Cracking the GRE Psychology Subject Test, 7th Edition (Paperback)

by Princeton Review (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The GRE subject tests are among the most difficult standardized exams. Rather than testing general problem-solving skills, they require highly specialized knowledge.

The experts at The Princeton Review have thoroughly research each subject test to provide students with the most thorough, up-to-date information available. Students don’t need to relearn the entire histories of their fields—just what they need to know to earn high scores on the exams.

Each guide includes one full-length practice exam, complete with comprehensive explanations for every solution.

From the Inside Flap
The Princeton Review realizes that acing the GRE Psychology Test is very different from getting straight A's in school. We don't try to teach you everything there is to know about psychology–only the techniques you'll need to score higher on the test. There's a big difference. In Cracking the GRE Psychology Test, we'll teach you how to think like the test writers and

·Eliminate answer choices that look right but are planted to fool you
·Raise your score by focusing on the material most likely to appear on the test
·Test your knowledge with review questions for each of the 19 fields covered

This book includes one full-length practice GRE Psychology Test. All of our practice questions are like the ones you'll see on the actual GRE Psychology Test, and we fully explain every solution. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Princeton Review; 7 edition (September 20, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375764925
• ISBN-13: 978-0375764929
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #13,620 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #26 in

  Books > Reference > Test Prep Central > GRE

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Princeton Review vs. Kaplan, February 8, 2007

By	Mike P (St. Louis, MO United States) - See all my reviews

I studied from two books: The Princeton Review's Cracking the GRE and Kaplan's GRE Psychology. I never had a psychology class in college - I'm a chemist - most of this was new. But I scored an 800 on the test, apparently, 99th percentile. Here were my impressions:

Cracking the GRE - I enjoyed the presentation and the organization of the material. It was straightforward, covered the basics, and clean with upbeat, if cheesy, dialogue and photos. It made it easier to learn, but left out a lot that was in Kaplan. This is a quick review for someone without much time, but NOT for someone, like me, who knows nothing about psychology.

Kaplan - Much more thorough than Princeton Review's; it was very dense and seemed to try to touch on every concept that might be a question on the test. This can be a bit overwhelming and certainly confusing, as I noticed numerous typos, contradictions, and other errors that sent me to the web for clarification and correction. The book's organization is poorer for review than The Princeton Review's, so keep your own notes and keep them organized.

Both books contained some information not found in the other (this was more true for Kaplan than "Cracking"). Also, there were questions on the test wholly unrelated to anything I'd studied in either book. I suspect then, no prep book can prepare you completely for the test. Likewise, the books' sample tests will not reliably predict your performance, since the questions on the books' practice tests rarely require knowledge not supplied in the books.
If you're crunched for time, just get Kaplan's book and move on to "Cracking" if you've mastered the first. If you're really crunched for time, say a week or two, just go for "Cracking". But if you have the time, get both books. I found they supported each other and I learned enough to score better than most. Read "Cracking" first to get the test material straight in your mind, then Kaplan to fill in the gaps. In taking book practice tests, and the official ETS one (an absolute MUST since it seems more difficult), don't get too upset if you don't have a clue on some questions. I skipped about 5 questions on the actual test and I guessed on at least 10 more and I still did well.

Good luck.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Use this book, but use it in conjunction with Kaplan, May 16, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Cracking the GRE Psychology Test, 6th Edition (Graduate Test Prep) (Paperback)

I spent a solid three months studying for the exam, and I used this book as well as the Kaplan one. They are completely different! If you're a rock star psych student fresh out of college, perhaps this book alone will suffice. But if you need to actually learn some or much of the material, you should use both books (don't rely solely on this one)! This one gives a very surface-like (NOT in-depth) summary of information. It helps you direct your attention towards those areas that are tested most frequently. It provides a really great last-minute review, for AFTER you've studied. I also used it FIRST, to kind of help me focus my studying. The Kaplan book, on the other hand, actually teaches you the material, if you don't know it or don't remember it. I took only two undergraduate psychology classes, and I'm several years out of college, and I feel like I learned almost everything I needed to know from the Kaplan book. The reviews that say Kaplan has lots of typos and errors are right. Some of the mistakes are appalling. But there aren't a lot of better options out there, and it is really helpful despite the errors. If it means anything to you, I scored a 690 (86th percentile). I also took four practice tests under real conditions: the ETS one, the two in the Kaplan book, and the one in the Princeton Review book. I think practice tests are KEY. Good luck!

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good starting point, July 25, 2004

By	Marlowe (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cracking the GRE Psychology Test, 6th Edition (Graduate Test Prep) (Paperback)

I recommend this book to anyone studying for the psychology GRE, just keep in mind that it is not perfect and is not sufficient on its own to prepare one fully for this exam.

The Good: It organizes a huge amount of information clearly and effectively. It is incredibly concise, which makes it easy to study from.

The Bad: From my experience, the practice test was not very helpful. (I took it, then took the official practice test offered for free from ETS a week later. My percentile score was 37 points higher on the real exam.)

Of course I cannot judge how I would have done without this book or using some other study aid, but by memorizing much of the information in this book, reviewing a social psych text and an intro text, and taking the official practice exam, I was able to do very well on the pscyh GRE despite having taken only 6 psychology courses over 3 years.

One final note, look for current articles and info about the exam itself. It seemed to me that that it was less fact and name intensive than I had expected. Do some research and know what to expect.