Are you looking for the best GMAT prep books and materials? Have a look at our hand-picked Top 10 List of the best GMAT books for 2015 and read reviews on why we think these GMAT study guides (some are also available as eBooks for Kindle) are the best. If you need additional support, you can also check out our overview of the best GMAT prep courses.
The Official Guide for GMAT Review 2015[img=0,164]http://280p2s34fs423jfow420psui.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Best-GMAT-Books-Official-Guide.jpg[/img]Brought to you by the official creators of the GMAT, the Official Guide for GMAT Review 2015 is an absolute must for GMAT preparation.
The Official Guide contains an overview of the GMAT test, a diagnostic review and a customizable online question bank with more than 800 real GMAT questions (less than the officially advertised 900+), taken from previously administered exams. In addition, the Guide’s current edition contains an online component for the Integrated Reasoning Section of the test offering additional practice questions. As a bonus, readers also get access to videos featuring tips and commentary by both GMAC experts and test-takers alike.
In this recommended bundle version, the Official Guide is accompanied by The Official Guide for GMAT Quantitative Review 2015 and The Official Guide for GMAT Verbal Review 2015. Both contain online question banks with 300 additional questions for the quantitative and verbal portions of the test, respectively. These two volumes also include more video content with test-taking advice and strategies.
The importance of the Official Guides is that they are the only source of actual GMAT questions, which by itself means that they are automatically among the very best prep GMAT books test-takers could hope to use. Nevertheless, since they are still a little thin on in-depth tips and strategies for taking the GMAT, we recommend to supplement the Official Guides with additional test prep resources.
Manhattan GMAT Complete Strategy Guide Set, 6th Edition[img=150,86]http://280p2s34fs423jfow420psui.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Best-GMAT-Books9.jpg[/img]Precisely reflecting its title, the Manhattan Guide series offers a complete and thorough strategy set for GMAT preparation.
The latest set, which is aligned with the 2015 Edition as well as the 13th Edition GMAC Official Guide, includes 10 well written books including: GMAT Roadmap; Fractions, Decimals, and Percents; Algebra; Word Problems; Geometry; Number Properties; Critical Reasoning; Reading Comprehension; Sentence Correction; and Integrated Reasoning and Essay.
The particular striking aspect of this set is that each of the books offers easy to understand yet thorough explanations and brilliantly lays out strategies and concepts. It also offers six online full-length, computer-adaptive practice exams as well as more than 200 GMAT practice questions. Written by GMAT prep course specialists Manhattan Prep, their reliability and quality is simply unmatched.
The Manhattan Guide series is the ultimate collection of the very best GMAT books – a must-have!
Complete GMAT Course Set – 12 Books (Veritas Prep GMAT Series)[img=150,156]http://280p2s34fs423jfow420psui.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Best-GMAT-Books10.jpg[/img]This GMAT study guide forms the basis of the highly regarded Veritas prep course.
The 12 books comprising the set include: Foundations of GMAT Logic; Arithmetic; Critical Reasoning; Algebra; Sentence Correction; Geometry; Reading Comprehension; Data Sufficiency; Advanced Verbal Strategy; Statistics and Combinatorics; Advanced Word Problems; and Analytical Writing Assessment & Integrated Reasoning.
The set further offers a plethora of online resources, including 1,000 practice questions with answers, one adaptive practice test and information on several internationally leading business schools. The books are also well written, offer in-depth coverage of each of the topics and offer numerous practice questions. Of particular note is the novelty and difficulty of the practice questions which are not comparable to other test taking guides.
All in all, this set remains to be one of the best packages for preparing for the GMAT. Regrettably, it hasn’t been updated in some time. Nevertheless, given how comprehensive and thorough these books are, the set still easily makes it onto our list of the top GMAT books for this year.
Kaplan GMAT Premier 2015 with 6 Practice Tests[img=150,195]http://280p2s34fs423jfow420psui.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Best-GMAT-Books-Kaplan-Premier-2015.jpg[/img]Providing a great introduction to the GMAT, Kaplan’s New GMAT Premier helps you become familiar with the mechanisms and the structure of the test, provides an overview of basic principles and offers numerous strategies, tips and techniques for handling different types of problems.
