Book Description

Learn More. Study Less.

The 4th Edition of the PMP Exam Prep is a Course in a Book and is used in 43 countries to help project managers pass PMI's PMP Exam. It contains not only sample exams but detailed review materials, games and exercises based on accelerated learning theory and insider tips. PMP Exam Prep was developed to help you learn more and study less - up to 70% less than using conventional study guides. It contains information about core concepts of project management, information on the PMP exam that is not in the PMBOK and helps you understand how the PMP exam is constructed.

The 4th edition has over 100 pages more than the 3rd edition, 300 changes and much more information about the new area of professional responsibility. It focuses on the areas of the PMP exam where students score the lowest and contains tips about how to study and what to study. ... Read more

Reviews (78)

PMP Exam Prep
I used this book along with the PMBOK as my primary study references. I found the following to be true concerning this text:

1) Great Layout: Each section is layed out according to the PMBOK's organization. This greatly assists the reader when referring from area to area.

2) Solid Information: Rita provides information you need to know to be a solid Project Manager. In addition, she provides enough information to the level of granularity needed to pass the test. A key diagram I felt very helpful is her overview of the steps (in order) needed to go through the Project Lifecycle from Initiating to Closing. And at times, she lets you smile as you read :-).

3) Practice Tests: I concur with a previous reader. The questions are more difficult in Rita's books than they are on the actual test. However, Rita's questions make you think through the process and promote a deeper level of understanding that is needed to answer the "simpler" questions on the PMP test.

The only drawback of Rita's books are the lack of additional questions. A CD is provided that is sold seperately (Fast Track). I would have preferred a few more questions that the 24 demo questions for the price of the book.

The bottom line--I passed the test. My recommendation. Read the PMBOK and understand inputs, tools, outputs, and flow. Buy Rita's book to greatly enhance understanding. Then buy another book with additional practice questions as well.

Surprisingly effective!
First things first, I passed the PMP certification exam! I did not take any classes or workshops, I relied exclusively on the PMBOK, the 'PMP Exam Prep' by Rita Mulcahy, her practice CD, and the thick and not-so-effective 'Project management - a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling' by Harold Kernzer. I have to admit that when I first received the pricey 'Exam Prep' I was disappointed by its format (amateurish) and what seems to be, at the time, shallow content. I also felt that the sample questions were scarce and essentially designed to lure you into buying the practice CD. However as I started to study for the PMP exam I felt that the book was very effective and a much needed complement to the PMBOK. It went straight to the point, told you what was important to memorize and what was not, and gave you tricks. It rapidly became my 'cliff notes' for the PMBOK and was instrumental in helping me pass the exam. Bottom line it found that the book was surprisingly effective and despite its high price tag, it ended up being worth every penny. I would stronly recommend it to anyone who is preparing for the PMP exam.

Good book but not complete!
A good project manager will take a balanced view of IT, learn the business and gain mastery of software development disciplines. Would recommend that project managers also consider reading books on enterprise architecture.

Highly overrated
This book does present some material well. But it is more of an advertising teaser so you'll buy the whole kaboodle paying several hundred dollars. Or worse you'll be motivated to take her course paying thousands of dollars.
PMP exam prep has definitely been a growing industry. The certification is by itself overly hyped up. Sometimes it all seems like a scam. One can pass PMP by just reading a bunch of prep books. Just because someone is a PMP doesn't mean a squat.

overhyped
This is a good list but far overpriced considering the alternatives. Try Phillips! ... Read more

Book Description

Completely revised for the new computerized CPA Exam

Published annually, this comprehensive four-volume study guide for the Certified Public Accountant's (CPA) Exam arms readers with detailed outlines and study guidelines, plus skill-building problems and solutions, that help them to identify, focus, and master the specific topics that need the most work. Many of the practice questions are taken from previous exams, and care is taken to ensure that they cover all the information candidates need to pass the CPA Exam. Reflecting the most recent changes to the new computerized CPA Exam, this comprehensive examination review is broken down into four volumes: Regulation, Auditing and Attestation, Financial Accounting and Reporting, and Business Environment and Concepts. The number one CPA exam review provider worldwide, these study guides:
* Include over 2,700 practice questions and complete information on the new simulation questions
* Contain a unique modular structure that divides the content into 44 self-contained study modules so that candidates can zero in on areas that need the most work
* Include AICPA content requirements and offers three times as many examples as other CPA exam review study guides

O. Ray Whittington, PhD, CPA, CMA, CIA (Chicago, IL), is the Ledger and Quill Director of the School of Accountancy at DePaul University and author of bestselling books in the Wiley CPA Examination Review System. Patrick R. Delaney, PhD, CPA, was the Arthur Andersen LLP Alumni Professor of Accountancy at Northern Illinois University and the author of bestselling books, audios, and software in the Wiley CPA Examination Review System. ... Read more

Book Description

The PowerScore LSAT Logic Games Bible is the most comprehensive book available for the Logic Games section of the LSAT. The intent of this book is to provide you with an advanced system for attacking any game you encounter on the LSAT. This same system is covered in the live classes taught by PowerScore, and all of the methods and techniques discussed in the book have been tested in classroom situations over many years.

The book features and explains a detailed methodology for attacking the games section. All aspects of Logic Games are covered, from recognizing game types to diagramming rules to making inferences and answering questions. Entire chapters are devoted to the most advanced game techniques and to time management strategies.

Logic Games are divided into individual types, and a discussion follows that teaches you how to approach each type of Game, and drills are presented to help you apply and understand the techniques. Thereafter, real LSAT logic games are used to illustrate how the techniques apply to real tests. Using real LSAT questions is a must for high-level LSAT preparation, and twenty-one real LSAT logic games are contained in the book. Each logic game is accompanied by a detailed analysis of the game setup and related questions.

