Product Description
Can you imagine valuing a book so much that you send the author a "Thank You" letter?
Tens of thousands of people understand why PMP Exam Prep by Rita Mulcahy, PMP, is a worldwide best-seller. Is it Rita's years of PMP exam preparation experience? The endless hours of ongoing research? The interviews with project managers who failed the exam, to identify gaps in their knowledge? Or is it the razor-sharp focus on making sure project managers don't waste a single minute of their time studying any more than they absolutely have to? Actually, it's all of the above.
PMP Exam Prep, Fifth Edition by Rita Mulcahy contains hundreds of updates and improvements from previous editions--including new exercises and sample questions never before in print. Offering hundreds of sample questions, critical time-saving tips plus games and activities available nowhere else, this book will help you pass the PMP exam on your
FIRST try.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic PMP material........2007-10-18
The book is a fabulous resource, a must have for PMP aspirants. I used the PMBOK initially, but it was such a YAAAAAWN. After reading it, I didn't even realize what I had read. But Rita's material so very well structured that I didn't have to read anything else, but her book. Don't hesitate to buy it.
EXCELENT!.......2007-10-17
A MUST when preparing for the PMP test. Makes it very easy to understand and remember the concepts. It also makes you feel you are learning and not just memorizing. Very useful!
Great book to pass the PMP on the FIRST TRY.......2007-10-11
I bought this book off of Amazon, read it twice, and was able to pass my PMP exam on the first try. One of the things that also helped me was that I outlined each chapter and studied those as well.
I do recommend using the PMBOK guide as a reference mainly for the Scope, Procurement and Risk chapters. Make sure that you know the difference between all the charts/diagrams and analysis techniques as well.
If you need the PMBOK, you can get a PDF copy off of ebay for $6.00 US. Furthermore, there are paper tests, study materials, and helpful hints on ebay for under $15.00 US.
Good luck!!!!!
Strangely useful book, if you can sort through the clutter.......2007-10-10
I passed my PMP Exam, but I would not be thanking this book for it. Unlike other books, this book presents a lot of good material, but the material is strewn across several useless exercises and discussions. The workbook style is going to serve you no good purpose, as it is not meant to test your understanding and retention, rather it is geared towards pointing out how much of your real life understanding of the topic is different from the one the author is presenting. This gets exasperating, repetitive, and inane in a few pages. The text is not coherent, not easy to follow, has a lot of repetitive elements, and is poorly organized for an exam study guide.
Look past the crowd of words, and you will pick up some gems of information for the exam. I would suggest Head First PMP for those looking to "understand and retain" some of the key concepts for the exam, but I will recommend using combination of these books and PMBOK Guide for a good coverage.
The questions presented in this book are similar to those asked in the exam, and I'd rate the book high for just that reason.
Essential Study Guide to pass the exam.......2007-10-08
Of course PMBOK is necessary to get the knowledge of PM best practice, but if you want to pass the PMP exam, Rita's book is a must, cuz PMBOK never tell you what you should be expecting in terms of exam questions.
After going through PMBOK and PMI's own training course, I read through Rita's PMP Exam Prep 3 times, practicing using the software included and the test questions at the end of each chapter, and passed the exam in first try.
This book's really cool. Not only for exam prep, it also highlighted areas of importance of each section so the information will be useful in real-life scenario as well. I highly recommended this book for everyone, esp those trying to pass the exam through self-study.
Customer Reviews:
Pretty Good.......2007-10-18
This is a great studay guide. My wife got a 700 using just this guide. i doubt I will do as good but am hopeful.
Excellent.......2007-10-17
I don't think I have to write anything. This is the bible.What Can I say?
Go through this book sincerely, follow the instructions in it and then see the result in GMAT.
100% of GMATTERs will agree with me
way over-rated.......2007-10-07
The Kaplan book is soooo much better. This gives you the answers but doens't explain how to get to them. obviously if you're trying to brush up on your math...it's very very very very frustrating.
Great guide for GMAT.......2007-10-05
It is imperative that when you practice for the GMAT you actually practice with questions that are most likely to appear on the GMAT.
