvement. Before I purchased the Kaplan book I downloaded the Powerprep software and took the first practice exam cold. I scored a 660. I then bought this book and Princeton Review's Verbal Workout (another excellent book). I took all of Kaplan's practice exams, scoring 590, 610, 640 and 650 on consecutive tests. Two days before the GMAT, I took PowerPrep's second practice test and scored a 740, a sizeable improvement. I've no doubt most people experience the same improvement, giving them considerable confidence going into the exam (confidence that helped me score a 780).The bottomline - buy this book. Despite somewhat forgettable lessons and annoying typos in some of the reading passages, this book/CD succeeds. It will help you work out any timing issues and, unless you're already at 700 or above, it WILL raise your score.

Practice with Kaplan, Ignore Princeton Review!

This book comes with a CD-ROM with interactive multimedia presentations on how to increase your chances of doing a GREAT job on the GMAT. The book is very good for those who learn best through that medium. I found the CD-ROM lessons to be excellent reviews of each type of question you'll find in the Quantitative, Verbal, and essay sections. Plus -- and this is the real value -- there are dozens of practice tests in addition to 4 complete practice computer-adaptive tests that simulate the GMAT's tests. You can keep track of all of your scores on these practice tests, and with graphs you can visualize the progress you make as you practice. Contrast this with the Princeton Review book w/CD-ROM. The book has ridiculous, self-defeating strategies. Plus, the quality of writing and explanations are much lower in the Princeton Review book than in the Kaplan book. The CD-ROM only has a smattering of practice tests and 4 full-length tests. Buyer beware: The Princeton Review CD-ROM is sparse and contains NO reviews or lessons, whereas the Kaplan CD-ROM is excellent and a wonderful piece of highly produced interactive, educational multimedia. Avoid the Princeton Review if you can get your hands on this Kaplan GMAT book/CD-ROM!I only had 1 week with this Kaplan book, but my score increased by 160 points in one week of practice and review. This was AFTER I had pored over the meager Princeton Review book. Don't make my mistake. Get Kaplan.[Note: I originally wanted to avoid Kaplan because I had a bias against this huge test prep company, but when I saw their book I realized that they quite simply had the superior product. (I'm writing this immediately after returning from the test center and you should know that this book prepared me excellently for the test! I scored higher than I thought possible.)]

Impressed

Although the book itself does not differ greatly from the other prep textbooks, the software that comes with it is truly exceptional! Not only does it offer 4 full GMAT practice exams, but it also features virtual instructors that take you through all the strategies of taking the test, the drill questions, math and verbal reviews, and your OWN personalized study plan compiled after you take the diagnostic test. The software even includes a set of games that let you practice your GMAT skills in a fun way. While I do own most of the existing GMAT prep software kits, if I'd have to choose only one of them, I'd pick this one, and go with ETS's Official Guide instead of their Powerprep (same questions, less $ to pay).