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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Only if you are currently scoring below 600 on either section, June 7, 2009
This review is from: McGraw-Hill's GRE with CD-ROM, 2010 Edition (McGraw-Hill's GRE (W/CD)) (Paperback)
This book is annoying me enough that I had to stop in the middle of a practice test to write this review.
Potential buyers take note:
-- Verbal section is mostly idiotic. 4 out of 5 analogies are simply synonyms, i.e. WILY : SLY. Antonym questions always contain an exact synonym, a couple totally random words, a poor synonym, and then the answer. Moreover, all of the vocabulary is of about average difficulty. Reading comprehension passages are of less sophistication than I saw on PowerPREP. I have finished each verbal section so far in 12-17 minutes.
-- Math sections only give you 30 minutes to complete, which is incorrect as the quant section is now 45 minutes on the real test. You won't need more than 30, though; again, lots of simple algebra, areas of simple shapes, etc. In a set of 3 data analysis questions on practice test 1, all 3 were one-step questions, i.e. they involved just reading the graph, no calculations or additional analysis.
-- The tests on the CD are not computer adaptive; they are just a series of questions in electronic format as opposed to on paper. Maybe useful to practice on the computer, but not a simulation of how the actual test will work.
Waste of time.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Do not buy this book!, October 13, 2009
This review is from: McGraw-Hill's GRE with CD-ROM, 2010 Edition (McGraw-Hill's GRE (W/CD)) (Paperback)
Please, please, please do not buy this book in anticipation that it will help you prepare for the GRE. First off, both the verbal and math questions were much easier in the book than the actual exam. The book's vocab was elementary compared to the exam, as were the comprehension passages. The math questions were overly simple and the concepts were nothing like the actual GRE concepts.
Moreover, the book got the timing completely wrong - I was pretty surprised when I got to the math section on the exam and it was 45 minutes, not 30. Pleasant surprise, but much needed when I encountered the higher level of difficulty. (Full disclaimer: I scored very well on the math section, regardless, and didn't use the book to study math. I was more concerned with studying verbal.)
Even the issue task and argument task were simplified for the book. The actual issue and argument tasks I received were much more difficult to analyze and explore.
Lastly, the computer software was nothing like test. Not only is it not user-adaptive like the real test, but you are free to go back and forth in the questions (not so on the actual GRE). It is a computerized version of a paper practice test. On top of that, it did not compute my scores correctly on practice test #2. In one place it said I got one score, and in another place it said something entirely different.
Don't buy this book. It's a waste of money. The guy who wrote it is clearly out of touch.
Good luck on your exam!
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2.0 out of 5 stars
Very weak book, August 28, 2011
This review is from: McGraw-Hill's GRE with CD-ROM, 2010 Edition (McGraw-Hill's GRE (W/CD)) (Paperback)
I bought this book without consulting reviews first, based on the thought that McGraw-Hill is a reputed academic publisher. This was a mistake.
In order to prepare for the "new format" GRE test, the book is not entirely worthless. It contains a diagnostic and three more full-length practice tests in the book and two more on the CD ROM, which works with OS X (and, apparently, Windows). The large number of practice tests in addition to explanatory and review chapters attracted me to the book.
Alas, the practice tests' worth and my trust in their reliability are diminished by the large number of errors. In particular the tests on the CD ROM are additionally riddled with annoying software, such as a "select multiple answers" question for which the user interface widgets are implemented as "select only one" buttons. Worse, in the verbal parts the answers are often highly subjective and ambiguous. For example, one sentence completion task offers "melodramatic/exaggerated/sincere" for "The lead actor was far too ____ for the comedic role he was intended to play." Clearly, the author of this question is unawares that comedic effect can be attained and hampered in multiple ways. The reading comprehension tasks aren't worded any more felicitously.
The quantitative review material is, while plodding and uninspiring, probably of use for students who have to dig deep into elementary and middle school level math. It appears to lack pointers for students who aim for high scores and want to prepare for the most difficult questions. As for the verbal review, it consists of the usual pablum of ill-construed advice written by someone who is shaky on the difference between grammar, punctuation, usage and style.
My advice: Buy something else.
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