GMAT Official Guide 2018: Book + Online: Book + Online (with Online Question Bank and Exclusive Video)

I am a Harvard grad, 99% GMAT scorer and professional GMAT tutor since 2002, and am fairly obsessed with this test. I also take the GMAT every few years to stay up-to-date, including personal bests of 770 composite, 50Q, 48V, 8 IR (2 times) and 6.0 AWA (4 times) The GMAT Official Guide 2018 (currently $29) receives my strong recommendation because it provides a great source of 900 real GMAT questions at a decent price.One aspect of this book that you must understand is that it is not meant to teach you GMAT test-taking strategy. For that, look elsewhere (see product links below). However, it includes some of the very best practice materials available, straight from the test-maker, and although the answer explanations are often convoluted, they are still useful in understanding how the GMAC thinks.Why is the 2018 Official Guide the very best place to start your GMAT preparation, other than the free GMATPrep software? Because the questions within are super-realistic. They are just like the questions on the real GMAT, because the book is written by the test-maker and uses actual, retired GMAT questions. Don't waste your time and money practicing on questions made by any other companies--these are merely inferior imitations of the real thing. If you must use other materials for test strategy, then that's fine, and in most cases necessary, but try your best to stick to official questions whenever possible.Pro tip: You can take each of the 6 GMAT Prep CATs more than once, because the GMAT is an adaptive test (it adjusts the difficulty level of later questions based on your previous responses). There are about 4 to 16 times as many questions in the GMAC's question pool as there are in any given test, which means that every test you take will be different. Tests 1 and 2 draw from a (gigantic!) pool of about 1,500 questions, and tests 3, 4, 5, and 6 draw from a more modest pool of about 400 questions each. To re-take your GMAT Prep tests, click "reset" in the lower-left hand corner of the GMAT Prep software window, but make sure to take screenshots of your previous test sessions beforehand--frequent screenshots are a good idea anyway because the software is prone to crashing and losing your data. For your screenshots, use either the "Print Screen" (Windows Key + PrtScn) button on a PC or (Shift + Command + 3) on a Mac.Although the official GMAT books are extremely helpful, the GMAT is still a computer-based test, which means that you should still spend at least 50% of your preparation time reading a screen instead of reading a piece of paper. For this reason, consider buying the Kindle versions of the guides, as well as making full use of the computer-based practice options (Exam Packs, Question Packs, Mobile App, etc.) available from the GMAC (see detailed product links below). Or, if you prefer to buy the physical books, then you can also use the access codes located in the sealed pouches in the back covers of the books to access a free web-based version of the books, where you can try most of the questions in the books in an online format, and organize quizzes by question type / difficulty level (easy, medium, hard). You will also have to create a Wiley account, which is mostly painless. I strongly suggest that you save your login information on your browser so that you won’t have to enter your username / password every time you access the Wiley site.Instead of giving you a paper and pencil, the GMAC also requires you to use a water-based maker and a laminated sheet like this one: Manhattan GMAT Test Simulation Booklet w/ Marker I don't recommend always using the laminated sheet when you study, because it's messy and harder to keep track of your notes that way. But it makes sense to at least use it a few times, just to get the feel of it before test day.——“130 NEVER-BEFORE SEEN QUESTIONS” / 15% NEW QUESTIONSApproximately 15% of the questions in this 2018 edition of the OG are new to the Official Guide. However, it is worth noting that “never before seen” is not entirely true, since all of these questions are retired questions from past GMAT computer exams (it says so right there on the cover). A more accurate description would be “never before seen on paper,” but that probably wouldn’t sell as many copies.