The author has over 12 years experience teaching the LSAT and has scored in the 99th percentile on a Law Services-administered test. An expert in LSAT preparation, he has overseen the preparation of thousands of students and founded two national LSAT preparation companies.

The Logic Games Bible can be supplemented by The Ultimate Set-Ups Guide, which features setups for every game in each released LSAT from 1995 to 2002.Also, both books provide access to a unique website for additional LSAT and Logic Games information, and has answers to frequently asked questions.

For more information about the renowned PowerScore LSAT Logic Games Bible, contact PowerScore at (800) 545-1750. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

If You are Scared by Logic Games Get This Book!
For me, the worst part of the LSAT was the logic games section. I purchased several other books including Kaplan and Princeton Review before buying this book. This by far, was the best resource I could have invested in for the Logic Games Section of the LSAT. I can't imagine having taken the test without the aid of this book. It wasn't a page turner, but I worked my way through each chapter carefully and ended up doing much better on the Logic Games section of the LSAT than I ever imagined possible. If you are anything like me and are CONFUSED and frustrated by the logic games and about to give up, buy this book, work through it carefully, take notes, and you will notice a huge difference in your performance. Following the advice in this book was the single most important step I took in improving my score, and I recommend this book to anyone who wants to get a good LSAT score and is willing to invest some time and energy in methodically applying the techniques that are outlined in the book to their practice tests and studies.

Don't buy this unless your LSAT is lower than 150
Ok, I can see how this book can help somebody who has very limited logical mind. If you are comfortable with logics, it would be far faster and easier to figure out the games in your own way. Try solving the old test problems and you will definitely find your own best diagrams to solve them efficiently. This book can even slow you down by making you follow the given steps which, I think, is a waste of time for those who can find their easiest way themselves.

Invaluable LSAT Preparation
This publication should be your second purchase for LSAT preparation only after buying "10 Actual" "10 More Actual" and "The Next 10 Actual" from the Law School Admissions Council.

"Logic Games Bible" delineates what is necessary to know about the notoriously difficult Logic Games section of the LSAT. It gives real examples, incisive insight, and rules that are easy to memorize and follow. After each example there is a 2-3 page question-by-question explanation.

To score well on the LSAT, you must effuse confidence from every orifice; don't find yourself diffident on test day. Get the Logic Games Bible as soon as you can.

Analytical Reasoning is hard; this book helps.
I've spent a lot of time studying for the LSAT and reading reviews people have written for different books. Having a lot of experience in this field, I would say the the Logic Games Bible is very helpful for three reasons.

1) People need extra help on the games section, and this provides a lot of practice.

2) It helps identify game types, then reinforces it through practice, so you're able to know how to approach a problem.

3) It provides games practice without having to ruin an entire practice test (or 3 or 4) by just taking the games section and not the other three.

Anyway, I needed help with games, and while this book is not going to give you a 180, this book does provide a lot of help and practice where most LSAT takers desperately need it.

An Excellent Resource for a Scary Test
I decided to purchase this book after reading about it on several law school chat boards. I wasn't sure any book could help me with games, but after reading the comments, I took the chance. I feel quite fortunate that I did.

First, this is a serious book for a serious test. There is no joking around or making fun of the LSAT. The author immediately sets out to discuss the different types of games on the LSAT and spends quite a bit of time discussing how to set up and diagram the rules for the games. For me, this was critical because I needed significant improvement in even understanding how to approach the games, and this book delivered. The diagramming advice was sensible and intuitive, and I had no trouble adopting the approach advocated by the author. Literally, I felt like I was being given the mental tools to handle the test.

Second, although there are games discussed in the text and drill sets, the recurrent theme seems to be an emphasis on solving games through recognition of form. I found this to be a unique approach, and one the benefited me tremendously. As I continued through the book I began to see that certain elements appeared again and again, and by recognizing those elements I had a handle on how to approach the game as well as a way to attack new games.

Third, at the conclusion of each chapter there are game sets and each game is explained in detail. I found this to be very helpful since I could do the game on my own and then immediately review to see what errors I made. By doing this I made significant progress in correcting my errors.

Discovering this book was a positive turning point in my preparation. The $45 I spent gave me renewed confidence in my ability to solve games and was, in my opinion, the best investment I made in this whole law school process. ... Read more

Book Description

Kaplan's GRE 2005 Edition comes complete with a comprehensive review of all the material on the exam, plus Kaplan's proven test-taking strategies to help maximize your score. This powerful combination is a highly effective way for you to score higher on the GRE and make yourself competitive for graduate school admissions.

Succeed on the computer-adaptive GRE with Kaplan's exclusive computer test-taking strategies.

Prepare with hundreds of practice questions to build your skills in the critical content areas of the GRE.

Practice with our challenging, full-length GRE, complete with a detailed explanation for every answer.

Score Higher with effective strategies and advice from Kaplan's expert instructors.

Even more practice online! ... Read more

Book Description

Kaplan's GMAT 2005 Edition comes complete with a comprehensive review of all the material on the exam, plus Kaplan's proven test-taking strategies to help maximize your score. This powerful combination is a highly effective way for you to score higher on the GMAT and make yourself competitive for business school admissions.

Succeed on the Analytical Writing Assessment with Kaplan's expert strategies for approaching the computerized essay grader.

Prepare with quizzes for Problem Solving, Critical Reasoning, Data Sufficiency, Reading Comprehension, Sentence Correction, and a new, expanded GMAT Math Reference section.

Practice with a full-length GMAT, complete with explanations for every answer and detailed score analysis.

Score Higher with effective strategies and advice from Kaplan's expert instructors.

