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Understanding Arguments | Best GMAT Books for Critical Reasoning
GMAT critical reasoning is a subject that you will have to study, experience, and synthesize it simultaneously. GMAT Critical reasoning books help you individually learned each topic. GMAT CR requires constant practice to obtain a high GMAT score. Candidates often find the GMAT critical reasoning questions harder than the remaining two sections. Powerscore CR Bible is a very helpful book for candidates.
Overview of GMAT Critical Reasoning
GMAT Critical reasoning is a type of question that appears in the GMAT Verbal section. It makes up about 1/3rdof the Verbal section. GMAT CR questions are 13 in number and present arguments. You will be required to analyze the presented arguments by strengthening them, weakening them, understanding their underlying assumptions, or using some other techniques. Although reading is definitely involved in GMAT CR, this section of GMAT primarily aims to assess your logic and thinking skills. The argument that you will come across in the GMAT Verbal section will be less than 100 words, which is a lot shorter than a Reading Comprehension passage. Also, there will only be a single question on the critical reasoning argument.
Why does GMAT CR Exist?
Preparation for GMAT inevitably means joining a business school which in turn implies a career in management. The business world runs purely on the aspects of buying and selling. Therefore, every sale is an argument, but, this argument is only the beginning. Important questions such as – how can my company determine which is the best policy, what causes my company to buy from a particular supplier, what motivates my company’s customers to buy from us, and what are the concerns of my investors, can be settled through arguments. In the business world, you will be expected to have the skill of argument evaluation. GMAT CR exists to assess this essential skill.
Types of GMAT CR Questions
When you reach the GMAT CR component of the GMAT Verbal section, ensure that you read the question before proceeding to the argument itself. Understand which kind of question you are expected to answer and then begin reading the argument while keeping that question in mind.
The eight types of GMAT CR questions are –
- Type 1 - Strengthening the argument
- Type 2 - Weakening the argument
- Type 3 - Finding the assumption
- Type 4 - Drawing an inference/conclusion
- Type 5 - Structuring of the argument
- Type 6 - Paradoxes
- Type 7 - Evaluating the conclusion
- Type 8 - Completing the argument
When GMAT presents an argument, it gives one correct answer and four potentially confusing and tempting statements as the other choices. One can wander through all the answer choices and end up getting completely perplexed. Rather than spending too much time looking at the answer choices, try to approach the question directly. For questions belonging to types 1 to 3, the best option is to find the assumption of the argument. Undercutting or reaffirming the assumption of an argument is a very effective way of weakening or strengthening it. It can also help in finding a flaw in the argument if the flaw is one of the faulty assumptions.
For the other types of questions, answers cannot be easily predicted. What you can do is formulate the argument in your own words. Ask yourself – what is the argument’s structure, what is the paradox that needs to be resolved, or what sort of information is necessary to evaluate a conclusion, and the like. Quite obviously, the more clearly you understand the kind of argument that will satisfy the question, the quicker will be your chances of finding the correct answer.
Kinds of Study Methods in GMAT CR
Self-study method – This method will provide you with the advantage of customization. You can build a GMAT study plan that works best for your needs and lifestyle. The plan will also be self-paced, allowing you to prepare for the GMAT whenever you choose to.
Coaching center method – This method is quite beneficial for those who have to prepare for the GMAT within time constraints. GMAT Coachings in India have a professional learning experience with a fixed study plan from your mentors and motivating competition from your peers.
Preparation Tips for GMAT CR
GMAT CR questions can be very tricky. Sufficient analytical skills and GMAT practice papers are required to succeed in this component of GMAT. Some of the highly recommended preparation tips for GMAT are –
- Choose a study method keeping in mind your priorities and comfort.
- If you choose the self-study method, have the support of the best GMAT books and other study material for critical reasoning.
- If you choose the coaching center method, take part in healthy competition with your peers and learn from your mentors.
- Create a very efficient study plan.
- Practice as many GMAT CR questions as you can.
- Follow the GMAT CR strategies
- Sharpen your motivation regularly.
- Discipline yourself consistently.
- Start preparing to Implement these tips to succeed in GMAT.
