Complete GMAT Strategy Guide Set (Manhattan Prep GMAT Strategy Guides)

The 6th edition has better structure in quant and substantial improvements in Verbal. See my comparison vs. 5th edition below.If you are just starting out with GMAT prep - get this bundle; it's a good deal for the Manhattan GMAT Guides (separately they cost close to $150). These books don't emphasize tricks or easy ways to 700+ score, instead they methodically cover areas tested, and should be pretty much all you will need (besides the Official Guides - see below for links). If this is above your budget or you are in a rush, then would recommend you pick the best of the pack:- The GMAT Roadmap Great collection of wisdom (see my review of this book)- Number Properties Guide (condensed overview of Arithmetic and strategies for saving time/solving questions more effectively)- Word Propblems Guide (includes some of the hardest topics - probability, combinations, and statistics)- Sentence Correction (the best book out there on SC)- Critical Reasoning (only second to PowerScore CR but by a slim margin)- Reading Comprehension - a significantly revised book (there are no other dedicated RC books on market really)Between these 5 books you should have 80-90% of the GMAT covered and the rest could be picked up from the remaining books and practice with the Official Guides. You can throw in a Kaplan Premier as well - a good intro to GMAT book with 6 free GMAT Tets. It is a good starter book to get your feet wet, but definitely not a must.To make the most use out of the MGMAT guides, you will need the Official Guide 20015 and also OG Verbal 2nd and OG Quant 2nd editions are recommended. The guides refer to these 3 books for additional practice questions. If you own previous versions of the Official Guide books, you can use those too with a translation table available from MGMAT's website.*** Each book comes with access to 6 online gmat tests and additional question banks. Don't spend money on these as they are pricey ($40 for 6 tests on the MGMAT website).Also, if you are new to the GMAT, download 2 official practice tests from GMAC and take one of them before you start prepping to get your level - very helpful to track your progress along the way but don't waste these tests - they use real retired gmat questions and though it is possible to recycle them (there are close to 900 questions in the banks), would recommend you use something less valuable for your practice such as MGMAT tests included with these books).One more thing, don't rush into questions and tests - you will only hurt your self confidence, instead methodically cover each math and verbal topic and only after you are done with each of the sections move on to take the tests (take math only after you are done with math and verbal only after done with verbal). Final word of advice - the main mistake (esp in verbal) is not following strategies. Whichever books or strategies you use (they are all pretty similar between MGMAT, PowerScore, and Kaplan) - follow them EXACTLY. These people are getting big bucks to develop methods to improve score and maximize performance - don't try to be smarter and change things around. Unless you are scoring 750+, I would follow each step of the strategy to the "T". If the book says to read the CR question twice, then that's what you do even though it may seem that it is faster to read it once - trust me, there is a reason why you read it twice. If you want to get 700+ and not worry about the GMAT, stick to the strategies and keep creativity low.~~~ Comparison of the 5th edition vs 6th edition. ~~~I have gone through all of the books and here is how it looks:Overall, all books have undergone some degree of updating; not just slapping a new cover as some providers do, so you will be better of buying the 6th if you are deciding. If you own the 5th edition already, I would recommend getting only the IR and RC books, however as they have undergone the most transformation. The rest is organized better (more logical); it will help those who are short on time; the pages now also have more graphs, charts, and cheat sheets at the end (a number of books added this feature including Geometry and CR).IR - substantial changes and improvements - the book needed them, and is now split by question type and organized a lot betterQuant - mostly minor updates (less than 10% new content)RC - Major updateSC - Restructure with the main difference is that the idiom section is cut down and rewrite of most chapters (more than 20% of content updated)CR - Improvements in text-heavy areas that put people to sleep before. Cheat sheets added after each chapter. I do like pre-thinking, however, in CR, so I still feel that CR book can be improved.Hopefully this will get you started. For more details on each of the guides, see my reviews of each of the individual booksBB - Founder of GMAT Club 750 (Q49, V42)P.S. Let me know if you have any questions about GMAT Books - I reply to comments and appreciate any feedback (especially negative and suggestions for improvement).

Overview:This book set provides a strong foundation for people trying to score 650+ on their GMAT exam. Through diligent reading and practice over the topics and problems included in this 10-book set, readers can expect to materially improve their GMAT score. Any effective GMAT prep tool should provide comprehensive coverage over the main topic areas of the GMAT, a sufficient amount of practice problems, and practice tests that are as close to the actual test as possible. All these criteria are met and exceeded by this book set. Key benefits include:• Comprehensive guides over the main topic areas of the exam (Quantitative, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning, Essay)• Content that builds a strong foundation for answering common and advanced problems• Strategies for effective time management• Practice problems at the end of each chapter and quizzes covering major subject areas• 6 Computer Adaptive Tests (CATs) that simulate what the actual exam will be likeComprehensive Guides:The guides cover the four main topic areas of the exam (Quantitative, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning, and Argumentative Essay) by breaking down each topic into its constituent components. The strategy guides cover the following topics:• Fractions, decimals, & percent’s• Algebra• Word problems• Geometry• Number properties• Critical reasoning• Reading comprehension• Sentence correctionThroughout the strategy guides, the content focuses on building a strong foundation in mathematical and verbal concepts. The guides build on these concepts by introducing useful strategies to conserve time and solve common types of problems that are likely to be on the exam. Do not rush straight to the practice problems and quizzes, as this could quickly lead to discouragement. It is essential to master the concepts first and then apply them to the practice problems.The integrated reasoning section and essay section are condensed into one strategy guide, as both topics build on the mathematical and verbal concepts developed through reading the nine other strategy guides. While working through the essay section, keep in mind that the essay on the exam will prompt you to evaluate an argument and critique its strengths and weaknesses.Computer Adaptive Tests (CATs):Purchasing this book set provides online access to six CAT exams that simulate the content and structure of the actual GMAT exam. While the algorithm is not the same as GMAT’s proprietary algorithm, it provides a useful resource to measure progress and build up stamina for the actual test. When taking these exams, it is crucial to simulate the actual testing environment to get an accurate estimate of your official GMAT score. My suggestion is to take one exam initially to see where you stand, then focus on the topic areas you struggled with.Conclusion:Through mastering the content and working through the practice problems included in this book set, readers can expect to build a strong foundation in mathematical and verbal concepts required to master the GMAT exam. When in doubt, follow the strategies described in the guides and do not get discouraged. Good luck on your exam!

So far I am blown away by this set. I've read the Algebra, Data Sufficiency, and Sentence Correction books so far and my practice sets have already improved significantly. The tips, tricks, and applicable strategy that these books offer make it worth the price tag. The book also has a quick problem set at the end of each chapter to help reinforce concepts. Consistency is key with these things, so it's best to create a study schedule and stick to it. These books are thin enough that you can easily fit one or two in your work/travel bag. I would 100% recommend this product to anyone who needs to prep for the GMAT.