Kaplan GMAT Premier 2016 with 6 Practice Tests

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Part Four: Quantitative SSteacttiisotnic asn odn S tthrea tGeMgiAesT
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ASCENT has 6 letters, so you need 6 blanks:
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6 × 5 × × × ×
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Npfoeorrtmmicuuel tatahst aicota nyn op usrao wvbelien ymdo suu pwt irimtehpeo rouontd ufTicgeisuntrg iD ntahgy eo. aurt rtahneg reimghetn ftos rfmorumlau alah,e na!d. Iot’fs tqimuiet,e aplothsosiubgleh tkon soowlvien gm tohset
for every type of question, as well as improve Esfoixnra gtmlhei-psf ilpleeh: ofotoTr ?hae rpeh oatroe, 6a lctehrinldarteinng agt ean dfaerms.i lHy orweu mniaonny, 3a rbraonygs eamnedn t3s goifr ltsh. eT chheiyl dwreinll abree lpinoesdsi bulpe PREMIER 2016
Yheioatuvhe em r6 ao y“n benl.ao Snt okb setr, ”sy u bbruoet t hhyo:owu tdoo anp’tp kronaocwh wthhise twheitrh t oa fboergminu lwa,i tsho ad rbaowy ao rp iwctiuthre a. Ygoirul .k Int ocwou yldou b’lel
your performance and optimize your study time. × × ×b g b×g b ×g o r+ g b ×g b g×b × × ×
Any of the three boys could go in the first spot, and any of the three girls in the second:
3 × 3 × × × × + × × × × ×
Tthhee tnweox tr esmpoati ncianng bgeir lfsi.l lTedh ewn itthh ee liathset rb oofy tahned r ethmea liansitn ggi rtlw toa kbeo tyhse; itrh pel aocnees :after by either of
Tphosasti’sb itlihtey, baonyd- fsiros ty o p u3o sg ×sei tb :3i l it×y . 2T h× e 2s a×m 1e n× u 1m b+e r s ×o f ×b o y s× a n×d g ×ir l s apply to the girl-first A
3 × 3 × 2 × 2 × 1 × 1 + 3 × 3 × 2 × 2 × 1 × 1
9 × 4 × 1 + 9 × 4 × 1
36 + 36 = 72 possible arrangements of 3 boys and 3 girls, alternating genders.
Expert Guidance from Top GMAT Instructors 807 with 6 Practice Tests
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PREMIER
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Co n T E n T s
How to Use This Book........................................................ix
Part one: the GMat
Chapter 1: Introduction to the GMAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
GMAT Format ...........................................................3
GMAT Scoring ..........................................................4
GMAT Attitude ..........................................................7
GMAT Checklist .........................................................9
Chapter 2: Understanding the CAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
The CAT Explained ......................................................13
Are the First Questions More Important? ....................................15
The Importance of Pacing ................................................16
Other CAT Strategies ....................................................17
Part two: Pretest
Chapter 3: GMAT Pretest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
How to Take This Test....................................................21
GMAT Pretest Answer Sheet ..............................................23
Chapter 4: Pretest Answers and Explanations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
How to Review This Test..................................................61
Answer Key............................................................63
Pretest Scoring Tool .....................................................64
Quantitative Section Explanations .........................................65
Verbal Section Explanations ..............................................83
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Contents
Part three: Verbal section and strateGies
Chapter 5: Verbal section overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Composition of the Verbal Section .......................................105
Pacing on the Verbal Section ............................................106
How the Verbal Section Is Scored ........................................108
Core Competencies on the Verbal Section..................................108
Introduction to Strategic Reading.........................................113
Chapter 6: Critical Reasoning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Previewing Critical Reasoning............................................118
Question Format and Structure...........................................119
The Basic Principles of Critical Reasoning ..................................120
The Kaplan Method for Critical Reasoning..................................125
Critical Reasoning Question Types ........................................128
Advanced Strategies: Three Special Cases..................................166
Critical Reasoning Quiz .................................................180
Answers and Explanations ..............................................186
GMAT by the Numbers: Critical Reasoning..................................231
Chapter 7: Reading Comprehension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Previewing Reading Comprehension ......................................234
Question Format and Structure...........................................236
The Basic Principles of Reading Comprehension.............................236
The Kaplan Method for Reading Comprehension ............................246
Reading Comprehension Question Types...................................254
Reading Comprehension Quiz............................................268
Answers and Explanations ..............................................284
GMAT by the Numbers: Reading Comprehension ............................335
Chapter 8: sentence Correction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Previewing Sentence Correction ..........................................342
Question Format and Structure...........................................343
