Description: This 17th edition of Barron’s GRE manual reflects recent Graduate Record Exams and presents six full-length model exams with all questions answered and explained. Tests are similar to recent actual GREs in length, question types, and degree of difficulty. The manual also reviews all GRE test topics: antonym, analogy, and sentence-completion questions, reading comprehension, analytical writing, quantitative comparison questions, data interpretation, and math. The enclosed CD-ROM contains computerized versions of the book’s subject reviews and practice tests.
Details: I just took the GRE and am positive I got the verbal score I got because I reviewed the vocabulary lists in Barron's. If you review all the words and really learn the ones noted as appearing most frequently, you will be well-prepared for verbal. I crammed vocabulary in the last 10-14 days and got a 650 on verbal, which is more than I need for my program.
I did not find Barron's as helpful with the quantitative section. Having not seen math in neary 20 years, I had a lot of reviewing to do. I found the organization of the math chapters confusing, and the explanations incomprehensible at first. I bought GRE for Dummies and used that to review math, then used Barron's to supplement and to have more practice questions. The math review on the ETS GRE website is also good.
I don't know what the deal was with the practice tests from Barron's, but my scores on those were very low in comparison to the two you get from ETS when you register for the GRE. My scores using the GRE-provided practice tests were much more in line with my actual. I was feeling very discouraged after taking the Barron's practice tests, but I'm happy with my actual scores.
Review Summary: The best of gre prep books
Date: 2008-11-01
Details: Of the GRE prep books that I bought or checked out from my local library, this was by far the best and most comprehensive. My recommendation would be to use this book for reviewing the concepts and as a vocabulary builder, then use the GRE Powerprep Software to take the practice tests. GRE Powerprep can be downloaded free from the ETS website.
Review Summary: Very helpful
Date: 2008-10-30
Details: The strategies and practice tests are a great resource for those who really want to boost their scores. Well worth it!!!!!
Review Summary: GRE Study Guide
Date: 2008-10-30
Details: This study guide covers all of the sections adequately. I've had difficulty with the vocabulary section of the test in the past. This study guide helped me change my perspective in how I tried to solve the antonym and synonym problems with their suggested strategy's and practice sessions.
Review Summary: good but CD ROm is a letdown
Date: 2008-10-21
Details: the book is great for strategies and amazing for math review, it has been very helpful thus far. but i have gone through all the review and some of the practice tests in book and I just attempted to take the CD Rom practice CAT test and it reused an assortment of questions that were in other tests and that were review problems!! what a cheap cop out
out of 34 Reviews
