Cracking the GRE, 2009 Edition (Graduate School Test Preparation)

The verbal section gave very good tips. The quantitative section, I felt, was a mess. (And I've been an editor for 15 years -- so I know a mess when I see it!) The author would spend ridiculous amounts of space explaining a concept as simple as a "digit," yet skip over the reason for using a certain formula to solve a more complex problem. Moreover, the author recommends "plugging in" answers for many problems that are actually easier to DO.

Very disappointed. After reading book, I took their first online practice test, and got 770 verbal, 490 quantitative. Granted, I already knew that I need to go back and memorize geometry formulas, which I haven't done yet. But then I'll need to practice using them--and this book doesn't provide for that practice. I'll be buying another book for that--from a different publisher.

There are two kinds of people who take the Graduate Record Examination. Well, three, actually: Those who don't study for the GRE, those who take a course costing several hundred dollars, and those of us buying a book or two. Buy "Cracking the GRE." It is what you need.

I suspect those who take the courses get their money's worth.

However, "Cracking the GRE" is a much cheaper, quicker solution. It cuts to the chase, tells you what you need to know, and shows you how to figure out those algebra problems better than your high school freshman year teacher.

They teach you how to be organized during the test. And you'll learn how to draw sensible charts for the logic portion. This will save you precious time as you realize you have no clue how to answer number 27. It teach you how to effectively guess.

I took the GRE. I used the Princeton Review. I crammed. Sure, sure--not the best approach for an important exam, but the fact remains, I'm...Read more

I have been using this book to review for the GREs, and I have found it extremely helpful. It has prepared me 100% more than without a review guide, and I find the layout and techniques they use to be really easy to learn. What this book does that I didn't find as much in Baron's is teach you the "tricks" behind the GRE and how to master taking this test. Plus it provides "drill" opportunities throughout to practice these new techniques (which may seem a little elementary, but is actually quite helpful). I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to prep.