15 Best GRE Prep Books: Master the Test and Achieve Your Dream Score
When choosing the best GRE prep books that work with your learning style because the GRE General Test is not a simple exam.
Many students, especially those who don’t prepare adequately, struggle to achieve their desired GRE score on the first attempt.
Consider using GRE prep books while studying if you want to get the best score possible the first time.
To assist you in making the best decision, we’ve provided reviews of the top GRE prep books available, a comparison table, and purchase advice.
In this article, we will explore the best GRE prep books on the market and help you in knowing which of the best GRE prep books is suitable for you.
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Table of contents
15 Best GRE Prep Books Reviews
Here we listed the 15 best GRE prep books on the market to help further your search.
1. Kaplan GRE Prep Plus
For prolonged practice, Kaplan GRE Prep Plus is the finest option when choosing the best GRE prep books.
If you plan to study for a few months before your test, the over 1500 practice questions in the book and 500 online are more than sufficient.
You will receive a video explanation for some of the questions in addition to the impressive question bank.
For us, the video’s clarity and quality made it more interactive, but it could be even more helpful if it included more information about the analytical writing segment.
The two short online tests and the five full-length practice exams were both very relevant to the real test, according to our review of them.
2. Manhattan 5lb. Book GRE Practice Problems
For those who want to start their GRE preparation slowly, the Manhattan GRE Prep book is the perfect option when choosing the best GRE prep books.
The practice questions are typically set up such that you can answer the easier questions first before moving on to the more difficult ones.
By doing this, you will avoid becoming discouraged by the numerous questions that you may first be unable to accurately answer.
The Manhattan GRE Prep Book features a sizable question bank, just like the Kaplan GRE Plus.
Over 1800 practice questions are available both online and offline.
3. ETS GRE Prep Book: The Official Guide
Test takers who want practice questions that are most similar to those on the actual exam should use the ETS GRE Prep Book when choosing the best GRE prep books.
The book is produced by an educational testing agency, which also produces the GRE exam, so it is not surprising that the questions are comparable to those on the real test.
The ETS Prep Book provides four actual practice exams in addition to practice questions based on the actual exam (2 online and 2 in the book).
The resemblance between the aforementioned real practice exams and previous GRE exam questions may easily be seen.
4. Magoosh GRE Prep Book
For test-takers who perform better when concepts are described in straightforward terms, Magoosh GRE prep is the perfect option when choosing the best GRE prep books.
It is also quite beneficial for those hoping to raise their analytical writing evaluation marks.
The number of questions in this book is little over 130, making it one of the fewest in our review. Within a week, you ought to have finished answering all the questions.
If you purchase the Magoosh GRE exam preparation, do it for its simplicity and test-taking techniques because there aren’t many questions in it.
5. Manhattan GRE Prep Set of 8 Strategy Guides
For those who require a topic-specific study guide for the test, the Manhattan Prep GRE Set is the finest option when choosing the best GRE prep books.
Fractions, Decimals, and Percents, Algebra, Word Problems, Number Properties, Geometry, Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence, Data Interpretation Guide and Quantitative Comparisons, and Reading Comprehension are covered in a series of 8 independent volumes.
The Manhattan Prep GRE Set is, in our opinion, more concerned with tactics, advice, and counseling than with practice.
Unsurprisingly, there are 24 sets of questions in total, with three in each study guide. The three sets of questions are arranged according to level of difficulty so, if that suits you, you can move from easy to hard.
6. The Princeton Review GRE Premium Prep
For those who have to keep an eye on their study pace, the Princeton GRE Premium Prep is the finest option when choosing the best GRE prep books.
Seven comprehensive GRE practice tests are included in the book.
There are step-by-step solutions for Princeton.
Additionally, it offers advice on how to organize your time, translate questions, record your score, and minimize mistakes.
If you’ve been concerned about picking up essential GRE vocabulary phrases, the book provides a brief list that enables quick yet thorough learning.
7. Test Prep Books: GRE Prep
For those seeking a comprehensive guide to the GRE, the GRE Test Prep book is the ideal option when choosing the best GRE prep books.
It is mostly a study guide, similar to the Manhattan Prep Set. However, there are a good number of practice questions inside.
The Test Prep stood out from the competition by providing advice on how to create a study schedule.
There are other suggestions for dealing with exam anxiety. You receive a DVD of this after purchasing the book.
In essence, this book gives non-academic advice in addition to providing a thorough description of the analytical writing, verbal, and math components of the GRE standardized tests.
8. Barron’s GRE Test Prep
The greatest GRE prep is Barron’s GRE for students looking to increase their verbal reasoning scores.
Although it contains excellent material for mathematical reasoning, its effects on verbal thinking are more obvious.
The book’s content is written in such a way that it enables you to master essential GRE terminology while also learning how to respond to significant analytical writing challenges.
The summary list of each chapter is then available if you want to skim or read the book slowly.
You can arrange your study time according to your preferred pace using this list.
9. The Princeton Review GRE Practice Questions
When looking for advice on how to improve their results quickly, The Princeton Review 1027 GRE Practice Questions is the best option when choosing the best GRE prep books.
It divides each of the three sections—math, verbal reasoning, and analytical writing—into distinct areas.
It is very simple to identify trends in the way the GRE exams are structured because of the way the topics in each section are divided.
Only the Kaplan Plus and Manhattan 5lb. have more practice questions than this Princeton Review’s 1027 available here.
There are only two examinations, though. The full-length online practice test contrasts with the diagnostic paper-based practice test.
This book has more questions than any of the other books in this review.