All questions are GMAT are copyrighted, that means other guides cannot reproduce or even represent the questions with minor modifications. Since you cannot predict the question that will come on the GMAT, the best thing to do is to practice on questions that have previously appeared on the GMAT.
This guide book does exactly that, it gives you a LOT of past questions arranged in ascending order of difficulty for both the quantitative and the verbal section. According to me, it is the best guide book you can find for practicing for the GMAT.
Aashish.......2007-09-17
This, in addition to the Manhattan GMAT book-set and their online prep tests, should be good preparation enough..
Haven't yet given my GMAT...
Book Description
Get the book that shows you not only what to study, but how to study. The only classroom-based integrated study system for professional certification gives you complete coverage of all objectives for the Sun Certified Programmer for Java 5 exam, hundreds of practice exam questions, and hands-on exercises. The CD-ROM features full practice exam software plus an adaptive test engine.
Customer Reviews:
Awesome study guide.......2007-10-10
Very comprehensive and easy to follow exam preparation guide. It's only focused on the exam so it doesn't waste your time on useless topics. I haven't taken the exam yet (will in 3 weeks though) buy I'm confident that i'll do good thanks to this guide.
Fantastic book.......2007-10-06
You'll have a better understanding of the compiler/environment and you'll pass the test. This book and questions busts your butt harder then the real test, so you'll be more then adequately prepared. This is a book you want to keep around you long after you take your test.
Excellent book.......2007-09-17
I have passed my SCJP exam! The book was really helpful to either extend my java knowledge and helped me to passed the exam. I have spent about two months to prepare the exam and read this book about 3 times. Make sure you understand all the questions from inside out at the end of each chapter. I only used this book as my studying material (you would think that's risky, isn't it?) But it did work, although I did grabbed a few mock up exam from internet. But I didn't have much time to do those mock-ups, otherwise i may can do better in the exam. I got 88%.
Excellent! Rare book!.......2007-09-11
The book is written with such clarity, precision and humor that are rarely seen in the IT education. The authors have done fantastic job at presenting complex material in an easy yet concise fashion.
Great SCJP book!.......2007-09-06
This book has a very light language and go deep in Java language. I recommend it if you really want to be a Java 5 certified!
Book Description
The PowerScore LSAT Logic Games Bible is the most comprehensive book available for the Logic Games section of the LSAT. The intent of this book is to provide you with an advanced system for attacking any game you encounter on the LSAT. This same system is covered in the live classes taught by PowerScore, and all of the methods and techniques discussed in the book have been tested in classroom situations over many years.
The book features and explains a detailed methodology for attacking the games section. All aspects of Logic Games are covered, from recognizing game types to diagramming rules to making inferences and answering questions. Entire chapters are devoted to the most advanced game techniques and to time management strategies.
Logic Games are divided into individual types, and a discussion follows that teaches you how to approach each type of Game, and drills are presented to help you apply and understand the techniques. Thereafter, real LSAT logic games are used to illustrate how the techniques apply to real tests. Using real LSAT questions is a must for high-level LSAT preparation, and twenty-one real LSAT logic games are contained in the book. Each logic game is accompanied by a detailed analysis of the game setup and related questions.
The author has over 12 years experience teaching the LSAT and has scored in the 99th percentile on a Law Services-administered test. An expert in LSAT preparation, he has overseen the preparation of thousands of students and founded two national LSAT preparation companies.
The Logic Games Bible can be supplemented by The Ultimate Set-Ups Guide, which features setups for every game in each released LSAT from 1995 to 2002. Also, both books provide access to a unique website for additional LSAT and Logic Games information, and has answers to frequently asked questions.
For more information about the renowned PowerScore LSAT Logic Games Bible, contact PowerScore at (800) 545-1750.
Customer Reviews:
A MUST HAVE.......2007-10-05
I wish I would have purchased this book months ago! In contrast to other LSAT prep books, this one explains the Logic Games in a much more clear, concise, and easy to understand way. If you decide to use another LSAT prep book, I highly reccomend using this one to prepare your self for the Logic Games part, and skipping that part in your other LSAT prep, as this one is the best. I just took the LSAT on 9/29/07, and everything that was covered in the book, I utilized on the test!
