Peterson's Ultimate GRE Tool Kit (Peterson's Gre Cat Success)

Rating:
Summary: Excellent but same as on-line.
Review: Excellent preparation! Probably the most realistic and accurate GMAT preparation.However, the tests have almost the same questions as the on-line preparation at www.petersons.com

Rating:
Summary: not recommended
Review: There are too many sources of GRE prep-material to settle for something so poorly edited. If you are looking for clear and helpful preparation, this is not the material to get.

This book has a paper diagnostic test and three paper practice tests. Each one of these contains at least one conspicuous error; three tests contain three mistakes or more. And these are only the ones I caught.

For example, the diagnostic test has an antonym problem whose root word is "salubrious." This word means 'promoting health.' "Deleterious" and "acrid" are among the answer choices. The former means 'harmful to health,' while the latter means 'acidic' or 'bitter.' The answer key is evidently wrong in giving "acrid" as the answer.

Numerous answers and explanations for the practice tests are erroneous or misleading. On more than one occasion is the answer key contradicted by the answer explanation right next to it. For example, a quantitative comparison problem concludes with "A is greater" and shows D as the answer (cf. test 1 #9, test 2 #16, test 3 #14).

One answer explanation addresses an equation distinct from the actual problem (cf. test 1 #15); another offers an answer that has nothing to do with the original problem (cf. test 3 #4); several quantitative analysis explanations clearly mismeasure their own graphs (cf. test 1 #23, test 2 #11 and #12); one problem offers contradictory directions, giving both "The ratio of a to b is three forths" and "a = b" for the same geometric diagram (cf. test 2 #23); and one geometric diagram is not consistent with the provided explanation (cf. test 3 #15).

One answer explanation contradicts the book's own basic math introduction. On page 50 the book correctly states that an odd number multplied by an odd number results in an odd number. But the explanation for test 3 #26 states that "an odd times an odd is even." This single explanation then not only goes on to contradict the math introduction again, but bungles the original problem in the process.

The first computerized GRE also contains a mistake. (I only took one before I became too disgusted to complete the remaining two.) A quantitative comparison problem required that we solve for the variable x. The equation was as follows:

2/x + 1/5 = x/3

However, the answer explanation they give is for this equation:

2/x + 1/5 = 1/3x

And even though they correctly show x being equal to -25/3 they still manage to botch the steps to reach it. They have (6-1)/3x = -1/5 leading to 5x/3x = -1/5, which is an obvious mistake. This next to last step should read 5/3x = -1/5.

Moreover, the "Take It to the Next Level" sections stay within the basics. And the quantitative section, even with this so-called next level, still doesn't cover everything plainly listed in the free ETS study guide, nor as well as many other math refreshers.

Overall, the book contains the same set of tips offered by most other GRE books. But this book manages to add to the stress of preparation by wasting your time with unnecessary confusion.