(For explanations and classifications of every question in the 2017 Official Guide, google "GMAT Club Guide to the GMAT Official Guide 2017.”)Are the questions from the 2018 version any better than the questions they are replacing from the 2017 edition? No, not really. All of the questions within are old questions from past GMAT exams (“retired questions”), so there is no guarantee that these 130 “new” questions are either any newer or any more helpful than are the questions they supplant from the 2017 edition of the GMAT OG. Moreover, early adopters of the 2018 edition will find that certain questions are so new that it’s hard to access online explanations until GMAT tutors like me (GMATClub username: mcelroytutoring) start posting them, which could take weeks or even months.While I will concede that the questions in this book are roughly ordered from easy to hard, there are some curious places where low-numbered questions are quite difficult for most of my students, and vice-versa. Thus, I think that we can’t necessarily take GMAC at its word here, especially since there has already been evidence in past official guides of the GMAC moving the exact same questions to radically different locations in the books, which suggests that we shouldn’t trust the GMAC at its word in this regard. If the questions are truly ordered from easy to hard, for example, then why would a question numbered in the 30s suddenly show up numbered in the 90s in the next year’s edition?— —A WARNING ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY LEVEL OF THE QUESTIONS IN THE OFFICIAL GUIDES:It is important to note that the difficulty level of questions in this book is sufficient for most test takers, but is admittedly a bit lacking on the high end. High scorers take note: If you are aiming for a GMAT score of 700-plus, then you should spend more time practicing on questions from the GMATPrep software and Exams Pack 1 and 2, which offer more difficult questions that will bear a closer resemblance to the questions you will see on your actual test day.Remember: the GMAT is an adaptive exam. If you answer a lot of questions right, then the test keeps getting harder (as your score rises), and if you answer a lot of questions wrong, then the test keeps getting easier (as your score lowers). And especially on the Quant section, the questions on the test are “front-loaded” so that the first 1/3 of questions have a much larger impact on your score than does the final 1/3 of questions. (There is a SEVERE penalty for not finishing the sections, however, so make sure that you give yourself time answer all the questions before time expires, even if they are just random guesses. At all costs, make sure to answer every question before time expires.)If you do run out of official GMAT Prep computer tests (the first two are free, and you can buy four more from GMAC), then I can recommend the Manhattan GMAT CATs (computer adaptive tests). Just buy one book from the Manhattan GMAT series, and it will give you access to all 6 online CATs: GMAT Sentence Correction (Manhattan Prep GMAT Strategy Guides)For free video explanations to all the math questions in these books, google "GMAT Quantum," or if you prefer to read your explanations, then just try google searching the first few lines of your question's text. I would also strongly recommend that you check out informative websites such as GMAT Club, Beat the GMAT, and Atlantic GMAT, and that you consider retaining the services of a qualified private tutor such as myself.— —For those of you who are just getting started, here is the overall structure of the GMAT:1) Analysis of an Argument Essay (AWA or Analytical Writing Assessment): 30 minutes, 1 question.2) Integrated Reasoning (Multi-Source Reasoning, Table Analysis, Graphics Interpretation, Two Part Analysis): 30 minutes, 12 questions. Please note: unlike the Verbal and Quantitative sections, the IR section is not adaptive. For this reason, every time you try a GMATPrep Exam you will see the same 12 IR questions.3) Optional 8-minute break4) Quantitative Section (Problem Solving, Data Sufficiency): 75 minutes, 37 questions (2 minutes per question)5) Optional 8-minute break6) Verbal Section (Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, Sentence Correction): 75 minutes, 41 questions (1.8 minutes per question)The GMAC has also recently announced that it will be rolling out a program, starting July 11, 2017, where GMAT test-takers will be able to select (out of 3 possible options) the order of their test sections! This promises to