Top 5 Best GRE Study Guides: An Independent Review

If you plan to go to graduate school, you’ll most likely take the GRE to show schools you have what it takes for their program.  The GRE is a broad assessment of your critical thinking, analytical writing, verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning skills.

To help get you GRE ready, we’ve put together a list of the top five best GRE study guides.

1. GRE Premier 2016 with 6 Practice Tests: Book + Online + DVD + Mobile (Kaplan Test Prep)

As the #1 seller on Amazon, and with over 66% of reviewers giving this guide 5 stars, the GRE Premier 2016 with 6 Practice Tests leads the field of best GRE study guides. The Kaplan’s GRE Premier 2016 is a comprehensive prep system that includes both book and mobile-enabled online components.

Kaplan’s GRE Premier 2016 contains 2,200+ total practice questions with detailed explanations, covering the Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing sections, and strategies for handling all the question types you’ll encounter on test day.

The guide also includes six full length practice tests, and one-year access to an online center that includes practice tests, a 500 question quiz bank, exclusive videos and more.

Finally, Kaplan guarantees that if you study with this book, DVD, and online resources, you will score higher on the GRE—or you’ll receive a full refund.

Pros

• 2,200+ practice questions with detailed explanations
• Six full-length practice tests
• 500-question online quiz bank, for customized quiz creation and review of GRE practice questions
• DVD on stress management, study planning, and the graduate school application process
• One-Year Access to an online center

Cons

• Lack of difficult questions, specifically in the quantitative section
• Format issues with the Kindle version

Buy the GRE Premier 2016 with 6 Practice Tests: Book + Online + DVD + Mobile (Kaplan Test Prep) for $23.71 here.

The Kindle version provides the same exact material and can be a more cost-efficient option. You’ll also eliminate the need to carry around a large book and spend time working in front of a computer screen in advance of the GRE exam.

You can buy the Kindle version for $22.52 here.

2. Official GRE Super Power Pack 1st Edition

Ranking #2 in Amazon for GRE test prep, and with 71% of reviewers giving this guide 5-stars, the Official GRE® Super Power Pack is a great choice giving you the key information and practice you need for the GRE direct from the test maker, ETS.

This three-book bundle contains four complete real GRE tests, 600+ real practice exam questions, tips from the test makers themselves on how to answer each question type, sample analytical writing essay responses with actual raters’ comments and more. The bundle also provides plenty of self-study resources and test-taking strategies to use in your GRE test preparation.

The Official GRE® Super Power Pack also provides significant savings over purchasing each book separately.

Pros

• Four complete, real GRE tests, 2 in the book and 2 downloadable to your computer – for a simulated computer-delivered test experience
• 600+ real GRE practice exam questions
• Everything you need to know about the test direct from the test maker

Cons

• Math questions were too simplified

Buy the Official GRE Super Power Pack for $44.04 here.

The Kindle version provides the same exact material and can be a more cost-efficient option. You’ll also eliminate the need to carry around large books and spend time working in front of a computer screen in advance of the GRE exam.

You can buy the Kindle version for $40.99 here

3. 5 lb. Book of GRE Practice Problems (Manhattan Prep GRE Strategy Guides)

Ranked as a #1 best seller in graduate school studies on Amazon, and with 91% of reviewers giving this four stars or better, the 5 lb. Book of GRE Practice Problems contains over 1,800 practice problems covering every topic tested on the GRE, making it a top resource for students at any level.

Developed by our by actual instructors with 99th percentile scores, the problems are challenging and well-organized into practice sets that mirror the content, form, and style you find on the GRE.

Online resources have been improved in this second edition offering online question banks that provide realistic explanations.

Reviewers do note that there are not enough verbal practice sections, and that the Kindle version is challenging to navigate.

