A totally effective and surprisingly fun guide to the Graduate Record Examination
In Fall 2007, the GRE Program is planning to implement significant changes to the verbal measure, quantitative measure, and analytical writing sections of the GRE. This easy-to-use, refreshingly irreverent revision shares inside information on what to expect with these changes, helping both recent graduates and workforce veterans prepare for the revised test, maximize their score, and get into the graduate program of their choice. It includes all of the secrets of the Internet-based test (iBT)-in which the computer generates unique questions according to correct or incorrect answers-as well as brush-up reviews on math and grammar, two complete practice tests, and proven time-management techniques that make test-prep fun and simple.
Suzee Vlk wrote For Dummies guides to the ACT, SAT, GRE, and GMAT and taught test preparation classes for more than 25 years. Michelle Gilman (Solana, CA) is the founder and CEO of Fusion Learning Center. Veronica Saydak (Solana, CA) is Director of student curricula at Fusion and has been tutoring test preparation at all levels for several years.
This book was invaluable to me when I was studying for the GRE. It made absolutely no assumptions that I'd remembered anything from high school math, and there are funny little quotes and cartoons to help break it up. I passed on the first try, so well worth the buy.
I bought this book as soon as I'd signed up for the GRE (I'd finished undergrad two years earlier and had no idea what I was in for.) Because I don't have a past GRE experience to compare, I couldn't say how much my score improved because of the book. HOWEVER, that being said, I thought this was a great part of my studying. It spells out what the test is and what you're graded on, which is extremely useful. It gives lots of lists in vocab, easy formula-memory techniques for the math exam, and great tips on your essays. The one thing I could have used more of, was simply practice exams and questions.
In my opinion, you should study for the GRE with multiple sources because it keeps you thinking on your toes. This book is a useful, engaging method of study and I'd sincerely recommend it to someone as green as I was. If nothing else, it made me feel much more prepared and comfortable. Both of which are key when you're stuck in a testing room! :-)
...oh...and I got a pretty great score, too! Not perfect (I plan on taking it again this year before applying for my master's) but solid. I was proud of it. And this book had a lot to do with it!
prepping for the GRE, seems good so far. I browsed thru several other GRE prep books before choosing this one I like the organization and sample tests, plus the bonus CD. Hopefully it will be a good enough review to pass the test.
I spend time studying and then just before I was scheduled to take the GRE, I did the practice tests included in the CD.
It was helpful that the CD follows the format of the GRE test so it takes some of the mystery out of it. I do think it helped me prepare. The flash card section on the CD was fun, but ultimately I do not think it added much.
In the vocabulary part the GRE, I would recommend spending time with the fill in the blanks section. Since the choice is not always what you think and you must answer all the blanks correctly to get credit. So for instance in a fill in the blank if there are three blanks an you get two correctly, it is still counted as a miss.
That was one of the most stressful tests I ever took, not just because of test anxiety, but because the way it was administered.
I got this particular GRE prep guide because I was looking for the most simplistic, back-to-basics math crash course I could find, and this book was good for that. But after looking at some other guides, and then actually taking the test, I realize that this one is actually way too simplistic. But I can't complain, really, since I just scored 1360 on the first go at the test - not too shabby, I think, for someone who didn't even remember how to do long division when she started studying...
This is NOT the book you want to buy if you are really serious about studying for the GRE. I got it from a friend (thank goodness) because, if I had spent the enormous amounts test prep people charge for these books, I'd be upset.
It's a funny read--there are jokes, which makes it more enjoyable I guess to read. But in terms of practice, there's not much.
Read it cover to cover. Sadly I had to start with the GRE for Dummies version, but it was kind of a fun read. I hate to admit it, but I actually enjoyed taking all the practice tests and studying for the GRE. It was the actual taking of the test that I hated!!
Very easy, at times funny read. I thought it put the GRE in perspective and gave a lot of helpful tips for studying. I haven't taken the GRE yet so I can't say how much it helped me on that but it did help me relax and put it all in perspective.