Never owned an OG book before. Advice please!

Question

Hello,

I have never purchased an OG book or bundle before. I read through a few posts on here and the general consensus is that the 2023-2024 version is mostly 2022-version with a few new questions added.

First question: If I were to invest in a new purchase today, should I buy:
1. OG BUNDLE (three books: OG, Quant and Verbal)
Or 
2. Purchase used OG 2022 bundle

Second question: I see a mixed reaction to whether one should buy OG bundle versus JUST the official guide book. Again, if I were to invest, should I get all three books so I can practice make perfect or just one official guide book?

Thank you in advance!

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bb · Answer

Hi. It’s a simple question that we have a complicated answer 😂

you actually want to buy a brand new book, and I would recommend getting the latest edition, brand new because the data insights questions are accessible online with the unique code that comes with the book.

You can buy just the main official guide if you want more questions, you can buy all of them but you can also just wait that is what I would recommend to you.

There is because there are new additions coming out at the end of May, early June, and you may as well buy the newer additions with newer questions. But don’t delay your purchase of your prep just for the sake of buying the newer books because the new books contain only 15% percent new questions usually and 85% is still the old content.

So bottom line, buy new 2023–2024, main official guide and then buy the other ones when you need them.

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hughng92 · Answer

Thank you so much. I have started my study about 2 weeks ago. Not really following any rigid strategy or study plan.

I have been a bit overwhelmed by how helpful this forum is, ironically: simply because it has so many useful posts that I don’t know where to start. I just need to find out when a good time is for me to start taking a mock test.

You should laugh at me when I say this but I have not even taken a diagnostic test at all but I have been reading PowerScore for verbal preparation.

Will wait until the newer versions of the OG then I will make a purchase. I won’t plan on applying for my MBA program until next year anyway.

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bb · Answer

It is all good - I have taken my GMAT without holding the official guide in my hand (pretty stupid mistake) so don't feel too bad about yourself.
I would suggest that you not stretch your prep more than 3-4 months and definitely not more than 6 months. Otherwise, you will forget what you learned in month 1. GMAT is not like lifting weights but more like a labyrinth. You have to remember small minute details to eek out a high score and only when you can collectively bring all of these little details to the test, do you get there. Studying over a long period of time is not productive as many people burn out, get complacent, etc. Instead, I suggest finding a 3-4 month stretch and go heavy and deep.

Here is one area to start to make your life a bit easier perhaps if you have not found it already:
https://gmatclub.com/forum/welcome-to-g ... 21677.html

hughng92 · Answer

Very helpful for the advice and the link. Appreciate it!

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bb · Answer

Just noticed you registered in 2017! That's some planning! 💪😂

hughng92 · Answer

I had thought of doing an MBA and then my banking hours kicked in…which pushed me to give up. I am determined this time.

🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

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AjiteshArun · Answer

Hi hughng92,

I recommend the bundle. The price difference is (relatively) small, and most test takers will find the additional official questions helpful.

hughng92 · Answer

Thank you friend.

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KarishmaB · Answer

I see that most of your questions are already addressed by BB and Ajitesh above so will not repeat.
You can further check out this video which discusses a 6 step approach made for beginners to GMAT: 
 https://youtu.be/Q2ItDtZpN7c

hughng92 · Answer

bb  — Should I try to take a dignostic test from the OG 2025 when I get it? Or maybe try a diagnostic test on our forum?

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bb · Answer

You should take a GMAT prep test. You should not take a diagnostic in the book for a computer adaptive test. Part of the reason is to get your strengths and weaknesses but another goal is to get your starting point and get a feel for the test. Don't get me wrong - the OG diagnostic test is helpful but it won't tell you that you are weak in X, Y, or Z or give any kind of feedback except a vague range. (unless of course they change it up somehow but still it is in a book). P.S. But you should not get hung up on questions like these. Take both or all of them - it won't hurt you

Imagine I told you there is a burried treasure - would you be asking me which shovel to bring or would you throw all of them in or maybe even be so excited that you forget it. Don't let uncertantiy discourage you. The only mistake you can make is not doing anything. Even making mistakes on the GMAT is valuable - you learn from them!

hughng92 · Answer

bb — thank you!

I read your guide to GMAT post and it was helpful. One of the links you mentioned is the prep test package on mba.com.

This is free: https://www.mba.com/exam-prep/gmat-focu ... tarter-kit —> I will start with one of them as a diagnostic and want to get exposed to taking a test on a computer.

You recommended buying the extra official tests right? https://www.mba.com/exam-prep/gmat-focu ... -exams-3-6
—> I think I will get those if I need to practice more. Kinda expensive. Understood this is an investment but we all know there are existing unnecessary investments so I want to be mindful of what I need and when I need versus buying everything all at once and don’t use them later.

Thanks!

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bb · Answer

Hi. There are two free tests on mba.com.
They are a little hard to find.

http://gmatprep.starttest.com

Everyone ends up buying the paid test sooner or later but you don’t need to buy them yet. There is kind of an expiration date on them and you can just buy them when you’re ready to take them. It takes a couple minutes to buy and unless you have some credit card trouble or something else you get the activation right away.

However, the free test is plenty of practice for you because you can take them multiple times and you can probably get six tests out of those two free tests. So don’t worry about test yet 😂

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bb · Answer

PS. The best strategy in today’s world is to buy things when you need them. I would not buy ahead. You can buy a bundle (It’s cheaper that way) when you need the test but not at this time.

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hughng92 · Answer

bb  what is a butler question? People mention that term a lot on here but not sure what it refers to?

Questions in the OG books perhaps?

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hughng92 · Answer

Just got 2024/2025 version today hot delivery. So excited!

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bb · Answer

Oh wow!!!! 
Cool. It is out early!

hughng92 · Answer

Pre-order baby!

Also, at some point, will the admin go through this bundle and compare it to previous versions to find out if the newest version removes questions from previous versions?

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bb · Answer

Huh. I have pre-ordered before but they always sent it last to me in Seattle. 🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️
I will be getting mine tomorrow.

Never owned an OG book before. Advice please!

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