I'm new. Any advice to start off?

Question

Hi everybody! I've just found this site, I think it will be helpful, though reading about so many skilled people get me feeling a bit intimidated (yes, I've already glanced through the related sticky topic...).

I'm a total newbie about the gmat: yesterday I spot a preparation book at the shop and I purchased it. It's Craking the GMAT by Princeton Review. 
Do you think it's a good book (or, at least, do you think it's good enough to start off)? Or have I just wasted money and should buy another one?

Thank you all!

Mishari · Answer

Welcome Olrac to the GMAT Club forums. I think you made the right step to join our community here and eventually you'll start appreciate this forum and its members when you raise the bar of your desired score on the GMAT.

Cracking the GMAT by PR is a very decent GMAT book for beginers. The book intruduces you to the idea of the GMAT exam and its construction [different sections and timing] . The book also introduces you to many basic and intermediate concepts in math and verbal. I believe Cracking the GMAT by PR and Kaplan books are the best ones out there for beginers.

Now, after you're done with the book DO NOT take the GMAT. You'll need to buy the Official Guide 11. It's made by the makers of the GMAT. it's not a learning tool with the same type of instructions as the Cracking gmat, it's more of an official practice source with 800 questions from previous GMAT exams, including answers and explanations.

Once you're done with the OG 11 start doing the 2 full-length practice tests "The GMATPrep" you can obtain from https://www.mba.com .

If you're aiming at 600-650 I bet you'll get enough prepration. If you're looking for above 700 then you may need Kaplan 800 and some other stuff.

The Main Key: one of the best preparation tools for the GMAT is this forum. participate and be an active member, post questions that you don't understand, answer questions posted by others, and read ALL the stickys in the forms and you'll see a HUGE difference in your perception and idea of the GMAT.

gablaze23 · Answer

I suggest you take the GMATprep before doing anything.. So you have a clear idea of where you at. The link for the program was posted by the person who replied before me. The quant section of the Princeton Review is very easy. VERY VERY EASY! So you gotta study some more.

CrazyHorse · Answer

No, do not waste a GMATPrep test just to see where you stand...unless you are a recent graduate or are naturally good at these tests, you will likely end up just wasting a test.

The Cracking the GMAT book is a GREAT book to start with (it was the first one I got as well). It has a very good overview of the test, and the strategies are very helpful. I thought the tests were good as well. Make sure you look at the breakdown of your score afterward, to see which areas were stronger/weaker than others, and review the answer explanations too (GMATPrep unfortunately doesn't have explanations, another reason not to use the tests until later...you need to learn very early on where you're going wrong). I didn't think the math section was easy myself, actually thought it was on par with the real thing.

Agreed on the OG. It's a must.

Olrac · Answer

Ok, thank you all!

So, here is what I'm gonna do:
- Reading "Cracking the GMAT"
- Practicing with questions on that book
- Reading the OG
- Try the Prep Test
- Reading some other book if necessary

Meanwhile, I'm going to keep in touch with this site... stressing you all with any question that will show up in my mind! :-)

ColumbiaDream · Answer

Olrac,
Do you have a good concept of the basics? In case you don't, you might want to think about purchasing the MGMAT books as well. You don't have to get all of them, but if you are weak in SC, DO get their SC book. It's great at discussing all the rules.

RycherX · Answer

If you're the average JOE, I'd recommend https://www.bellcurves.com in reinforcing your understanding of the basic math. I wouldn't touch any difficult concepts like permutations, combinations, etc... till the last week before your official test. Accurately answering all medium level questions in both math and verbals will get you to a 700. Even on the verbal section you can miss a some medium level questions and still do well Competition is stiffer in quantitative section. If you do well on all medium level questions, you'll naturally answer a decent portion of the difficult questions correctly. KEY: COVER YOUR WEAKNESSES on all medium level questions. You need 90% accuracy.

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I'm new. Any advice to start off?

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