Customer Reviews:
way over-rated.......2007-10-07
The Kaplan book is soooo much better. This gives you the answers but doens't explain how to get to them. obviously if you're trying to brush up on your math...it's very very very very frustrating.
Great guide for GMAT.......2007-10-05
It is imperative that when you practice for the GMAT you actually practice with questions that are most likely to appear on the GMAT.
All questions are GMAT are copyrighted, that means other guides cannot reproduce or even represent the questions with minor modifications. Since you cannot predict the question that will come on the GMAT, the best thing to do is to practice on questions that have previously appeared on the GMAT.
This guide book does exactly that, it gives you a LOT of past questions arranged in ascending order of difficulty for both the quantitative and the verbal section. According to me, it is the best guide book you can find for practicing for the GMAT.
Aashish.......2007-09-17
This, in addition to the Manhattan GMAT book-set and their online prep tests, should be good preparation enough..
Haven't yet given my GMAT...
Here's How I did it..........2007-09-12
Here's how one old geezer (47 y/o) prepped for the GMAT. I started in late June 07 and first bought the Princeton Cracking the GMAT and Math Workout books. I worked through all the quantitative sections in those books and skimmed the verbal (I am far weaker in math than verbal). That took about a month. Then I bought the GMAT Official Guide and again worked through the quantitative areas and skimmed the verbal. That took another 4 weeks. In the meantime I had signed up for the test and received the GMAT prep software. I took the first practice test in mid-July and scored 560. That was fine with me because I only needed to score 500 or better to get into the grad program I wanted. When I completed the Official Guide (about three weeks later) I took the second practice test and scored 680. I reviewed certain math topics for another two weeks and took the test Sept 6. My official score was 670, not Harvard-worthy but plenty good for someone who took their last math class twenty years ago. So my advice in a nutshell is use the Princeton books, the Official Guide and take both tests on the GMATprep software. The practice tests are great for acclimating yourself to the actual test taking environment and learning how to pace yourself. And don't be afraid to guess on math questions- a wild guess is better than taking 5 minutes to work out one problem. Good Luck- believe me, if I can do it you can too.
Great, but watch it!.......2007-09-03
This book does a great job of breaking down questions and problems. It shows you the patterns used in the tests so that you can recognized WHICH kind of problem is being presented. It explains a lot! However, you have to be careful because there are several errors, especially in the math section. The answers are right, but the mathematics getting to the answer is not always correct (ie. multiplication sign used where an addition sign should be).
Book Description
The PowerScore LSAT Logic Games Bible is the most comprehensive book available for the Logic Games section of the LSAT. The intent of this book is to provide you with an advanced system for attacking any game you encounter on the LSAT. This same system is covered in the live classes taught by PowerScore, and all of the methods and techniques discussed in the book have been tested in classroom situations over many years.
The book features and explains a detailed methodology for attacking the games section. All aspects of Logic Games are covered, from recognizing game types to diagramming rules to making inferences and answering questions. Entire chapters are devoted to the most advanced game techniques and to time management strategies.
Logic Games are divided into individual types, and a discussion follows that teaches you how to approach each type of Game, and drills are presented to help you apply and understand the techniques. Thereafter, real LSAT logic games are used to illustrate how the techniques apply to real tests. Using real LSAT questions is a must for high-level LSAT preparation, and twenty-one real LSAT logic games are contained in the book. Each logic game is accompanied by a detailed analysis of the game setup and related questions.
The author has over 12 years experience teaching the LSAT and has scored in the 99th percentile on a Law Services-administered test. An expert in LSAT preparation, he has overseen the preparation of thousands of students and founded two national LSAT preparation companies.
The Logic Games Bible can be supplemented by The Ultimate Set-Ups Guide, which features setups for every game in each released LSAT from 1995 to 2002. Also, both books provide access to a unique website for additional LSAT and Logic Games information, and has answers to frequently asked questions.
For more information about the renowned PowerScore LSAT Logic Games Bible, contact PowerScore at (800) 545-1750.
Customer Reviews:
A MUST HAVE.......2007-10-05
I wish I would have purchased this book months ago! In contrast to other LSAT prep books, this one explains the Logic Games in a much more clear, concise, and easy to understand way. If you decide to use another LSAT prep book, I highly reccomend using this one to prepare your self for the Logic Games part, and skipping that part in your other LSAT prep, as this one is the best. I just took the LSAT on 9/29/07, and everything that was covered in the book, I utilized on the test!
Useful, despite being overpriced and a bit odd.......2007-09-30
The Logic Games Bible teaches techniques for diagramming games and, to a lesser extent, attacking the questions. The most useful things I picked up from the book were:
1) Never erase your work (do one master diagram at the bottom of each page and then, if necessary, do mini-diagrams the questions).