Useful, despite being overpriced and a bit odd.......2007-09-30
The Logic Games Bible teaches techniques for diagramming games and, to a lesser extent, attacking the questions. The most useful things I picked up from the book were:
1) Never erase your work (do one master diagram at the bottom of each page and then, if necessary, do mini-diagrams the questions).
2) Diagramming numerical distributions.
3) "Hurdling the uncertainty, TM," which is an effective method of diagramming inclusion/exclusion rules when presented with rules like "A, B, and C can not all be selected at the same time."
4) Diagramming abstract sequences
It's worth noting that along the way, the book utilizes some strange conventions. For example, when diagraming a sequence where A comes before B (that is, it's in a lower numbered position) the book suggests that the following shorthand be used: A>B, that is A is greater than B. If you've taken a math class in the last decade, this is disconcerting--in practice I diagrammed all of the abstract sequences exactly opposite of the book. Also, when diagramming morning and afternoon games, the book suggested that the diagram look like this:
afternoon.|_ _ _ _ _
morning....|_ _ _ _ _
A strange reversal of morning and afternoon that is, again, off-putting to anyone who has used outlook, or even a regular calendar. These are minor quibbles, but to some extent, they make the book seem a little amateurish and undermine the reader's confidence in it.
All said, this book can be very useful if used correctly. Its well worth purchasing if you're aiming for the 170s, still have a month or two left to study, and have not taken many practice exams (I say this because there aren't that many old logic sections to go through, and it takes a decent number of practice sections to learn how to efficiently apply the techniques taught in the book). If, however, you're planning on skipping a game on the test, expect to score
<170, only have a couple of weeks before the exam, or have chugged through most of the practice exams, this will be an expensive book of little use.
Great Buying Experience.......2007-09-26
I have been looking at all the bookstores in the Atlanta area for this book. I needed it to study for my upcoming LSAT. The book was out of stock everywhere in Georgia. I simply went online to Amazon and the book arrived at my doorstep within 3 days-and it was cheaper than the bookstores! This book is an excellent tool if you are unsure about the logic games portion of the LSAT. I would recommend it to anyone, even if they feel pretty confident on logic games.
The BEST LSAT book available.......2007-09-09
I used this book as a supplement to the PowerScore classroom course, and I found the book more helpful than the actual course! When I began to work through the book my score was a 168, but I now score consistently in the 173-174 range. As I practice, I get even faster...the techniques really are superb. Just leave yourself enough time (2-3 weeks) to work through the book without rushing so that you can absorb each concept, and then leave at least 3 weeks to do your own practice, honing the techniques on actual LSATs. I've been working just the games section from one test each day, and then an entire test every 4th day.
Unless you think the games are easy, this is the most important LSAT prep book you can buy.
Worth Every Penny!!!.......2007-09-03
Before purchasing this book, I purchased both Kaplan and Princeton Review prep books and still SUCKED at the analytical reasoning/logic games section of the LSAT. I spent two weeks with this book and was able to complete every logic game accurately. I'm still working on the timing but at least I'm able to diagram the games and arrive at the correct answers, which is something I struggled with before. If you have difficulty w/ the logic games - this is the book for you!!!
Book Description
The FE Review Manual is designed to prepare you to pass the general FE exam even if you have very limited study time. You get an efficient review of all the current exam topics; diagnostic exams so you can see what areas you need to study; more than 1,150 practice problems (with solutions); a realistic simulation of the complete 8-hour exam; and free software to help reinforce what you've learned. Plus, the Review Manual is completely in sync (same terminology, formulas, topic order, etc.) with the NCEES handbook that is used during the exam. This combination is so effective that the publisher offers a unique "Pass or Don't Pay" Guarantee: pass the exam, or get a full refund for the book.
Please note, software is not included in the book, but you may request software by using the form inside the book. The software is free, but thereis a $4.95 shipping fee.
