Top 10 Best GMAT Prep Books

If you dream of higher education, sitting for GMAT entrance can open many doors for you. And a great starting point would be flipping through the best prep books on GMAT. Selecting the right books and reading them thoroughly will help you ace the exam with flying colours.

In this article, we will look at top 10 GMAT test prep books which will be your “go-to-resource” for GMAT exam.

Let’s get started.

#1 – The Official Guide to the GMAT Review Bundle + Question Bank + Video

by GMAC (Graduate Management Admission Council)

Who can guide better than the council itself?

GMAT Prep Book Review

This is a complete course on GMAT. If you’re serious about GMAT and want to score higher, it’s the finest resource, you will ever find. This guide has been used by teachers and trainers of GMAT and also people who are looking for cracking GMAT in the first try. This bundle has everything you need to study GMAT questions & answers and it will show you how GMAC thinks (the pattern of questions). The only pitfall of this bundle is this doesn’t provide any test taking strategies. So for GMAT strategies, you need to look for other GMAT preparation books. This is curated and prepare mainly for beginner students and if you can read this bundle along with a great book on GMAT strategy, you will be very well prepared for taking GMAT exam. The price of the bundle is also very reasonable for every student.

Key Takeaways from this Best GMAT Prep Book

• You will receive this bundle in the form of 3 books and actual questions from GMAT exams. Plus, you will also receive GMAT review guide, GMAT quantitative review guide, and also GMAT verbal review guide.
• Along with the bundle you will also receive over 1500+ questions in question banks and online access videos.
• This bundle is of 1440 pages. So you can understand how comprehensive the material is. This bundle is a perfect resource for GMAT exam.

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#2 – Complete GMAT Strategy Guide Set

Manhattan Prep GMAT Strategy Guides  by Manhattan Prep

This bundle is written by instructors who have scored 99^th percentile for students who want to score the same.

GMAT Prep Book Review

If you’re starting out on your preparation for GMAT, this bundle would seem invaluable to you. But why should you buy this bundle when there are a lot of bundles written by several others? This mammoth bundle consists of 10 guides of 1912 pages which will cover every area you need to learn for scoring above 700+ in GMAT. This bundle doesn’t emphasize on the strategy of how you can score 700+ plus, but it will provide all the tools and resources to you so that you can succeed. From readers all over the world mentioned that this bundle can push you from scoring a mediocre 600 to over 700+ (rarely any good school accepts around 600 score in GMAT). Many students have scored over 700+ just by studying these 10 guides and nothing else. These guides are written just for the students who are beginning to prepare for GMAT.

Key Takeaways from this Best GMAT Book

In this bundle you will get everything that you need to be ready for GMAT. Have a look at the books this bundle includes –

GMAT Roadmap

• Number Properties GMAT Strategy Guide
• Fractions, Decimals, & Percent GMAT Strategy Guide
• Algebra GMAT Strategy Guide
• Word Problems GMAT Strategy Guide
• Geometry GMAT Strategy Guide
• Critical Reasoning GMAT Strategy Guide
• Reading Comprehension GMAT Strategy Guide
• Sentence Correction GMAT Strategy Guide &
• Integrated Reasoning & Essays GMAT Strategy Guide

Along with all these books, you will also receive one year of access to online computer-adaptive question banks and GMAT practice exams.

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#3 – Ace the GMAT: Master the GMAT in 40 Days

by Brandon Royal

This GMAT Prep book is unique. If you’re struggling with the strategy of GMAT, this is the right resource for you.

GMAT Prep Book Review

No one book can be sufficient for sound preparation. If you’ve found a book on study areas, then you need to find another one which will guide you in setting strategies for the exam. This book is of 420 pages and will guide you throughout. It has covered practice questions, what sort of questions you can expect in GMAT, and also provides a detailed study planner which helps you zero in what’s necessary to prepare on daily basis. This book is a great addition to your GMAT library if you’re serious about the exam. This GMAT prep book is sort of course which has been written with the average student in mind. But the best thing about the book is you can also use for teaching GMAT courses to students using this book. Many trainers of GMAT have been utilizing the materials of this book to guide their students. In a nutshell, if you’re planning to appear for GMAT, this is a must-read book for you.

Key Takeaways from this Best GMAT Book

• There are many sections that stand out. However, the best part is a detailed 40 day study plan which helps you stay on course and maintain discipline.
• You would be able to understand the right type of GMAT questions and also be able to practice.
• It has provided a great analysis on argument essay (cause & effect, representatives, implementation, comparison & analogy, evidence etc.).

