Choosing the best GRE prep book is essential to getting a high score on this important exam. let us help you make the right decision.
Our team pores over dozens of gre books to find the five that stand out above the rest. this will allow you to make an informed decision.
You are reading: Best gre books 2017
We considered many different factors in this decision, including price, practice materials, and content.
Summary: Use our reviews of the best gre books below to find an option that fits your needs.
summary of the best gre books
- best value: kaplan gre prep plus
- most comprehensive: manhattan prep set of 8 gre strategy guides
- best for practice tests: princeton review gre prep book
- best for improving scores: gre prep test prep books
- cheaper: magoosh gre prep
choose a gre study book
gre preparation books ensure that you have access to up-to-date material. It is essential that you choose the right books as the GRE is frequently updated. don’t get caught studying outdated content.
It’s a good idea to invest in a couple of different gre study books, as each has a specific strength. If you’d like to see how you’d fare before investing in paid prep, consider using our GRE practice test.
here’s a look at what we consider to be the best gre prep book by category.
kaplan – best value
pages: 1,824
kaplan has established itself as one of the main preparation platforms for gre. Unsurprisingly, Kaplan brought his game by publishing one of the best GRE books on the market.
is packed with vital information found on gre and higher level test taking strategies. You also get access to Kaplan’s online practice tests and lessons for a full year to make your studies more flexible.
Since kaplan has an online platform that is designed to mimic real gre, running practice tests through their system provides wonderful practice. the book itself includes a practice test, but they offer more through their online platform.
Honestly, the fact that Kaplan provides access to their online library with the purchase of this book is its biggest asset. is a perfect option for students looking for flexibility in their studies.
notable features
- access kaplan’s online gre study guide.
- six comprehensive practice tests.
- advanced test-taking strategies created by top percentiles of the gre.
advantages
- comprehensive coverage of gre topics.
- kaplan’s online gre study guide is excellent.
- practice materials that go above and beyond.
cons
- requires internet access to get the full value of this book.
- an overwhelming volume of information to learn.
at a glance
here are the three gre preparation books that come with this package:
- book 1: gre prep plus practice questions and test taking strategies.
- book 2: gre math workbook.
- book 3: workbook of verbal exercises gre.
preparation of manhattan: the most complete
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pages: 1,920
As the name suggests, the Manhattan Prep Set contains 8 books. Each book focuses on a main topic found on the GRE exam. This is the most comprehensive GRE prep guide on the market, but it also comes at the highest price. Is it worth the high cost?
if you have a few months to prepare for the gre and want the most complete study experience, then you’ll be happy with manhattan. The main drawback of this set of books is the sheer volume of content you have to read. The Manhattan GRE Prep Book Set is designed for long-term, consistent study.
Each chapter focuses on a topic found in gre. all end with a series of practice questions and answer explanations. these questions are very similar to those found in the gre.
As there are eight books, these chapters are very detailed in their explanations.
You can also look forward to finding test-taking strategies to help you answer the toughest questions on the test. manhattan rounds out this great set of prep books by including 6 full practice tests.
notable features
- comprehensive learning content that reviews all topics and subtopics found in the gre.
- high-quality practice questions that reinforce each chapter.
- 6 comprehensive practice tests that give students a way to make sure their studies are on track.
- test-taking strategies designed to help them get through the toughest questions they are found in the gre .
advantages
- highly organized study content.
- concise answer explanations.
- everything you need to excel in the gre.
cons
- expensive
- overwhelming volume of information.
at a glance
Books within this set include:
- algebra.
- fractions, decimals, & percentages.
- geometry.
- numerical properties.
- word problems.
- quantitative comparisons & interpretation of data.
- reading comprehension & essays.
- text completion & sentence equivalence.
princeton review: best for practice tests
pages: 704
princeton is known for its excellent gre digital prep course, but does it provide the best gre prep book? It looks like they listened to the feedback and added the missing pieces to take it to the top.
