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Best GRE Prep Books
Our comprehensive guide covers the best GRE prep books to help you nail the exam
So you’re ready to apply for grad school – but first, you have to take the GRE. With top grad schools putting serious weight on your GRE score, it’s essential to choose the right prep resources. But which GRE review books will actually lead to a real score increase? Our team has checked out all the major GRE resources on the market. Here’s our rundown of the top GRE books that will make a serious difference in your application.
If you’re looking for really detailed, step-by-step guidance, look no further than Kaplan GRE Prep Plus. Kaplan is one of the leaders in test prep, and this study book is no exception.
Beyond excellent content review, this resource includes tons of expert strategies for the GRE, which are really helpful for anyone who struggles with test taking or exam anxiety. As a really nice bonus, you also get one-year access to the Kaplan online practice tests and lessons. This gives some nice flexibility so you’re not always reviewing the same way.
One of my favorite features of Kaplan’s book is the inclusion of five full-length online practice tests that let you experience the same digital format you’ll see on exam day.
This prep book also includes one full-length printed GRE practice test for offline access and more than 1,500 questions, complete with detailed explanations. The online study planning tools also make it easy to personalize your review strategy and prepare efficiently.
Another nice feature is the 500-question online Qbank, which allows you to customize your GRE preparation. Bottom line, this is far more than a book. Kaplan gives you the full package: expert guidance, test-taking strategies, practice tests, online practice questions, and even study planning help to reduce your overall stress.
Another solid option that provides both a thorough overview of the GRE exam and really helpful test-taking strategies is Test Prep Books GRE Prep. Similar to Kaplan, this guide goes beyond the content itself to also include useful tips for overcoming test anxiety and creating a study plan.
TPB is great at providing plenty of additional practice within each of the content areas – analytical reasoning, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning.
Each practice question comes with detailed answer explanations that help you determine where you really need to improve. I also liked that every section of the book ends with a comprehensive review. This gave me a chance to reflect on what I’d learned before moving on.
Now, here’s what makes this particular GRE test book stand out: it includes top test-taking tips, detailed content review, and a super helpful breakdown of the different types of questions you’ll encounter on the exam.
Purchasing this book gives you access to GRE prep materials plus some really great test-taking strategies and practice test questions. Consider this as one of the best GRE prep books to improve your overall score.
Looking for one of the top names in truly comprehensive review? The Princeton Review GRE Premium Prep is an incredibly detailed all-in-one resource that covers absolutely everything you need to know. They’ve recently expanded their GRE prep book with additional online practice test questions, expansive topic reviews, and four full-length online practice tests.
Princeton’s book is filled with tips to help you improve your score. Learn how to pace yourself while maximizing your time and enhancing your knowledge of the GRE content areas, with powerful tactics and detailed examples of how to approach all question types.
This prep book includes a thorough review for each section of the exam. I found the practice sections on reading comprehension and math to be quite useful. I was particularly impressed with the expansive vocabulary list and key terms included with The Princeton Review GRE prep book.
As you practice your way to improving your GRE score, utilize the drills for each test section in this book. Content areas covered include analytical writing, verbal, and math.
Also included in this prep book are step-by-step guides, with two full-length practice tests in the book and four full-length practice tests online. Once you’ve completed the practice tests, you gain access to in-depth online score reports that give you an idea of how you’re doing.
#4 | GRE Prep Book By Magoosh
Another GRE prep book to consider is Magoosh GRE Prep. Created by one of the nation’s leading online test-prep companies, this resource really comes in handy when preparing for the GRE exam.
Magoosh’s GRE prep book provides statistics for each practice question to give you an idea of the difficulty rating, plus a full-length practice test with an answer key and detailed explanations.
I was pleasantly surprised that it also provided me with some helpful tips and prompts to aid in my GRE essay writing practice. You gain even more practice with the online GRE prep resources.
Magoosh’s GRE prep book includes test-taking advice from experts who helped create the GRE exam. It also provides a study schedule to help you prepare for exam day and a list of easy-to-follow tips and strategies to help you ace any type of question you might find on the exam.
This book has lessons that cover quantitative, verbal, and analytical concepts, plus 130 practice questions, answers and explanations.
#5 | Manhattan Prep 5 lb. Book of GRE Practice Problems
Take a load off your GRE test preparation with the Manhattan Prep 5 lb. Book of GRE Practice Problems. This best-selling GRE study book is coupled with an online suite of lessons, practice problems, and an interactive learning platform for a truly well-rounded learning experience.
This study book includes micro drills and mixed timed sets so you can learn how to pace yourself during the exam, as well as a handy cheat sheet of key math rules to bulk up your knowledge and quantitative skills.
The core of this 5-pound GRE study book is the 1,400 practice problems that cover every topic on the exam. Personally, I learn best by doing, so my takeaway – the more practice problems, the better.
Each practice question was developed by Manhattan Prep experts and allows students to further develop their understanding of the content covered on the GRE. This book provides detailed explanations and answers, as well as step-by-step applications with each of the practice problems in this book.
The on-demand learning platform that accompanies this practice book provides you with even more resources to learn from your mistakes and improve your test-taking skills when preparing for the GRE.
Being well prepared for the GRE can solidify your entrance into graduate school and pave the way for your future. These best GRE prep books will be instrumental tools in helping you prepare for the exam and achieve your desired score.
In addition to selecting the best prep book for your needs, you may want to consider using a GRE prep course or hiring a GRE tutor. Check out our list of best GRE prep courses here.
Prep courses often provide better instruction and more practice material than you will find in just a book. Plus, they are more affordable than you might think. There are prep companies that charge much less than the GRE courses from Kaplan and Princeton Review. For example, PrepScholar costs less than $100, and Target Test Prep is also pretty reasonable.
No matter which study tool you choose, it is important to establish a study plan. You will need to a couple months to prepare for the exam with dedicated weekly studying. Create a schedule, and stick to it. Share your schedule with friends and family so they can support your efforts.
Take a timed practice test at the beginning of your studies. This will give you a feel for the testing format and provide you with a baseline score. After that, take time to review the results of your practice test, and use it to develop a study plan so you can target areas where you need improvement.
Don’t forget to use all of the resources available to you in your GRE prep books, courses, mobile apps, and online platforms. Flashcards can be extremely helpful in bumping up your vocabulary skills. You can make your own flashcards, or you can find GRE vocab lists online or in your chosen GRE prep materials.
Finally, take a deep breath and relax! If you’re taking advantage of top-notch resources, then you know you’ve got your bases covered. Take some down time to relax, de-stress, and get excited about your future. As long as you’re using your resources wisely, you should be able to follow their recommendations and trust that you’ve got this. ⭐
FAQ
What is the best GRE prep book?
After reviewing over a dozen different GRE prep options, our team thinks the prep books from Kaplan and Princeton Review stand above the rest.
Where should you buy a GRE prep book?
While you can most likely find a GRE prep book in your local bookstore, online retailers such as Amazon are also a good place to purchase GRE books.