Customer Reviews:
This book was great!.......2007-10-11
It had been almost two years since I graduated with my chemical engineering degree. I bought this book a few months before the April exam and read a chapter a day while taking the train to work. I kicked up my studying a week or so before the test date and then rocked the test! The practice questions and tests seemed so much harder than the actual test. I was shocked when I finished both test sessions with at least an hour to spare! Buy this book and prepare to rock!
Very Good.......2007-06-27
I received earlier than I expected. I think the delivery service is best than I've ever experienced. thank you.
Good review Book.......2007-06-03
This book is really helpful if you buy it when you start taking your engineering courses because most of the professors look at this book while picking up exam questions. Lets not forget its also a good review for FE.
If you buy this book when you are junior or upper sophomore and start using it as reference it wont be new book to you when you start reviewing it for FE.
Rapid Preparation for FE review.......2007-06-01
Great book, very helpful. Lots of solved examples. Nice break down into small chapters. Just great. If I will pass my exam I will rate it awesome.
Very thorough preparation.......2007-05-14
Make sure you get this book about 3 months before you are scheduled to take the FE exam, otherwise it won't be very helpful. All the questions follow the brief lectures and are organized by chapter, so it doesn't really give you the opportunity to practice in a style similar to the actual exam. I would first reccommend the sample question booklet availabe from NCEES, but if you feel you really need alot of prep, this is the way to go
Book Description
Now in its Ninth Edition, this classic text provides the best foundation for performing physical examination and taking the patient history. The book features a vibrant full-color design with over 1,400 drawings and photographs and a clear, simple two-column format with examination techniques on the left and abnormalities and interpretations on the right. Highlights of this edition include greater emphasis on patient communication and interview techniques, a new chapter on the older adult, and over 200 new drawings and photographs of abnormalities. A new front-of-book CD-ROM includes videos of head-to-toe examination.
Customer Reviews:
RWS.......2007-09-03
I have found this book to be well organized and easy to read for such alot of information.
mistakes and typos galore.......2007-07-21
it's a shame there isn't a better PE book out there. my school required that i get the 9th edition, promising that all the errors of the 8th edition were corrected in the 9th.
let me just start by saying the GLOSSARY in the back of the BOOK hasn't been updated from the last edition. you need to contact the publisher just to get a copy of the correct page numbers.
i'll leave you with this: i suggest a supplement: "Degowins" PE. it's organized 1000-times better and doesn't weigh a ton. truth about bates' is, they try to make things seem SO simple, but in medicine there is rarely only ONE answer.
because it's the only one out there of its kind (it spells out step-by-step procedures to the PE) it's an essential, but it's NOT the bible to PE; get yourself an adjunct text.
DeGowin's Diagnostic Examination
Not worth the money for a new edition.......2007-07-04
I have the 1974 version of this book, which obviously is too old for today's standards, but has all the basics for PE and history taking. This edition, while it has some really nice photos in comparison to the '74 version's hand-sketched drawings, still has some of the original hand-sketched drawings in it! The index does not match up with the text, so I'm wondering if the index is from a previous edition? I found this very frustrating when doing my homework and nearly impossible to find information for my take home exam for my assessment class.
I wouldn't spend the money. If I had known, I would have returned the book when it was new. My teacher suggested Health Assessment & Physical Examination by Mary Ellen Zator Estes, so I'm looking into buying that one for reference.
Not as thorough as expected..........2007-06-15
Well the book is beautiful and extremely well put together based on logical organization but I have put it to the test utilizing it in my hospital rotations as a step by step guide on what I am looking for and what to write down doing the physical examination and I keep on getting battered by the superior physicians. They always state that something is missing and what they say is missing makes perfect logical sense. It is not necessarily that they are attempting to make me look bad. The book is lacking some terminology and my best assessment is that it is not sufficiently thorough. I am on Amazon again to look for another book.
Much used book for examination.......2007-03-01
I'm in acupuncture school and when we do apply this book, it's really beneficial. Though I didn't listen whether or not it had heart beat sound clips, I think that would very useful. Laysout things pretty well...