be a huge advantage, because the Verbal and Quant sections, which are not only the two toughest sections of the GMAT, but also the only two sections that contribute to one’s 200-800 composite score, have always been located at the end of the 4-hour test, when it’s harder to maintain focus. You will have the option to choose 1) Quant, 2) Verbal, 3) IR and 4) AWA or 1) Verbal, 2) Quant, 3) IR and 4) AWA. Personally, I prefer the final option.Keep in mind that on the GMAT you cannot go back or skip any questions, and that the first 12-15 questions of the Verbal and Quantitative sections have the most impact on your score due to the adaptive scoring algorithm. A correct answer will yield a slightly harder question in most cases, and vice versa, and the GMAT will gradually determine your score as you go. The largest adjustments are made at the beginning of the test, which is why the first 1/3 of questions are so essential. Also, approximately 10 to 25% of the questions on the actual GMAT (and 4 of the 12 IR questions) are experimental—you don’t know which ones they are, and they don’t count toward your score.HOW TO STUDY FOR THE GMAT:My core philosophy: use official GMAT questions only! It’s OK if you end up memorizing all the solutions and answers—that’s part of the point, as is repetition of certain questions until you fully understand them. There are thousands of real GMAT questions available from the GMAC, so it’s unlikely that you will ever run out. Imitation questions are not quite the same, so why settle for anything less than the real deal?For purposes of brevity, I am only including a one-month study plan, but the truth is that most students need at least 3-6 months to study for the GMAT. To turn this 1-month study plan into a 3-month or 6-month study plan, simply break the study plan into smaller increments.Ideally, your studying should be done at regular intervals throughout the day, instead of one large chunk, to maximize retention. Take frequent breaks, but also try to get used to working for 4 hours straight at least once a week, to simulate test conditions.If you don’t have time to take a full section, then don’t use the GMAT Prep Exams, because you will need to finish the entire test in order to review the questions afterward. Even if you only want to try a Quant section, for example, you will have to click through the rest of the test, or wait for time to expire, which is annoying. Better to use the Question Packs, the OGs or the Mobile App for smaller increments of time. Also, if you’re a Mac user like me, then you should know that the “Escape” button does not work on the GMAT Prep software. Instead, try (Command + Tab) to switch to other open applications.Don’t forget to utilize GMAT club for explanations to any questions whose explanations in the books don’t make sense. Just google search the first few lines of your question’s text.— —MY RECOMMENDED GMAT STUDY PLAN:"Section" = a timed, scored section from the GMATPrep Software (Exams 1 through 6). Helps you practice test-taking techniques, and leveraging the GMAT algorithm."Practice" = unscored (no composite score, only correct/incorrect) and the time limit is less strict. Take as long as you need for understanding.Remember that you don’t necessarily need to pay for Exam Packs 1 and 2, because there are approximately 1,500 potential questions in (free) Exams 1 and 2, so you can just keep resetting the tests and using them again. The IR sections will be exactly the same (not adaptive!), but the quant and verbal sections will be different every time.Another option is to install the GMAT Prep software on 2 different computers. 2 different computers = 2 different versions of the test = nearly twice as many questions to practice.Here is a sample weekly schedule that I would recommend IF YOU ARE TRYING TO PREPARE IN ONLY ONE MONTH (see modifications for 2-6 month study plans below).Day 1: COMPUTER DAY1) 75 minute Quant Section - GMATPrep2) 75 minute Verbal Section - GMATPrep3) Review Incorrectly Answered Quant Questions + Math Concepts and Strategies4) Review Incorrectly Answered Verbal Questions + Verbal Concepts and Strategies5) 30 minute IR Section or Practice - GMAT Prep / IR tool from Wiley6) 30 minutes Essay PracticeDay 2: BOOK (OG) / WILEY DAY1) 37 Quant Questions in OG / Wiley2) 41 Verbal Questions in OG / Wiley3) Review Incorrectly Answered Quants4) Review Incorrectly Answered Verbals5) 12 IR Questions - Any SourceDay 3: COMPUTER