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#4 – GMAT for Dummies

by Lisa Zimmer Hatch and Scott A. Hatch

This GMAT Prep book will provide you a combination of text plus strategy to ace your GMAT exam.

GMAT Prep Book Review

You should not use this book as a text book. Use it as a reference book. Because, this book is great for recapitulation; but not exactly for comprehensive reading! We included this book in the list because you need a book which explains the GMAT exam in detail, how to take it, how to prepare for it, what areas to focus, and the purpose behind targeted segments in GMAT. The information provided by this guide (regarding GMAT) won’t be found in any other book. So grab this book while you purchase a text book. This will act as a great supplement book for your text book and you will be able to clear GMAT with clarity and preparation. And you can also use this book at the end of your preparation (exactly before the GMAT exam); as this will help you practice what you already know and brush off some dust to remain sharp.

Key Takeaways from this Best GMAT Book

• In this 360 pages book, you will find ten writing errors to avoid, explanation of the test’s format, how to calm your nerve, how to make educated guess, ways to save time during exam and a lot more other useful sections.
• You will get four important areas covered too – verbal section, analytical writing, mathematics, and critical reasoning.
• Along with this book, you will also receive a CD where you can take 5 simulated GMAT tests.

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#5 – 1,138 GMAT Practice Questions: Princeton Review

Graduate School Test Preparation

As the title suggests, this GMAT Prep book is meant for practice.

GMAT Prep Book Review

Practice doesn’t make perfect, but practice can help you improve. And that is exactly this book is for. You need to pick this book up if you want to fool-proof your preparation. Many students have mentioned that even after devouring into “GMAT bundles”, they’re unable to score higher. Why? Because they lack enough practice. If you feel the same, this book’s 1138 questions will be perfect for many practice sessions. You can switch from quantitative questions to verbal and from verbal to integrated reasoning. You will not only get a question bank filled with relevant questions; you will also be able to access to online questions for realistic experience. We’re not suggesting that this is the only book you should read. You can read a text book (any of the bundles on GMAT), a strategy book on GMAT, and this one for practice session. Set aside some time every day, open this book up, find a section, set a timer, and start practicing.

Key Takeaways from this Best GMAT Book

• You will get extensive practice sections for quantitative questions, integrated reasoning, and verbal questions. Along with that, you will receive online questions to get a simulated experience.
• You will also be able to go through 60+ drills which will strengthen your grip over the subject areas and will repair any loop-hole in any subject.
• The purpose of this book is to supplement practice with understanding core concepts. Under 800 pages, it has done a great job.

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#6 – GMAT Test Prep

GMAT Secrets Study Guide: Complete Review, Practice Tests, Video Tutorials by GMAT Exam Secrets Test Prep Team

What if you can get all the guides for GMAT along with video tutorials? Will you succeed in GMAT? You bet.

GMAT Prep Book Review

Don’t look at the page number to judge the worth of this book. This book is a gem because it only includes things that are of utmost importance and discard all the fluff. This GMAT Prep book is very comprehensive and offers detailed review of GMAT exams. It also goes on analysing the GMAT tests section by section. As a result, you would be able to quickly understand what to read, how to approach GMAT, and what pitfalls to avoid. Along with that you will also get practice questions where you can implement whatever you learned. Plus, you will receive 118 video tutorials which will guide you step by step. Now after looking at the material of the book, let’s look at the price. It’s so cheap if we compare the value it provides. Moreover, it’s organized in such a way that you can browse through the entire book within a week. This is very effective if you’re looking to supplement your preparation with some last minute tools – this book will provide the same.

Key Takeaways from this Best GMAT Book

• If you need a short guide which includes all the critical information like concepts, principles, procedures, vocabulary that GMAC expects you to master, your search ends here.
• You will get a detailed review of entire GMAT tests, review of quantitative test, review of integrated reasoning, review of analytical writing assessment, analysis of verbal test, and also comprehensive practice questions for thorough preparation.

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#7 – The GMAT Roadmap: Expert Advice Through Test Day

Manhattan GMAT Strategy Guides by Manhattan GMAT

Looking for a go-to guide that will help you see the big picture of GMAT? This is the book you should pick.

GMAT Prep Book Review

Stop right here. If you have no idea about GMAT and how to take the test, this is the first book you should read. And this book is relatively short, just of 256 pages. But remember, if you have already taken the test and want to sit for GMAT to improve your score, this book may not help you as much. This GMAT Prep book is written particularly for people who have no experience in GMAT test and want to learn everything in detail. Starting your preparation with GMAT will help you gain clarity about the test and will make you ready for the test. If you don’t read any other strategy book on GMAT and end up reading this one, other books would seem redundant to you. This guide will also help you plan for your study so that preparation doesn’t become boring (for example, don’t read for more than 2 hours at a stretch). Along with test takers, it will also help professionals who have been training students for GMAT preparation.

