A Good place to start you prep but not enough for 315+

We at GRE Prep Club have access to a vast amount of resources available for GRE Prep and here is our feedback on Kaplan’s Premier.

Somethings that are Positive:

1. Great Value for Money: The combined package, i.e. the book + CD + Online Materials, form a very exhaustive library of GRE Questions created and Compiled by Kaplan.
2. Its greatest merit lies in its Chapters on AWA Sections. The topics and responses are discussed in great detail. There is an immaculate Foundation and Content review chapter under the AWA section as well, which is probably the best feature of this product. It also discusses the pacing strategy (writing the essay within 30 min) and nuances of Scoring.
3. The Foundation and Content Review Chapters under both, Quant and Verbal sections are very detailed and beginner friendly. The theoretical coverage on the topics is fairly detailed.
4. The answers to the practice questions, in the book, are very detailed and insightful.
5. Practice test are of paramount importance for test prep. The six tests equip the user to perform SWOT analysis and monitor progress from time to time. The test analysis report is a lifesaver!

Things that could have been better:

1. Difficulty level of questions, specifically in the Quantitative section, could have been better. The practice test set questions are not at par with the Questions by ETS.
2. The section named: “Kaplan Method of Problem solving” has a much better alternative that can be found in the book by ETS. Since ETS books contain actual GRE questions hence it is much more effective to emulate problem solving strategies presented in the Book by ETS.
3. The questions on the Tests by Kaplan seem to lack the quality that we have come to Expect from ETS and Manhattan.
Overall it is a well-balanced book and good value for money. However, it is not sufficient by itself, if the user wants to score more than 315 points. If you are looking to score higher on the GRE you must consider other books. It is highly advisable that you look into ETS GRE as they have actual GRE Questions.

Some other Frequently asked Questions:

What are some of the other study options that I have?

Some students, in the past, have bypassed Kaplan completely and started more specialized books such as the ETS or Manhattan GRE. For example, Manhattan GRE Set of eight strategy guides come with 8 books that target specific math and verbal areas. You would have a much better shot at scoring 315+ using this (not guaranteed), however they require 2-3 months to complete. ETS has a similar collection of 3 books (general + quantitative + verbal). They also have four tests on CD rom enclosed along with the package.

What is a good study plan using Kaplan Premier?

Since it is a good book for beginner’s, I would recommend that you could start with Kaplan and finish it within a month, then evaluate which are your areas of strength/ weakness. Based on your analysis you can invest in a book by Manhattan/ ETS to bolster your weaknesses.

Will this get me to 315+?

This book alone, probably, won’t get you to 315+ score but for people out of college it would refresh the math and verbal fundamentals. You should seriously consider investing in ETS as they provide you with questions that have appeared in GRE before.

How do I get to 315+ with this book?

• You can review your concepts using this book and take a Mock test to perform SWAT analysis.
• Based on your SWAT you can invest in a book that targets your weakness. (see the other books I should know about Section below)
• Retake a Mock test and see the changes in your results.
• If you have a bit more time you can consider investing it in a Book series like the ETS or Manhattan. This will, most likely, take your score to a higher level but it would also cost more in terms of time and money.

Other Books I should know about?

From Manhattan:

• The Algebra GRE Strategy Guide
• The Fractions, Decimals, & Percents GRE Strategy Guide
• The Geometry GRE Strategy Guide
• The Number Properties GRE Strategy Guide
• The Word Problems GRE Strategy Guide
• The Quantitative Comparisons & Data Interpretation GRE Strategy Guide
• The Reading Comprehension & Essays GRE Strategy Guide
• The Text Completion & Sentence Equivalence GRE Strategy Guide

From ETS:

• The Official Guide to the GRE Revised General Test with CD-ROM, 2nd Edition
• Official GRE Verbal Reasoning Practice Questions
• Official GRE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Questions

Best of luck with your test prep.