Whether you’re taking the GRE for an MBA or law school, you’re going to need to prep for the GRE in order to get admitted to a top school. We’ve ranked the 7 best GRE prep books for 2024 that are proven to raise your score.
7 Best GRE Prep Book Reviews
Manhattan Prep 5-lb Book of GRE Practice Problems
This is the top of our list as the best GRE prep book and also ranked #1 as the best GRE prep book overall. This GRE book is organized into 33 chapters and contains 1,800+ practice problems!
The practice problems in this book have been created to mirror the actual problems you will encounter on the GRE in terms of style, form, and content. Rather than passively reading through prep materials, you will actually learn by doing. Through practice, students preparing for the GRE can build their math and verbal skills using simple instructions and step-by-steps.
What sets this book apart is their 30-50 practice problems for each topic, which can help you develop an understanding of the nuance between different kinds of math problems. There are over 500 pages of just math problems alone, which can be especially helpful for those boosting their math skills.
Top Feature: The number of GRE practice questions
Students Should Also Consider: Their Online GRE Prep Course
5 lb. Book of GRE Practice Problems, Fourth Edition
Imagine having 1,800+ practice problems in one book - well now you can get all this practice and more with the Manhattan Prep 5lb Book of GRE Practice Problems.
- 1,800+ realistic practice problems (in book and online)
- 33 concept chapters
- Additional GRE Math practice
- Best seller for GRE prep on Amazon
- Words/vocabulary tested is more difficult than the SAT
For more practice, check out our list of Free GRE Practice Questions and Tests
Official GRE Super Power Pack
The official GRE Super Power Pack (and each of the GRE books that you can also purchase individually), are the only GRE prep books that are put out by the makers of the ETS. This makes it among the top of our list of the best GRE prep books because you get real GRE official practice tests to work with.
We love Manhattan Prep for their practice problems and ability to build speed and confidence on the GRE, but there is still a lot to be said of working through real GRE problems under simulated GRE testing conditions. You simply cannot recreate the experience without actual problems that others have taken on the GRE.
Included in this bundle are 3 GRE prep books by ETS, The Official Guide to the GRE, Official GRE Verbal Reasoning Practice Questions, and Official GRE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Questions.
Top Feature: REAL GRE practice questions
Who Needs This: All students should supplement any prep with real ETS material
Official GRE Super Power Pack, Second Edition
All GRE prep needs to be supplemented with REAL GRE practice questions - which can be found in this Official ETS GRE Super Power Pack!
- 4 real GRE tests (2 online simulating real GRE test)
- 600+ real GRE practice questions & explanations
- Sample essays and raters' responses
- Better value than purchasing each book separately
- Content can overlap between books
- Fewer details provided in explanations than Manhattan Prep
Kaplan GRE Prep Plus
Making it third on our list of the best GRE prep books for overall study is Kaplan’s GRE Prep Plus. This newer edition was released on September 7, 2021 and differentiates itself by the sheer volume of GRE practice questions.
Kaplan sets itself apart from the ETS and Manhattan Prep materials because it provides tips and resources for applications for grad school.
Included in this GRE book and online are a combined 1,700 practice GRE problems as well as timed practice sets for every section of the test. Utilizing their online computer-based testing format, you will be able to view individual performance summaries to help enable you to personalize your study plan.
Top Feature: Higher score guarantee or your money back
Students Should Also Consider: Their In-Person GRE Course
GRE Prep Plus 2024 - Kaplan
This comprehensive GRE review includes 6 practice tests, strategy, and an online study portal... all while providing a higher score guarantee!
- 1,700+ practice questions
- 5 full-length GRE tests online + 1 printed in book
- Individual performance summary after each online exam
- Online videos break down question types and applications
- Does not include official GRE tests
- Not a lot of changes since last edition
Magoosh GRE Prep
Magoosh is shaking the test prep industry a bit with their low-cost alternative to the commercial test prep products that used to dominate the scene. This affordable GRE study guide makes it among the top of the best GRE prep books list for its helpful and thorough lessons in Math and AWA.
Unlike the other books that make our best GRE prep books list, Magoosh’s GRE Prep Book does not come with thousands of practice questions to work on, but the ones that they do provide (130 total) are of high quality and have pretty robust explanations. They show you the level of difficulty for each question as well as what percentage of their online students answered a question correctly.
In this book, they provide you with a 1-month Study Schedule, but you can also find other Magoosh 2, 3, and 6-month study schedules utilizing their material. You also will have access to one full-length GRE practice test.
Top Feature: Includes coupon for 20% off Magoosh GRE Course
Students Should Consider: Their On-Demand GRE Course
GRE Prep by Magoosh
A budget-friendly option for students that includes a discount for those considering the Magoosh online GRE prep course.
- 130 practice GRE questions and detailed explanations
- Detailed study schedule to help you stay on track and study effectively
- 1 full-length GRE practice test (created by Magoosh)
- Stats for each question show how you fared versus other Magoosh students
- Doesn't include any real GRE questions
- Some questions don't include in-depth answer explanations
Best GRE Prep Book for Analytical Writing
GRE Analytical Writing: Solutions to the Real Essay Topics
For those who are struggling on the Analytical Writing portion of the GRE, we recommend Vibrant Publisher’s GRE Analytical Writing: Solutions to the Real Essay Topics – Book 1.
What you will get in this book are 73 solved essays from the pool of official Issue and Argument topics. The book provides a rubric for forming responses, strategies for interpreting the topics, as well as an approach for answering each of the essays provided in the book. You will also have the opportunity to read a sample essay as a benchmark.