2) Diagramming numerical distributions.
3) "Hurdling the uncertainty, TM," which is an effective method of diagramming inclusion/exclusion rules when presented with rules like "A, B, and C can not all be selected at the same time."
4) Diagramming abstract sequences
It's worth noting that along the way, the book utilizes some strange conventions. For example, when diagraming a sequence where A comes before B (that is, it's in a lower numbered position) the book suggests that the following shorthand be used: A>B, that is A is greater than B. If you've taken a math class in the last decade, this is disconcerting--in practice I diagrammed all of the abstract sequences exactly opposite of the book. Also, when diagramming morning and afternoon games, the book suggested that the diagram look like this:
afternoon.|_ _ _ _ _
morning....|_ _ _ _ _
A strange reversal of morning and afternoon that is, again, off-putting to anyone who has used outlook, or even a regular calendar. These are minor quibbles, but to some extent, they make the book seem a little amateurish and undermine the reader's confidence in it.
All said, this book can be very useful if used correctly. Its well worth purchasing if you're aiming for the 170s, still have a month or two left to study, and have not taken many practice exams (I say this because there aren't that many old logic sections to go through, and it takes a decent number of practice sections to learn how to efficiently apply the techniques taught in the book). If, however, you're planning on skipping a game on the test, expect to score
<170, only have a couple of weeks before the exam, or have chugged through most of the practice exams, this will be an expensive book of little use.
Great Buying Experience.......2007-09-26
I have been looking at all the bookstores in the Atlanta area for this book. I needed it to study for my upcoming LSAT. The book was out of stock everywhere in Georgia. I simply went online to Amazon and the book arrived at my doorstep within 3 days-and it was cheaper than the bookstores! This book is an excellent tool if you are unsure about the logic games portion of the LSAT. I would recommend it to anyone, even if they feel pretty confident on logic games.
The BEST LSAT book available.......2007-09-09
I used this book as a supplement to the PowerScore classroom course, and I found the book more helpful than the actual course! When I began to work through the book my score was a 168, but I now score consistently in the 173-174 range. As I practice, I get even faster...the techniques really are superb. Just leave yourself enough time (2-3 weeks) to work through the book without rushing so that you can absorb each concept, and then leave at least 3 weeks to do your own practice, honing the techniques on actual LSATs. I've been working just the games section from one test each day, and then an entire test every 4th day.
Unless you think the games are easy, this is the most important LSAT prep book you can buy.
Worth Every Penny!!!.......2007-09-03
Before purchasing this book, I purchased both Kaplan and Princeton Review prep books and still SUCKED at the analytical reasoning/logic games section of the LSAT. I spent two weeks with this book and was able to complete every logic game accurately. I'm still working on the timing but at least I'm able to diagram the games and arrive at the correct answers, which is something I struggled with before. If you have difficulty w/ the logic games - this is the book for you!!!
Product Description
The PowerScore LSAT Logical Reasoning Bible is the most comprehensive book available for the Logic Reasoning section of the LSAT. This book will provide you with an advanced system for attacking any Logical Reasoning question that you may encounter on the LSAT. The concepts presented in the Logical Reasoning Bible are representative of the techniques covered in PowerScore s live courses and have been consistently proven effective for thousands of our students. The book features and explains a detailed methodology for attacking all aspects of Logic Reasoning problems, including recognizing question types, identifying common reasoning elements and determining their validity, the methods for efficiently and accurately making inferences, and techniques for quickly eliminating answer choices as you solve the questions. Entire chapters are devoted to every currently-tested question type, to section strategy and time management, and to even the most challenging reasoning concepts presented, such Formal Logic, Conditional Reasoning, and Causality. In addition, the Logical Reasoning Bibl features over 100 real LSAT Logical Reasoning questions that are used to illustrate and reinforce our techniques. The two Logical Reasoning sections on the LSAT represent approximately 50% of your final score and are frequently considered to be the most challenging aspect of the test. However, once you understand how to efficiently approach each question type and deconstruct the reasoning presented, the solution to each question can be quickly discovered. Through step-by-step analysis of every reasoning idea that you will encounter, detailed explanations for every answer choice, and extensive drills to enforce every major concept, this book with teach you how to correctly solve even the most complicated Logical Reasoning problems. The Logical Reasoning Bibl is also supplemented by a unique website that provides additional materials to complement the book and answer frequently aske
Customer Reviews:
The Must-Have for logical reasoning practice.......2007-08-22
I got this book and the PowerScore Logic Games Bible to self-practice for the LSAT. When it became clear that I wasn't motivated enough for self-study, I decided to take the TestMasters LSAT program, which drills LSAT questions in for 80 hours during 2 months. The good thing about the Logic Reasoning Bible is that, unlike test prep courses, it gives step by step explanations that you can go over again and again. It's more comprehensive than taking a class, where you're sitting for 4 hour blocks going over only 3-4 questions per hour. The Logic Reasoning Bible allows you to study at your own pace (recommended to study in blocks, chapter by chapter -- once you're interrupted, it's hard to go back without rereading everything). I used it in tandem with my TestMasters booklets (the two methods are pretty similar, so it's an easy conversion). I found that the LR Bible supplemented my class well, because it explained some concepts that were confusing to me, and gave some tips that weren't in my class.