DAY1) 37 Quant Questions in GMATPrep (Question Packs)2) 41 Verbal Questions in GMATPrep (Question Packs)3) Review Incorrectly Answered Quants + Math Concepts and Strategies4) Review Incorrectly Answered Verbals + Verbal Concepts and StrategiesDay 4: BOOK (OG) / WILEY DAY1) 37 Quant Questions in OG / Wiley2) 41 Verbal Questions in OG / Wiley3) Review Incorrectly Answered Quants + Math Concepts and Strategies4) Review Incorrectly Answered Verbals + Verbal Concepts and Strategies5) 12 IR Questions - Any SourceDay 5: COMPUTER DAY1) 75 minute Quant Section - GMATPrep2) 75 minute Verbal Section - GMATPrep3) Review Incorrectly Answered Quants + Math Concepts and Strategies4) Review Incorrectly Answered Verbals + Verbal Concepts and Strategies5) 30 minute IR Section or Practice - GMAT Prep / IR tool from Wiley6) 30 minutes Essay PracticeDay 6: BOOK (OG) / WILEY DAY1) 37 Quant Questions in OG / Wiley2) 41 Verbal Questions in OG / Wiley3) Review Incorrectly Answered Quants + Math Concepts and Strategies4) Review Incorrectly Answered Verbals + Verbal Concepts and Strategies5) 12 IR Questions - Any SourceDay 7: Take a rest! You’re only human.Repeat for three more weeks, and you’ve completed approximately 2,160 real GMAT questions out of the approximately 4,000 official GMAT questions available.Here are my modifications for 2-6 month study plans:2-month study plan: complete 3 assignments (numbered above) per day.3-month study plan: complete 2 assignments per day.4-month study plan: complete 1-2 assignments per day.6-month study plan: complete 1 assignment per day.The founder of the GMAT Club forum has also written an excellent GMAT Study Plan on GMAT club. To see it, google “GMAT Study Plan - 2016 Edition : General GMAT Questions and Strategies.”— —A QUICK AND IMPORTANT NOTE ON HOW TO REVIEW INCORRECTLY ANSWERED GMAT QUESTIONS:Yes, the correct answers (along with mildly helpful explanations) are all right there in the books. But at all costs, don’t check the correct answer right away, because in many ways it ruins the utility of that question.When it comes time to re-try the questions that you answered incorrectly, I recommend that you either buy a 2nd copy of the books to keep blank, or that you simply re-try the questions on your computer screen…BEFORE checking the answer. It's what I call a "blind review": going over all the questions you got wrong without first checking the correct answer/explanation, or seeing any of your previous work.Yes, I know…when you get something wrong that you thought you got right, your first instinct is to immediately check the correct answer choice. However, try your best to avoid this temptation.In my opinion, blind review is one of the key facets of effective test prep. Thus, when using the physical book, you should only mark your answers in the book as correct or incorrect (this is easier when working with a partner). Most importantly, don't write down or look at the correct answers before you get a chance to review / re-try them at least once.Obviously, this type of study is much easier with a partner. If you’re working by yourself out of the physical books or the Kindle editions, then there is no way to check your answers without actually looking at the correct letter answers. So, if you’re studying solo, then I recommend that you write your answers—only your answers, not your work— on a separate sheet of paper. Do at least 40 questions at a time, to get a feel for what a GMAT Quant or Verbal section feels like. When you correct them, don’t indicate the correct answers in the book yet—simply mark incorrect answers as incorrect. And try to correct your questions all at once instead of one at a time, so that when you review the actual question afterward, you are less likely to remember the correct answer.In contrast, if you go over questions by checking the correct answers right away, then you can create false confidence by fooling yourself into thinking that you understand the questions fully, when in fact you are still prone to those types of mistakes. The best way to know for sure is to try the questions again, from scratch, *without* the aid of the answer key, your previous answer, or the answer explanations. Only then should you confirm the correct answer and read the explanation provided.