Best Study Material for GRE

Summary: Best GRE Study Materials

As I said previously, I’ll now show you the best study materials for GRE you can find and what they can offer you. Also, the critical decision factors mentioned before were applied, and you can even apply them by yourself if you want to. These were my main conclusions regarding the resources available:

1. Best GRE Live Classes: Princeton Review
2. Best GRE Overall Course: Kaplan GRE Prep
3. Best GRE Value Over Price Course: Manhattan Free GRE Practice Test
4. Best GRE Practical Test: ETS Official Prep
5. Best GRE Prep Book: Barron’s GRE Essential Words, 5th Edition
6. Best GRE Interactive Course: Magoosh Vocabulary Flashcards

Kaplan GRE Prep

What can be considered a premium course, Kaplan GRE Prep is a perfect combination of different resources. Their course is more than a simple book; it is an outstanding combination of video and book, which have excellent means to transmit information and retain you.

1. Affordability: They are worth their prices, and even the more expensive ones have great value with them.
2. Analysis: It guides you step by step with exceptional didactics and exceptionally well-prepared teachers.
3. Usability: You’ll also have access to 2,500 practice problems, which, with the lessons and quizzes, can create over 180 hours of study material.

Besides the video, their lessons have a quiz at the end and a detailed written explanation, breaking down every issue and the reason for every choice. In my experience, with their excellent care and attention to detail, those contents give you the right amount of information you need.

Pros

• Live classes option with top-level instructors.
• Lessons also focused on retention.
• A question bank, which can be customized to your weak areas.
• Supplementary live lessons.

Cons

• A bit of a heavy price for a GRE prep.
• Interface issue if many tabs are open.

Wondering if Kaplan GRE review is the right fit for your study approach? Our analysis delves into its strengths and weaknesses to help you decide.

The Princeton Review GRE Prep

A well-known course that has helped students for over 35 years, Princeton is also known for replicating the GRE. The course is excellent, without saving resources, designed and implemented the test’s curriculum.
The course is broken down into the 4 general sections of the GRE and also is broken down into explanations, lessons, and drills for each subtopic.

1. Affordability: It can be considered fair given the quantity and level of the resources offered.
2. Analysis: They have a top-notch quality in their lessons and coursework.
3. Usability: It mirrors the GRE test very well, and the content is simply structured, very well-written, and easy to spot.

While their video lessons are very interesting and indeed helpful, their videos cover everything you could know in an interactive form without losing any quality. It’s highly entertaining, and their drills will help you to keep all the information. Finally, it’s a tried and tested course which works.

Pros

• Their learning modules are built to be very interactive.
• Video lessons will retain you with great introductions.
• Simulation tests mirror the GRE interface and difficulty.
• Have a lot of GRE study materials.
• Interactive scores to identify your weaknesses.

Cons

• Live classes are a little longer than they should be.
• A little of a heavy price for a GRE prep.

ETS Official Prep

For those looking for official study materials for GRE, that is the one you are looking for. Also, it’s one of the most accessible courses, even with the free options, which are helpful. About paid options, there are a lot of different books, either with practical texts or problem-solving, which are very budget-friendly.

1. Affordability: It has a lot of free content and accessible courses with a lot of content.
2. Analysis: It offers official content that is well-written and revised for didactic purposes.
3. Usability: It’s perfect for those who prefer written material over more interactive approaches.

However, despite almost all written content, you still have access to introductory video lessons, and regularly, they give free webinars with test-taking strategies, tips, and questions and answers. In my experience, I would say it’s excellent material for those with focus and self-determination.

Pros

1. Official GRE study material.
2. A lot of free content.
3. Their paid material is very accessible.
4. Free webinars are regularly offered.

Cons

• Lack of video and interactive content.
• More written-only material than any other.

If you’re considering GRE prep options, you might want to check out our comprehensive review of Target Test Prep GRE to see if it aligns with your study needs.

Barron’s GRE Essential Words, 5th Edition

Barron’s GRE Essential Words is a vocabulary workbook that presents 800 graduate-level words for the GRE with definitions that you’ll find on the exam. It’s a book by Philip Geer Ed. M., director of Mentaurs Educational Consultancy, with years of experience in the area.

1. Affordability: It offers much more than its price.
2. Analysis: It was made by an educator with 30 years of experience in English teaching and the director of an educational consultancy that prepares students for the GRE and SAT.
3. Usability: It provides many vocabulary lessons, word definitions, sample sentences, and practice questions.

Even though it doesn’t follow some books’ huge, dictionary-like lists, this material has words followed by definitions and sample sentences, including context questions, key facts and practice questions. Moreover, it’s a book that offers everything you can expect from a vocabulary workbook for the GRE.

Pros

• Great variety and quantity of practice questions.
• Definitions are unambiguous and adequate.
• Sample sentences are very helpful.

Cons

• The etymology section is not very comprehensive.
• Lacks discussion about word roots.
• It could have more practice questions to absorb the material better.

Confused between Prepscholar and Magoosh for GRE prep? Our comparison article breaks down their features and user experiences for a clearer picture.

Magoosh Vocabulary Flashcards

A set of online study materials for GRE that makes good use of the online aspect of it, based on flashcards. More than that, you’ll find plenty of helpful information, even an example sentence and pronunciation.

1. Affordability: It has a lot of free material, while the paid content is worth the price.
2. Analysis: A top-notch design over its proposed format of flashcards, visibility made by experienced educators.
3. Usability: It’s very useful, even in its free version, with all common resources also available in the free version.

Also, with a simple click, you can have a good follow-up of what you already have and what you don’t. Magoosh cards are convenient material covering most words commonly used in the GRE, but they don’t work for everyone.

Pros

• A lot of free content.
• Have a list of 1000+ words.
• The content was chosen by experts.
• Very interactive and easy to use.

Cons

• Lacks more than one example sentence per word.
• Doesn’t have additional info of the word as synonyms, antonyms, roots, or origins.
• There are too few practice drills.

Unsure whether to take the GMAT or GRE for your MBA application? Our comparison article examines the key differences to aid in your decision-making process.

Manhattan Free GRE Practice Test

As a reputable source of GRE information, Manhattan allows you to take a complete practical test for free. Written by experts, this practice test is of a very high standard. Also, you will have access to the real test and a complete section full of explanations.

1. Affordability: It’s free and offers a full-length test.
2. Analysis: Manhattan is known for its expert professionals, online GRE courses, and books.
3. Usability: It’s very close in content to the ETS’s official test.

Also, after finishing the free practice test, you’ll have a deep analysis of your performance. It’s a good starting point for your preparation for the GRE.

Pros

• Free of any cost.
• It is very close to the GRE test.
• Detailed analysis of your results.

Cons

• Lacks more study material.

How to Study for the GRE?

It is possible to study on your own, but you will find plenty of GRE test study materials online. With that in mind, know that I have tested and concluded that you’ll need:

• Lessons that can be found in different forms, like videos, prep books, or online material.
• Practice, which will be in the form of questions, since you’ll need practical problems. Moreover, you’ll have to ensure experts wrote and chose them.
• Simulation tests that are vital to know how well your prep is going and to determine where you will start.
• A GRE study schedule needs to be pretty solid and will guarantee coverage for all the necessary material.