The downside is that there aren't many practice questions, only 6-8 per question type (whereas taking an LSAT course usually gives you 5000 questions). If you're already taking a class, this could be a good way to refresh some concepts that you need help with. If this is your primary mode of study, buy the 10 LSAT books and PrepTests to get yourself more real questions. Also, it's imperative to study with real LSAT questions, and the LR Bible only has real LSAT questions in it. Of course, this is no breezy read, and using it as a study guide only suffices if you put the time in to study -- about 3 hrs/day two months before the test. Since the logical reasoning sections are 50% of the test, and arguably the hardest questions on the test, you benefit greatly from learning techniques to shave down the amount of time it takes you per question on the test.
However, PRACTICE IS KEY. No book is going to be a miracle if you don't put the time into studying. Logical reasoning is tough, and if it's not your strong spot, this book can break down some of the mental blocks you might have. Definitely better than the other books out there (I've also browsed Princeton Review, Kaplan, Kaplan LSAT 180).
The PowerScore LSAT Logical Reasoning Bible: A Comprehensive System for Attacking the Logical Reasoning Section of the LSAT.......2007-08-02
Thank you for writing me, sad to say i have not receive my order as of to date.
Words don't explain how good this book is!!!.......2007-07-07
I was having a hard time on the LR section of the LSAT...a really hard time. I scored well on the AR and the RC sections, but my LR was very, very bad. I was getting 10 or so wrong on every section...without staying in the time frame! This book helped me go from 10 wrong to 2 and cut my time down from an hour to 30 min. Studying for the LSAT is hard and it can be depressing when you just can't seem to improve your score. BUY THIS BOOK. It not only helps your score, but you confidence as well.
Before this book I was getting a 157 -- After this book; a 170 (top score 173).
Great Study Guide.......2007-06-25
This book is not a casual read. You can not skim through it and expect to see great results. If, however, you are seriously studying for the LSAT and are prepared to devote some time to this book you will find it extremely helpful.
I found the insight into the way the questions are developed especially useful. Now that I am able to better understand how the questions are being developed I am better able to discern the correct answers and even spot common incorrect ones very quickly.
This is a great book and I found it the single most helpful item in my preparation for the LSAT. I was able to raise my practice scores from the low 160's to the middle to upper 160's- I find that to be a significant increase. I'm pleased with the results.
Excellent comprehensive explanations........2007-04-05
This book covers every type of LR question featured on the LSAT and goes over them in great detail. Though I feel lots of LR is just intuitive, I did learn quite a few helpful tips and tricks from this book.
The downside is that the proportion of the book that is actually practice questions is small, almost disappointingly so.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. The thoroughness of its instruction is unmatchable.
Book Description
This is a 5 volume set of the newest editions of the now famous ExamKrackers MCAT Manuals. You'll find everything that you need to know to score your best on the MCAT. For the first time, these books are sold as a five volume set with a top quality, full length practice MCAT included as a bonus. 980 pages of color and black and white illustrations on text book quality paper. 31 thirty minute topical exams in MCAT format. Over 1400 MCAT questions in all. This 5 volume set is certain to become the top selling MCAT study set this year.
Customer Reviews:
Mehh, its OK - dont believe the hype.......2007-08-23
I admit that Examkrackers is all right - they are the best condensed review for the MCAT on the market. Of course this doesn't mean jack considering that the rest of the review materials (kaplan, etc.) are pretty much garbage. Does it make you the best if you're king of the garbage pile? I'm not saying that Examkrackers sucks - its just OK. Its the best MCAT review on the market, but it has a ton of problems - many concepts are explained vaguely (thermodynamics, electromagnetism, and optics to name a few), the answers for the review questions are vague, and THEY ARE ACTUALLY NOW CHARGING FOR MEMBERSHIP ON THEIR WEBSITE TO SEE THE ERRATA TO THEIR BOOKS. So if you buy this set, be prepared to shell out more cash to join their forums to get a clearer explanation to certain topics only vaguely referred to in their books. Let me also say to look elsewhere for a condensed review on electromagnetism (they left A TON of stuff out). Its pros are that they give great condensed reviews on Biology and Organic chem.
