Cracking the GRE with 4 Practice Tests, 2019 Edition: The Strategies, Practice, and Review You Need for the Score You Want (Graduate School Test Preparation)

Product details

• Paperback : 496 pages
• Product Dimensions : 8.37 x 1.14 x 10.81 inches
• Publisher : Princeton Review; 2019 Edition (May 22, 2018)
• Language: : English

Techniques That Actually Work. 
• Powerful tactics to avoid traps and beat the GRE
• Pacing tips to help maximize your time
• Detailed examples of how to employ each strategy to your advantage

Everything You Need to Know for a High Score. 
• Thorough reviews for every section of the exam 
• Valuable practice with complex reading comprehension passages and math problems
• Extensive GRE vocabulary list featuring key terms and exercises 

Practice Your Way to Perfection. 
• 4 full-length practice tests (2 in the book & 2 online) with detailed answer explanations 
• Drills for each test section—Verbal, Math, and Analytical Writing 
• Step-by-step guides for interpreting your practice test results
• In-depth score reports available for online practice exams

Top reviews from the United States

Tori

1.0 out of 5 stars Not helpful for math review

Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2018

Verified Purchase

The verbal review is pretty good but the math portion of this book made me more frustrated and confused. The explanation of practice problems is not thorough, so you can’t tell how they got from point A to point B or why you missed the question. I found online reviews and videos more helpful. I would’ve chosen a different book for sure, avoid this one if you need to focus on math review.

6 people found this helpful

Amazon Customer

5.0 out of 5 stars Great prep for the GRE!!

Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2019

Verified Purchase

I bought this book and the 5lb of GRE practice problems from Manhattan Prep. I used this one as a base to learn the theory for the Quant section, and to really work on the essays. It doesn't have a lot of problems though, so I really recommend also buying the Manhattan Prep book to practice (especially the Quant problems).

The explanations are great, and the tips and examples help A LOT.

 

GRE Prep Plus 2021: Practice Tests + Proven Strategies + Online + Video + Mobile (Kaplan Test Prep) 

Product details

• Publication Date : June 2, 2020
• Print Length : 780 pages
• Publisher : Edition (June 2, 2020)
• Language: : English

We’re so certain that GRE Prep Plus 2021 offers all the knowledge you need to excel at the GRE that we guarantee it: After studying with the online resources and book, you'll score higher on the GRE—or you'll get your money back.

The Best Practice

• Five full-length online tests help you practice in the same computer-based format you'll see on test day.
• One full-length practice test included in the book for easier reference and review.
• More than 1,700 questions with detailed explanations.
• Personalize your study plan with the individual performance summary you'll receive after each online practice test.
• Customize your practice with a 500-question online Qbank that lets you select problems by topic and difficulty.
• Chapters on each GRE question type and math skill, with practice sets for each.
• Questions have been reviewed, revised, and updated by Kaplan's expert faculty.

Efficient Strategies and Expert Guidance

• Expert videos on stress-reduction techniques and study planning tactics that can help you ace the GRE.
• GRE Prep Plus 2021 comes with one-on-one academic support from Kaplan faculty via our Facebook page: facebook.com/KaplanGradPrep
• We know the test: The Kaplan team has spent years studying every GRE-related document available.
• Kaplan's experts ensure our practice questions and study materials are true to the test.
• We invented test prep—Kaplan (www.kaptest.com) has been helping students for 80 years. Our proven strategies have helped legions of students achieve their dreams.

Top reviews

Vince Kotchian

2.0 out of 5 stars GRE tutor review: Major flaws make this an inferior prep book

Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2020

Verified Purchase

I've been a GRE tutor since 2008, so I've seen a thing or two. TL;DR version of this review: Book not good. Don't buy.

Normal version: Here's what I'll cover:

1. Why Kaplan (or any big brand name) creates inferior GRE material.
2. What I liked and didn't like about the book itself.
3. My tips for what you should do to prepare for the GRE.

Kaplan labors under a set of constraints that make it difficult to produce effective GRE materials. First, the goal (like any company's) is to sell as many books as they can. In order to do this, they have to portray their material as the absolute best and as a complete solution.

The second constraint is that to create a book that IS a complete solution would be cost-prohibitive. For example, to provide thorough coverage and adequate basic-level practice for every possible math concept would make the book balloon to twice or three times its current size, which would turn a lot of prospective buyers off.

Third, developing realistic GRE questions is very time-consuming, particularly for verbal. Instead, companies like Kaplan opt for quantity, not quality, since they don't want to spend a ton of money of development. Licensing official ETS questions would cost $450 per question, so even though those ETS questions would be ten times more realistic than Kaplan's, it'd be too expensive to use them.

