Good GRE Prep books?

[Lord Banshee]

OK i am looking to pick up some study material for the GRE. I plan on taking it at the end of next Semester.

I am not too great at these kinds of test... so any help would be great.

Thanks

 

[bobsmith1492]

The GRE people have a free program on their website. Google GRE and hit "I'm Feeling Lucky." It's on there somewhere and has a couple of practice tests, lots of info about what to expect, explanations of the different types of tests, some practice problems, and lots of interesting statistics about past test-takers.

I just took it maybe a month ago, so if you want any advice or have any specific questions, let me know... I got 800 math, 620 verbal, and 5.5 writing, so I think I figured it out pretty well.

As far as study material... use the online test is all I would do. Honestly, I think either you're ready for a test or you're not. Studying, in my opinion, only is required if you haven't been paying attention in the past. If you know your algebra and geometry the math part is a piece of cake (maybe I'm spoiled since I do a ton every week for class...). The verbal part is more challenging, for sure; you need to read a lot of books and probably take some Latin for basic knowledge of roots, prefixes, and suffixes.

Good luck!

 

[Lord Banshee]

Thanks and congrats on that score very nice

It is the verbal and writing is what scares me , i am a 4th year Electrical Engineering student so i can't do that math i should be looking for a new major lol

 

[bobsmith1492]

Read books - any old books. That should help a lot with the verbal (and look up words you don't know). Jane Austen is apparently very good about that, though I haven't read any...

P.S. I'm a 4th year EE student as well; small world!

 

[CP5670]

I have to take this test today, actually. (the general one) I got the REA book since it contained several practice tests, although I haven't used it much. I should be able to do okay, although I'm told that beyond a point the scores don't mean anything as far as graduate school admissions go.

 

[CP5670]

Well, I got 800 math and 670 verbal, which are interestingly exactly the same scores I got on the SAT several years ago. The writing section grade won't come in until later on, although I doubt it's going to matter for me anyway.

 

[Matthias99]

The Princeton Review materials are pretty good -- not sure if you can buy them direct from them if you're not enrolled in a review course, but I'm sure you could find them used.

ETS' own study materials are fairly awful.

 

[zinfamous]

Princeton review books are quite good. you can buy them new at any bookstore. there online review tests are helpful too. they take a perfectly cynical attitude towards ETS and the nature of the GRE to adequately prepare you for taking it. have fun...

 

[Lord Banshee]

Thanks guys

I've seen the Princeton review books on amazon they got pretty good rating too.

Most likely i give them a try.

 

[nortexoid]

I'm currently using the Kaplan, and writing in two days. Anyway, it seems fine. I have not compared it with any others, but I imagine they're mostly the same. This one included a CD with some practice tests. The text also has some practice tests. Everything is clearly explained.

I suppose I might recommend it. It is difficult to say when you have not compared it to anything else. It does receive favorable reviews and it is competitively priced for what you get (depending on which version you get).

 

[Special K]

I used the Kaplan prep book and ended up getting 800 math, 670 verbal, and 5/6 writing. The math section was pretty easy for me - the main use I got out of the book were the lists of commonly used words (and their synonyms) on the GRE, and the practice tests. I also found it helpful to go through a few of the sample writing questions that were included.

 

[imported_inspire]

Steer clear of Barron's. I took the GRE a couple years ago and when I studied using Barron's, I noticed some of the solutions to the practice tests were incorrect. Most notably the number of prime numbers from 1 to 100 was off.