I don't know how they've got a ton of 5 star reviews - I think THE ExamKrackers COMPANY IS ACTUALLY filling out at least 75% of the 5 star reviews on amazon (shame shame) - its 4 stars AT BEST... Not that that means its a totally crappy product...
this book is all you'll need for MCAT.......2007-08-15
This package is geared toward to new computer-based MCAT. The entire package consists of five books (bio, organic chem, chem, physics, verbal and a practice exam). The materials covered in the book is succint and colorful that makes studying fun and efficient. Highly recommended to everyone who is going to take MCAT.
Examkrackers Mcat Complete Study Package (Examkrackers).......2007-08-13
This is a great package with all you need to know about the material that's on the MCAT's. This package includes a review book on each subject. Each book sums up the material, which i normally find difficult to understand, and makes it easy to remember with a little bit of humor. This package was perfect for what i needed to prepare. Don't waste your money on the exam classes. teach yourself with these books and you'll remember more.
Examkrackers for MCAT.......2007-08-09
This product is definately the way to go. I have gone through the Kaplan book as well as this series, and there is really no comparison. Examkrackers is a superior product.
MCAT Preperation.......2007-07-27
Outstanding product! I prepared for the MCAT last year with a different company and spent almost $1700 for an online class (completed all the material too). My first MCAT scores were less than adequate to say the least. I have spent 4 weeks now using this material (Plus Audio Osmosis- and a few other ExamKrackers material-Examkrackers MCAT Audio Osmosis with Jordan and Jon (Examkrackers)Examkrackers 16 Mini Mcat's (Examkrackers MCAT Manuals)) and feel SO much more prepared than I did last year. I could have saved over $1200 if I used ExamKrackers last year.
This product sums up a tremendous amount of information. Even better, it is full of short cuts and memory aids that are essential for the timed MCAT test. My scores have improved DRAMATICALLY!
Book Description
This book contains 101 MCAT verbal passages in the form of 11 full length verbal exams formatted exactly like the New 2003 MCAT. Questions have complete explanations for correct and incorrect answer choices. There are 12 tear-out answer grids in MCAT form in the back of the book. Language, diction, passage length, question length, question difficulty, and even font have been carefully crafted to resemble an actual MCAT. You won’t find a more MCAT accurate set of verbal exams.
Customer Reviews:
Decent book.......2007-08-14
Decent book, decent responses to the questions. Sorry at work and shouldn't be typing this.
MCAT Verbal Prep........2007-07-27
MUST HAVE, if you are taking the MCAT. I prepared through a nationally known company last year that predicted my verbal reasoning score at 10, my actual verbal score was 6. I was dumbfounded. I asked my friends that got into Med School for advise and they suggested ExamKrackers.
Once again ExamKrackers cuts to the essentials of how to get a high score. The text focuses on the harder aspects of verbal reasoning section and cuts out the "soft ball" questions. The format is exactly as I remember it on the actual test and the score I got on the first passage was exactly the same as I had on the actual test. I have seen a continual increase with each successive full length test in this product. I anticipate the actual retake of the MCAT will mirror or exceed (as others have experienced) the ExamKrackers predicted scores!
Great practice.......2007-07-15
I have only done two of the exams so far, after just receiving the book last week, but already I have seen an improvement in how I approach passages and questions. My only suggestion would be to create a new version that is in-synch with the current MCAT--40 questions over 60 minutes rather than 60/85. Whoever is saying that the questions and answers are too ambiguous should bear in mind the true intent of MCAT verbal reasoning; for that reason, this book is a great way to prepare.
Waste of time, don't bother.......2007-07-15
Full of errors and ambiguities, not worth it at all. Other MCAT prep courses offer much more realistic VR passages and questions.
Great, but Very VERY VERY DIFFICULT.......2007-07-06
EK Verbal reasoning book is ONLY be purchased for SERIOUS STUDYING! This is not like those other verbal books where the passages are so easy that youre getting 12's or 13's..this book WILL bring you back to reality. My first practice test I scored a 7 and the second test I scored a 6. I usually score 10 on other exams. I think this book is HARDER than the actual MCAT but its worth every penniy. The choices really do suck and sum of tehm make ABSOLUTELY NOOOOOOO sense, but they make you think more like the MCAT writers. Do not be discouraged if you are not doing well on these exams. Just focus and you start to improve. By teh end of teh book I was getting 13's!
