Kaplan GRE Exam 2010 Premier Live Online (Kaplan Gre Exam Premier Live)

I ordered this book, the Kaplan GRE math review book, and the Kaplan GRE vocab flashcards, and I also separately (off Amazon) purchased the Princeton GRE review book. I got these materials at the end of July and did not start studying hard (about 3 hours a day) until 6 weeks before the test, but the combination of these materials prepared me well. The Kaplan offers a decent variety of questions and a good overview of vocab/math, but I preferred the Princeton book better, to be honest. It was more accessible, and the math review was VERY basic, which was just what I needed. Coupled with the Kaplan math review book, I feel like my sources gave me a very good overview of skills I needed to know. The great thing about Kaplan is the online companion, which provides helpful quizzes, study plans, and 4 full-length tests, three of which are CATs. The answers to all these quizzes and tests are fully explained, so they helped me a great deal.

As far as verbal sections are...Read more

The Not So Good:
The GRE Premier Live Online edition 2010 that I have is a little frustrating. I found that the instructions, starting with the "Quick Start Guide", actually left you groping aroung on the internet trying to find the web pages they are referring to. I think someone who was too familiar with their process wrote it so that started off on the wrong foot. In addition, I am not one who likes to provide information on the internet and Kaplan uses the fact that you have already bought their product as leverage to collect your information.
In addition to these issues the online service gives a maximum of 3 months to use the service that "comes" with the book. With a family, including three young children, I am not sure I whether or not I will really get all of the use from it by Septmber. There is always something good to be said about just getting in and diog it, but I don't need a push from a vendors product that I have already purchased.

The...Read more

I used Kaplan's ASVAB book and the GRE Exam 2010 Online book, and both have similar problems.

1. Kaplan is VERY bad at explaining new concepts. If you're just looking for review and feel comfortable in your math skills, this book is probably fine. But if you're hazy on geometry and algebra, you will probably just be confused and frustrated using Kaplan, because they do things like teach you how to use a concept, then have an "example" problem where the concept isn't even used.

2. The online guide sucks. I got this book because it said it had 5 practice tests online, but once you register the book, it tells you that a new practice test is only available every month. Not only can you not take multiple practice tests within a month (which would be useful if you don't have months and months to study for the GRE), but the online tools are only good for three months. Essentially, there are only 3 practice tests available to you, and given how ridiculously...Read more