Powerscore GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible

by David M. Killoran

Book Overview

The PowerScore GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible will teach you how to break down GMAT argumentation, how to recognize GMAT question types, and how to separate correct answers from incorrect answers. You... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0972129634
• ISBN13: 9780972129633
• Release Date: January 2022
• Publisher: Powerscore Publishing
• Length: 434 Pages
• Weight: 2.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 8.3" x 10.7"

Customer Reviews

Simply the BEST GMAT Critical Reasoning Book available

I self studied and scored a 770 on the GMAT. Here are my thoughts on PowerScore's Critical Reasoning Bible: ===== OVERVIEW ===== The PowerScore GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible (or the CR bible, as you'll see it commonly referenced in online forums) is published by the renowned LSAT-prep gurus, PowerScore. The LSAT and the GMAT have two question types that are somewhat similar: Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning (known as `Logical Reasoning' in the LSAT). This book comes in as an abridged form of the company's massively successful Logical Reasoning Bible. This CR bible has a solid reputation as a comprehensive guide to one of the most puzzling question types on the GMAT. The CR bible covers the topic of GMAT Critical Reasoning with incredible depth and detail. Questions are neatly organized according to "families" in order for the reader to understand the various logical connections between question types. The book deals with ten types of Critical Reasoning questions, all remarkably well analyzed, in ten separate chapters. The CR bible even addresses many rarely-tested CR question types; although I would love to see a separate chapter for boldface critical reasoning questions in a future edition (boldface critical reasoning questions are considered among the toughest question tested on the GMAT). One could argue that this book will also help in case you're having trouble with Reading Comprehension. I personally found the `Main Point' chapter particularly enlightening and relevant to reading comprehension. ===== PROS ===== * Detailed analysis of Critical Reasoning question types means that you will have a quick reference guide at hand should you ever feel the need to review for one topic or the other * Practice questions, although few, are the closest I've ever seen to actual GMAT questions (in terms of style). Explanations are also top notch, with great analysis of why a wrong answer is wrong. In my opinion, understanding why an answer is wrong helps you avoid common traps and is almost as useful as understanding why the correct choice is right * After reading the CR bible, you will be able to see why the GMAT is so popular with business school admissions. The process of "creating" a Critical Reasoning question is carefully explained, a fact which made me realize the amount of talent and effort that goes into making just one GMAT question. The author of the book clearly shows due respect to the GMAT test and its creators, which inspired me * If pressed for time, the book offers a quick strategy for studying the most important question types ===== CONS ===== * At around 50 practice questions, the CR bible needs to be supplemented with other resources, such as The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 12th Edition or The Official Guide for GMAT Verbal Review, 2nd Edition * Unlike most prep books, this book does not come with a CD or online access to CATs (computer-adaptive practice tests) * The book only features two boldface que

Great book for CR and RC, too!

I took my first GMAT and scored 670 (Q44 V38). After evaluating my performance, I realized that CR was definitely a weak spot, so I browsed [...] and found many recommendations for PowerScore's CR Bible. I purchased the book just two weeks before my GMAT re-take and studied the book religiously. After a basic understanding of the principles (identifying premise and conclusion, etc...), I re-took the GMAT and scored 750 (Q49 V44). As you can see, my verbal score jumped six points - I attribute much of that improvement to the principles I learned in this book. So, get this book early in your GMAT preparation and understand these fundamentals before tackling the OG problems. Good luck!

Ultimate Answer to Your Critical Reasoning Problems

This book comes as most recommended for CR by members on gmat club. Though pretty similar to Manhattan GMAT book, it offers more practice questions and slightly better overview. Book Strengths: 1. In-depth look on CR and the best prep available on the market 2. Clearly divides the CR question types and provides specific strategy for each type 3. Easy to navigate due to its logical structure Weaknesses: 1. Could use more practice questions (more than mgmat though) 2. Some explanations are too convoluted By the way, if you don't have any Manhattan GMAT books, then get the Manhattan GMAT CR - as all of their books, it comes with access to their 4 online tests (these tests are worth the purchase). If you want the best of both worlds, get this book for CR and a different MGMAT book (SC for example) to get the online test access. Don't get both though. About me: I got 750 on the gmat and I am an active member of the gmatclub mba community.

Defenitly Deserves the Title. (Add "And A Quick Reference too!"

Defenitely deserves the title and what'smore, this book can be a very quick reference, making it very practical and helpful. Don't be afraid to buy a whole book for this question type. All the other books (Princeton, Kaplan, Official Guide, etc...) do not cover this GMAT speciality topic in depth. This book will clear all your doubts about how to solve and how to think about CR questions. It also provides a quick reference. For example, if you think you need to review how to best think about "Weaken" questions, you can very easily in five minutes read the section summary and be confident again. Tomorrow is my exam and in 1/2 an hour I reviewd the whole book! This book clearly divides the CR question types into ten and not eight like most of the other question types and believe me knowing the question type is a fundamental that you need to master. Even more, it gives you innovative specific techniques for each question type, example, Fact Test, Variance Test, Assumption Negation Techniques. All these techniques are simplifying techniques that allow you to intelligently tackle CR questions. The book also discusses why its techniques are different from and better than those of other books. Eg: This book unlike Princeton (I am not Against Princeton, in fact I think it is much better that Kaplan) teachs you and convinces you to read the Argument first and then questin. By exactly knowing what you should do for eah question type you can become an expert in solving CR questions. The thinking process becomes "automatic" one, that is you don't have to think really hard because the strategies that you learned become natural. I recommend this book to anyone seriously preparing for the GMAT.

Best GMAT book

To improve your score across the board in the verbal section, you need to first improve your critical reasoning skills. It not improved my critical reasoning section score but also had a direct impact on my comprehensive reading section score. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to improve the verbal score to beyond the 90th percentile.