— —Here are my recommended GMAT Resources:Practice:1) Free GMATPrep Software - 2 diagnostic CATs (Exams 1 and 2: 180 questions total) and 90 practice questions out of 1,500 possible questions2) GMAT Official Guide 2018 - (you are here) - about $29, or the GMAT Official Guide 2018 Bundle: GMAT Official Guide 2018 Bundle: Books + Online - about $493) GMATPrep Exam Pack 1 - 2 diagnostic CATs (Exams 3 and 4: 180 questions total) out of 400 possible questions - GMATPrep Exam Pack 1 [Online Code] $504) GMAT Prep Exam Pack 2 (New Release with 2 New Tests -- not yet available on Amazon) - 2 more diagnostic CATs (Exams 5 and 6: 180 questions total) out of 400 possible questions - $50Please note: you can save $10 by buying #3 and #4 together as an Exam Pack Bundle from the GMAT website for $90.5) GMATPrep Question Pack 1 - 404 questions with answer explanations and ability to sort questions by type and difficulty - $30 GMATPrep Question Pack 1 [Online Code]6) The Official Guide for GMAT® Review 2016 Mobile App The Official Guide for GMAT® Review 2016 -$5 for 50 questions and $30 upgrade for an additional 800 questions7) GMAT Focus Quizzes - 24 questions per quiz (math only) - $30 per quiz and 4 total. GMAT Focus Online Quantitative Diagnostic Tool: Single Use GMAT Focus Online Quantitative Diagnostic Tool: Single Use [Online Code]8) IR Prep Tool - 48 Integrated Reasoning Questions GMAT IR Prep Tool [Online Code] - $209) GMAT Write - 4 Auto-Graded Essays for $3010) GMAT Enhanced Score Report - Technically this is not a practice tool, but it provides an in-depth look at your score, including overall rankings, rankings by question type, time management information and a summary of your strengths and weaknesses, which can be helpful if you plan to take the test more than once. - $25Strategy:1) GMAT Club Forum - Free explanations to nearly every official GMAT question, as well as questions written by other companies (I do not recommend practicing on non-official questions).2) GMAT Quantum - Free video explanations to nearly every official GMAT quantitative question.3) GMATPrepNow - Free video explanations to many GMAT questions in both Quant and Verbal.4) Manhattan Prep GMAT Series: $144 for the entire series Complete GMAT Strategy Guide Set (Manhattan Prep GMAT Strategy Guides) or about $49 for access to 6 online CATs.5) Ace the GMAT by Brandon Royal: $8 for Kindle version Ace the GMAT: Master the GMAT in 40 Days6) LSAT Preptests for Extra Critical Reasoning and Critical Reading Practice: $20 for 10 tests 10 More, Actual Official LSAT PrepTests: (PrepTests 19 through 28) (Lsat Series)7) Magoosh Free Online Materials8) Powerscore Critical Reasoning Bible: $21 The PowerScore GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible9) Powerscore Reading Comprehension Bible: $35 The PowerScore GMAT Reading Comprehension Bible10) The Complete GMAT Sentence Correction Guide by Erica Meltzer The Complete GMAT Sentence Correction GuidePrinceton and Kaplan are OK for strategy too. I prefer Princeton Review’s GMAT guide (full disclosure: P.R. is my former employer) to Kaplan’s (in my humble opinion, a mediocre, corporate behemoth who somehow always manages to rank #1 on Amazon with lots of suspect 5-star reviews), but any effort to write an "all in one" guide to a test as complex as the GMAT is destined to be at least a partial failure. The Kaplan and Princeton guides can be helpful if you are a below-average scorer trying to obtain an above-average score without too much effort, but the perfectionists among us will be frustrated by their lack of depth and unrealistic practice questions.Finally, you can google "GMAT Action Plan - McElroy Tutoring" to read my personal, frequently updated recommendations for GMAT Prep.Please feel free to leave comments and/or ask questions below--I enjoy analyzing the intricacies of this challenging test.

I have a GMAT prep book that’s not as big and extensive as this one is so I just had to buy it. When I got it in, I didn’t know it would be that big in size. However, that is not the point of this review. This booklet should help me excel in my journey to get a score of 490 or above to continue my studies to get my MBA. It looks to be that this guide is going to have as many problems and examples I need in order to learn what will be on the actual exam.I’ve taken the GRE, but my MBA program requires a GMAT score of 490 or above to move forward in the program. I only have a short amount of time to prepare for the GMAT as I will be taking it near the end of July. All of this while taking two summer courses and working full time. Busy summer, but I know it’ll be worth it.