Even more practice online! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Really a review of the 2004 book, but...
Preparing for this test has been the bane of my existence for the past two weeks, and I promised myself that I would post a review of the 2004 book after taking the GMAT. However, given the likelihood that the 2005 edition doesn't differ much from the 2004, and the fact that there are so many reviews already for the 2004, thought my review would be more useful here.

In short, this is a decent buy primarily for the CD-ROM. The usual complaints (ridiculously hard, some wrong answers, typos, annoying UI) are all valid (and may have even been corrected in the 2005 edition), but the bottom line is that there are a lot of good, hard questions on the CD-ROM that you will need to practice with to do well on the actual GMAT. The more questions and practice tests you do, the more prepared you will be for the actual test. It really is as simple as that.

So get this book along with the ETS official guide and lock yourself in a cave for a few weeks. ... Read more

Book Description

Revised and updated by one of the co-developers of the (310-035) Programmer exam, this edition offers complete coverage of the Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 exam objectives and newly added, complete coverage of both portions of the Sun Certified Java 2 Developer's exam. More than 250 challenging practice questions have been completely revised to closely model the format, tone, topics, and difficulty of the real exam. An integrated study system based on proven pedagogy, exam coverage includes step-by-step exercises, special Exam Watch notes, On-the-Job elements, and Self Tests with in-depth answer explanations to help reinforce and teach practical skills.

Praise for the author:

“Finally! A Java certification book that explains everything clearly. All you need to pass the exam is in this book.”

—Solveig Haugland, Technical Trainer and Former Sun Course Developer

"Who better to write a Java study guide than Kathy Sierra, the reigning queen of Java instruction? Kathy Sierra has done it again—here is a study guide that almost guarantees you a certification!"

—James Cubeta, Systems Engineer, SGI

"The thing I appreciate most about Kathy is her quest to make us all remember that we are teaching people and not just lecturing about Java.Her passion and desire for the highest quality education that meets the needs of the individual student is positively unparalleled at SunEd.Undoubtedly there are hundreds of students who have benefited from taking Kathy's classes."

—Victor Peters, founder Next Step Education & Software Sun Certified Java Instructor

“I want to thank Kathy for the EXCELLENT Study Guide. The book is well written, every concept is clearly explained using a real life example, and the book states what you specifically need to know for the exam. The way it's written, you feel that you're in a classroom and someone is actually teaching you the difficult concepts, but not in a dry, formal manner. The questions at the end of the chapters are also REALLY good, and I am sure they will help candidates pass the test. Watch out for this Wickedly Smart book.”

-Alfred Raouf, Web Solution Developer, Kemety.Net

"The Sun Certification exam was certainly no walk in the park but Kathy's material allowed me to not only pass the exam, but Ace it!"

—Mary Whetsel, Sr. Technology Specialist, Application Strategy and Integration, The St. Paul Companies

Reviews (118)

Best Book For All Levels
I just started programming 8 months ago, I found that Java is the best language that I can study, and I found that the fastest way to learn is to get certified from the source, they know what you need, I bought that book and started studying.
Because I'm new to programming, it took me 6 months to prepare for the test, I took the test and got 88%.
The book gave me everything I need for the test, here is the full preparation set I used for the exam:
1- Studying the book.
2- J2SE APIs documents.
3- Java compiler.
4- Included cd exams.
5- javaranch.com
6- SUN site exams.
By the way I made the localization for a huge militarian project and I made it neat, great thanks for the book authers.

An Excellent guide for the SCPJ 1.4 exam
Imagine this: you're in college, studying for the final exam -- and the teacher gives you all of her notes that spell out EXACTLY what you need to know, what you DON'T need to worry about, and even points out all the little traps she'll try to catch you in when you take the exam. Kathy Sierra, the co-developer of the 310-035 Programmer's exam, with the help of Bert Bates has done just that.

The 3rd edition of Osborne's Sun Certified Programmer and Developer for Java 2 is an awesome book. Get this -- it's actually entertaining to read, very easy to understand, and the mock exams more closely resemble the real thing than any other mock out there. The "Two-minute Drills" are an excellent resource to help you review before you take the exam. The Exam Watches interspersed throughout the chapter point out all the traps you might fall in during the exam, and the On The Job blurbs give you a practical application for the knowledge you just learned.

The end chunk of the book discusses what you need to know to pass the Developer s exam. It won't teach you Swing or Threads - but what the exam assessor's are looking for - the things you need to pay attention to in order to pass that exam. I fully recommend this book.

Make sure you check the author's website for the errata -- the first printing was a bit buggy, many errors have been fixed in the 2nd printing.

Scored 95%
I gave SCJP1.4 in July 2004 & scored 95% (58/61). I would like to share my success story to all fellow aspirants who wanna clear SCJP1.4 with top score.
Kathy's book is must. Kathy & Bert have an awesome writing style & they literally burnt the core concepts into my head.

Here is my success story.
1) I read Java 2 Programmer by Exam Cram first. This gave me good kick start.
2) Then I read chapters which I was weak on from different books.
a) Threads - Head First Java : Would give you a thorough understanding of what thread programming is
b) Threads - From Simon Robert's certification book.
c) Inner Class - From Simon Robert's certification book.

2) This book (by Kathy Sierra, Bert Bates). You can skip first few chapters but solve all their review questions. Read method overloading, exceptions, inner class, Threads, Collections, java.lang, hashcode & Garbage Collection completely.

3) Gave all related topic tests from www.javaprepare.com, Dan Chisholm's single topic exams.

4) Read Topics : method overloading, exceptions, inner class, Threads, Collections, Garbage Collection from Marcus Green website

5) Gave Marcus Green mock test.

6) Kathy's book simulator exam.

