Let us help you make an informed decision when finding your resources to study for the GMAT. Our team reviews the best GMAT prep books below.
We took a detailed look at dozens of GMAT books to find the best options available in the market. We took many different factors into consideration when reviewing these books.
Summary: Find the GMAT study material that works for you. If you want something more in-depth, check out our reviews of the best GMAT prep courses.
Best GMAT Books Summary
- Best for Practice Tests: Princeton Review
- Best Official GMAT Book: GMAT Official Bundle
- Most Comprehensive: Kaplan
- Best for Quantitative Reasoning: Manhattan Prep All the Quant
- Best for Verbal Reasoning: Manhattan Prep All the Verbal
Note: If you want the best of both worlds, we recommend also looking into GMAT prep courses. You can also take our free GMAT practice test to see how you do before purchasing anything.
Picking GMAT Study Material
First, you need to decide how you learn best. If you struggle with reading and learning from textbooks, then purchasing a prep book is probably not your best option.
If you decide that you can learn from a textbook and on your own, then you need to consider what you are looking for next.
Someone who just wants to focus on practice tests will be looking for something different when compared to someone who needs a comprehensive GMAT book.
Most people generally fall into 3 different categories:
- Looking for practice tests
- Looking for an all-in-one prep book
- Looking for subject specific help (quant or verbal)
Ask yourself which category you fall in. This will help you make a more informed decision when purchasing GMAT study materials.
Princeton Review – Best for Practice Tests
Best for Practice Tests
Best For
- Practice tests
- Study plans
- Bulleted reviews for quick review (if wanted)
Not Recommended For
- Someone wanting to focus on one specific GMAT subject
Pages: 928
The Princeton Review GMAT premium prep book is available to students for $22. The book covers all 4 sections of the GMAT in great detail. Included in the book are bulleted chapter summaries, practice questions, drills, strategies, and tips to help you work smarter, not harder.
This book was developed in July of 2022 so all information will be up-to-date and relevant for the current version of the GMAT.
As well as all the content included above, Princeton Review also includes 6 full-length GMAT practice exams when students purchase this book. The practice exams are computer adaptive tests (CAT). Students will be able to view online score reports and detailed answer explanations when taking these practice exams.
Students who purchase this book will also gain access to various online features to assist in their GMAT prep. Some of those features include:
- Online video tutorials from experts
- Examples of successful essays and interviews with admissions officers
- Information on financial aid.
Princeton Review also offers multi-week study guides for students to follow if they would like to follow a set study schedule.
Bottom Line: This is a great option for individuals looking for a GMAT prep book that covers everything. While this book may not be the most comprehensive option out there, it includes a ton of great content and materials to help you succeed. Our favorite part of this book is the practice tests and score reports.
GMAT Official Bundle – Best Official GMAT Book
Best Official GMAT Book
Best For
- Official prep materials
- Mobile app
- Online features associated with the book
Not Recommended For
- Someone wanting to only use a book (no technology)
Books: 3 Books
The official GMAT prep book bundle was created by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). The GMAC is the official provider of the GMAT exam. This book has a step above the competition due to the fact that it was created by the GMAC.
This GMAT prep book bundle includes 3 books, an online question bank, and a mobile app. There are 1,895 practice questions from previous GMAT exams – all questions have answer explanations.
With the question bank being online, students can filter questions based on difficulty or subjects and can track their progress.
While this book bundle does not include any full-length practice exams, it does let students study in “exam mode” to help prepare them for the exam.
This book is a little more expensive than the other books we looked at. It is more in-depth and is from the official makers of the GMAT.
Some cool features of this prep book bundle are the online flashcards and access to a mobile app. Users do not need internet to use the mobile app, which allows for studying for wherever you may be.
Bottom Line: This is an awesome option for someone who wants to study from the official provider of the exam. The GMAT study material provided is very comprehensive, but it does include some features and resources online. If you want to just use a book and nothing else, this is not your best option.
This option also does not include any full-length practice exams. It does include a ton of practice questions, but no full-length exams.