Best GMAT Books for Critical Reasoning
GMAT CR is a component of GMAT that requires a lot of practice. Ensure that you choose the best GMAT books for critical reasoning. List of best GMAT books that cater specifically to critical reasoning –
PowerScore GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible
- Author – Dave Killoran
- Format – Paperback and e-book
The PowerScore GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible is one of the best GMAT books for critical reasoning. It provides you with material that teaches you to recognize the type of questions in GMAT, break down GMAT argumentation, and separate the correct answer from incorrect answers. Practicing critical reasoning through this book can greatly enhance your speed and accuracy in answering questions. If you aim to achieve the highest score possible, this is just the right book for you. The approaches and strategies that you will learn from this book will also prove to be useful in tackling questions from the GMAT Reading Comprehension section. The PowerScore GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible is also supplemented by an exclusive website. The website provides extra learning material for the book. It includes suggested study plans and answers to students’ frequently asked questions.
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| 1. Requires more practice questions. |
PowerScore GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible – Check PDF
GMAT Critical Reasoning (Manhattan Prep GMAT Strategy Guides)
- Author – Manhattan Prep
- Format – Paperback and e-book
GMAT Critical Reasoning from the Manhattan Prep GMAT Strategy Guides shows critical reasoning in the light of a clear, comprehensive, and effective approach to arguments. This book is designed to provide a detailed and focused coverage of one component of GMAT – critical reasoning. Students will greatly benefit from the comprehensive study material, precise explanations of the fundamental principles, and step-by-step instructions to crucial techniques. In-action practice questions will challenge the learner while the topical sets of questions from the Official Guide will improve growth. Detailed explanations for all questions and arguments are given in this book so that students can understand why a specific answer is correct and the others wrong. Regardless of whether it is used by itself or along with the other nine Manhattan Prep GMAT Strategy Guides, GMAT Critical Reasoning is sure to be of major advantage to the skills, knowledge, and strategic thinking that is required by a student to do well in GMAT. Purchase of this book will grant you one year of access to the Critical Reasoning Question Bank of Manhattan Prep.
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
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Manhattan Prep GMAT Strategy Guides- Check PDF
GMAT Critical Reasoning Guide
- Author – Arun Jagannathan
- Format – E-book
GMAT Critical Reasoning Guide focuses not only on the theory of critical reasoning but also on its practice. It emphasizes the foundation of logic and follows a structured approach to tackle every type of question. It helps students identify the various traps in GMAT CR. As one of the best GMAT books online for critical reasoning, GMAT Critical Reasoning Guide has strategies that are based on a non-native approach. The book has all the essential tools and tips that are necessary to crack the toughest critical reasoning questions in GMAT. It also includes an online GMAT Foundation Course which can help students in strengthening their basics.
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| 1. Several practice questions are insufficient for adequate practice. |
GMAT 2024 : 27 Answered QuestionsView All
Ans. Generally speaking anything above 750 is a good score for admission to IBS Hyderabad. But even a high GMAT score does not guarantee admission to IBS Hyderabad because the shortlisting is profile-based. GMAT score is just a part of the entire selection process. You need to improvise your profile by working on other aspects also like essays profile academics extracurricular activities Academics: Your 12th class marks graduation grades, post-graduation, and certification scores along with the GMAT cutoff is considered in your academic profile. Leadership: The leadership skills of the aspirants are tested on the basis of their prior achievements and roles. Personal attributes: This comprises your personal qualities like hobbies, talents, and extracurricular skills. Aspirants from diverse work experiences, cultures, and educational backgrounds are welcomed at IBS Hyderabad. So along with preparing well for GMAT, give importance to these parameters as well to increase your chances of admission. Read more
Ans. In case you are enquiring about the CAT percentile let me clarify that ISB Hyderabad does not take into consideration CAT scores. It accepts GMAT/GRE scores only. Most importantly, the ISB Shortlisting process is profile-based. This means even with a lower percentile you can manage to get shortlisted provided you have an excellent profile. There is no fixed cutoff for GMAT. However, a 700+ GMAT score isn't a must-have for ISB if your application is strong in other areas. According to an ISB spokesperson, candidates were admitted to the 2021 cohort with scores as low as 580, and as high as 780. So the GMAT score range for ISB is 580-780. Read more
