Rating: 
Summary: the best available option
Review: Although the fact that the correct answer to most of the questions in this book is not fully explained is a major drawback, there is no point in buying a GRE book that is not published by ETS. None of the others have questions that accurately reflect what you will see on the test. The very best preparation tool is ETS Powerprep software. All the answers are explained fully. Even Princeton Review, (whose book is great for strategy BTW), states that to be truly prepared to take the GRE you will have to use ETS materials.
Rating: 
Summary: A Wonderful Resource for GRE takers, but NO explanations
Review: ETS was in a good mood when they released this book to the public.Like all official materials, this book is unbeatable for quality of questions. None of the other practice books can come close to the quality of questions you will find in this book. This book contains 27 actual, full tests which were administered in the past. This is more than most people would ever need to practice. However, this book contains NO explanations or strategies--it's pure practice. If you need strategies or explanations, you will have to look elsewhere. Finally, some of these tests were given years ago. Like all the other tests, the GRE has evolved and some of the question types that you will see in this book will not be on your tests. For example, the real GRE reading passages are actually pretty long (four or five paragraphs) even though some of the passages in the book are quite short (one paragraph). Moreover, students who can score in the 90 %ile on the math section will find the math in the book too easy. All in all, you can beat the value. This book is the bible of GRE test prep.
Rating:
Summary: This is it.
Review: Fellow pseudo-graduate students, search no further because this is it. If you want to know what the real thing looks like, this is the book you have to buy. Buy this book and the Powerprep Software, mix a lot of practice and time and you are ready for the big day.
Rating: 
Summary: Led Astray by ETS
Review: I exptected this book to be one of the best since it is written by the people whose motto is: 'We prepare the tests -- let us help prepare you.' I was beyond disappointed. I'll make this simple. THIS BOOK IS GOOD FOR: Individuals who have enough self-initiative to take the practice tests, check their answers, and determine by themselves how ETS came up with the 'best' answer. THIS BOOK IS NOT GOOD FOR: anyone else! There are 6 GRE practice tests. GREAT! However, only one of them has complete explanations! This is extremely frustrating when trying to figure out how and why you answered certain questions wrong because you need to figure it out for yourself. If you answered the question wrong in the first place, it's very possible that you still won't have a clue as to why you answered it wrong after you see the correct answer. Practice exams should most certainly explain what the 'best answer' is so that when it comes to taking the real thing you know the methodology behind choosing the answers. Sorry ETS.
Rating:
Summary: The only realistic tests
Review: I have the ARCO and Princton Review study guides. I found that the questions on there practice tests were fairly easy and didn't estimate my scores realistically. This book contains real GRE tests so you can see how you could really do. The review books gave me false confidence in my verbal ability. This GRE book told me that I better work on my vocabulary.
Rating:
Summary: Good Study Tool
Review: I just took the GRE and did pretty well, considering my vocabulary isn't the best. I wouldnt reccomend this book for its strategies, but because it has 8 old tests so that you can get a feel for how you will do on the test, and be able to determine where to focus your studying on. I found that my actual scores corresponded with the ones that I got after taking these practice tests. If you want some help with strategy I would suggest something by the Princeston Review, I found them more helpful than Kaplan. Good Luck with your studies.
Rating:
Summary: You have to buy this book!!
Review: I know this book is expensive, but rather than taking a GRE prep course you should buy this book or go in on it with some friends. I took a Kaplan course and scored ...Then i got a hold of this book and studied for about 3 to 4 months and scored {much higher} A lot of the problems are still very similar to the GRE and I just took it two weeks ago. You will do better with this book! Practice, practice, practice! And Good luck!
Rating:
Summary: Big book but, not worth big price.
Review: I purchased this book in 1995 for $... I do not see how people can rationalize asking $... to $... for it. Yes, there are a lot of practice tests to take but, you have to remember 33% of the book is now obsolete. There is no analytical section in the new GRE CAT so you will not benefit from that portion of the book. If you are going to study for the GRE you need to familiarize yourself with the computer adaptive test. This book is helpful but, it's also 8 years old. There is more up to date material out there.
Rating: 
Summary: the second best thing
Review: I recommend spending time on the free Powerprep software that ETS sends you after you register for the General GRE as the first study method. This book is probably the second best thing (though if you anticipate you will have time to study for both, I recommend saving the best -- the Powerprep software -- for last). This study guide is very helpful, but the tests are in the old paper-based format, so they seem quite different from the actual CAT. The CAT test questions seem to be considerably more difficult (particularly in the analytical section), and fewer but longer sections. Even the testing fashion of the CAT is quite different from that of the paper based tests. Nonetheless, the more different types of quiestions you see (that are close to the real thing), the better off you are. Furthermore, it seems that if you test yourself with the paper-based testing scheme using this book, your scores will be very close to your scores on a CAT test taken around the same time.
Rating:
Summary: An absolute must for prospective test takers
Review: I redid all the tests in this Big Book three times over and scored 730 99% on verbal, 800 99% on quantitative, and 790 98% on analytical. And this is despite the fact that I started seriously learning English at age 19!
Of course you gotta have some talents to score very high, but a lot of practice with this book will get you at least a good score. Dont waste your time practicing with unofficial GRE tests in unofficial textbooks, they have little in common with real tests. However the strategies and 3500 word list in Barron's textbook were extremely useful. Also you should get used to CAT test after you finish the Big Book. I strongly recommend the ETS offical CAT software, otherwise you'll get confused on the real test.
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