Princeton Review GMAT Prep Materials
The are many Princeton Review GMAT study options available which can be extremely beneficial for GMAT prep. While not as accurate as the GMAT Official Guide, the Princeton Review materials have a lot to offer and are worth looking into.
Probably the most commonly used Princeton Review study aide is the GMAT prep book Cracking the GMAT. The general content and structure of the book is similar in many ways to the Official Guide. The Princeton Review explains the format of the test and how it is scored, breaks down each section of the exam, and explains the best strategy to use for a particular question type. Here are a few pros and cons.
Pros
The book has a very strong review section for quant and verbal. For those who are less than confident in their math or verbal skills, this will be a very useful tool. The explanations are broken down more clearly and are geared toward applicants needing a thorough review. The tips on the Analytical Writing Assessment are extremely helpful as well. Overall, the "get you up to speed" part of this book is stronger than most other prep books.
Another useful aspect of Cracking the GMAT is it presents many useful shortcuts and time saving strategies. It is certainly good to understand the math behind a problem, but applying these strategies when appropriate is a huge time saver. With the purchase of Cracking the GMAT, you gain access to four full length adaptive practice tests. Some books also include a DVD with further useful material.
Cons
The overall tone of the book can be a detractor. Cracking the GMAT essentially wants you to view your GMAT prep and test taking as a personal war between you and the GMAT creators. Granted, some of it is light hearted and entertaining, but by the end of the book you may end up wanting the attitude toned down. Some like it, some do not. For the most part, it should not interfere with the learning process.
It must be mentioned that Princeton Review Gmat materials are not completely accurate when it comes to replicating GMAT questions- this goes for the practice tests as well. In the Princeton Review's defense, all GMAT prep companies fall short of The Official Guide and other GMAC materials. It is simply to hard to perfectly duplicate the questions or mimic the complex scoring algorithm. In the Princeton Review's case, it falls on the easier side of the GMAT, so your scores on the tests may be somewhat inflated. However, this does not alter the fact that the strategies put forth are very useful.
That being said, Princeton Review GMAT prep materials come very close. Depending on your skill level and budget, it may be well worth your while to supplement The Official Guide with Cracking the GMAT, especially for those who need a more detailed review of the material.
The Princeton Review also offers GMAT prep courses, both online and in the classroom. Depending on your time frame, budget and learning style, this may be a good option for you. To learn more, check out the Princeton Review website.