Sentence Correction GMAT Preparation Guide, 4th Edition (Manhattan GMAT Preparation Guides)

Comment: I have never written a review for a product before, but I have only had this book for a day. I have read through Chapter 5, and the strategies explained in the first chapter along with the review on key elements to look for has already helped me. Sentence Correction was my biggest weakness in the Verbal Section. Today, I went back and answered the ones I missed on the mba practice test, using the new strategies, and I got all but one right this time. It made it so easy to focus and eliminate choices. I strongly recommend this book.

Comment: I can't believe it! I did not attend any prep courses and just by merely studying these books, I got a 780! And on a separate note, I got a 5 on AWA.
Do not get me wrong, I was never a fantastic undergraduate. My GPA was only about 3.4.
Thanks to the Manhattan GMAT books which saved me alot of money(I repeat I did not spend on prep courses), I can now apply for the top MBA programs with confidence!

*I bought all 8 books but am only writing it here because I do not want to duplicate.

Comment: I self studied and scored a 770 on the GMAT. Here is my analysis of MGMAT's Sentence Correction Guide:

===== OVERVIEW =====

The Manhattan GMAT Sentence Correction (SC) Guide, is one of the most popular resources on the market for mastering GMAT grammar. This is because many non-native test takers do not have access to prep courses and, in their effort to get a high score with self prep, they will often be brought down by the cruel English grammar tested on the GMAT.

As a company, Manhattan GMAT has built a very strong reputation in the test prep industry. For most of its history, the company focused exclusively on the GMAT and no other standardized test (the company began serving the LSAT market in 2008). In this respect, it has published a set of 8 GMAT guides which should cover not only the basic GMAT topics, but also the advanced issues that the GMAT test taker will face. The SC guide is by far their most popular product, often described as a "must have" in online study forums.

The book is structured in two parts: General (10 chapters) and Advanced (3 chapters). It also includes a handy Official Guide List and Matrix, where you will find a breakdown of topics tested in each of the questions found on The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 12th Edition (OG) and Verbal Review 1st Edition. Note that Manhattan GMAT published this 4th edition shortly after the release of the OG 12th, in spring, before the 2nd edition of the Verbal Review was released later that summer. This is important because the current Manhattan GMAT SC edition references the OG 12th edition and OG Verbal 1st edition, so you should plan your GMAT shopping list accordingly.

===== PROS =====

* Good analysis of common error types, excellent for non-native speakers of English interested in taking the test. The book covers the Sentence Correction concepts with amazing depth

* Comes with a one-year access to 6 online computer-adaptive practice tests (CATs), which I consider to be pretty decent estimators of your score, second only to the GMATprep software from [...]. The CATs are sold at $39 on their official site, so you'd be getting these tests and the book at a fraction of the cost.

* Structured according to error types, so if you feel you're having trouble with a certain question type, you can hone in on your weak spot by reading through the corresponding section

* Even if you're an advanced test taker, this book is still worth your time. Unlike some general strategy guides, it does not neglect this advanced test taking demographic. This is one of the advantages of having a targeted book at hand

* While the book's focus is Sentence Correction, the grammar lessons will also help you in the Analytical Writing Assessment section of the GMAT. Even though the score for the AWA does not count towards your general GMAT score, feeling confident about grammar will help ease the stress of writing your essays on the test

===== CONS =====

* HUGE MINUS: not enough practice questions. Each chapter has "In Action" problem sets and you also get access to 25 questions online, but that is not nearly enough GMAT practice. You will however find an Official Guide for GMAT Review reference list at the end of each chapter as well as the matrix described above

* The book's structure could be improved, in my opinion. The writing does not "flow" as easily as in The PowerScore GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible, for example.

* You need to allocate significant time to review this book. The multitude of rules and tips it presents will likely form a dark cloud in your head unless you take the time to properly digest the material

===== BOTTOM LINE =====

If GMAT sentence correction is causing you nightmares, this book will surely help you get rid of some of those bad dreams. Besides the grammar improvement, access to the CATs means that you'll have decent tools to assess your progress.

Good luck on your GMAT prep!

About me: Dana Jinaru, 770 GMAT scorer, expert at Beat The GMAT - a community serving 100K+ GMAT students/month

Comment: I already used the Princeton review and some of the Kaplan's guides, but the MGAMT SC, is by far the best product.
The book emphasized all the trap holes and guide you through the different levels of questions from the verbal GMAT. One of the best advantages is that it used the 12ed official guide as the question bank...

Comment: I credit this book as a primary reason I got into an MBA program - 1st attempt at GMAT I scored less than satisfactory on math, and well below my potential on verbal. Bought this book and took the online Manhattan test and got a decent score - this is the best SC book and along with the 5 online tests makes it a very good bargain. I scored in the 90th percentile on verbal with the help of this book.