Key Takeaways from this Best GMAT Book

•  You will learn each and everything you need to know to crack GMAT. For example, you will learn about GMAT structure, how GMAT is used by schools, the difference between GMAT & GRE, how to get organized for preparation, how to learn content of GMAT, big picture of GMAT sections, and assessing your progress and so on
• This GMAT Prep book is a great reference book during the GMAT preparation. It will also help you plan for your study.
• It also includes 6 free online exams to give you a simulated experience.

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#8 – 30 Day GMAT Success

How I Scored 780 on the GMAT in 30 Days and How You Can Too!  By Brandon Wu and Laura Pepper

It may seem like a fairy tale, but don’t go by the name, read the book to find out.

GMAT Prep Book Review

Yes, the material presented in this book will deliver, but you should remember one thing – 30 days are too less time to prepare if you want to score well. This GMAT Prep book will help you get a great score within 30 days. Our recommendation is take more time than 30 days and use the strategies mentioned in this book to make a plan. Let’s say you have 60 days to prepare and you know the strategies mentioned in this book, you will be good to go. The only pitfall of this book is it suggests that you need to study 3-4 hours for 30 days to score well which isn’t true in reality. However, along with this book if you read a text book, you will surely pass the exam in flying colours. And it is also a perfect guide for people who have little or no time for preparation. The idea is to take good enough time, read a text book thoroughly, and use this strategy guide to understand how to prepare.

Key Takeaways from this Best GMAT Book

• If you’re looking for a quick fix without wasting any time, this is a strategy guide for you. You won’t find any fluff, only important points are covered. Thus, reading would be easy and very rewarding.
• You will also receive “idioms cheat-sheet”, “easy reference math terminology”, “verbal and math practice questions”, and also a new section on “integrated reasoning.

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#9 – Franklin GMAT Vocab Builder

4507 GMAT Words for High GMAT Score

If you read only this for verbal comprehensions, you will clear the verbal section of GMAT.

GMAT Prep Book Review

There is a huge difference between UK and US English and if you don’t know where, you may make a lot of mistakes. But this book will get you covered. This book will not only teach you 4507 GMAT words for GMAT success; it will also enable you to understand the coherent meaning so that you can easily remember. This book is a replica of Franklin Vocab Builder Audio Program. If you buy this book, you will be able to download the first CD of the whole 22 CD program. Quantitative questions are easy to answer if you practice regularly since mathematics entirely depends upon understanding the logic. But verbal ability is all about remembering the right words to be able to clear the sections. The specific methods and techniques used in this book will help you ace the verbal section with ease. Better yet, if you can buy the whole audio program along with the book – it would be a great resource for clearing the verbal ability questions in GMAT.

Key Takeaways from this Best GMAT Book

• You will get to know more than 4500 words just by purchasing one book. Moreover, you will get to know how to remember so many words with ease. Plus, you will also get an audio (first CD) at free of cost with this book.
• This GMAT Prep book is a complete guide on vocabulary. It will also help you find out the difference between US and UK spelling.

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#10 – GMAT Clarity: The Official Guide for GMAT Self-Study

by Thomas Hall and Nexus Education

Have you ever done a clarity course on GMAT? This book is a course on clarity.

GMAT Prep Book Review

This is another strategy guide on GMAT. But it’s written in a completely different manner. Many readers have mentioned that they have used text books to prepare for GMAT; but along the way they felt lost as they couldn’t retain most of the information. And then they discovered this particular strategy guide which helped them create a realistic study plan, make them more disciplined to study, and evaluate the progress they have made. And especially if you study all by yourself and decide not to do any course for GMAT, this guide would be invaluable to you. This book may take a while to understand; but once you browse through the whole book, you will get an idea about how to prepare for GMAT. This will also save you a lot of time for GMAT preparation and you would also be able to raise your score 70-100 points a month.

Key Takeaways from this Best GMAT Book

• If self-study is your thing, buy this strategy guide and have the Manhattan/GMAC bundles handy; and you would surely score 700+ marks in GMAT.
• It will not only save you time and money (no lecture is required); it will also save you a lot of heartache. Ask someone who has sat or GMAT and couldn’t score well!
• This GMAT Prep book will take around four hours to complete. And if you follow this book, you will be given a study plan to finish the complete course within 64 to 308 hours.

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