Barron's GMAT 18th edition

Great!

While I have used Barron's test prep in the past (for the SAT) and was pleased with the program, this book seems to have not been proof-read prior to publication. I am not a mathematics expert (hence why I purchased this book), but this book is riddled with mathematical errors. There are errors on pages 91, 108, 112, 183, 197, 212, 213, 215. I am only on page 221 of this book and am beginning to doubt whether or not there was an editor. In fact, I am starting to think that this book was written at 3 am between double shots of espresso. Lest you doubt my claims that there are errors, allow me to give examples of them. Page 197 claims that 49/3 = 18 1/3. Page 213 loses a 6 in the denominator of an equation with no explanation. Page 215 states that 70 = 28 + X and that X = 56.The nitty gritty: this book has good tips for test taking, hence the two stars. But if you are a person who likes to really study these test books to learn how to take a test, you may drive yourself crazy trying to figure out what you did wrong on a problem when, in fact, there is an error in the text.

These authors should be ashamed of themselves. I'm back on this page 5 years later to make sure this crap gets 1 star.I can't believe Amazon sells this hellish excuse for test prep.

The GMAT: a test to remind you that your teachers told you that the advanced math would matter. Now you need an MBA...and you need Algebra II again, in theoretical form. Such is life...But such is life that the Barron's GMAT book is built for: if you have learned these principles in times past but are coming back to dig them up, because the test is looming, it's got the information to remind you. It's got the data, the resources. I think you're better off if you are relearning and refreshing here, rather than jumping into any of the knowledge areas that you have never looked at.The analytical writing section is probably the weakest, but that's because it is a dynamically graded part of the test: there's just no way for the book to grade your essay. The pointers seem valuable.Overall, there's nothing wrong with the book for reference and examination. I would advise the CD version over this one, though, as the GMAT is a computer adaptive test, meaning there is a formula that shifts how you experience the test as you go--and you can't fake that on paper. So the CD is going to be closer to reality.If, however, you want to make a practice test just to scare some folks into studying in high school, this is perfect. Or if you are needing an offline refresher course in the basic subjects of grammar and math.

The GMAT, required for graduate admissions to degree programs like an MBA, measure analytical writing and problem-solving abilities, data sufficiency, logic, and critical reasoning skills that are rated as vital competencies for real-world business and management success. Updated in 2014, it's currently relevant to the test and uses a systematic approach for review and teaching individuals how to test well (for a paper test).My biggest criticism is that ability to take paper tests doesn't always translate well to taking computer-based tests. The test taking strategy is completely different. That isn't well covered in this book. Apparently the book *can* come with a CD, but the one currently on sale does not. So while it's a great refresher in "integrated reasoning," math, algebra, geometry, basic statistics and probability, approaches for problem solving, vocabulary, critical reasoning, and sentence correction, all the exercises and tests are paper-based.If it came with a CD or log-in on a website for on-line, computer testing to build skills, I'd give it 5 stars.

Thanks

At first, I thought I was crazy on some of the math problems...but NO, Barron's GMAT is just full of mistakes. For example, one of the practice problems in the algebra section suggests that 3-(-9)=15 instead of 12...umm WHAT? The concept reviews are decent, but how can you trust a book that doesn't even seem to have been proofread? I used Barron's for my SAT prep years ago, and had a better experience. This is a big disappointment.

It's riddled with errors. And I mean RIDDLED with errors. So when you're having difficulty with a particular problem you can never be sure if you're not understanding something or you're just running into one of the COUNTLESS mistakes that are just littering this unproofed piece of garbage. And it's infuriating. There are constant mistakes across all subject areas -- verbal, quant, logic. My guess is that they outsourced the practice questions to some piece of garbage outsourcing company that did it as quickly and cheaply as possible. Even when questions are technically not wrong, they often rely on arcane knowledge that is not germane to business and would never should up in a real GMAT. For example, do pterodactyls have beaks? I don't know. Nor do most people who don't know a lot about dinosaurs. And yet, that is the linchpin of one of the integrated reasoning problems (how?!?!). Grammar across the board is horrible. And I don't mean just in the sentence correction questions where it is supposed to be; I mean EVERYWHERE, and after trying to parse one too many gibberish word problems with bad English I just got sick of it all and threw the damn thing away.Seriously, save yourself the money.