The Kaplan Method for Sentence Correction ................................343
Commonly Tested Grammar on the GMAT ..................................348
Answers and Explanations ..............................................400
GMAT by the Numbers: Sentence Correction ................................467
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Contents
Part four: QuantitatiVe section and strateGies
Chapter 9: Quantitative section overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 471
Composition of the Quantitative Section...................................471
What the Quantitative Section Tests.......................................472
Pacing on the Quantitative Section .......................................473
How the Quantitative Section Is Scored....................................474
Core Competencies on the Quantitative Section.............................475
Chapter 10: Problem solving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 481
Previewing Problem Solving .............................................482
Question Format and Structure...........................................484
The Kaplan Method for Problem Solving ...................................485
The Basic Principles of Problem Solving....................................489
Problem Solving Strategy................................................495
Answers and Explanations ..............................................523
GMAT by the Numbers: Problem Solving ...................................547
Chapter 11: Data sufficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 549
Previewing Data Sufficiency .............................................550
Question Format and Structure...........................................551
The Kaplan Method for Data Sufficiency ...................................552
The Basic Principles of Data Sufficiency....................................558
Data Sufficiency Strategy................................................568
Answers and Explanations ..............................................577
GMAT by the Numbers: Data Sufficiency ...................................597
Chapter 12: Algebra on the GMAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 599
Previewing Algebra on the GMAT .........................................600
Translating Words into Expressions and Equations...........................602
Isolating a Variable ....................................................607
Quadratic Equations ...................................................614
Systems of Linear Equations.............................................619
Special Cases in Systems of Linear Equations...............................623
Functions and Symbolism...............................................625
Answers and Explanations ..............................................630
GMAT by the Numbers: Algebra ..........................................649
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Contents
Chapter 13: Arithmetic on the GMAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 651
Previewing Arithmetic on the GMAT .......................................652
Arithmetic Basics......................................................654
Fractions and Decimals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .655
Exponents............................................................665
Radicals .............................................................669
Absolute Value........................................................673
Inequalities ..........................................................677
Answers and Explanations ..............................................682
GMAT by the Numbers: Arithmetic ........................................699
Chapter 14: number Properties on the GMAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 701
Previewing Number Properties on the GMAT ................................702
Integers and Non-Integers...............................................703
Odds and Evens.......................................................707
Positives and Negatives ................................................710
Factors and Multiples ..................................................715
Remainders and Primes.................................................719
Sequences ...........................................................724
Answers and Explanations ..............................................728
GMAT by the Numbers: Number Properties .................................747
Chapter 15: Proportions on the GMAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 749
Previewing Proportions on the GMAT ......................................750
Applying Fractions to Proportions.........................................753
Ratios ...............................................................757
Percents with Specified Values...........................................764
Mixtures .............................................................772
Answers and Explanations ..............................................776
GMAT by the Numbers: Proportions .......................................791
Chapter 16: statistics on the GMAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 793
Previewing Statistics on the GMAT ........................................794
Median, Mode, Range, and Standard Deviation .............................796
Sequences of Integers..................................................801
Combinations and Permutations .........................................805
Probability ...........................................................813
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Contents
Answers and Explanations ..............................................820
GMAT by the Numbers: Statistics .........................................839
