Suggestions for GRE prep books?

thirtythree

Diamond Member
Aug 7, 2001
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There are too many.

EDIT: And is it really necessary to get the most recent edition available?
 

Taggart

Diamond Member
Apr 23, 2001
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Originally posted by: CrazyPerson
Barron's

I agree. I took a GMAT prep class and the teacher liked Barron's for GMAT, GRE, LSAT, etc.

He grades essays for the GMAT, he's a pretty good authority.
 

zimu

Diamond Member
Jun 15, 2001
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the "big book">>> *. the version i had was 2 years old, had 27 previously administered tests. i took one every day for two weeks before the exam. i think it was the perfect solution.

also try getting "unoffical guide"- there's an "official unofficial guide book" which tells you tricks that the official books don't. i found them more helpful than princeton review etc. more practical.
 

Whisper

Diamond Member
Feb 25, 2000
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Originally posted by: cHeeZeFacTory
i had kaplan's...don't get it. it sucks!

I liked Kaplan's myself. Easy and quick to get through. Princeton Review had a much larger wordlist, though.

And while I wouldn't say it's necessary to get the newest edition available, the GRE was changed from pencil/paper format to CAT (computer adaptive test) within the last year or two. The CAT requires a different strategy than a standard exam, and so be sure that the book you do buy talks about the test in its current form.

Also, if you get an older book, be sure to remember that the writing sections are now required (they used to be optional, I believe).
 

thirtythree

Diamond Member
Aug 7, 2001
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Okay, I'm finally getting around to buying a book. I've narrowed it down to:

Peterson's Ultimate GRE Tool Kit
Barron's How to Prepare for the GRE Test
Barron's How to Prepare for the GRE Test with CD-ROM

Any suggestions? What exactly is on the Barron's CD-ROM?
 

desteffy

Golden Member
Jul 16, 2004
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I just took the math subject GRE and in the room there were about 50 people, and seriously 40 or them were taking the psych subject test
 

PolarNorth

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Oct 30, 2004
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For prepping the Math, download the Math review from the GRE site, its all there, sort of like someone saying at the end of the quarter "Prof, whats on the final?" well here the source tells you. GRE Prep download is there too.

Barrons is universially considered the best if you just getting one book (though its not the easiest) for high scores.

Kaplan is good for a quick easy read and you just want a decent score (ignoring people's differing ablities here just to make product comparisons easier)

Get the CD, its worth it, take as many different Computer adaptive tests as you can, and after you take each one ONCE in a test like situation and record the score, keep taking it till you can beat it (not to measure you, but to prep your mind and pysch and chomp at the TOUGH questions)

Now if you want to kick but on the test, go to amazon, buy the big book used (they don't make it anymroe, so its all used), do hundreds of problems, and do this weeks on end untill you feel that you are way over studied. Carefull not to spend time on the deleted sections (its in that book)

For the Vocab, there is no easy way around this other than learning guessing tricks and roots. The frequency hit lists will help SOME, but to get really high scores here (past 700 and closing in on 800) you REALLY do need a very large vocab. Now this takes serious effort to get if you don't already have the vocab.

Thats all I have, now go study!!!
 

thirtythree

Diamond Member
Aug 7, 2001
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Thanks, PolarNorth. I didn't know about the downloads on the GRE site. I was leaning towards the Barron's with the CD, but was wondering if anyone has had experience with the Peterson's since it's fairly new. I guess I'll just stick with what I know works though. As for the big book... it starts at $80 used :Q
 

shiner

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
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Do what I did back in the day....don't study at all...spend all your time fvcking your Barbie Doll looking girlfriend(who by the way would later turn out to be a cheating whore), then go out the night before and celebrate your friend's 23rd birthday, get up the morning of the test, have a roll of little chocolate donuts(the breakfast of champions), then go take the test.

Worked for me.....
 

Dubb

Platinum Member
Mar 25, 2003
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Originally posted by: thirtythree
Originally posted by: Dubb
heh, wierd. I just took mine today
Yet you have no suggestions?

I didn't prepare much. my verbal/writing skills are pretty damn good, though I think I guessed wrong on which verbal section was the one that counted. :/ I probably should've practiced more on the math. it's basic stuff, but the more you get right the harder it gets.

I may take it again, I know I can break 1400 knowing what I know now