Book Description
From the creators of the #1 GMAT course... Kaplan's
GMAT Premier Program: 2007 Edition comes complete with a comprehensive review of all the material on the exam, and Kaplan's proven test-taking strategies to help maximize your score. This powerful combination is a highly effective way for you to score higher on the GMAT and make yourself competitive for business school admissions. Plus, we provide additional online features to help you practice with even more GMAT questions. You will score higher. We guarantee it.*
Features:
#1 best-selling GMAT book according to Nielsen BookScan USFREE online features to help you improve your score even more!The latest GMAT information and new practice questions online every month.6 full-length practice GMAT tests—1 in the book, 1 online, 4 on the CD-ROM.Quizzes for Problem-Solving, Critical Reasoning, Data Sufficiency, Reading Comprehension, Sentence Correction, and a new, expanded GMAT Math Reference section.Effective test-taking strategies to help you maximize your score on every section of the test.Mobile prep for your PDA or cell phone.Strategic approaches for every question type, including math, verbal, analytical and writing sections, and tips for mental conditioning.Expert advice on succeeding on the Analytical Writing Assessment and approaching the computerized essay grader.
System Requirements
Windows OnlyWindows 98, 98SE, NT 4.0, 2000, ME, XPPentium 266MHz or higher15MB hard drive space16MB RAM640 × 480 thousands of colors (millions recommended)4x CD-ROM speed or higherSoundcard Note: Internet Connection is required for the web features of the Program.
Customer Reviews:
Good appendices, general overview.......2007-08-26
Got this book a while back and finally got around to working through it as I studied for the GMAT. I found the text easy to read, quick to move through the practice problems and explanations. The book gives a very good overview of the GMAT format, question types and general strategies for answering each type of question. The AWA writing/essay section is fantastic - read the strategies, example essays and tips on how the computer grades your essays, all you need to get a 6.0/6.0 on the writing. The appendix for math (Quantitative) is worth the price of the entire book. Great quick reference while practicing and in the final week before taking the test, to help remind you of the formulas you'll need to memorize for the actual GMAT. BE VERY WARY, though, that even if you answer almost all of the practice questions correctly, you will not get anywhere near an 800 score on the GMAT. The practice tests simply are not hard enough, bottom line. I thought I would breeze through the Quant section seeing as how I answered 96% of the questions correctly on the practice Quant exam. However, I got to the real exam and the most difficult 10-20% of the practice test was the easiest 10-20% of the real test. So I scored 630 overall (78th percentile), mostly due to a low Quant score. So I was pretty disappointed. I bought the Kaplan GMAT 800 (see my separate review there) and it really gives you great practice questions, explanations and the toughest questions. I took the GMAT again 6 weeks later, after having used the other book as my sole study guide and only for a week or so, and scored 750 (98th percentile)!!! I'd still recommend this book or one of the similar guides (everyone seems to like the Official Guide to the GMAT published by the test writers themselves) to get you started, but don't stop there if you're serious about a 700+ score. The only other comment I'll make, is that I used the online companion to take a practice quiz and that was ok - never did the full online practice exam. Didn't use the CD because it won't work on a Mac, and gave me some error on my Windows laptop about not having the right video player so I gave up on the CD. I found the GMAT 800 book far more valuable than either the CD or online companion.
good book.......2007-08-13
Tips given in all sections are very useful. Match appendix is very useful. Got 780 in real exam today. Big draw back is that its tests are not even close to real GMAT. scoring is not similar.
Only Ideal for Anxiety Attacks..........2007-08-13
I purchased this last year with the assumption that the Kaplan name means quality test preparation...boy, I was wrong! For one thing, the sample question sections are terribly skimpy that you can fly through them in no time. The only "content" worth looking at are the math review concepts. Nothing else is useful. As for the CD, not terribly user-friendly but comes with a passable amount of sample sections. Of course, that brings us to the best part of this 'product'...that it serves to crack all your self-confidence. The questions are unrealistic and the concepts behind many of them in no way related to anything on the GMAT. Actually kept me from signing up for the GMAT because of my poor scores. Do yourself a favor and get the official GMAT guide - tons of sample questions that are a realistic idea of the GMAT and won't kill your confidence...I really regret buying this book...
You get what you need.......2007-07-22
This review is being useful and make study a lot easier. Let's see how will be my grades.
Don't waste your money.......2007-06-13
This book is by far the worst I've ever seen in terms of editing. The book is filled with paragraph duplications and missing information. With errors like these, how can they expect you to trust their advice on how to achieve a good score?!
The sample questions are confusing, and the answer explainations left me scratching my head even more. They're vague at best, and sometimes down-right WRONG!
This book is a real confidence buster. It really freaked me out to see how poorly I did on the sample tests. I know I'm not half the idiot they made me out to be!
What a waste of time and money! I don't recommend this book to anyone. The Princeton Review book and the Official GMAT study book are by far superior to this one.