Chapter 17: Math Formulas on the GMAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 841
Previewing Math Formulas on the GMAT ...................................842
Averages.............................................................844
Rates and Speed—Converting Rates.......................................849
Rates and Speed—Multi-Part Journeys ....................................854
Combined Rates and Combined Work .....................................860
Interest Rates ........................................................866
Overlapping Sets ......................................................871
Answers and Explanations ..............................................880
GMAT by the Numbers: Math Formulas ....................................913
Chapter 18: Geometry on the GMAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 915
Previewing Geometry on the GMAT........................................916
Lines and Angles ......................................................919
Triangles.............................................................926
Polygons.............................................................935
Circles...............................................................941
Multiple Figures .......................................................948
Solids ...............................................................954
Coordinate Geometry...................................................960
Answers and Explanations ..............................................966
GMAT by the Numbers: Geometry.........................................999
Part fiVe: analytical writinG and inteGrated reasoninG sections
Chapter 19: Analytical Writing Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1003
Essay Format and Structure.............................................1004
The Basic Principles of Analytical Writing..................................1004
How the AWA Is Scored ................................................1007
The Kaplan Method for Analytical Writing .................................1009
Breakdown: Analysis of an Argument.....................................1011
GMAT Style Checklist ..................................................1016
Practice Essays.......................................................1018
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Contents
Chapter 20: Integrated Reasoning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1025
Section Format and Structure ...........................................1025
The Integrated Reasoning Question Types.................................1027
Conclusion ..........................................................1067
Part six: test day and business school
Chapter 21: Take Control of Test Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1071
Mental Conditioning ..................................................1071
Stress Management...................................................1073
Stress Management Quiz ..............................................1075
The Week Before Test Day ..............................................1079
On Test Day..........................................................1079
Cancellation and Multiple Scores Policy ..................................1081
Chapter 22: Business school Admissions Myths Destroyed
(Before They Destroy You!) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1083
Myth #1: The Admissions Committee Wants a Specific Type ..................1084
Myth #2: My High GMAT Score Will Get Me in ..............................1085
Myth #3: My Supervisor Graduated from HBS—He Knows ....................1085
Myth #4: If I Did Not Go to an Ivy, I’m Not Getting In.........................1086
Myth #5: If I Have a Gap in My History, I’m Not Getting In ....................1086
Myth #6: If I Have No Managerial Experience, I’m Not Getting In...............1087
Myth #7: I Must Submit in Round 1 ......................................1088
Myth #8: Writing My Own Recommendation Puts Me in the Driver’s Seat........1089
Myth #9: HBS Is for Everyone ...........................................1089
Myth #10: If My Application Has a Typo, I’m Not Getting In ...................1090
Part seVen: aPPendices
Appendix A: How Much Can a GMAT score Change? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1093
Appendix B: A Closer Look at GMAT scoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1097
viii
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How to Use This Book
welcoMe to KaPlan’s GMat PreMier 2016
Congratulations on your decision to pursue an MBA or other graduate management
degree, and thank you for choosing Kaplan for your GMAT preparation.
You’ve made the right choice in acquiring this book—you’re now armed with a
comprehensive GMAT program that is the result of decades of researching the GMAT
and teaching many thousands of students the skills they need to succeed. You have
what you need to score higher; the next step is to make the commitment to your
study plan, which, according to the GMAT testmaker, averages about 100 hours of
preparation for 600+ and 700+ scorers.
Let’s start by walking you through everything you need to know to take advantage of
this book and your Online Center.
your book
There are two main components to your GMAT Premier study package: your book and
your Online Center. This book contains:
• Detailed instruction covering the essential verbal, math, and writing concepts
• Time-tested and effective Kaplan Methods and strategies for every question type
• A pretest (Chapter 3) featuring full-length Quantitative and Verbal sections,
designed to help you diagnose your strengths and weaknesses
• Over 350 practice questions, followed by detailed answer explanations
ix
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