If you need closer to 1,700 than 1,100 real GMAT questions, then buy the 3-book bundle--otherwise the OG is enough.I’m a Harvard grad, 99% GMAT scorer and professional tutor/coach since 2002. I have personally taken the GMAT 5 times, with highs of 770 composite, 50/51 Quant, 48/51 Verbal (1 wrong), 8/8 IR (2 times) and 6.0 AWA (4 times), and I have scored in the 700s all 5 times I have taken the exam.
The
GMAT Official Guide 2020 Bundle (currently $50) receives my firm recommendation because it provides a great source of around 1,700 real GMAT practice questions at a decent price. It contains the following 3 books:
1) The
GMAT OG 2020 (currently $30):
https://www.amazon.com/GMAT-Official-Guide-2020-Online/dp/11195760672) The GMAT
OG Quant Review 2020 (currently $14):
https://www.amazon.com/GMAT-Official-Guide-Quantitative-Review/dp/11195760833) The GMAT
OG Verbal Quantitative Review 2020 (currently $15):
https://www.amazon.com/GMAT-Official-Guide-Verbal-Review/dp/1119576113It also includes access to an online version of the questions in the 3 books, as well as free access to the GMAT 2020 mobile app. However, since
the Official Guide (
OG) itself has over 1,000 questions by itself, it is worth asking yourself whether it is worth the extra $20 for access to an additional 600 GMAT questions in print.
This newest edition of the
GMAT Official Guide (
OG) Bundle is still the gold standard for realistic GMAT practice. For optimal results, use it in combination with other learning and strategy guides. If you think that you need all 3 books at once, then go ahead and buy this bundle to save a few dollars on the individual books: However, keep in mind that many students buy the bundle and end up only having the time to use
the Official Guide ($30), which by itself has 1,000 questions (the additional 58 Integrated Reasoning questions are accessible only through the companion website, accessible with a code, due to their multimedia nature).
You might also want to consider purchasing the 2019 edition instead. Everyone always wants the newest edition, but sometimes the price difference can be significant, and the questions on the GMAT haven’t changed at all since 2012, so older editions of the
OG are still helpful (though the structure of the test has changed slightly).
I recommend the “blind review” method, where you buy two books: one for taking notes and one for keeping blank so you can re-try questions without bias.
Is this book enough for a full preparation? For most students, the answer is no: although the very best source of practice questions, the GMAT
OG Bundle is lacking from a learning and strategy standpoint. In addition, the answer explanations in the books are often convoluted, overly simplistic and/or incomplete. Thus, it is a good idea to use online forums such as GMAT Club (which provide answer explanations to official questions, as well as question classifications and links to similar practice questions), other GMAT strategy books such as “Ace the GMAT: Master the GMAT in 40 Days” by Brandon Royal, and of course plenty of computer-based practice tests to help you decode this complex standardized exam. If you still need more help, then consider a class, an online learning program, and/or a private GMAT tutor.
For my full list of personal GMAT prep recommendations, google "GMAT Action Plan: How to Study and Prepare for the Graduate Management Admission Test."
Best of luck on your GMAT and beyond,
-Brian
Updated version here:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/RHAQJ9IP8B7O5