Book Description
A comic chronicle of a year in the life in the college admissions cycle
It’s spring break of junior year and the college admissions hysteria is setting in. “AP” Harry (so named for the unprecedented number of advanced placement courses he has taken) and his mother take a detour from his first choice, Harvard, to visit Yates, a liberal arts school in the Northeast that is enjoying a surge in popularity as a result of a statistical error that landed it on the top-fifty list of the U.S. News & World Report rankings. There, on Yates’s dilapidated grounds, Harry runs into two of his classmates from Verona High, an elite public school in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. There’s Maya Kaluantharana, a gifted athlete whose mediocre SAT scores so alarm her family that they declare her learning disabled, and Taylor Rockefeller, Harry’s brooding neighbor, who just wants a good look at the dormitory bathrooms.
With the human spirit of Tom Perrotta and the engaging honesty of Curtis Sittenfeld’s Prep, Susan Coll reveals the frantic world of college admissions, where kids recalibrate their GPAs based on daily quizzes, families relocate to enhance the chance for Ivy League slots, and everyone is looking for the formula for admittance. Meanwhile, Yates admissions officer Olivia Sheraton sifts through applications looking for something—anything—to distinguish one applicant from the next. For all, the price of admission requires compromise; for a few, the ordeal blossoms into an unexpected journey of discovery.
Customer Reviews:
Somewhat disappointing.......2007-09-02
I received this book as a gift from my husband, and that's the only reason why I finished reading it. It's just another example that not every jounalist is cut out to be a novelist, too. Susan Coll starts out developing a quite complex set of characters, but then the story just fails to take off. Throughout the book I felt like I was stuck in some type of introduction, and suddenly you're at the end and there was no story.
All the ingredients but ..........2007-08-16
This book seemed to have all the ingredients for a really interesting and lively book, but the pace just seemed to plod along. There were several "main" characters - three different students, the parents of two, and the acting dean of college admissions, in addition to some recurring figures - friends, teachers, guidance counselors, therapists, etc. I found myself having difficulty recalling who the secondary characters were in each of the several plot lines and perhaps that explains why the book never really seemed to take flight.
There was very little dialogue in the book, with most of the book taking place in the introspections and thoughts of the main characters. There was a nice mix of types of people, with each having different perspectives of the importance of college placement. Since the whole premise of the book was the college application and placement of students from a high school in (I suppose) the fictitious Verona, Maryland, it was a bit one dimensional and that made it somewhat flat as well. There was little, if anything in the book that didn't pertain to college preparation - as if this was the only thing in each person's life.
While I yearned to be done this book, I found myself compelled to see how it ended, even if the book actually became nearly boring in the exclusive focus on college. It didn't come to a grand conclusion with the outcomes of each student finalized, it did come to a conclusion that was oddly in a direction the rest of the book could have used.
Given the subject, I think parents of children who are about to or have gone through the whole college admissions process could find more to relate to than I could.
A fun read.......2007-07-30
Having been thru the process twice now, a lot of this rings true. It is an entertaining read.
Boring.......2007-07-13
As someone fascinated by (and in a constant state of being involved with) the admissions process, this book was a disappointment. It was extremely boring to read, the characters were forced and unrelatable, and the ending was extremely anti-climatic. Olivia's character/POV seemed out of place and almost irrelevent. The characters had uncreative problems (issues with parents, workaholic, mommy drinks, etc) and there is a distinct lack of follow up in the minor arcs/tangents the author starts. This book was poorly written, hard to read, and uninteresting. The only redeeming quality about Acceptance is that it's topical.
Hiaasen-esque Dialogue and Crazy Suburbs Make You Laugh.......2007-05-28
For the middle or upper middle class parent of the 21st century, the statements made in this book are not only true, but bitterly true.
Parents of today are addicted to the blogging statements and statistics spewed from the most conventional sources: college confidential, college board, Fiske's, Barron's, U.S. News and World Report and more. If you did not know all of the above-recited sources, there are only two conclusions: you don't have college-age children and their importance does not thankfully exist in your world, or you are deep in doo doo when it comes to handling yourself at cocktail parties in the suburbs like Verona (a D.C. suburb) - the setting of this fictional novel.
The main characters are not average, but they are typical. A minority student who is a jock (swimmer named Maya), an "uber" kid who has been aiming for Harvard since his mother's gynecologist burped him (AP Harry) and a mixed up teenager (imagine) whose emotional conflicts are hampering her life for the stars - as her top 15% and great SAT scores may deliver her to - and do I dare say this? - an unknown LAC named Yates (Taylor).
These three kids and dysfunctional families (typical suburb families) are followed throughout this book. The dialogue and events remind me of Carl Hiaasen - there is real wackiness in these pages.