Students can expect access to a library of online practice questions, immersive concept reviews, and four comprehensive practice tests when investing in this GRE prep book. Plus, Princeton is offering a $100 discount code for their online prep course.
but let’s look at the content of this specific gre preparation book. it is packed with high-quality information that will improve your score. look forward to tips on how to maximize your time with pacing strategies.
You will also find information on all the topics found in the gre. it is concisely written and goes a step further by providing tactics on how to tackle different types of questions.
Each section of the exam includes a series of exercises that increase your understanding of the lesson. This makes for an awesome GRE practice book.
notable features
- access to online practice tests that provide detailed score reports.
- covers all sections of the gre, including analytical, verbal, and mathematical writing.
- effective exercises that follow each lesson to reinforce your understanding.
- access to online practice questions with detailed explanations.
advantages
- excellent gre practice book.
- access to princeton online practice tests.
- comprehensive test taking strategies.
- highly affordable.
cons
- lacks content explanations.
- requires online access for maximum value.
at a glance
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some of the chapters in this book include:
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- how to crack the verbal section
- how to crack the math section
- how to crack the analytical writing section
- practice tests
exam preparation books: the best to improve your score
pages: 229
test prep books for gre prep provide solid test taking strategies that are guaranteed to improve a student’s score on the gre. this includes tops to reduce test anxiety. This is the best GRE prep book on the market to improve exam scores so if you have already taken the exam and are looking to score higher then this is a perfect option.
The focus is on practice with this book, so you’ll have a chance to work through the questions and then see the detailed explanations that provide context. however, we found that the basics are missing. It is definitely written for students who have already mastered the basics and are looking to improve their score.
exam preparation books discusses the different types of questions you will encounter and provides a detailed review of them.
notable features
- advanced test-taking strategies that describe the context behind the different question types.
- high-quality practice questions with detailed explanations.
- practice-focused approach to the gre with the goal of improving a student’s score.
advantages
- best at improving gre score.
- high quality answer explanations.
- explains context behind question types.
cons
- Thematic concepts are missing.
at a glance
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some of the chapters in this book include:
See Also: Debra Webb – Book Series In Order
- study preparation plan for the gre
- verbal reasoning
- quantitative reasoning
- analytical writing
- 3 tests with detailed answer explanations
magoosh – cheaper
pages: 468
magoosh has published one of the best gre preparation books on the market. These pages are packed with a wealth of information designed to ensure students master the GRE prep. Magoosh’s GRE builds its practice questions from previous test takers to show you what to expect.
The only downside to using questions from past exams is that it doesn’t take into account updates to the exam itself. the types of questions that were asked a year ago may not perfectly mimic those that will be found in a future edition. but they will be coherent and, combined with the rest of the material, they will provide a comprehensive experience.
Magoosh’s GRE Prep Book also includes full explanations to help students understand the context behind each practice question. statistics are used to show the difficulty of each question compared to other test takers.
Learning content is not limited to just practice, as magoosh provides detailed sections on gre vocabulary and analytical writing. both are valuable sections that boost your verbal skills before the exam.
Finally, this prep book gives students access to a practice test so they can make sure they’re ready for the real GRE test. a test isn’t much, but it’s enough to build confidence for the actual test. Still, if you’re looking for practice tests, this might not be the book for you. magoosh focuses more on individual practice questions than providing an actual testing experience.
notable features
- full practice materials with detailed explanations.
- access to an online practice test on the magoosh platform.
- one of the gre prep books most affordable on the market.
advantages
- lots of practice questions.
- detailed explanations.
- amazing test taking strategies.
- affordable.
cons
- Just a practice test.
- has difficulty with complex topics.
at a glance
See Also: Kindle Unlimited: Is It Worth the Subscription? | Reedsy Discovery
some of the chapters in this book include:
See Also: Debra Webb – Book Series In Order
- get to know the gre
- gre 1 month syllabus
- gre quantitative reasoning
- gre verbal reasoning
- gre analytical writing assessment
- gre practice test