In addition, this GMAT prep book provides solid coverage for the Math and Verbal sections of the test and in-depth coverage of Integrated Reasoning. Of particular note are the bonuses this book offers, which include 6 full practice GMAT tests (5 online and one on paper); an online quiz bank; a digital version of the book for computers, iPads, and smartphones; and DVD video lessons – aptly titled Fast Fact Videos – that provide even further guidance.
Although its coverage may lack the depth of the some of the other GMAT test guides, this book provides an excellent foundation for GMAT study.
The GMAT Roadmap: Expert Advice Through Test Day[img=150,193]http://280p2s34fs423jfow420psui.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Best-GMAT-Prep-Book-Manhattan.jpg[/img]Providing a thorough and welcome introduction to the GMAT, this book – which is part of Manhattan Prep’s Strategy Guide series – is one of the top guides to the world of the GMAT.
The GMAT Roadmap offers realistic and insightful advice on topics ranging from timing to study tips and even provides input into the best brain foods for the test.
Even better it offers specific advice on how to approach each question type one would encounter on the GMAT as well as six online computer adaptive practice tests.
For an excellent introduction and overview of the GMAT, look no further than this book.
The PowerScore GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible[img=150,193]http://280p2s34fs423jfow420psui.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Best-GMAT-Books5.png[/img]Possibly the best critical reasoning book out there, the PowerScore is a well written powerhouse for tackling critical reasoning problems.
Written by a former LSAT instructor (critical reasoning is an easier version of a skill tested on the LSAT), the explanations in this book are easy to follow and understand. More importantly, the author does a tremendous job in breaking down the different types of critical reasoning questions and offers specific techniques for mastering each type of question.
Although this book could benefit by offering more practice questions, it still does a very thorough job.
Total GMAT Math[img=150,214]http://280p2s34fs423jfow420psui.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Best-GMAT-Books6.jpg[/img]The most comprehensive math guide to the GMAT available, Total GMAT Math offers in-depth coverage of every math problem possible on the GMAT.
Specifically, this GMAT book provides more than 300 practice problems, over 500 non-GMAT style but still useful exercises, as well as a multitude of insightful strategies and tips for solving each type of math question.
Offering clear, concise and detailed coverage of its material, this guide is not extremely user friendly but it still offers rewards to those willing to invest their efforts in this book.
Advanced GMAT Quant[img=150,194]http://280p2s34fs423jfow420psui.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Best-GMAT-Books2.jpg[/img]Looking for an edge on the quantitative portion of the GMAT? Then Advanced GMAT Quant is for you.
Geared at those already scoring above the 70th percentile on the quantitative section of the GMAT, this book offers strategies and tactics for mastering the more difficult elements of the quantitative section of the test.
The book contains chapters on Problem Solving Principles, Problem Solving Strategies & Tactics, Data Sufficiency Principles,
Data Sufficiency Strategy & Tactics, Pattern Questions, Common Terms & Quadratic Templates, Visual Solutions, Hybrid Problems, as well as a final chapter entitled “Workout Sets” which provides 150 GMAT-style questions.
Given its clear and highly detailed explanations, its provision of an online question bank, and its easy to read style, this is one of the very best GMAT prep books for those with an intention to score very highly on ‘Quant’.
The PowerScore GMAT Verbal Bible[img=150,202]http://280p2s34fs423jfow420psui.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Best-GMAT-Books.jpg[/img]For a quick mastery of the test’s Verbal section, this is one of the best GMAT prep books.
Offering outstanding coverage of Sentence Correction, Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension, this book condenses the strategies and detailed explanations offered in problem-specific books into a more easily digestible 400+ volume.
While this GMAT prep book could offer more practice problems, it does provide 125 problems and 85 mini-drills, the latter which is excellent at helping test-takers master strategies.
This book provides a superb condensed mastery of Verbal.
Kaplan GMAT Verbal Workbook[img=150,194]http://280p2s34fs423jfow420psui.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Best-GMAT-Books5.jpg[/img]A good all-in-one guide to the Verbal section of the GMAT, Kaplan Verbal Workbook’s latest edition offers solid and straightforward advice on mastering each section of the Verbal component of the GMAT.
In particular, this exam prep book provides a grammar guide, a particularly well crafted reading comprehension section and a multitude of practice questions.
While not as good as some of the Critical Reasoning or Sentence Correction dedicated books, Kaplan Verbal Workbook still offers an excellent foundation for the Verbal section of the test. For that reason, it still makes our Top 10 List of the best GMAT prep books.