Finally, Kaplan must pretend that ETS, the company that creates the GRE, doesn't exist. Mentioning ETS materials and suggesting their use might make some prospective buyers buy the ETS books instead of the Kaplan book, and that wouldn't be very good for sales.

The result? A book that is neither realistic nor a complete solution but that pretends to be both. This is what pisses me off! I'm an independent tutor, so I have no constraints, and am free to tell you exactly what I think works.

What I liked about this book:

1. The Kaplan strategies to answer questions are perfectly fine.

2. I enjoyed the essay section, because it provides tips on how to improve your writing from the ground up.

3. The math concepts list in the back is a handy reference.

4. I like the vocab list, particularly because it groups words with similar meanings.

What I disliked about this book:

1. The question realism is poor. Real ETS GRE questions are much more complex and usually more difficult than the ones in this book. I don't care how many questions a GRE book has inside; quality is more important that quantity.

2. The book doesn't cover critical reasoning questions other than sprinkling a few in its practice sets and tests. These questions need to be explained in depth so you know how to handle them. (I took off a full star for this flaw.)

3. The math concept coverage is very brief. Using the ETS Math Review in conjunction with Khan Academy will allow you to practice and learn these concepts in a much more thorough way (and they're free).

4. The book had the opportunity to direct you to practice with official ETS questions, but passed it up in favor of trying to sell more books. Even Magoosh, a company I have issues with, is honest enough to emphasize the importance of ETS questions.

5. This book was written by committee. No one's name is on the cover. This means no one really has skin in the game. Test prep companies contract with writers to develop books - the problem with that is that the writers don't have a tremendous incentive to write top-quality material since doing so doesn't provide them with any more recognition or reward than the paycheck they got when they were done with the assignment.

My tips for GRE prep:

1. It takes time. The two most time-consuming tasks are vocab and math. For math, you must not only learn and practice concepts at a basic level but then also accumulate lots of experience practicing with real GRE math questions (which are complicated but often provide logical shortcuts). When a random question pops up on the real test, your experience - if you have a lot of it - will help you solve it.

2. Please only use official ETS questions for verbal. No other company writes good verbal questions, full stop. I attached a screenshot of a question from the Kaplan book to show you how ambiguous some of their answers are - the answer is "apathy" but also could be "loathing" or "antagonism". (ETS questions, by contrast, are scrupulously fair.)

3. When selecting materials, remember that most people writing reviews don't have experience with multiple books, and that some people can absolutely do well no matter what product they use. Since website algorithms rank reviews by quality, make sure you dig down a few pages to read some of the lower quality reviews and see how many of them you trust.

4. Look for independent GRE prep voices on places like Reddit. Times are changing, and the big brand names like Kaplan are steadily losing ground to more independent, smaller companies.

I sincerely wish you the best with your GRE prep.

 

Official GRE Super Power Pack, Second Edition

Product details

• Paperback : 250 pages
• Product Dimensions : 8.6 x 2.4 x 10.9 inches
• Publisher : McGraw-Hill Education; 2nd Edition (April 7, 2017)
• Language: : English

Save money and get total official GRE test preparation with this 3 book bundle from the test maker! This Power Pack includes three Official Guides: The Official Guide to the GRE, 3rd edition Official GRE Quantitative Reasoning Questions, Volume 1, Second Edition Official GRE Verbal Reasoning Questions, Volume 1, Second Edition This Official GRE Super Power Pack 2017 Edition provides key information and the practice you need to do your best on the GRE General Test. For less than what you would pay for each book separately, the bundle packages. The Official Guide to the GRE General Test, 3rd Edition; Official GRE Verbal Reasoning Practice Questions, Volume 1 and Official Quantitative Reasoning Practice Questions, Volume 1. This essential resource features four, complete, real GRE tests, hundreds of authentic GRE practice questions with answers and explanations, descriptions of every question type, with valuable question answering tips and test taking strategies to use in your GRE test preparation. Only ETS can show you exactly what to expect on the test. So for in depth GRE test preparation and intensive practice at a money saving price, this bundle is your best choice! The Official GRE Super Power Pack offers: • Significant savings over purchasing each book separately • Everything you need to know about the test, direct from the test maker • 4 complete, real GRE tests – 2 in the book and 2 online • 600 real practice exam questions, many with detailed answer explanations • The test maker’s own tips for answering each question type • Scored sample Analytical Writing essay responses and reader commentary • Access to GRE POWERPREP Online • eBook content that is fully accessible for individuals with disabilities.