Ans. Yes, it certainly is worth paying a hefty fee of 30k for GMAT coaching at Crack ISB Hyderabad. The quality of trainers and the certainty of admission is what draw the candidates here. While there are many institutes that specialize in training for the CAT, very few institutes offer training for GMAT. Crack ISB Hyderabad has many features that have made it so popular and demanding among GMAT aspirants The peer group is a productive and effective group discussion is possible The institute gives the admission essay reviews free of cost while most institutes charge around 20-25k The quality of editing is much better at this Institute mainly because the faculty comprises alumni of top B Schools So it’s better to pay more for quality education than pay less or the same for substandard education. But remember an Institute can just prepare you for your entrance exam. It’s upon you to put in maximum effort and achieve your goals. Read more
Ans. There is hardly any B-school in India that accepts GMAT scores for full-time MBA. IIMs, FMS, XLRI, JBIMS, IIFT, MDI, etc. are some of the institutions that accept GMAT scores. However, students applying through a foreign national quota or NRI quota are eligible for GMAT score. ISB on the other hand accepts the GMAT for its full-time program MBA program. Here is the list of some B-Schools that accepts GMAT scores in India XLRI, Jamshedpur XIM, Bhubaneswar VIT Business School TISS, Mumbai TERI School of Advanced Sciences, TERI University TASMAC, Pune TAPMI, Manipal School of Management, Udaipur School of Management, NMIMS, Mumbai School of Management, International Institute of Management This is why most students go for CAT, XAT, SNAP, and other management exams for admission in MBA. Only foreign nationals or students with NRI Quota can apply through GMAT. Read more
Ans. Yes, ISB Hyderabad’s PGP program requires a minimum of 2 years of full-time paid work experience. This criteria came into force on 31st March 2016 and is still a necessity. For candidates who lack in this aspect, there is a back door entry called the Early Entry Option or the EEOs. Under this, you can apply right away, go through the selection process, and receive the admission offer but join only after working for 2 years. This can also be referred to as Deferred admission. Read more
Ans. More than 140 Business Schools in India accept GMAT scores. Here is a list of popular B-School that accept GMAT scores. IIM Ahmedabad (PGPX) IIM Bangalore (EPGP) IIM Calcutta (PGPEx) IIM Indore (EPGP) IIM Kozhikode (EPGP) IIM Lucknow (IPMAX) XLRI Jamshedpur MDI Gurgaon IMT Ghaziabad IIFT Delhi FMS Deli ISB Hyderabad/Mohali Many other reputed B-School across the country also accept GMAT scores. Read more
Ans. Very few universities in Canada offer MBA without GMAT scores. They will consider other factors as eligibility criteria such as work experience for selection. York University’s Schulich of School of Business, McMaster University’s Degroote School of Business are some of the most reputed business schools in Canada that offer MBA without GMAT. Other than these, other universities offering MBA without GMAT are New York Institute of Technology, Thompson Rivers University, Lakehead University, Wilfrid Laurier University. You have the option to apply for executive MBAs without a GMAT score, too. Read more
Ans. IIM Shillong accepts GMAT scores of only for International students for the PGP flagship program The Executive PGP program For International students who are targeting the PGP flagship program, the cutoff is as follows Category SSC Percentage HSC percentage General 80 80 EWS 80 80 DA 50 50 ST 50 50 SC 55 55 So a good GMAT score for an International student is anything above 700. For the Executive program too, a GMAT score of 700+ is a good target. If your profile is average you can target a higher GMAT score. Read more
Ans. There are many business schools in India that require GMAT scores at the time of admission. Some of the top business schools with requiring GMAT scores in India are: Institute Name GMAT Score ISB, Hyderabad & Mohali 730 or higher S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai 550 IIM Ahmedabad 711 School of Management, NMIMS Mumbai 600 IIM Bangalore 710 Great Lakes Institute of Management 600 IIM Calcutta 701 XLRI Jamshedpur 710 IIM Lucknow 680 IMT (All campuses) 720 IIM Indore 700 ICFAI Business School (Hyderabad & Mumbai) 700 IIM Kozhikode 700 A few other institutes include - MDI Gurgaon, FMS Delhi, Sunstone Business School Noida, ISB Indore, and more. Read more
Ans. I know this decision is a bit difficult to make. What you need to keep in mind is that these two colleges should not be compared to other great IIMs or even ISBs. Those B Schools are at another level and cannot be on par with Kashipur or Raipur. To facilitate a better decision, I will mention the circumstances of these B Schools then you can choose after considering all options. IIM Indore and IIM Kashipur: Both these colleges are not worth a year drop as they will help you earn only an extra 1.5-2 LPA. Moreover, in the coming years, Kashipur and Raipur will have almost the same brand value as that Indore and Kozhikode. IIM Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Lucknow and Bangalore: All these top IIMs are definitely worth a year's drop provided that you are confident enough to cope with the cutoff. All these IIMs consider your academics while selecting so if that is your reason for the year drop I don’t think it will help. There is no surety of admission even after a percentile of 100. ISB: This one is at a whole different level and is in the category of elite B Schools like UCB, NYU, HBS, etc. The top-notch faculty offers amazing pedagogy at relatively low fees. CAT is sufficient for IIMs. But if you want to go for ISB, a work experience of 4+ years and a GMAT are a must. Read more
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College
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