10. Mometrix GRE Prep
For in-depth explanations of the answers, the Mometrix GRE Prep is the best when choosing the best GRE prep books.
It covers everything and provides resources on paper, in the media, and online.
It may not have the most practice questions in our study with around 650.
But their accuracy outweighs the value of quantity.
The three full-length practice exams in this study are not the best, but the quality rapidly overshadows the lack of quantity.
The Mometrix Test Preparation Book’s thoroughness and step-by-step organization are the cornerstones of its excellence.
The book covers every last nuance of the fundamentals for each of the three GRE components.
11. Official GRE Super Power Pack, 2nd Edition
This series offers four full-length GRE practice exams along with supplementary GRE practice questions and was produced by the test developers themselves.
Test takers can save money by purchasing the three books together rather than buying them separately.
Additionally, practice questions have clear explanations.
12. Manhattan Prep’s GRE Strategy Guides, 4th Edition
This collection of eight guides offers students the most crucial techniques and subject matter they require to perform well on the GRE.
Each book focuses on a different subject, such as algebra, geometry, or word problems, to provide you a thorough understanding of the test and prepare you for every question type.
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13. Nova’s GRE Math Bible
Nova’s GRE Math Bible, in contrast to the other GRE preparation books on this list, is built for the previous pattern.
You won’t find the most practice problems, but the book does a decent job of laying out principles, according to our evaluation.
Every chapter begins with fundamental ideas, followed by practice questions broken down into four difficulty levels: easy, medium, hard, and extremely hard.
Check out our GRE math study strategies to improve your math even further.
14. GRE Reading Comprehension & Essays
There aren’t many practice questions in this GRE study guide because it is one of the top GRE prep books for reading comprehension.
There are numerous analytical writing assessment samples available that will help you prepare for the GRE’s AWA portion.
The way the book organized its essay is exactly the way you should write it, according to input from multiple previous GRE test takers.
15. 500 essential words: GRE vocabulary flash cards
Through this GRE preparation book, Manhattan Prep and its GRE instructors have developed the most complete set of flashcards available.
The first volume of a two-volume set of GRE flashcards is titled The 500 Essential Words.
The purpose of the flashcards is to aid the student in gaining a thorough comprehension of each word.
It includes a word network with synonyms, usage examples, and other information.
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Buying Guide for the best GRE prep books
It’s crucial to choose where you need to start before investing in the top GRE prep books.
The first thing you should do when choosing the best GRE prep books if you are unfamiliar with the GRE and have only recently learned about it is to obtain information on the GRE’s components and the events that take place on test day.
Before beginning to study, you should read up on and comprehend the three GRE portions.
Next, use the GRE website’s practice tests to determine which GRE topics or sections you still need to work on.
You’ll be able to concentrate on the subjects you know you struggle with and find a prep book more easily as a result.
As was already mentioned, GRE preparation differs from individual to person.
PrepScholar offers preparation classes, but you may also pick a book that suits your needs by taking into account the following factors: such as contents, features and your time.
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What Makes a Good GRE Prep Books?
A solid GRE prep book demonstrates test-taking techniques and offers advice that will keep you on track and help you get high exam scores.
So that you may accurately evaluate yourself based on the difficulty level, it should include practice questions that are comparable to actual GRE problems.
The finest GRE study guide should provide in-depth and understandable answer explanations, as well as practical exercises for simple exam navigation, to help you reinforce your comprehension of the test preparation material.
Following are some factors to think about when choosing a GRE book:
- Book Layout
- Quality of Questions
- Number of Questions
- Tips and Strategies
- Pricing
- Comprehensive Answer Explanations
- Personal Factors
And The Best GRE Book Is…
We propose Manhattan GRE collection of 8 strategy guides as the best GRE prep book based on our in-depth review and students’ input on the top GRE books.
We appreciate that each topic has a detailed content summary.
Full-length practice exams with in-depth answer explanations are also included.
The online adaptive assessments and the straightforward explanation of mathematical concepts really pleased our staff.
The test-taking tactics and ideas also streamline and simplify the preparation process.
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FAQs
Should I purchase the Best GRE prep books online?
Check the reviews of the book you want to purchase if you’re doing it online. There may be a lot of reviews, but you might discover that there aren’t many thorough ones. If not, it is preferable to purchase them directly from a bookstore where you can more thoroughly inspect the contents. Browse the books on offer, then pick one or a couple that suit you the most.
How long would it take me to prepare for the GRE?
The more time you set up for studying, the better. Of course, how quickly you pick things up and how much of the essentials you retain will differ depending on who you are. Spend as much time practicing problem-solving skills as you do review the subject’s fundamentals.
Do I have to take preparation courses?
Your personal learning preferences will determine that. An exam preparation course will be well worth your effort if you learn and retain information better in a classroom setting. If you have a flexible schedule, there are also online preparation courses accessible. One of the most well-known online GRE preparation providers is Magoosh GRE.
What number of GRE prep books do I need?
Finding the greatest GRE books that meet your needs and your preferred study style is essential. Some study guides place a higher priority on foundational information and in-depth explanations than GRE preparation. Some books only cover the practice questions for the GRE, skipping the sections. There is frequently one prep book that is better than the other with them, so you may either acquire more than one prep book or choose the one that best suits your needs.
Conclusion
A key step in preparing for the GRE General Test is picking the best GRE prep books.
Because of the wide variety of products on the market, browsing might be intimidating, but we hope this guide will make it much simpler for you to locate the best GRE prep books.
References
- Mygreexampreparation.com – 15 best GRE prep books
- Prep.yocket.com – 10 best GRE prep books