7) Whizlab - SCJP1.4 : Those guys are awesome. Their tests are real tough & tricky. Their exam quick prep is the best. If you score above 75% in their test I can say you can crush SCJP1.4 easily. I could not complete all 9 mock exams though but I completed 4 for them & just before the test I gave final mock exam. I scored 78% in their final mock exam. I knew that time I would be scoring 85% plus atleast in the grand finale.. :-)

8) Do review questions from Khalid Mughal's book on method overloading, Threads, Garbage Collection & collections topic.

9) Please read each line of code, each question sentence to avoid careless mistake.

2 weeks of real study should take you to achieve real good score.

Once again, SCJP1.4 is not simple as such. Its tricky. Questions on threads, method overloading, OOPs, Garbage Collection were on same toughness with Whizlab tests.

I credit my success to Kathy Sierra & Bert Bates. I had fun studying for SCJP1.4. Passing is easy but scoring is tough!!

book for the exam, this is (as Yoda says)
I'm an experienced Java programmer. I passed the SCJP(310-035) with 98% (answered 60/61) recently. This is *THE* book. Everything is very well explained, gets you hooked on like a novel. The mock exams were very similar to the real one I faced. I recommend this book to any experienced Java programmer planning to take up the exam.

Helped me pass
I passed the SCJP with 93%. This book was my primary reference while preparing. It covered the topics well, and more importantly, introduced me to the various (and indirect) ways those topics would be tested on the exam.

I found it useful to compile and run some of the code (don't use an IDE). The practice exams identified some areas I was weaker in, and I made sure to write some test code that would make me more familiar with those areas. It helped me get comfortable with garbage collection, bitwise operators, threads and inner classes. I was familiar with those topics before, but rarely had to implement them in code. Integrating the code snippets into code took very little time, and helped me understand those topics better. I also chose to not use an IDE so that when I made a mistake, I had to go and figure it out myself rather than have the IDE catch it up front.

Of course, the mock exam links on www.javaranch.com are very useful. I took as many tests as I could, even ones that were clearly created for previous versions of the exam.

Over all, the book did what I purchased it for: it helped me to pass the SCJP. It didn't give me all the answers, and I had to put into practice some of the information presented to make it sink in effectively, but that's what I expected. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Written by Mike Meyers, the industry leader in A+ certification training, this authoritative reference offers complete coverage of all material on the A+ Core Hardware and Operating System Technologies exams. You’ll find exam objectives at the beginning of each chapter, helpful exam tips, end-of-chapter practice questions, and photographs and illustrations. The bonus CD-ROM contains a testing engine with questions found only on the CD. This comprehensive guide not only helps you pass this challenging exam, but will also serve as an invaluable on-the-job reference. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

5 Stars because I can select 10!!
I am currently teaching the A+ course and this mean coverage of the newest CompTIA exams, the 220-231 and 220-232. The material in these updated exam requires the best possible training guide and once again Mike Meyers is leading the pack.

Making sure that the material is the most up to date this release is not the first on the market but it one of the best on the market. I had the opportunity to help create practice questions for this book so I can say the material is first rate.

Meyer's once again leaves no stone unturned as he covers far more than the exam calls for. His ability to blend humor with knowledge is what makes this book so successful. Meyers take apart every objective and breaks it down into comprehendible and manageable information; all you have to do is pass the exams.

In the over 1100 pages there is the complete exams right before you. This book is one of the first I have seen to cover all the Operating Systems including Windows Me and NT, again Meyers take you beyond the standard cut off point.

Meyers has set the bar that all others will have to exceed and judging form the amount of information this is going to be very difficult. One of the things that always impress me is that Meyers gives you the history, this allows you see where things began and how we got where we are today.

The cd includes hundred's of practice questions, practice exams and videos to help you study and pass the exam first time. Overall about the only to add is a virtual lab included, however with all that is included this is a very complete package.

Where's the Beef
The fifth edition leaves you drowning for information. I used the fourth edition to pass the A+ Core exam with flying colors. The fifth edition was used to study for the A+ OS exam, 2003 guidelines. After taking the exam, this book provided at best 25% of the material covered on the exam. While no book should teach to a test, a book dedicated to an exam should teach the material that will be tested. The A+ premium practice exams were purchased from totalsem.com, they too fell well short of preparing an individual to take A+ OS exam.

doesn't measure up to the 4th edition
DISCLAIMER: I haven't read the entire book, but rather made a thorough skim, and have no intention of taking the 2003 exams, any time soon.

Having said that, here's my opinion. I used the 4th edition of A+ All-In-One to pass both Core hardware & OS under the 2001 objectives. That book was about as close as you could get to being a perfect primer for those exams, AND was indispensable (at least for me) introduction to how computers work. It was a perfect balance between accademic and hands-on concepts.

It was so good, in fact, that I was inspired to buy the 5th edition. I'm sure glad I got it used because it just doesn't measure up to its predecessor.

First of all, there are quite a few words & abbreviations that are casually refered to with no explanation. Theses terms were well explained in the 4th edition, but not anymore. This, to me, appears to be some pretty sloppy editing, as updated information has not been properly coordinated with previous edition.

Second, The chapters covering OS concepts have been completely rearanged into a confused mess. Refering once again to the 4th edition, a clear explanation of the development of Microsoft operating systmes was presented, from DOS to Windows 2000. Each major operating system had an entire chapter designated for it. This was very convenient for quick reference, and made it very easy to understand the logic behind all major OS developments. (I imagine this is why many people are now falling short on the OS exam.)

Anyway, I think I've made it clear. If you really want a clear understanding of the PC and how it works, get the 4th edition of A+ All-in-one. It will be well worth your time if you are new to computers, and you can now get it used for less than half of the 5th edition. THEN study for the A+ 2003 objectives. But definately research other material. The 5th edition just won't cut it. Good luck!!!