Kaplan – Most Comprehensive
Most Comprehensive
Best For
- Comprehensive review
- Practice tests and question bank
- Guaranteed higher score
Not Recommended For
- Someone wanting to only use a prep book (no technology)
Pages: 1752
The Complete GMAT prep book set by Kaplan is available for $83. The prep book bundle includes four GMAT prep books, one-year access to various online prep tools, and numerous test-taking strategies.
Kaplan provides 6 full-length online practice tests, over 2000 GMAT practice questions that cover all sections of the GMAT, and access to a 500+ question quiz bank online.
The 6 full-length practice tests are online and in the same computer format that the actual GMAT is in. Another cool feature is the online quiz bank – students can easily customize and sort problems by difficulty or topics.
The prep books also include over 2000 GMAT practice questions. These practice questions cover the verbal, quantitative, analytical writing, and integrated reasoning sections of the GMAT. All practice questions include detailed answer explanations.
Kaplan is so confident in their prep book bundle that they guarantee a higher score on the GMAT. If students do not receive a higher score on the GMAT, Kaplan will give you your money back.
Some of the other online resources students will get access to for 1 year include videos and a GMAT strategy sheet. The online videos are Kaplan teachers explaining practice questions in detail to help students comprehend the material quicker.
Bottom Line: This is our choice for most comprehensive GMAT book. This book includes everything you will need to do well on the exam. You can review all of the materials that will be tested, take full-length practice exams, answer practice questions, and more.
Manhattan Prep All the Quant – Best for Quantitative Reasoning
Best for Quantitative Reasoning
Best For
- Quantitative reasoning prep
Not Recommended For
- Someone wanting a comprehensive review of all GMAT subjects
Pages: 800
If you only want to focus on one section of the GMAT, and that section is quantitative reasoning, then this is the book for you.
You will get 800+ pages of content that focuses specifically on the quantitative reasoning section of the exam. Included in this book are:
- Review of content on the quantitative reasoning section
- Review of strategies for the quantitative reasoning section
- A physical book
- An e-book that covers more complex quant topics and strategies
- 1 full-length practice exam
- Standalone practice problems
- Access to online resources
This book covers all topics that will be tested on the quant section including:
- Fractions
- Decimals
- Percents
- Ratios
- Word Problems
- Number Properties
- Geometry
- Data Sufficiency
Bottom Line: This is a fantastic option if you only want to focus on the quant section. You will find 800+ pages of relevant content and strategies. In addition, there are practice problems and access to online resources to help nail down the material.
Manhattan Prep All the Verbal – Best for Verbal Reasoning
Best for Verbal Reasoning
Best For
- Verbal reasoning prep
Not Recommended For
- Someone wanting a comprehensive review of all GMAT subjects
Pages: 541
If you only want to focus on one section of the GMAT, and that section is verbal reasoning, then this is the book for you.
You will get 500+ pages of content that focuses specifically on the verbal reasoning section of the exam. Included in this book are:
- Review of content on the verbal reasoning section
- Review of strategies for the verbal reasoning section
- A physical book
- An e-book
- 1 full-length practice exam
- Standalone practice problems
- Access to online resources
This book covers all topics that will be tested on the verbal section including:
- Sentence Correction
- Critical Reasoning
- Reading Comprehension
Bottom Line: This is a great option for individuals looking to focus on the verbal reasoning section of the exam. This book will cover everything you need to know for verbal reasoning. In addition to the book, you will also get access to Manhattan Prep’s online resources for additional help with verbal reasoning.
GMAT Book FAQs
Which is the best study material for the GMAT?
GMAT prep books and GMAT prep courses are both great options when studying for the GMAT.
GMAT prep courses may save students some time when studying for the GMAT due to advanced features and more personalized study plans.
Can I use old GMAT books?
Yes and no. The older the GMAT book, the less relevant it will be for the current GMAT. With that being said, there will still be relevant information in an older GMAT book.
Everything on our list above is relevant for the most current version of the GMAT.
Are prep courses better than books?
This question may vary person to person, but yes, we believe so. GMAT prep courses will have the most current information, will help you track your progress, and make your studying more efficient.
Many students choose to use a combination of prep books and courses.