One statement is hard to tell the parents or the children - there is more than one school for the child. They don't know this their junior year. And, this book which divides chapters by months from the spring of the junior year to the summer of senior year, delivers the characters and the reader to the realization that the previously enunciated statement is true. Some of the characters do not get into the "castle in the sky" school of choice, but so what. Other schools, they learn, are also great. Maybe greater. Maybe better? Whoa, do people at 17 or 18 realize this? Better yet, do their helicopter parents realize this? You will have to read the book to obtain an answer.
Many of the references in the book show the author's deep knowledge of this area. From study? Probably not - any parent seeking to place their child (which the cover admits the author recently did) into college learns the system, the nuances, the craziness, and the madness associated with the college-entrance world of today.
For those who are in this muddle or about to enter it, this book will do two things: (1) make you laugh and actually educate you on a few fine points; or (2) make you think this is too wacky to be true. Unfortunately, each point is only too reflective of the truths lived in suburbs like Verona in 2007.
Book Description
Cracking the GMAT now offers MAJOR new features on DVD, including engaging video tutorials from The Princeton Review’s top instructors. We also bring you over 200 practice questions in the book and exclusive free access to 4 practice exams and expert advice online.
Of course, you’ll also get all the test-prep techniques you expect from The Princeton Review. In Cracking the GMAT, we’ll teach you how to think like the test writers and
·Solve complex sentence correction problems by recognizing key errors
·Crack tough data sufficiency questions using simple techniques
·Practice online with full-length tests, lessons, and drills
·Get the most out of your prep time with the study plan that’s right for you
We give you plenty of practice problems to help you master our proven techniques. Our practice questions are just like those you’ll see on the real GMAT—but with detailed answers and explanations for every question.
Customer Reviews:
Good Effort on Cracking the GMAT by Princeton Review.......2007-08-03
This book helped me a lot in my preparation for the GMAT. It gives really good examples of using things like process of elimination, pacing during the test, and GMAT tendencies to help improve your score. This book covers each section of the GMAT in great detail and has a good number of practice questions of varying difficulty. The online practice tests are useful but the scoring seems to be a little off (I scored 30 to 50 points higher on the Offical GMAT practice tests and on the actual test). I would buy this book as the "how to take the GMAT" guide and the Official Guide for GMAT Review for actual tests questions from past versions of the GMAT. As mentioned in another review the DVD is pretty worthless. If you want to watch it I would suggest watching it first just to get an overview of the test and then delve into the book. Here are some of my tips for the GMAT: 1) Find out if the school of your choice uses the scores for the writing assessment. The one I hope to attend does not which allowed me more time to prepare for the other sections and cut my test time by an hour. 2) Finish the test... from the practice tests I learned that not finishing will cost you big time. Even if you have to guess on some questions you will come out better by finishing the test compared to getting a few more problems right but not finishing. 3) Take your practice test at a location away from home (library, coffee shop, etc.)... this will get you prepared for taking the test in a different environment. 4) Time yourself on practice questions to get a feel for how long you can spend on a problem. Cracking the GMAT has a good section on pacing which will give you a game plan going into the test. Good Luck!
THE RIGHT STEP TO START .......2007-07-04
This book guide you from point A to point B, but not for all. It is the right step to prepare yourself. There are so many of the same, but be careful to pick the one best for you.
I passed using this.......2007-06-23
I had only a few months to study and not every day and I only used this book (and the free practice test that the Gmac mails out) and I got a 500 on the test. It was harder than the SAT but the advice on the video w/ the book and the practice tests ( I recommend that one focus on the tests above all) and you can do well. I did not study as much as I could have
Better than nothing.......2007-06-08
I found the questions to be a bit rudimentary. The classes might help. but you're probably better off with Kaplan, etc. classes and mentoring.
Test Prep material is good. Tests are below average.......2007-06-05
This book is good to refresh your concepts and to browse over quickly what you probably forgot since high school, but thats about it. The tests are totally way off the actual GMAT.
Especially the Math section on the online tests is too simple, and the actual GMAT questions are a few notches higher.
All in all, not worth buying. You could probably get one from a library to use. I'd recommend Kaplan to this one.
Book Description
Professors Fischl and Paul explain law school exams in ways no one has before, all with an eye toward improving the reader's performance. The book begins by describing the difference between educational cultures that praise students for "right answers," and the law school culture that rewards nuanced analysis of ambiguous situations in which more than one approach may be correct. Enormous care is devoted to explaining precisely how and why legal analysis frequently produces such perplexing situations.
But the authors don't stop with mere description. Instead, Getting to Maybe teaches how to excel on law school exams by showing the reader how legal analysis can be brought to bear on examination problems. The book contains hints on studying and preparation that go well beyond conventional advice. The authors also illustrate how to argue both sides of a legal issue without appearing wishy-washy or indecisive. Above all, the book explains why exam questions may generate feelings of uncertainty or doubt about correct legal outcomes and how the student can turn these feelings to his or her advantage.
