The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is the required standardized test for admissions to grad schools. Whether it’s a STEM program or a Non-STEM program, the chances are that you will have to take GRE to get in. Most students starting their GRE prep opt for self-study via GRE prep books. This seems to be the medium of choice for many people since most online courses are expensive.
Since GRE plays a significant part in your grad school admission, it is pertinent to know about high-quality prep books. Especially if you are a beginner, you need a GRE guide to take you through the various GRE topics without meaningless clutter.
Fortunately, there is no shortage of good GRE prep-books on the market. This article will list the best GRE prep-books for beginners.
In this Article
What makes a good beginner GRE book?
There are many books in the test-prep industry that claim the no. 1 spot. Prep companies spend quite a bit on marketing, and it is common to read self-praise on book covers. However, when looking for a prep-book, it is essential to know what constitutes a beginner-friendly book.
A beginner book doesn’t have to be incomplete or “easy.” Nor would any company market their book as a beginner book. When I talk about a beginner prep-book, I am mainly concerned with the language, accurate practice material, the format and layout, and easy-to-follow lessons.
Language and easy-to-follow lessons
These two factors go hand in hand because one affects the other. You want a book that won’t overwhelm you with complex language and redundant information. A clear and to-the-point language that isn’t overbearing is of utmost importance.
Moreover, the lessons should be delivered in a palatable manner. I like it best when complex concepts can be explained in plain language, and only a few books manage that.
Format and Layout
You ever open a book and see how badly everything is organized? Out of place examples, typos, and poorly drawn figures are the first giveaways of a low-quality book. Instead, a neat layout with minimal clutter is what keeps you coming back. You don’t want to waste time looking up essential information in unrelated sections of the book.
Accurate Practice Material
This factor stands no matter if you are a beginner or a seasoned GRE veteran. The last thing you need is to practice sub-par questions and full-length mock tests. GRE questions are designed in a particular manner, and not all prep companies manage to capture those nuances in their practice material. This would cause you a lot of surprises on test day, which is why high-quality practice material is essential.
Considering the factors mentioned above, I think the following books are the best GRE resources for those just starting their prep.
Official GRE Super-Power Pack
Nothing can ever come close to the official GRE guides published by ETS. ETS is the company that makes and administers the GRE. Who knows the test better than them? Not only is there practice material the most authentic you can get, but the lessons are also incredibly easy-to-follow and succinct.
This book set contains three GRE books. The first one is an overall guide to the GRE, while the other two are dedicated to verbal and quant sections of the test. Unlike the overly comprehensive book sets that contain eight books, these are very easy to digest. You will find all the topics that are tested on GRE, and the lessons are articulate and avoid meaningless jargon.
However, don’t expect to find strategies and other time-saving tactics in these books. These official guides are primarily focused on teaching you concepts. They don’t dwell on the strategy side of things. You can find those books in the list below.
Key Features:
- Written by the company responsible for GRE
- Most accurate practice questions and mock tests
- Comprehensive yet manageable, it doesn’t take too long to finish
- Beginner-friendly language and layout
- 600 practice questions and four full-length practice tests
Get it from here.
Kaplan’s GRE Complete
Kaplan is a highly renowned name in the industry, and their GRE guides are second to none. Much like the ETS powerpack, this is a three-book set containing separate books for Verbal and Quant sections.
The lessons are detailed enough to cover all aspects of GRE while steering clear of unwanted clutter. The language is simple and articulate, and while this is not an official prep-book, the practice material closely resembles the actual GRE.
Moreover, if practice questions are your concern, you will be happy to know that there are a total of 1700 questions across the three books. Upon purchase, you also get access to 6 computer-adaptive full-length mock tests.
Key Features:
- 1700 high-quality practice questions and six full-length tests
- A comprehensive solution to your GRE prep, contains all the essential information
- Neat and well-organized layout
- Additional online material with the purchase of the set
- Proven strategies and countless tips
Get it from here.
Princeton Review GRE Prep
If you want to dabble in GRE prep without having to go through multiple books, get Princeton Review. Princeton Review is such a common name in GRE circles that almost everyone has heard about it. Princeton Review has a slightly different take on GRE prep. Instead of focusing on concepts entirely, they do a great job teaching you valuable strategies and tactics that work.
Don’t get me wrong, the lessons in this book are excellent in their own right, but if you’d rather learn technique, this is the book.
The writing is palatable and concise. You only learn the things that matter in GRE, making this book perfect if you are short on time. Moreover, you get six full-length mock tests and hundreds of practice questions.
The great thing about this book is that it isn’t too lengthy. If you find that you’d rather jump to a more comprehensive book set, you can do that. If the strategies aren’t to your liking, you can keep them at the back of your head for when you need them.
Overall, this is one of the best GRE beginner books. You learn only the relevant information and when done you can consult a more detailed guide.
Key Features:
- Complete review of the GRE test
- Hundreds of practice questions and 6 full-length mock tests
- Perfect for last-minute study and contains numerous time-saving strategies
- Extensive GRE vocabulary list
- Detail examples of how to employ each strategy
Get it from here.
GRE Prep by Magoosh
Magoosh is a relatively new company but they are highly regarded due to their excellent GRE guides and courses. GRE Prep by Magoosh is an ideal book for beginners because it is a single book. If you don’t want to start off heavy, then a single-book guide is a perfect choice.
The biggest strength of GRE prep by Magoosh is that it only addresses the most crucial GRE information. Everything is to-the-point and highly structured. The writing has a pleasant feeling to it akin to being taught by a friend.
I personally enjoy the casual way of lesson-delivery that Magoosh has gone within this book. It is an excellent change from the more somber prep-books and makes you feel at home.
As for the contents, you get a complete review of all the GRE topics and more than 130 practice questions. However, they only provide a single full-length test which is a bit of a bummer.
You will also find a ton of relevant information regarding the test and many tips and strategies. Overall, this is an apt GRE guide for beginners, and I highly recommend it.
Key Features:
- 130+ practice questions and one full-length test
- Casual and friendly language makes learning fun
- High-quality explanations and lessons
- Practice questions are rated by their difficulty level
- Well though-out chapter on AWA section
Get it from here.
GRE Reading Comprehension & Essays by Manhattan Prep
The analytical writing section of GRE is often neglected in many prep books. Since AWA only carries a maximum of 6 points, test-takers don’t take it very seriously. However, in reality, the AWA is an equally significant portion of the test.
All-in-one prep-books only slightly touch upon essay writing, so a dedicated book is crucial to a good score. This is why I am adding Manhattan Prep’s Comprehension and Essay prep-book. This book primarily focuses on comprehension and essay writing. Not only will you learn a great deal about the AWA section, but it will also help you with verbal prep.
The book is full of relevant techniques designed to help you tackle passages quickly and accurately. There are numerous exercises in the book that drill you on verbal passages. Moreover, an entire chapter explores the essay portion of the test and teaches you everything you need to know to conquer it. You will also find AWA-related techniques that will help you avoid common mistakes that students make.
Key Features:
- A comprehensive review of GRE passages
- Useful techniques and strategies
- In-depth coverage of AWA section
- Question type analysis for quick answer
- Numerous excercises to test progress
Get it from here.