GRE Books – Kaplan or Barron’s

by HSB on July 19, 2008

in GRE

Confused about choice to book to study for GRE Exam? Here’s my take on the 2 of best choice of books available for GRE Exam preparation. I have used both Barron’s and Kaplan and have seen friends who used only Kaplan and Barron’s along with ETS GRE materials.

Kaplan or Barron’s GRE Book?

Using both books to prepare for the test and I find that Kaplan’s practice tests and exercises are not as challenging as the Barron’s GRE. Kaplan provides really good advice and strategies but I think that Barrons would give you a better feeling of what the test is like and practice problems are more exhaustive induces more problem solving attitude and thinking. If you have the opportunity, use both.

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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }

1 gudra hembram August 15, 2010 at 5:43 AM

how can i get an e version of barrons and kaplans books for for preparing GRE and what are the syllabi of GRE and TOEFL

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2 Bharath reddy June 5, 2010 at 11:26 AM

Sir/Madam I am still doing my B.E. I am currently studying 3rd year my academics average is just 59% without any backlogs but I am thinking to write GRE can I write the exam? What should be my score to get admitted in good college? Pls help me
THANK YOU

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3 vaibhav chauhan February 13, 2010 at 12:27 AM

GREETINGS OF THE DAY,
SIR/MADAM THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE VALUABLE ADVICE, ONE MORE THING THE DATA INTERPRETATION QUESTION(D.I.) ARE HARDER IN ETS- POWERPREP , THAT IS IN FACT GOOD FOR GRE ASPIRANTS LIKE US ; THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THE GRE BOOKS HAVE ONLY LIMITED D.I. QUESTION
SO WHERE I CAN GET A FRESH STOCK OF THE QUESTION SAID ABOVE.

REGARD
VAIBHAV CHAUHAN

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4 vaibhav chauhan February 12, 2010 at 2:22 PM

Greetings of the day
Sir/madam i have only one question that is. Is ‘ g.r.e. math bible written by jeff kolby and derrick vaughan 2008 edition published by nova press’ is more than sufficient ? i’m asking it because the level of question presented and exercise question is much more higher than the barron’s 2008 edition and i ‘m thinking of the time frame of 20 days of completing this book,if the answer of question i asked above is ‘yes’.
regards
vaibhav chauhan

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5 HSB February 12, 2010 at 7:23 PM

Nova press math prep is one of the best books. Once you are done with that take tests from other books.

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6 vinach February 12, 2010 at 10:08 AM

Sir/Madam I am still doing my B.E. I am currently studying 3rd year my academics average is just 59% without any backlogs but I am thinking to write GRE can I write the exam? What should be my score to get admitted in good college? Pls help me
THANK YOU

Reply

7 HSB February 12, 2010 at 7:28 PM

Yes you can write GRE. Read other blog posts for more details.

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8 vinay christopher.j January 30, 2010 at 3:13 AM

Sir/Madam I am still doing my B.E. I am currently studying 3rd year my academics average is just 59% without any backlogs but I am thinking to write GRE can I write the exam? What should be my score to get admitted in good college? Pls help me
THANK YOU

Reply

9 Rishav January 13, 2010 at 10:13 AM

Well, if you are trying to make a good score in GRE then i would say-
1> Buy Barron’s GRE 18th edition… its available in Indian print for the first time in 2010 for less than Rs.300/-
The printed price is 425. But most good technical book shops give good discount_ I have got it for 275 only.
2> Download the e-book version of Kaplan. Its available on Rapidshare or just Google it. Its good to use Kaplan as e-book as it costs more than Double(over Rs.600) than the Barron’s. Sure u may buy it if u have enough money.
If u want to know more, then reply here or mail me …
[email removed]

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10 Arjun October 20, 2009 at 6:47 AM

hi please suggest me with some good books for preparing the GRE exam..Thanks in advance

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11 Shilpa July 22, 2009 at 1:50 AM

hi, i am using Barron’s GRE book..please tell me few more material as i don’t think that it would be sufficient and i’ll b taking GRE exam in mid-october so would it be the right time for the admission for the fall semester 2010?

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12 Johan June 26, 2009 at 1:31 PM

Hi,

I am planning to write GRE after 2 months. I took the Barrons diagnostic and scored 360 v and 800 Q. Normally, I am applying for a research assistantship position in USA, and I have agreed with the proffesor on many terms. I do have a sound GPA and strong references. Moreover, I am pretty comfortable with the quantitative part, and am certain to score well on that. My problem is the verbal section. English is my second language and my vocab. skill is not appreciable. I have started studying Barrons, but it is a way hard, for me, to cram all the word lists. However, I am stuggling day and night to do my best.
As I have only two months, I am thinking to switch to Kaplan for my preparation. Do you guys believe kaplan to be sufficient for the verbal part?
What do you advice me to improve my verbal ability with in two months in a way that will enable me score >600 on the verbal part.

I thank you in advance,

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13 pranith June 22, 2009 at 3:25 AM

i have acads around 61% and GRE date is on 26th aug r there bright chances of me gettin into a good univ?? should i go ther even during recession?

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14 Karthik Bharadwaj July 24, 2008 at 12:42 AM

admission to universities is the least of ur probs dude.. the real hurdle is the visa.. as said above, ace ur gre and prepare a super sop and u;re thru. atb :)

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15 Rahul July 22, 2008 at 3:10 AM

Hi there! Its a very useful resource for MS aspirants. I have 1 question here. I’ve completed my BE with 68% aggregate. But i had 12 back logs during the span of four years. However I’ve graduated in 4 years with a first class degree. Will these past back logs hamper my MS chances? I am yet 2 take up my GRE.

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16 Raghuram July 22, 2008 at 5:23 AM

@Rahul -
Thanks Rahul, If you have good GRE score, it will be help increases your chances to get admission even with 12 backlogs. Also, having good recommendation letter and SOP will be helping factor.

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