Madison

5.0 out of 5 stars V161, Q150, W5.5 - Get this!

Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2017

Verified Purchase

I purchased these as part of my overall study plan for the GRE. I had about a month to prepare, which is on the more expedited side of studying. I mixed this type of preparation with the Magoosh Vocabulary app (both on Android and iPhone) in order to just clarify and brush up on some vocabulary. I have always struggled with math so I knew I needed extra quantitative reasoning practice questions and explanations. I think I used the Quantitative supplemental book more than the main book to be honest. When I did a cold practice test (without studying) I scored about a 134 on the math section- so I pretty much got everything wrong.

After studying with these materials and going on youtube watching Yaymath.org lessons on stuff I was really rusty on or things I didn't understand when they were taught to me back in high school to begin with, I was able to score a Quantitative 150 on the actual test - so I increased my score by 16 points in one month with using these books (luckily I'm going into social sciences at a top 30 ranked university so this is a decent score for what I needed). My verbal increased by about 3 points from my cold practice test, however that wasn't my main focus as I knew that I was going to get a competitive score regardless (I got a 161 on the actual exam if anyone cares). I've also always been a strong writer so my 5.5 on the exam was not surprising- I did not study for the writing part at all.

All around I recommend this product because it has all the supplemental books you need no matter what your strengths are, and it's made by ETS so the question structure and type are all incredibly similar to the actual test. I also bought another book that wasn't made my ETS and I could tell the difference between the two quite a bit.

 

Anatomy Coloring Book

Product details

• Paperback : 352 pages
• Product Dimensions : 8.38 x 0.9 x 10.88 inches
• Publisher : Kaplan Medical Test Prep; Proprietary, Seventh Edition, (October 1, 2019)
• Reading level : Baby - 9 years
• Language: : English

Anatomy Coloring Book features detailed illustrations of the body's anatomical systems in a spacious page design with no back-to-back images--goodbye, bleed-through! Plus, Color Guides on every 2-page spread offer instructions for best coloring results so you can get the most out of your study.
The Best Review

• More than 450 detailed, realistic medical illustrations, including microscopic views of cells and tissues
• Exclusive perforated, flashcard-format illustrations of 96 muscle structures to color and study on-the-go
• Clear descriptive overview on the page opposite each illustration, with key learning terms in boldface
• Self-quizzing for each illustration, with convenient same-page answer keys
• Full coverage of the major body systems, plus physiological information on cells, tissues, muscles, and development

Expert Guidance

• We invented test prep—Kaplan (www.kaptest.com) has been helping students for almost 80 years. Our proven strategies have helped legions of students achieve their dreams.

Jen

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple, uncrowded pages!

Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2018

Verified Purchase

Such a great book for studying for my A&P practicals coming. The images/views are very similiar to those in the textbooks, they are big and the pages are not as "crowded" as many of the other A&P coloring books. I also LOVE how it guides you, but you have to label the part yourself. Hands down down the best affordable A&P coloring book. I researched them for 2 days before choosing this one.

 

Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Intensive Review, Third Edition: Fast Facts and Practice Questions - Book and Free App – Highly Rated FNP Exam Review Book

Product details

• Paperback : 800 pages
• Product Dimensions : 10.24 x 7.2 x 1.6 inches
• Publisher : Springer Publishing Company; 3rd Edition (November 21, 2017)
• Language: : English

The third edition of this highly acclaimed review continues to promote efficient, time-saving study by synthesizing the complex knowledge needed to pass the exam into a concise, well-organized format. It is updated with key information about the new ANCC and AANPCB certification exams, including new test-format questions featuring photos of skin and eye conditions and EKGs, and more challenging drag-and-drop and multiple-choice questions. Also new to the third edition is more detailed information about nonclinical topics on the exam, including research, ethics, medico-legal issues, advanced practice law, health practices of various cultures, and reimbursement guidelines. One hundred new review questions throughout the book and on the practice exam―including answer key and rationale―increase the total number of questions to more than 700.

Designed to help FNP students boost their confidence through intensive review and high-quality questions, the third edition features succinct, precisely targeted “need-to-know” details of diseases commonly seen in primary care. It covers the entire life span from pediatrics through geriatrics, and offers extensive test-taking techniques and question dissection and analysis sections that provide strategies for identifying the best clues during the problem-solving process. Organized by body system, sections are consistently formatted and encompass Danger Signals, Normal Findings, Lab Findings, Benign Variants, and individual Disease Review topics for each system. Additional outstanding features include Exam Tips and Clinical Pearls that help to focus system study on key information.