If you are new to the GMAT, get this book BUT you will have to work to get value out of it.The book does not contain any strategies, tips, or techniques to help you learn content. It is only a collection of highly valuable questions. Don't think you can just get this one book and nail the test - you need something else - more books, a course, tutor, butler, etc. If you own a previous edition, and evaluating ROI, getting a Question Pack from GMAC's site is a better value ($30 for 404 questions in QP1). In case you are wondering about the question level/difficulty in this book - it is mostly Easy to Medium with few hard questions (not a bad thing necessarily)~~~ Strengths ~~~1. Real GMAT questions retired from past tests - 900 real GMAT questions retired from past tests.2. Online quiz engine allows you to build practice sets using the OG but it is very weak and cumbersome (more below) but the engine is flawed at the moment - it will be updated later in the year3. Practice questions follow actual GMAT test patterns (it's great to have one's ear trained, esp. in verbal)4. Overview of the Integrated Reasoning section (50 questions online)~~~ Weaknesses ~~~1. The quiz system is too simplistic and cumbersome. For example I have no idea how to start working on question 10 or take only assumption questions for example, though it is an upgrade from the previous version... Perhaps I have been spoiled with good GMAT Prep and other CAT Test interfaces. I am struggling here.2. Questions are EASY/MEDIUM difficulty in general (only about 5 questions are really a 750 level) based on GMAT Club member feedback. Here are the hardest ones: (V Diag 25, PS 218, DS 129, DS 131, DS 141).3. Does not include any test-taking strategies. Though it has a few short review sections for each area, they are weak and very unfriendly4. Questions are predominantly low to medium in difficulty which is often not representative of questions one encounters on the test5. We really could have used some new questions. The official Guide questions are generally on the EASY side.6. There is a 75% overlap with previous edition.~~~ Contents (number of questions per section - has remained unchanged since OG 13)~~~1. Diagnostic Test - 100 questions2. Problem Solving - 230 questions3. Data Sufficiency - 174 questions4. Reading Comprehension - 139 questions5. Critical Reasoning - 124 questions6. Sentence Correction - 140 questions7. Integrated Reasoning - 50 questions (not included in the 907 count)~~~ HOW DO I STUDY WITH THIS BOOK? ~~~In case it was not clear, you don't really study with it. You need other books to study and then you use this book for practice/quizzes. For example, you can get the Manhattan GMAT Set of Guides or the Veritas Prep Guides. These book sets come with 8-15 books that are targeting specific Math and Verbal areas. You have a much better chance getting a 700+ with those book sets (not guaranteed) but they also do require at least 2.5-3 months to cover them. The MGMAT Books come with 6 adaptive online tests. Veritas Prep books come with tests as well BUT only if you purchase from their website (Ugh). If you only have a month, you can get the Kaplan book set (Premier and Verbal/Quant workbooks if you need them - they can do the job done but not as exhaustive as MGMAT or Veritas Prep).~~~ What are some of the good study suggestions? ~~~- Start with a practice test (diagnostic test)- You need quality time. It is really the quality time (morning for some and evening for others) that provides the most retention and results- Don't skip or move past a section until you're able to solve 90% of the questions correctly (timed of course). That is if you want 700+- Never solve questions without timing yourself (unless it is quick drills)- Don't jump into the hardest areas first - build confidence instead with what you know and can demonstrate progress at- Start every new day with the review of what you have learned the day before- Make notes for everything you cover - it helps tremendously to retain what you have learned even though you may never read them. The process of making notes is a very helpful learning experience. If nothing else works - use it- Finally, your practice tests are a usually a very good indicator of your performance. If you are getting 600 on your practice tests, there is about a 2% chance that you will get a 700 score. Do not be surprised when you score on real test a 600Let me know if you have any questions - i reply to commentsBB, Founder of GMAT Club750, q49, v42.

Having the opportunity via this OFFICIAL Guide to better understand the types of approach and question type specifics that will appear on the GMAT was invaluable to : 1) taking the online free exams (go to GMAT website); 2) better understanding the deep approach taken across all question types to test for a wide range of critical thinking and analytical skills; and, 3) obtaining a better understanding of time management/prospective time management for the respective question types (and importantly having the explanations for the correct answers in detail) is really exceptional. Highly recommend for all potential GMAT test takers!!

This is a great prep book. For one thing, it's written by the company that writes the GMAT. But, apart from that, it has a solid diagnostic test, and TONS of practice questions for every category. I was pleasantly surprised that it even had 100+ practice essay prompts.