Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I'm a Harvard grad, 99% GRE scorer (337, 168Q / 169V, 5.5 AW) and full-time tutor who has taught the GRE for 16 years. Despite a lack of helpful updates over the last 4 years (only 22 of this book's 584 pages are new--the remainder is the same as the 2nd edition), and a slightly inflated cost (I bought it for $25), this book and the free GRE PowerPrep software from ETS (which is compatible with both Mac and PC, and contains 2 of the 4 GRE exams mentioned on the cover of the book) remain the very best sources of GRE practice questions. When studying for the GRE, one must remember that all non-official sources of GRE practice questions and tests are simply lesser imitations of the real thing. Although third-party strategy books and practice drills are often necessary to supplement your studies, nothing beats the Official Guide when it comes to realism, especially for verbal questions. The Official Guide to the GRE, 3rd Edition is barely revised from the 2nd edition. 4 out of the first 7 chapters are exactly the same, as are the 2 (paper) practice tests included in the book. It includes 296 real GRE questions, and 57 additional math exercises. Chapter 1: About the GRE General Test (same as the 2nd edition) Chapter 2: GRE Analytical Writing (same) Chapter 3: GRE Verbal Reasoning (same) Chapter 4: GRE Quantitative Reasoning (same) Chapter 5: GRE Quantitative Reasoning (5 extra pages) Chapter 6: GRE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Questions (5 extra pages) Chapter 7: GRE Math Review (12 extra pages) Chapter 8: GRE Practice Test 1 (same) Chapter 9: GRE Practice Test 2 (same) It is also important to note that the book itself only includes 2 (not 4!) GRE paper tests. The other 2 GREs are the CATs (Computer Adaptive Tests) that can be accessed by downloading the free GRE PowerPrep Software from the ETS website. Yes, it would have been nice to include some new tests in here, but as other reviewers have noted, that’s unfortunately not the case. This book is nearly identical to the previous (2nd) edition, and no longer includes a CD (not that the CD adds much, since the PowerPrep software has always been free to download online for anyone with internet access). I understand that many of us in the test-prep industry (including myself) are flummoxed by the fact that ETS has declined to release any new practice tests in this 3rd edition of the Official Guide--it would have been nice to have more real GRE practice tests to give our most diligent students. However, 99% of people who are searching for a GRE prep book on Amazon have never taken the test before, so it doesn’t really matter that these tests aren’t new--if they’re new to you as a potential grad student studying for the tests, then for all intents and purposes, they should work just fine. That is, until you run out of official GRE practice tests, at which point you should start looking for other resources. Here are my top recommendations for GRE Prep Materials: 1) The free PowerPrep software from ETS, which includes 2 full CATs, a Test Preview Tool, an untimed practice test (same as Test #1), and Extended Time options. 2) The Official Guide to the GRE, 3rd edition (you are here): The Official Guide to the GRE General Test, Third Edition 3) The GRE Super Power Pack, 2nd edition: Official GRE Super Power Pack 2/E (Test Prep) 4) Manhattan Prep Strategy Guides: Manhattan Prep GRE Set of 8 Strategy Guides (Manhattan Prep GRE Strategy Guides) 5) Manhattan Prep 5-Lb Book of GRE Practice Questions: 5 lb. Book of GRE Practice Problems (Manhattan Prep GRE Strategy Guides) 6) Magoosh: GRE Prep by Magoosh 7) Barron's: Barron's GRE, 22nd Edition 8) McGraw-Hill: McGraw-Hill Education Preparation for the GRE Test 2017 3rd Edition 9) Cliff's Notes: CliffsNotes Math Review for Standardized Tests 3rd Edition 10) GRE Vocab Capacity (disclaimer: co-authored by me) GRE Vocab Capacity: 2017 Edition - Over 1300 Powerful Memory Tricks and Mnemonics PLEASE NOTE: Even though Kaplan-published books are always among the top-rated and top-selling GRE books on Amazon, I personally find them to be of very low quality, and their online reviews to be highly suspect. For more information, you can google “GRE Action Plan”. Good luck!