NEW TO THE THIRD EDITION
• Updated information reflecting the new FNP certification exam
• New test-format questions used by the ANCC, including photos of skin and eye conditions, EKGs, and more complex drag-and-drop and multiple-choice questions
• 100 new in-depth review questions for a total of more than 700
• Differential Diagnosis tables
• Additional information about nonclinical topics, including culture, spirituality, and health practices; evidence-based medicine; and more

KEY FEATURES
• Provides a succinct, precisely targeted review of diseases commonly seen in primary care
• Delineates strategic “question-dissection techniques” for study success
• Includes Exam Tips and Clinical Pearls to help prioritize and interpret test content
• Outlines Normal Findings and Benign Variants in physical assessment of each body system
• Offers intensive pharmacology review
• Content available digitally via ExamPrepConnect for study on the go

ExamPrepConnect Features:
• All the high-quality content from the book
• Personalized study plan based on exam date
• 700+ questions and answers with rationales―study by topic to identify your strengths and weaknesses
• Lessons and flashcards on key information and abbreviations
• Discussion board to connect with FNP exam-prep community
• Games to make studying fun

See access details inside book.

 

MCAT Complete 7-Book Subject Review 2021-2022

Product details

• Paperback : 3448 pages
• Product Dimensions : 8.38 x 5.5 x 10.88 inches
• Publisher : Kaplan Grad Test Prep; Proprietary Edition (July 7, 2020)
• Language: : English

You’ll get efficient strategies, detailed subject review, and three full-length online practice tests—all authored by the experts behind the MCAT prep course that has helped more people get into medical school than all other major courses combined.

Efficient Strategies and In-Depth Review

• Guided Examples with Expert Thinking in our Behavioral Sciences, Biochemistry, and Biology books present scientific articles and walk you through challenging open-ended questions.
• Entirely revamped CARS content with updated methods for the latest exam challenges
• High Yield badges indicate the most testable content based on AAMC materials
• Concept summaries that boil down the need-to-know information in each chapter, including any necessary equations to memorize
• Full-color, 24-page MCAT Quicksheets emphasize the most important information in visual form
• Chapter Profiles indicate the degree to which each chapter is tested and the testmaker content categories to which it aligns
• Charts, graphs, diagrams, and full-color, 3-D illustrations from Scientific American help turn even the most complex science into easy-to-visualize concepts.

Realistic Practice

• One-year online access to 3 full-length practice tests, instructional videos, practice questions, and quizzes
• Hundreds of practice questions in the books show you how to apply concepts and equations
• 15 multiple-choice “Test Your Knowledge” questions at the end of each chapter for all books except CARS
• Learning objectives and concept checks ensure you’re focusing on the most important information in each chapter

Expert Guidance

• Sidebars illustrate connections between concepts and include references to more information, real-world tie ins, mnemonics, and MCAT-specific tips
• Comprehensive subject review written by top-rated, award-winning Kaplan instructors who guide you on where to focus your efforts and how to organize your review.
• All material is vetted by editors with advanced science degrees and by a medical doctor.
• We know the test: The Kaplan MCAT team has spent years studying every MCAT-related document available, and our experts ensure our practice questions and study materials are true to the test

 

First Aid For the USMLE Step 1 2020, Thirtieth Edition

Product details

• Paperback : 832 pages
• Product Dimensions : 10.63 x 8.27 x 0.79 inches
• Publisher : McGraw-Hill Education / Medical; 30th Edition (January 2, 2020)
• Language: : English

Written by students who excelled on the Step 1 exam and reviewed by top faculty for accuracy, this indispensable guide provides you with a blueprint of all the content you’re likely to find on the exam. Packed with insider advice for students from students, First Aid for the USMLE® Step 1 2020 will help maximize your study time.

Features

A complete framework for USMLE Step 1 preparation

• 1,300+ must-know topics with mnemonics to focus your study
  
• 1,000+ color photos and illustrations to help you visualize processes, disorders, and clinical findings 
• Rapid Review section presents high-yield tables associating diseases with their clinical findings, treatments, and pathophysiology
  
• Updated every year to ensure all content is relevant and high-yield, reflecting the most current USMLE blueprint

jb

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book, but I can tell that they are rushing

Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2020

Verified Purchase

I ordered this book for medical school and it arrived with damaged pages as shown in the first 4 images. I requested a replacement and there are still printing errors. As shown in images 5 and after, many of the headings are cut off and there’s a tear in one of the pages. I will be replacing it again.