Essentially, once completing these essays and having a good grasp on key points to ask yourself when reading through the issue, taking the AWA section of the GRE will be a simple and straightforward process.
Top Feature: Simplified method to create any response
Students Should Consider: Book 2 and Book 3 in this series
GRE Analytical Writing: Solutions to the Real Essay Topics - Book 1
Essay framework and examples that can help you to organize your essays on test day.
- 73 Solved Issue and Argument topics with strategies
- New essays included
- Scoring guides
- Some spelling/grammar mistakes
- Varied levels of essay examples
Best GRE Prep Book for Verbal Reasoning
ETS Official GRE Verbal Reasoning Practice Questions
Included in this book are 150 real GRE Verbal Reasoning questions as well as an overview of the section itself by the actual writers of the test. When it comes to getting GRE prep materials from subject matter experts, getting it from the ETS is as close to the source as you can get.
The questions offered in this book are grouped by the GRE question type and difficulty level so that you can build your test-taking skills. Additionally, there are mixed practice sets with in-depth answers so that you can learn from each question. This is among the best GRE prep books for getting the feel of the real GRE.
Additionally, you will get an overview of the Analytical Writing section including strategies, sample tasks, and sample scored essays.
Top Feature: REAL ETS Verbal Reasoning Questions
Students Should Also Consider: The ETS Super Power Pack for a Better Value
Official GRE Verbal Reasoning Practice Questions, Second Edition
For those who are struggling with Verbal Reasoning, getting practice and prep material from the test makers can be the best way to improve!
- 150 real GRE Verbal Reasoning questions as well as in-depth answers and explanations
- Created by the ETS themselves
- Tips and insight on questions from the source
- Questions are grouped by question type and difficulty level
- Few changes from older edition
Best GRE Prep Book for Quantitative Reasoning
ETS Official GRE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Questions
Much of what was just said for the ETS Official GRE Verbal Reasoning Practice Questions can be applied to the ETS Official GRE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Questions book as well. You’re going to get 150 real GRE Quantitative Reasoning questions paired with in-depth answer explanations. These questions are grouped by question type as well as difficulty.
Included in this book is also a GRE Math Review that covers the topics you’ll likely need to know for the GRE. You’ll learn about the GRE Quantitative Reasoning test content, scoring, as well as strategies and tips from the test makers themselves.
Top Feature: 150 REAL GRE Math Questions from the ETS
Official GRE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Questions, Second Edition
150 Quantitative Reasoning practice questions with explanations to help boost your score.
- 150 real GRE Math questions & detailed explanations
- Created by the ETS, so questions are realistic
- Questions grouped by type and difficulty
- Similar to last edition (if you have an older version, it's probably ok to use)
For those who just want to purchase the Official ETS Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning books, you can save money by opting for the Official GRE Value Combo.
Official GRE Value Combo
A value combo of the Official ETS GRE Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning practice question books will save you money.
Best GRE Vocab Flashcards
Kaplan GRE Vocabulary Flashcards
Here are 500 GRE vocab flashcards that will help you build a strong vocabulary for the Verbal Reasoning test. Included on each flashcard is a synonym and pronunciation of each word.
Along with a synonym and pronunciation of each GRE vocab word, you will also get a sentence in context that will help you with your recall.
For those who are more tech-savvy, you can also access these GRE vocab flashcards on their app! In their online portal, you will be able to also access video instruction on how to build your vocab and how to use your flashcards effectively.
Top Feature: App allows you to use flashcards on any device
Who Needs This: Students struggling on GRE vocab
GRE Vocabulary Flashcards
Physical flashcards for GRE vocab that can also be accessed digitally on their app.
- Can be accessed on any device with the app
- Can be linked to other free Kaplan GRE resources
- Not printed on the best card stock
Thinking about enrolling in a course? Check out the 5 Best GRE Prep Courses that made our list!
Best GRE Prep Books FAQ
What are the best GRE practice tests?
The best GRE practice tests are ALWAYS the real official tests from the ETS. You can access 2 of these practice tests for free on the ETS website.
Are old GRE books still helpful?
The most significant change on the GRE was in 2011. Generally speaking, each year comes new editions for each GRE prep book. If you have an edition that is a few years old, you should be ok.
Is Princeton Review GRE test prep worth it?
The Princeton Review GRE is ranked the top among the best GRE prep courses in our list for 2024. These live online GRE courses are extremely personalized and contain a great deal of practice.
Are Barron’s GRE prep books good?
Barron’s did not make our list of the best GRE prep books. Students who used this GRE book ranked the questions as not being as difficult as the GRE and did not feel prepared for test day.
Can I study for the GRE in 2 weeks?
The shortest recommended GRE prep is 1 month. We do not think you can comfortably stuff all of this content review, practice, as well as test simulations into 2 weeks. Here are our recommended GRE study plans.
How Many Hours Should I Study for the GRE?
Students generally need between 50-200 hours of GRE studying to significantly raise their scores on the GRE.
Best GRE Prep Books – Wrap Up
If you made it through this whole list of the best GRE prep books and you’re still on the fence, then we recommend starting with Manhattan Prep’s 5 lb. Book of GRE Practice Problems.
By utilizing this list of the best GRE prep books, chosen by REAL GRE test takers, we are confident that you will reach the GRE score of your dreams. Comment below with your experience with these GRE books or if you have any others that you think should have made the list!