Book Was Over My Head........
I'm a software trainer who wants to become certified as a PC technician. The author claims that this book will be able to teach the novice (non-PC technician) everything he/she needs to know to pass the A+ certification exams. That's a joke.

The first few chapters start out fine, and seem to provide explanations that are thorough and clear enough for the novice. But then at some point (right around chapter 6), the author forgets who his audience is and seems to assume we're all working as PC technicians already. His explanations start to get more more vague, and he uses more and more tech jargon and inside jokes that only a tech would get. It's obvious who he's really writing for.

Great Book !!
This is a terrific manual; it was very helpful to a technical guy like me changing careers in mid-life. Lots of time-waster books out there, but A+ Certification by Meyers & Jernigan turned out to be one of the better ones....a big help! ... Read more

Book Description

Are You Ready for the Test?

Kaplan's PCAT Comprehensive Review, 2004 Edition comes complete with a targeted review of all the tested material on the PCAT plus Kaplan's highly effective test-taking strategies. With this powerful combination, PCAT Comprehensive Review, 2004 Edition can help you get the high PCAT score you need to get into pharmacy school.

Intensive Science Review

Book Description

Professors Fischl and Paul explain law school exams in ways no one has before, all with an eye toward improving the reader's performance. The book begins by describing the difference between educational cultures that praise students for "right answers," and the law school culture that rewards nuanced analysis of ambiguous situations in which more than one approach may be correct. Enormous care is devoted to explaining precisely how and why legal analysis frequently produces such perplexing situations.

But the authors don't stop with mere description. Instead, Getting to Maybe teaches how to excel on law school exams by showing the reader how legal analysis can be brought to bear on examination problems. The book contains hints on studying and preparation that go well beyond conventional advice. The authors also illustrate how to argue both sides of a legal issue without appearing wishy-washy or indecisive. Above all, the book explains why exam questions may generate feelings of uncertainty or doubt about correct legal outcomes and how the student can turn these feelings to his or her advantage.

In sum, although the authors believe that no exam guide can substitute for a firm grasp of substantive material, readers who devote the necessary time to learning the law will find this book an invaluable guide to translating learning into better exam performance. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Wonderful book on law school test taking and legal thinking
What most surprised me about this book was that I found it fascinating reading. It is doubtless extremely helpful for anyone facing a law school exam, particularly in the first year, but it is equally valuable, perhaps more valuable, for anyone CONSIDERING GOING TO LAW SCHOOL. I would be surprised if anyone reading this book didn't gain both an advantage on their law school exams and a better understanding of what the legal system is all about. I learned a lot.

Required Reading for All Law Students!!
Getting to Maybe should be required reading on every law student's list! The authors take the mystery out of writing great law school exams. They tell you what the professor wants, and how to deliver that message. I wish I had had this book in law school. I spent the better part of 3 years wondering which coins the professors flipped to give grades. This book also is helpful for anyone taking a bar examination. The investment of $19.95 is a great deal!

The way to pass the law school exam.
This book saved my law school carreer. law school tests are notoriously ambigous. There are no right answers. Unfortunatly, there seems to be no help for students. One of the proscribed methods is the IRAC method (when you get to school you will learn this and this is not the time to write about it). This book gives you a different way of acheving success in the test. The book does criticize IRAC and offers its own way of handling the testing questions. "Getting To Maybe" is written by law professors and who would know more about passing their tests as well as how a professor thinks? The book is a well written philosophy on the test and the mistakes. The authors spend a great deal of time explaining their philosophy and it is helpfull for the second half of the book. The book shows the common test question mistakes and how to fix them. The book also provides sample tests with sample answers and explanations of why they are good answers. This is the best part of the book, a side by side comparison of good and bad answers which makes this book invaluable. Highly reccommended.

A Blessing
Who better to get advice on law exams from than two law professors, who also graduated at the top of Harvard Law's class? My grades have gone up and up since reading (and re-reading) this book. Anyone who goes to law school, especially where competition for grades is tight will benefit. The more you read it, the more you grasp the strategy. So don't get discouraged if you're a bit confused the first time. I'd recommend reading through this before you enter law school and at least once (maybe twice) a semester as you can squeeze in a few extra minutes. I've looked at every book about legal reasoning and taking law exams that I've been able to get my hands on and this book has the best system by far. It might not be the easiest system to understand (after all the easy road isn't always the best road in law school), but once you grasp it you'll be thankful.

Maybe may not be enough
I gave this book two stars for its discussion on addressing policy issues on the exam--this was helpful, indeed. It also gives good tips and provides answers to frequently asked questions on how to prepare--but this is standard advice you'll hear in any law school. Does this book provide a concrete strategy on handling a law school exam? No. In sum, it describes what is wanted on an exam, but doesn't come close to adequately showing students how to get to this "maybe." You are on your own... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Critical Information for Writing for the APA Publications
The first question you'd have to ask about this book is Why would the American Psychological Association have a style guide.

The answer is that the APA Style is the definitive guide to the style that the APA wants to see in their publications and this style is also used by a number of other publications that have adopted the APA Style.

Among the critical points of the APA Style is how to construct an error-free reference list crediting all sources properly and avoiding all charges of plagiarism. This has become extremely critical in today's world where any research seems subject to actively looking for any way they can discredit someone else rather than do their own work.

In addition the style book is an authoritative guide to how best to present the ideas and data that is so hard to gather. Being able to present data in a way that is understandable to the reader is perhaps the most difficult yet the most important part of writing a paper.

