Best GMAT Books of 2023

Best GMAT Prep Books

Usually these books are a great starting point - they get you familiarized with the test format, sections, timing, and main strategies. Sometimes books are not the best tool and there are low-cost GMAT Courses out there, but this discussion is about books.




The first column lists book categories and the purpose behind them and the other columns list approaches to the GMAT from average to most comprehensive. These are designed to copliment the GMAT Study plan thread.






1. GMAT Official Guide - 2021 Ed
Published by the creators of the GMAT. Must have to access to 1,100+ real GMAT questions but lacks any strategies.
Strengths:
1. 1,100 real GMAT questions
2. The practice questions follow actual GMAT test patterns - great to have one's ear trained
3. Online system but sometimes hit and miss
Weaknesses:
1. The book does not contain any strategies
2. It does have a few short review sections but they are very weak
3. Mostly low and medium difficulty questions. Not very helpful to a person aiming to get above 700.
Other Notes: OG 2021 Directory with difficulty and topics





2. Manhattan GMAT (MGMAT) Guides
The go-to book set for GMAT Prep and probably one of the best options out there
Strengths:
1. Good balance between test-taking strategies and background theory explanations
2. Thorough
3. Access to 6 MGMAT CAT's
4. Additional online practice question banks (different for each book)
Weaknesses:
1. The latest edition has moved some of the content online which has made it less comprehensive. See the comparison of the last 2 editions here.







3. Veritas Prep 12 GMAT Guides Bundle
Strong challenger to the Manhattan GMAT set
Strengths:
1. Very in-depth overview of every GMAT subject in 12 dedicated guides (each is 100-200 pages long)
2. Comes with a test simulation booklet and a basic math book for those who need extra help (MGMAT charges extra for these)
3. Comes with 7 CATs
4. Has more practice questions than the Manhattan set
Weaknesses:
1. Could have used less paper - some books have only one question per page
2. Expensive! $250 for new on Amazon but you can find a good used deal.






4. Kaplan GMAT Prep Plus 2021
Recommended. Well-rounded guide for GMAT preparation. Questions are usually harder than GMAT and sometimes a bit off; however, the book comes with 6 GMAT Tests
Strengths:
1. Good review of fundamentals and valuable strategies - good first GMAT Book
2. 6 GMAT Tests included for the price of $38 with free shipping from Amazon
Weaknesses:
1. Several questions overlap with Kaplan 800 book
2. Some areas such as combinations or probability are not covered in sufficient detail
Other Notes: Updates have been lacking from edition to edition






5. Kaplan GMAT 800
This book is a great idea - create a resource for those who already mastered the lower levels of GMAT, do not require any information about the test or basic strategies but need to focus on higher difficulty questions, but it has its weaknesses, one of them, not living up to its name. Though a great marketing name, many feel it should realistically set expectations as a 650-700 bookStrengths:
1. Good for additional practice questions as a supplement
2. Contains more advanced strategies
3. Saves time for advanced test-takers
Weaknesses:
1. Review of mathematical content is not thorough enough and actually fairly basic
2. Guessing as well as Plug-in-the-number strategies are overused
3. Some questions are not very realistic (do not follow the GMAT patterns)
4. Few 750-level questions




6. Test Simulation Booklet with Marker ("Scratch Paper")
The laminated booklet and marker are exactly as the ones you will get at the test center. Great product to get familiar with the special laminated scratch paper.

This is only for the physical test-center GMAT. For the GMAT Online, see this post for the whiteboard options

Other Books You May Find Helpful:

Princeton Review 1,138 GMAT Questions
Not a guidebook and contains only practice questions.
Strengths:
1. Review of factorials, probability, combinations, groups, Yes/No DS, assumption, and parallel structure questions
2. Good split between PS and DS in math
Weaknesses:
1. Some errors in explanations have been reported
2. Weaker RC section
3. Verbal questions are a bit off but all non OG Verbal questions are off.






Feel free to suggest other books you have liked or critique my recommendations :wink: