Rating: 
Summary: While no prep book is perfect, this one is very solid
Review: Some imperfections, but all I was looking for.This recommendation is probably most applicable to those shooting for 1400-1600 on the V and Q. I was delighted with a GRE score of 700V/800Q, especially after scoring around 1350 on all tests in the book. Best aspects of the book are (1) the math review, skill by skill and rule by rule, (2) the extensive vocab list and practice, and (3) the time-saving tips. The math review retaught all the old formulas that I had forgotten (having graudated college 6 years ago) and had lots of helpful tips, which were very important in actually completing the quantitative section. As for the verbal, I'm not sure if the words I studied helped many particular items on the test, but it was a great way to have a list of words on hand, and not need to go sifting through lots of other sources. The tips were key for saving time; I ran out of time before even the last 4 questions on the first practice test, and after putting their stragies into practice, I aced each test thereafter. The CD tests were fine, but I relied on the official GRE practice tests as I found that I had already done many of the questions on the test already, over the course of studying the book. Probably no need for the book with CD, although the individual practice sections could be useful. Overall, no serious complaints. I used the book, it taught me a lot, and I scored well. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Unfulfilling
Review: The Barron's manual is in an inadequate preperation guide for the GRE general test. If you need to brush up on math, or even if you need a lot of help in it, then the guide is preety good, providing you with a thorough math review and complete answer explanations. For verbal, however, there is no real guidene. The 3,500 word vocabulary list is daunting and the actual GRE has few, if any, of those words on the exam. It provides NO explanations for verbal questions on the CD-ROM or in the practice exercises, which is troubling cause I needed the boost in Verbal (incidently, I got a 500V and 800M after using the book for six months). As for analytical writing, you're better off getting GRE for Dummies, they have a good review of writing tactics. Overall, this is a good buy ONLY if you feel good about your verbal ability and need a boost on quantitative.
Rating: 
Summary: if this book can raise MY math score...
Review: This book is great. I'm horrible at math, and after getting a depressing score on the GRE the first time around, I studied with this book and raised my score 200 points. The strategies are sound and really help out if you can't quite remember how to do the calculations behind each problem. The commonly found word lists are valuable, as well.
My only problem with this book is that sometimes the same questions from the review exercises pop up in the tests. So I would recommend supplementing this book with the practice tests off of the GRE website, but other than that, this book is all you need for preparation.
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