This book is the concise version. It is a small format book designed to be convenient, portable and yet complete. ... Read more

Book Description

This book contains 101 MCAT verbal passages in the form of 11 full length verbal exams formatted exactly like the New 2003 MCAT. Questions have complete explanations for correct and incorrect answer choices. There are 12 tear-out answer grids in MCAT form in the back of the book. Language, diction, passage length, question length, question difficulty, and even font have been carefully crafted to resemble an actual MCAT. You won’t find a more MCAT accurate set of verbal exams.
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Reviews (9)

The best book for VR preparation
I run private tutoring courses for the MCAT, and I would say that this book is arguably the best source for MCAT Verbal Reasoning questions, aside from the real exams from AAMC. (Needless to say, I use this book in my course.) The writer accurately captures most aspects of the real exam, including passage length, question wording, distribution of question types, and ambiguity of the correct answers. The only major flaw that I find with this book is that some answer choices are not well supported (even taking into account the fact that the correct answers on the MCAT are supposed to be somewhat ambiguous). In some cases, there are blatant errors in the question stem or stated correct answers, or, more rarely, two equally correct answer choices. For this reason, I would rate this book 4.5 stars, but since Amazon doesn't let me do that, I will give it 5 stars. :) On the actual MCAT, the incorrect answer choices are usually a little more differentiated from the correct answer. These mistakes and imperfections are frequent enough to be a little annoying, but not abundant or major enough to topple this book of the pedestal of being the best VR preparation book out there. Kaplan's and Princeton Review's materials do not quite compare (especially Kaplan's, which contain too many explicit detail questions). Keep in mind that the questions in this book are probably going to be slightly more difficult than the real MCAT questions, which are not quite as tricky. Have fun and good luck.

An Excellent Guide for Verbal
The verbal is by far one of the most difficult passages around for MCAT test takers, and I certainly fall into this category. If you want to do well on it, you must PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! The examkrackers verbal is an excellent tool that will give you the necesary practice. Try to get your hands on a lot of verbal passages (be careful, don't buy any of the teaching solutions MCAT products, this is one of those garbage prep materials the EK author was talking about) and work through the problems. Familiarize yourself with the common questions that frequently pop up on these verbal passages, and don't fill in the obvious answers. Practice and prepare, and you will do fine.

RE: Better off with AAMC practice materials!, NOT!!!!!!!!!!
The AAMC practice materials are outdated compared to the real thing. They are too easy and you will be unpleasantly surprised on the real thing if your prep materials are from AAMC. Some times I think they want you to do badly, since it's their job to weed people out. For prep use the most difficult passages possible, then you will be fine. Let me leave you with one thought in mind: every next MCAT was always more difficult then the previous one.

Do not be scared, be prepared

GL

The Best Prep Verbal Book for the MCAT
I tought that EK Verbal 101 was the best prep book for the VR section of the MCAT. The passages were as long as the real exam, about the same level of difficulty and type of questions. I liked how the exams usually got harder half-way through, and each passages had more and more questions -- that's they way it's for me on the real MCAT. I mostly received 6's on my VR practice exams, and I ended up with a 8 on the real test -- not bad for someone who has only been using English as a formal language for 4 years, and is a Native Spanish-Speaker.
I am re-taking it, and I plan to buy the book again!!!

Here is the answer MCAT VR preparation.
This book has perhaps bridged the gap between me and medical school. In July I bought 101 Passages and diligently took a full length verbal section about once every three days as part of my preparation and it made the difference between medical school in the Carribean and becoming a viable candidate for some first tier U.S. medical schools. I also carefully studied Jon's advice in his Verbal Reasoning study guide and followed it religiously. It helped improve my score substantially. So why is this book so great? First, the text is identical in size and font to real thing, so you feel perfectly comfortable and familiar with the appearance of actual passages, question stems, and answers on test day. Second, the passage topics were right on the money -boring (cabinet making, charitable trust management, etc.), irrelevent to medicine, and challenging enough. Third, passage length was identical to that which you encounter on the real thing. Fourth, the answer choices are ambigious and you never really feel good about your answers -that is the essence of MCAT verbal. Dave perfectly captures that in 101 Passages. Fifth, there are 11 full length practice sections, which help you master your timing and slowly but surely improve you score. Sixth, Jon is pretty helpful on his website and will respond to most of your questions and give you that personal support that makes him kind of seem like a coach whose on your side. Lastly, there's nothing else out there that comes close to 101 Passages. Get this book to improve you verbal score. To really ace the verbal, carefully study the lectures in the thinner Examkracker's Verbal Reasoning study guide. Force yourself to adopt Jon's strategy. It will help you. If you do nothing else, remember these two points of advice: (1) finish the verbal sections no matter what you do, and (2) read for the main idea and be sure you have it in your head before you look at the questions. Jon covers that in depth in the thin Verbal Reasoning Study Guide in addition to about five or six other tips that really make the difference. Keep the faith premeds and believe in yourself. ... Read more

Book Description

The only study guide with real GMAT questions:

*More than 1,400 GMAT questions with answers explained by test authors

*Actual essay topics, sample responses, and scoring information

*Comprehensive math review

*Test-taking tips and strategies

* Test tutorials ... Read more

Reviews (31)

An indispensible tool for GMAT prep
This book is simply a collection of questions from old GMATs. I found all questions were representative of the real thing (including the math sections). The best way to prep for the test (for me) was to practice problems over and over which made this book ideal.

The main disadvantage is that you don't want to spend *too* much time doing problems out of the book and should definitely get some practice doing timed problems off of the computer screen. The problem is that the questions from ETS's Powerprep practice tests are the same ones that appear in the book. In practice this actually didn't affect me too much since there were *so many* questions in the book but if you do plan on going through the entire book you should take the Powerprep tests first.

As this book simply contains old questions, I recommend you use another book for test taking pointers (I use Princeton Review) in conjunction. This book, a tip book (princeton, kaplan etc) and ETS's Powerprep software are the only things you need to prep for the GMAT.

1,400 Real GMAT Questions -- this is the source
In August 2001, I earned a perfect 800 score on the GMAT-CAT.