Pros

• Contains over 1,800 practice problems across 33 chapters
• Problems are well-organized into practice sets that mirror the actual GRE
• Improved online resources including online questions banks, video instruction and more

Cons

• Kindle version challenging to navigate
• Lack of verbal practice sections

Buy the 5 lb. Book of GRE Practice Problems (Manhattan Prep GRE Strategy Guides) for $12.34 here.

The Kindle version provides the same exact material and can be a more cost-efficient option. You’ll also eliminate the need to carry around a large book and spend time working in front of a computer screen in advance of the GRE exam.

You can buy the Kindle version for $9.99 here.

4.Cracking the GRE with 4 Practice Tests, 2016 Edition (Graduate School Test Preparation)

Ranked #2 in books for graduate studies on Amazon, the Cracking the GRE with 4 Practice Tests, 2016 Edition provides plenty of prep to get you ready for the GRE.

Inside you’ll find strong techniques including tactics to help avoid traps, step-by-step problem solving guides, and strategies to maximize time and minimize effort.

The guide contains two full length practice tests with detailed explanations, two additional tests online, drills for each test section including verbal, math, and writing and thorough score reporting.  In addition you’ll get expert subject reviews, bulleted chapter summaries, and an extensive GRE vocabulary list.

Reviewers feel that this guide is a cost-effective solution for GRE prep, helps them feel more organized and prepared, and gives them effective test-taking tips such as how to guess when you are not sure of answers.

Pros

• Effective strategies to help avoid common GRE traps
• Four full-length practice tests
• Expert reviews and bulleted chapter summaries

Cons

• Practice tests were not as hard as actual GRE exam
• Word list was not comprehensive enough
• Provides a DVD companion, not a supplemental CD

Buy the Cracking the GRE with 4 Practice Tests, 2016 Edition for $14.14 here.

The Kindle version provides the same exact material and can be a more cost-efficient option. You’ll also eliminate the need to carry around a large book and spend time working in front of a computer screen in advance of the GRE exam.

You can buy the Kindle version for $15.99 here.

5.Manhattan Prep GRE Set of 8 Strategy Guides (Manhattan Prep GRE Strategy Guides)

Ranked #5 for Graduate School guides in Amazon, and 89% giving this set of strategy guides 4 stars or better, the Manhattan Prep’s 4th Edition GRE Strategy Guides is a great resource for those looking to get a top score on the GRE.

The eight book guide contains updated content and new practice problems and is considered the richest, most content-driven GRE materials on the market.

Written by Manhattan Prep’s high-caliber GRE instructors, each guide contains detailed lessons and strategies for all of the question formats that appear on the GRE.

Six out of the eight books are devoted to math: algebra, fractions, geometry, number properties, word problems, and quantitative comparisons. There are also two books devoted to the verbal section: reading comprehension and text completion. The end of each book has easy, medium, and difficult practice sets, consisting of the different revised GRE question types.

Included in this set are:

• The Algebra GRE Strategy Guide
• The Fractions, Decimals, & Percents GRE Strategy Guide
• The Geometry GRE Strategy Guide
• The Number Properties GRE Strategy Guide
• The Word Problems GRE Strategy Guide
• The Quantitative Comparisons & Data Interpretation GRE Strategy Guide
• The Reading Comprehension & Essays GRE Strategy Guide
• The Text Completion & Sentence Equivalence GRE Strategy Guide

Finally, purchase of this set includes one year of access to six Manhattan Prep online section-adaptive GRE exams.

Pros

• Considered the most comprehensive GRE resource on the market
• Each guide contains detailed lessons and strategies for all of the question formats
• Content developed by actual instructors with 99th percentile scores
• One year access to 6 Manhattan Prep online section-adaptive GRE exams.

Cons

• Higher cost than other guides
• Math guide lacks difficult questions
• Verbal guide focuses on tougher vocabulary which may intimidate consumers

Buy the Manhattan Prep GRE Set of 8 Strategy Guides (Manhattan Prep GRE Strategy Guides) for $98.49 here.

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