 

SAT Prep Black Book: The Most Effective SAT Strategies Ever Published

Product details

• Paperback : 576 pages
• Product Dimensions : 8.5 x 1.3 x 11 inches
• Publisher : ACT Prep Books; 2nd Edition (July 1, 2017)
• Language: : English

The fully up-to-date SAT Prep Black Book, Second Edition gives you unique, effective SAT strategies from Mike Barrett, an SAT tutor with clients all over the globe who pay him hundreds of dollars an hour for phone tutoring. In addition to extensive and effective training on every aspect of the SAT, the SAT Black Book gives you detailed, systematic, easy-to-follow walkthroughs for every question in 4 of the College Board's official SAT Practice Tests. The Black Book is a must-have in your SAT preparation, whether you want to

• make a perfect 1600 to apply to an Ivy,
• score a 450 in each section to claim a sports scholarship,
• or anything in between.

You can find the first 4 Practice SAT tests from the College Board for free on the College Board’s website, or in the "Blue Book," which is the College Board's Official SAT Study Guide, 2016 Edition or 2018 Edition---both editions contain the first 4 official SAT practice tests. (The SAT Prep Black Book has no affiliation with the College Board.) The Black Book and the real practice SAT tests from the College Board are all you need to get your best possible SAT score. The Black Book is the ideal SAT book for 3 major reasons:

1. It covers every aspect of the test with advice that actually works, making it unique in the SAT prep field. It doesn't just review material from your high school classes! Instead, you'll learn to exploit design flaws in the SAT, using its own "SAT tricks" against it.
2. The Black Book contains 600+ detailed, systematic, easy-to-follow walkthroughs for real SAT questions from the College Board, so you know that what you're learning actually works. You'll see every question from the first 4 official SAT Practice Tests attacked in a way that clearly demonstrates the ideal thought process on the SAT. (You'll need your own copies of those real SAT practice tests, which you can get for free from the College Board’s website. You can also find them in the College Board’s 2016 or 2018 “Blue Book.”)
3. The Black Book is a clear, concise roadmap to the SAT. (See the selected highlights below). It explains exactly how every SAT question works, and how to beat it in the least time possible.

David C McCall

5.0 out of 5 stars Procrastinators-Use it!

Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2018

Verified Purchase

Amazing test prep. A weekish before the SAT I realized I should probably study, so off I went to Amazon to find a book - there was no class, tutor, or online video that I felt could really help me in the amount of time I had left. I saw the Black Book at the top of the page, but after hearing it had 600 pages immediately looked for another option. I read online about the best books to use and eventually came back to this behemoth. Okay, 600 pages or not, I guess this was the book. I got the book that week before my first SAT, and, while trying to read 600 pages seemed impossible, actually reading the book wasn't as hard as it initially seemed because the way they write is easy to understand and engaging. Plus, probably over half of the pages were walkthroughs of the first four practice tests so there wasn't actually 600 pages you have to read every line of. The walkthroughs, though, were invaluable as they helped me understand how to work through all of the problems multiple different ways (you can see how others might answer that you never thought of, and that might actually be better). If you don't have a lot of time before the test, or you don't want to read all 600 pages, you can just do one or two of the walkthroughs and that will reduce a lot of pages. For me, each night I read one test section's material/tips, did the first practice test on that section (I printed the practice tests out myself-they aren't in the book), and then scored it and evaluated how I could improve using his walkthroughs. This meant that after four days I had read about the reading, math, writing, and essay (the book is structured in that order) and had finished the first practice test. After that, I did one whole practice test and reviewed it using his walkthroughs for the next two nights. At this point, my score hadn't improved a lot since the first practice test, but each time I had encountered new problems that I wasn't sure about and after looking at the walkthroughs felt confident in being able to do next time. On the day of the test, I felt much better about my timing, skills, and the test's structure overall because of Mike and Patrick's book. One of the questions I had gotten wrong and reviewed in a walkthrough the night before actually appeared on the test! Not yet sure of the score, but I can say it didn't seem as hard as I thought it would be solely due to their solid advice and practice walkthroughs. 10/10 recommend to anyone, whether you have a lot of time to study or not!

Update: The first SAT I took (June 2018), the one I wrote this review about originally, I got a 1500. I wanted to take it one more time, but I then procrastinated studying again and with one week left reviewed the book and took the remaining practice test that the book covers. I also looked back over the printed practice tests I did the first time, finding where I commonly made mistakes. For the August 2018 SAT I got a 1530. This book was amazing not only for how to think about the test, but also just to review concepts for both math and grammar.