This book -- The Official Guide for GMAT Review -- was the only GMAT preparation book that was of any benefit to me. Other prep books were real disappointments because all their GMAT questions are manufactured (not real GMAT questions) and they give advice (such as picking numbers and working slowly on the first few questions) that is simply wrong.

Because I had so much success with my GMAT, I now help other people improve their GMAT scores. I insist that people use this book to prepare for the types of GMAT questions that they will see on test day. In the last few months, I have helped several people score 700 or above on the GMAT-CAT and these people have been accepted to top B-schools -- Harvard, Wharton, Chicago, Kellogg, MIT, etc.

So don't accept any substitute, get the Official Guide. If you live between San Francisco and San Jose. If you don't live in the California Bay Area, buy the Official Guide and pay particular attention to your weaknesses. Good luck on test day.

Absolutely Necessary to Score High on the GMAT
I started preparing for the GMAT test approximately 8 weeks ago using the Offical Guide for GMAT Review, practicing roughly 40 questions per day. Since the Official Guide doesn't have much in the way of test taking techniques, I also used the Kaplan and the PR Verbal Workout. Aside from these books & the PowerPrep tests, there wasn't much else I used.

I took the test today and scored a 720, which closely matched my scores on the PowerPrep tests (720 and 740). On the Kaplan tests, I scored 630, 620, 680 (don't trust the Kaplan scores). In my assessment, the Official Guide practice questions are crucial for maximizing your score - you'll probably want to use the other test prep materials to learn some useful techniques, but the Official Guide MUST be used. Since the math in the Official Guide comes from the old paper-based test and has changed somewhat since then, I found the quantitative questions on the actual test to be slightly harder. I'd suggest supplementing with questions from the Kaplan for the math. For this reason, I gave the Official Guide 4-stars. Seems the Verbal questions haven't changed though - I found them to be quite similar to what I encountered in the Official Guide.

Practice as many questions as possible from the Official Guide and you'll be good to go!

The only thing you'll need
I don't have much to add to all the great reviews for this book, but the one thing that's important to realize is that if you want to use the ETS PowerPreps as diagnostic tools, you should take both tests before you really get into the guide. I took the second Powerprep after I was done with the guide, and scored a nice ole 800. Of course the fact that I had seen about half of the questions tested in the guide made the accomplishment a slight bit less extraordinary.

Another thing - for the math section, even though all the questions in the guide are good practice, only the last 100 or so in each of the math sections look like anything you'll see on the test.

GMAT Preperation
This book along with the Powerprep software are very helpful in preparing for the GMAT. I found the Powerprep software to give very accurate assesments of my score. I took the two practice exams and got a 710 and 690. My actual GMAT score was 700.
The verbal section is good practice for the actual exam. The math however was much more difficult on the actual GMAT. I recommend doing as many math questions as possible and to also take the Kaplan math questions. The most important thing I believe is to be comfortable with the concepts that they test you on, especially probability and number theory. The actual GMAT starts you off with medium difficult questions, and if you get them right, they get harder. This is hard to recreate in any of the pratice exams (both Kaplan and the Powerprep quantiative sections being with somewhat easier questions.)
I recommend getting into the mind set of tackling somewhat challenging questions in the beginning so you don't get thrown off when you take the actual exam.
I also thought that I did poorly as I took the exam, but my results were better than I expected them to be. Don't fret if you feel like you are doing poorly during the exam.
Overall, I think a solid 6 to 7 weeks of studying this book as well as Kaplan should get one prepared. Check out the Princeton Review for tips on sentence correction too. ... Read more

Book Description

This thorough revision of Babbie's standard-setting book for the course offers students a comprehensive, straightforward introduction to the field of research methods as practiced by sociologists and other social scientists. Emphasizing the importance of the research process, the book shows students how social scientists design research studies, introduces the variety of observation modes used by sociologists, and covers the "how-tos" and "whys" of social research methods. Students learn how to conduct various types of research, when it is appropriate to use each method, and how to analyze qualitative and quantitative data using the Elaboration Model. The 10th edition provides students with the necessary tools for understanding social research methods and for applying these concepts both inside and outside the classroom--as researchers and as consumers of research.Retaining the authoritative coverage of the research process that has made the book a best-seller, the new edition is more student-friendly than ever. The new edition features a completely new chapter on reading and writing social research, a streamlined organization, a new running glossary, and a new Research Writing and Chapter Tutorial CD-ROM that not only helps students every step of the way in writing research papers, but also links to chapter by chapter online tutorials that will help them master the concepts and techniques of the course. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Babbie is a textbook machine, not a researcher
I have taught a survey research course for 3 semesters and used this book because it was recommended. If you want to teach a course in overall research methods, this may be your book. If you want to teach survey research, use something else. Too much of the book focuses on qualitative methods. In addition, some of his information is simply off-base. His discussion of the reasons for using stratified sampling is particularly erroneous. In addition, the research he uses as examples (research he has conducted) was done 20 years ago and is neither interesting nor enlightening.

In addition to the problems with the text book, the publishing company is not terribly helpful. I had to hound them to get desk copies and a test bank. They never did send me a copy of the study guide.

It seems as though Earl Babbie writes text books to make money, not because he is a researcher with an abundance of information to share with the world. If you want an introductory level book on survey research, use Czaja and Blair (Pine Forge Press), Fowler (Sage) or another book written by people who actually do survey research.

The one positive thing I can say is that his workbooks on how to use SPSS are pretty good.

