Powerscore GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible 2020: A Comprehensive System for Attacking GMAT Critical Reasoning Questions!

==== 2015 UPDATE ====Powerscore released a new 2015 edition of the book. It has had some updates - several chapters have been completely updated with new overview, examples and new problem sets. Navigation has also been improved. It has grown too by about 70 pages (in part due to having more white space and in part due to content). Not a light book at 370 pages but definitely very very comprehensive overview of pretty much everything. Don't expect to see too much fluff, the book gets right to it. Though after MGMAT has improved their CR book (currently in its 6th edition), I would have given this book 3-4 stars, the latest revision seems to provide a good alternative to the Veritas Prep/MGMAT books.==== 2009 Review ====Though pretty similar to Manhattan GMAT book, it offers more practice questions in the book and has a slightly better overview of the Critical Reasoning questions.~~~ Strengths: ~~~1. In-depth overview of the Critical Reasoning strategies and approaches to questions2. Clearly divides the CR question types and provides specific strategy for each type as well as the pitfalls and common errors. You will also get to know how the CR questions are made.3. Good quality GMAT-like practice questions4. Created by the authors of the best LSAT books (LSAT logic section is much harder than CR on the GMAT; there is actually a decent amoount of overlap in this book with the LSAT book). Speaking of which, for extra hardcore (and absolutely not necessary but still), you can get the PowerScore LR book (comes with quite a few LSAT questions)~~~ Weaknesses: ~~~1. Could use more practice questions (more than mgmat though); you will need to find another source of CR questions such as GMAT Official guide 12 or the verbal supplement to the Official Guide (though the verbal OG has questions on the easier side)2. Some explanations are too convoluted3. No tests or online excercises/additional content~~~~ My Suggestions ~~~~- Read explanations to every question. Even if you got a question right, it does not mean, you solved it correctly (that is you used the correct approach or found all the shortcusts). You will be surpised sometimes and will pick up helpful tips even from explanations of questions you answered correctly- Follow the actual strategies (DUH). This is probably the most common mistake people make - they start inventing their own approaches. Don't do it until you have a high verbal score. If you don't, just follow!- If you don't have any Manhattan GMAT books, you want to get at least one, as each comes with access to 6 online CAT tests (these tests are worth the purchase). There is not a whole lot of value to get both Powerscore CR and MGMAT CR; the content is by large the same.Good luck on your GMAT!BB, Founder of GMAT ClubGMAT 750 (q49, v42)

Some of us are innately good at critical reasoning and find the GMAT CR questions a breeze. For the rest of us there's the CR bible. This is by far the most comprehensive book availble to simplify CR questions. It provides excellent strategies for each of the question types found on the GMAT, as well as, general strategies which are a great for increasing both speed and accuracy.The the text does have a few areas for potential improvement. Namely, it could include a cross-reference for the OG guides and published LSAT CR questions. Additonally, some of the strategies are poorly developed and provide very few practice questions.For additional practice, I highly recommend getting the LSAT exams. There are several of these available from the LSAC website. The first section of these exams contains CR questions, which are very similar to what you'll find on the GMAT.Howard SpencerEES Executive English Solutions Chile700PLUSGMAT Chile

This book systematically organizes every GMAT CR question type into "families," with each family possessing its own set of characteristics. Such an organization facilitates a better understanding of each question type because you know what to look for after you finish reading each question. I've gone through the book once already but am going through it one more time to make sure I really absorb the material.Also, the book actually breaks down the concept of an argument and helps you understand the building blocks of an argument in order to be able to attack any question by following the same rules. There's no discussion of cheap tricks to try to find correct answers. This book is an absolute must if you hope to master critical reasoning on the GMAT. It's especially helpful for people like me who are weak in this part of the verbal section because you are given a step-by-step process for approaching every question. Despite the differences in question types, almost every question can be attacked in a similar manner. So it's good to see a book that focuses on the fundamentals of argumentation.The only reason I knocked off one star is because this book could use some more practice questions. There are 50 practice questions, but I don't feel like that's enough. This book should be used in conjunction with the Official Guide.

This book is great if you want a high score (high 700s) and don't have a ton of time to study. I only had one month to study for the GMAT and wanted books that would really maximize my time studying for my weaker areas. It was easy enough to read and understand so I was able to cover it over a weekend (albeit with not many breaks). I imagine it would be even more effective if you have more time to study. The structure used for types of questions was extremely helpful for me in getting the tougher questions right more often. I used this book along with the Powerscore Sentence Correction Book. A few more practice problems would have been nice. I found the PowerScore questions to be harder than the OG ones. I also bought the Official Guide and the EZ Advanced and EZ Logic and Stats.