A good GRE score is an integral part of your graduate admission application, so it’s worth burning your blood, sweat, and tears to prepare for it. Students use different methods to prepare for the GRE, including books, online video lectures, tutors, or mobile applications.
In a recently held survey conducted on 397 GRE students, I found that an overwhelming 201 students responded that books are their most preferred method of studying for the GRE.
Every methodology brings with it some advantages and disadvantages. Here are some merits and demerits of using a book for your GRE preparation.
In this Article
Benefits of using a GRE Book for your Prep
Exhaustive Content
A good GRE preparation book can take students through all aspects, topics, and concepts tested on the GRE. It explores all the nuances and challenges that students are likely to encounter on the actual GRE. Books with sample tests and practice problems can give students a real flair and taste of the actual exam, and it contains practice questions that mimic practical GRE problems and can help students gain confidence. A good preparation book doesn’t let students feel a need for another resource to add-on to this preparation method.
Low Cost
In this age of internet boom, the cost of downloading or buying a book is not very high. Proper research and social networking skills can help make this job a lot easier. So if you are an avid book reader and resort to preparing for the GRE from a book, it will cost you from little to nothing.
Portability
You won’t find a more portable and comprehensive preparation method than a good book. Books are easy to borrow from and return to, be it any friend or a library. Students can carry the book anywhere they want and refer to any topic as often as possible.
Flexibility
You can work on any topic or section in any order you want and at your own pace. If you’re going to focus on algebra or reading comprehension ‘inference’ questions only, you can do that by skipping other areas. In other words, you can devote more time to the skills you want to improve on. You don’t need to depend on anyone, and you can do it on your schedule.
Demerits of Using a Book to Prepare for the GRE
Requires Organization
Anyone who has tried to teach oneself knows that it can be tough to stay organized and disciplined. Many people suddenly get the hang of GRE and do an excellent job in the first preparation week, but then lose interest and procrastinate till the final week before GRE. It can be a difficult job to teach yourself, and without any guidance, you can lose motivation.
Exploring a Good Book is Tough
One of the toughest jobs in this preparation method is to search for a suitable book, and to be very honest, there is no single book that will prepare you for the GRE fully. Every book has its strengths and weaknesses. Moreover, every student has a different aptitude level and finding a book that targets your level of mind can be a very time-consuming job. You will need to consult someone who has been through this process, and their advice can make life easier for you.
While some students may find a book very satisfying and informative, others need to explore other preparation options available to make up for the missing content. Some students may require many books, online videos, and mock tests to prepare for their GRE adequately.
Repetition of Mistakes
You can develop a tendency to repeat the same mistakes over and over again without knowing how to fix them. This can be mentally upsetting, and you can lose confidence. Most of the students will need to get their Analytical writing essays checked out by some experts, so preparing GRE through books might not be an efficient method.
A Final word
There can be no ‘best’ or ‘ideal’ method to study for the GRE test. Similarly, there is nothing called the ‘best’ or ‘ideal’ book for test preparation. Every book has its pros and cons; you need to weight those before setting out on your mission to prepare GRE. Good luck!