Babbie Knows His Research Methodology
I've used this text for over ten years for my graduate and upper division undergraduate courses in Research Methods. While there are a number of other introductory methodology texts, I prefer Babbie because the Student Guide that accompanies the text has so many strong features. One of the most important is the experiential nature of many of the problems, questions and especially the exercises that appear at the end of each chapter. The book is voluminous, containing a wealth of material on methodology. The Student Guide provides not only an excellent chapter by chapter review, but a true supplement to the text. Answers to the matching and multiple choice questions that relate to each chapter appear in the back of the Study Guide. The two chapters on survey research are quite good as an introduction to this type of methodology. Additional chapters cover other important topics such as experimentation, field studies, content analysis, and others. The chapter on evaluation research presents a good conceptual overview that can be applied to many different settings. Once again it is important to stress that the Student Study Guide provides such vital support when using the text that I would only recommend using them together. Babbie touches on quantitative analysis, but mostly on basic concepts and fairly simple techniques. While the language is sometimes obtuse, this can be overlooked when examining the book in its entirety. Most of the applications or examples used in the text are from the field of sociology, but an experienced instructor can provide examples from other fields (eg: political science, psychology, public administration, etc.) There are several other computer-based support items. Contact Wadsworth Publishing for specifics.

Babbie's book is an invaluable tool for social scientists
A textbook on social-science research methodology has enormous potential to bore and frustrate even the most dedicated student. This is why Babbie's book will be a most useful tool for any student of the social sciences. Babbie begins with an overview of the social-science enterprise, discussing both its structure and purpose. He then presents a variety of basic and advanced social-research techniques, including qualitative methods such as participant observation and interviewing and quantitative methods such as statistical analysis. Babbie also includes discussions of research ethics and the practical uses of social research. The two most appealing aspects of the book are Babbie's wonderful sense of humor, which keeps a dense subject area light and manageable, and his careful efforts to present the material so first-time research-methods students can clearly comprehend it. Babbie's book helped me survive my college research-methods course, and it stays on my shelf as an invaluable reference resource. ... Read more

Book Description

Complete with a targeted review of all the material on the selected Praxis exam in addition to a full-length practice test, these test preparation guides are written by the makers of the real tests. Thorough explanations of the answers are provided and helpful test-taking strategies are found throughout the guide. The three categories of assessments covered correspond to the three milestones in teacher development-academic skills assessment, subject assessment, and classroom performance assessment. Reflecting the rigorous and carefully validated nature of the exams, these guides provide beginning teachers the information needed to succeed. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Review of Elementary Education Content Knowlege Study Guide
This book is a study guide, and includes a specific list of what subjects to review before the test. A Student must use other books to research the materal listed in each subject area. This book alone will not prepare a student to take the Praxis II (0014) test, but will help a student know what to study. The book contains a practice test that is very similar to the actual test questions.
I reviewed all the subjects listed in the study guide and easily passed the test the first time. I would recomend this book to anyone who plans to take the Praxis II Exam. ... Read more

Book Description

Here is the most definitive and up-to-date self study guide for the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam from the Project Management Institute. This single volume has been used successfully by project managers around the world, and it contains everything you need to pass the PMP Exam, including all exam topics, insider secrets, complete explanations of all PMP subjects, test tricks and tips, and hundreds of highly realistic sample questions. Additionally, the book is loaded with exercises that will strengthen your understanding of the PMP concepts and prepare you to pass the exam on your first try with ease. ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Simple, But Do NOT Use As Your Only Study Material
This was the first book that I used to begin studying for the PMP Exam with. (I passed Dec.1st/03) It is simple and easy to understand. However, the questions are much easier than the actual PMP Exam. There is alot of information missing from this book that is critical for the PMP Exam (other Earned value calculations, definitions etc.) Use this to introduce yourself to the concepts, but do not use it as your only study material. I supplemented this with Kim Heldman's book which filled in some of the gaps. I then took Rita Muchaly's PMP Exam Prep course. This was invaluable. Although I already knew 90% of the material, the course taught me how to interpret and read the questions and pick the "betterer" answer. Plus, the order of planning processes which Andy Crowe presented in his book was different than the order of activites in Rita's course. I took Rita's sequence to be true, as she was previously on the committee who created the actual PMP Exam questions, so she would know the right sequence. Rita's PMP Exam prep questions provided in her study kit were very similar in difficulty and structure as those on the PMP Exam. If you only have so much money, take Rita's course and/or buy her Exam Prep System which includes flash cards, a CD of 1300 exam questions and her book.

The book is over-priced, as it does not include a CD with questions on it.

One-Stop Shop for PMP Certification
PASS. First time out. Any questions?

Seriously, I read the PMBOK cover to cover. DENSE. All the information is there, but it lacks several things that are crucial to a successful PMP exam preparation: intuitive organization, practice questions, and real-world applications.

Andy Crowe's book fills the gap. It presents the information in a structured, easy-to-understand format that guides you through the 39 discrete processes, their interaction, and most importantly, what you need to know about each one to pass the exam.

The final exam takes the concepts presented in the book and makes you think about them from yet another angle, and the fact that all the answers are there provides the last step in cementing the information in your head. My score on Andy's final and my score on the PMP exam were within 5 points of each other, so he obviously got it right.

The PMP exam is extremely situational. Some questions have four correct answers! What they want from you is the BEST answer. Many others focus on order of operations and ask what you, as the project manager, should do FIRST. These real-world situations are covered clinically in the PMBOK, but stressed in detail in this book.

Buy it. Read it. And Pass the PMP. I did.

Let's just say...It gets the job done
I've been a Project Manager for many years now, have always been interested in obtaining a PMP but never found the time or the right resources. This book is a perfect combination of both. It is easy reading and easy to understand. If you are disciplined enough to read the book, take good notes, take and review the practice exams you can also be a PMP very soon. I waited too long to accomplish this goal because I didn't know what tools to use. If you've found this page, you've found the right prep book to get the job done for you.

Well written, direct, clear and smart
I performed a quite exte