GRE: Practicing to Take the General Test: Big Book [Paperback]

Educational Testing Service (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 1086 pages
• Publisher: Educational Testing Service (October 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446396001
• ISBN-13: 978-0446396004
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #294,833 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Resource for GRE takers, but NO explanations, June 2, 2000

By 

TestMagic Inc. (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: GRE: Practicing to Take the General Test: Big Book (Paperback)

ETS was in a good mood when they released this book to the public.

Like all official materials, this book is unbeatable for quality of questions. None of the other practice books can come close to the quality of questions you will find in this book.

This book contains 27 actual, full tests which were administered in the past. This is more than most people would ever need to practice. However, this book contains NO explanations or strategies--it's pure practice. If you need strategies or explanations, you will have to look elsewhere.

Finally, some of these tests were given years ago. Like all the other tests, the GRE has evolved and some of the question types that you will see in this book will not be on your tests. For example, the real GRE reading passages are actually pretty long (four or five paragraphs) even though some of the passages in the book are quite short (one paragraph). Moreover, students who can score in the 90 %ile on the math section will find the math in the book too easy.

All in all, you can beat the value. This book is the bible of GRE test prep.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The only realistic tests, January 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: GRE: Practicing to Take the General Test: Big Book (Paperback)

I have the ARCO and Princton Review study guides. I found that the questions on there practice tests were fairly easy and didn't estimate my scores realistically. This book contains real GRE tests so you can see how you could really do. The review books gave me false confidence in my verbal ability. This GRE book told me that I better work on my vocabulary.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Book, March 4, 2009

By 

Kevin Beckering "BeckLaw" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: GRE: Practicing to Take the General Test: Big Book (Paperback)

In determine how best to spend the funds I had allocated for my GRE prep I initially passed over this book. Then, after going onto TM GRE forum (a must during prep)I decided it was time to make the sacrifice. I can easily say it was worth it. Why? Majority of the information that you need to score well can be found for free with diligent internet research--including quant/verbal strategies and the daunting vocabulary list. But, there is no place where you can find 27 (actually 54) previously administered tests. In fact, both Kaplan and Princeton Review "steal" many of their questions from this book.

With that, there is one caveat. The quant sections are fairly easy, and I am told easier, collectively, than the actual GRE due to the format conversion to CAT. Unlike the actual test,however, you must finish 38Qs in 30min rather than 28 in 45min. Thus, it is an excellent way to practice speed and accuracy, and to identify where you tend to make simple errors. It also helps to recognize the little "pitfalls" that ETS likes to use that can trip you up if not aware of them. For me, that made a HUGE difference in my scores. A GREAT book for preparing for the quant section if your goal is 700+ is NOVA's GRE Math Bible--I do mention my some of the issues with that book in a separate review. Further, the verbal section is very comparable. In fact, several people have stated that they experienced several repeats on the real thing!

Finally, to minimize cost I purchased a "used" book that didn't have answers scribbled in it and had a clean text. Who really cares if the cover is torn, or even if there's one at all, or the pages are dingy?

Best of LUCK in your studies!