In sum, although the authors believe that no exam guide can substitute for a firm grasp of substantive material, readers who devote the necessary time to learning the law will find this book an invaluable guide to translating learning into better exam performance.
Customer Reviews:
Yes........2007-08-10
It seems incomprehensible, not long ago, that this book did not exist! The information accumulated and distributed in this book is priceless. Many law-thought exercises, a challenging read for the mind but not tiring or boring when taken in chunks.
If you're going to law school or are in it right now, and haven't read this, you certainly will regret it!
When's the best time to read?.......2007-05-20
This was a good book, but I kept trying to figure out exactly when it should be read.
I'm starting law school in the fall, so I'm trying to do what prep I can over the summer. Much of this book was understandable for someone who hasn't actually started law school, but there were some concepts that are based on information that you learn in your 1L year. Since this book has tips for preparing for exams ahead of time, it wouldn't make sense to read during the semester (and who would have time, anyway?). In a revision, I would suggest that the authors tune the content slightly to be absorbed more easily by someone who has not started law school yet.
An essential tool for law students.......2007-03-20
I am a law professor at the oldest night law school in San Francisco who has struggled for years to communicate to my stdents how to prepare for exams. I wish someone had told me about this book years ago. It explains cogently and distinctly why law school exams are different than those exams you did so well on in college (or you wouldn't be in law school) and why you need to start thinking differently. The book goes through the different types of questions one mught find on an exam and shows how to address them. It also provides numerous tips on how to study and how to approach exam writing. The book also does a great job of explaining a theme I have pushed for years --- that exam-writing skills are really the writing and thinking skills students will need when they become lawyers. It should be required reading in law schools. And it wouldn't hurt law professors to read the book either.
GREAT information, but dense.......2007-03-09
This is not a book for fast help. It is a great book to use before you anywhere near a time crunch!!!
Not worth it.......2007-01-10
This is full of common sense info. If I had to do it again, I wouldn't buy this book.
Customer Reviews:
Very Helpful.......2007-10-06
I tried the Princeton Review books first and they were very difficult - by working in this prep book I realized that the Princeton materials were way harder than the test. This book helped build my confidence until I could tackle the more difficult questions in the PR materials, knowing that the actual tests published in the Official LSAT Superprep book were closer to actual test difficulty. I still used the PR materials too, knowing that if I could answer those tough questions then I could answer anything on the test, but I found the Official LSAT Superprep to be closer to the difficulty of the test, and more realistic by far.
only moderately helpful.......2007-09-09
The explanations in this book are not as clear or accessible as the Powerscore LGB or LRB, and the explanations will not help you form any kind of coherent strategy or methodology for attacking the test...they will just show you what you should have recognized in each individual case.
There are only 2 real reasons to buy this:
(1) You are looking for Reading Comprehension tips
(2) You have already worked through all other released LSATs and need these February ones for additional practice.
Outstanding official prep materials from LSAT.......2007-08-20
The LSAT is sufficiently idiosyncratic in both the form and substance of its content that studying with anything other than the official, exams released by the LSAT board (LSAC) runs the risk of doing more harm than good. The problem with such advice until recently is that before the release of this book a couple of years ago, none of the official materials provided anything more than an answer key, which could leave you scratching your head about why you got something wrong or how you were supposed to get to the correct answer to begin with. By supplying complete and generally pretty decent explanations for all the questions in the three exams included in this book, as well as providing a useful prefatory section giving specific test taking tips for each section, this book is extremely valuable and I might add long overdue. To be fully prepared, you will probably want to use this book and perhaps one or more of the LSAC's "10 Actual, Official LSAT Prep Tests." If you need extra help on the "games" section (and most people do), you may also wish to purchase the Powerscore LSAT Logic Games Bible, which alone among the non-official LSAT prep books uses actual LSAT questions obtained under license from the LSAC. It should be noted, however, that the LSAT Superprep book also includes strategy tips as well is very good explanations for the LSAT games section, making the once mandatory purchase of the Powerscore Bible optional for some test takers.
This book got my kid into law school.......2007-06-27
The title says it all. After using this book (and he did use it, not just say he did) his LSAT scores went up and he got a scholarship to one of the top tier one schools in the nation.
Buy it. Use it.
Good Value.......2007-06-14
The book has good explanations of the correct answers, and is not very expensive. Good value for the money.
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Education
| Reference
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
The Official Guide for GMAT Verbal Review
The Official Guide for GMAT Quantitative Review
Cracking the GMAT with DVD, 2007 Edition (Graduate Test Prep)
Kaplan GMAT, 2007 Edition: Premier Program (Kaplan Gmat (Book & CD-Rom))
Kaplan GMAT 800, 2007-2008 Edition (Kaplan Gmat 800)