Book Description
The new edition of this best-selling preparation book for the National Counselor Examination (NCE) has been expanded with hundreds of new terms, concepts, memory devices and test hints. The book covers all content and work behavior areas on the new NCE, and includes a new special section regarding marriage and family counseling, new material on web counseling, and updated material throughout.
This lively resource includes 1,000 tutorial questions/answers and a quick access index to both teach you the material and raise your score. Dr. Rosenthal's reader-friendly style actually makes studying enjoyable and has been praised by counselors for years. Special information tells you "how to end exam worries." This unique book reads like a novel by imparts information like a graduate text. Perfect for state licensing, the NCC credential, and preparation for written and oral boards. This book can raise your grade in virtually any counseling-related behavioral science course.
Customer Reviews:
Best Investment in NCE Prep.......2007-10-09
I bought it all -- the expensive review books, the large set of CDs, the flash cards, online practice exams -- and paid a fortune for it all. This book is the best tool available. (Sorry I bought it last!) It is the most useful tool because it provides 1,000 practice questions with complete explanations as to why the correct answer is correct, and why the other answers are incorrect. The net effect is that you review a lot of material, and you review it multiple times. Easy book to read. Also, the author provides a bunch of memorization tips for critical information. This is the book to buy, forget the other stuff.
Easy way to review.......2007-10-01
I am finding this book a great way to review. It is easy to understand as the author explains each question and answer. With a tight schedule, this book can be read for just a few minutes at a time without losing the flow of the content.
Good Review.......2007-08-31
This study guide covers many aspects of counseling that were either not covered or quickly taught in my counseling classes. It also does a wonderful job of reinforcing the ideas that were taught in class. This book is written in a wonderfully informative and entertaining style. I have not yet taken my exam but am confident that with all the information discussed in the book I should do very well on the exam.
Comprehensive review and tutorial!.......2007-08-14
My recommendation of this book is based mainly on my test scores. Using only Rosenthal's book as a study guide, I passed the NCE with flying colors. It is easy to use and extremely helpful.
Good resource for NCE exam.......2007-08-09
I would recommend this book for anyone taking the NCE exam. I recently passed the NCE exam along with two of my co-workers. This text is a great starting point for anyone studying for the NCE, but I would recommend going into more depth then just studying from Rosenthal's book. The book sets the groundwork for what the test looks likes and feels like, but the actual NCE questions are alot harder and more specific then what Rosenthal provides. I would recommend finding texts in career counseling, research methods, and stats and becoming fimilar with all the basic concepts. Combining Rothenthal's book with texts cited above seems to be the recipe for success
Book Description
A useful review tool in preparing for the NCLEX-RN examination, this full-color guide is based on the latest NCLEX-RN test plan including alternate item formats. In an outline format, it comprehensively reviews all areas of nursing, including maternity, pediatric, medical-surgical, psychiatric, and gerontologic. More than 4,000 practice questions are included in the book/CD-ROM package, along with comprehensive rationales and test-taking strategies.
Customer Reviews:
Must Have.......2007-10-18
This book is a must for Nursing Students. Use it along with your coursework to get ahead of the rest. It works and I have the A's to prove it.
Good study guide.......2007-09-22
This was a requird book for my school. but it was really be helpful.
Must have for NCLEX!!!!.......2007-08-13
I would not have passed my boards without this book!!! I got it only 3 weeks before I took my test and I am so glad I did!! I had a few areas I knew I was weak in, but didn't even know where to begin studying....but this book broke down all the information I needed so well for every section that I needed to study!!! This book is worth every penny!!! Highly Recommend to anyone needing a good refresher and good study questions for boards!!!
Must have!.......2007-08-07
Out of all the NCLEX books this one is the best! I really like how it is organized and it comes with a great CD. Gotta go study!!
I passed the NCLEX-RN!!!!.......2007-08-03
I passed the NCLEX-RN!!!! The Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN is the ONLY book that I used, cover to cover....I passed it the first time I took it, after 75 questions, with the help of this book....The review is comprehensive, discussing Fundamental Skills, Med-Surg, OB, Peds, Psych, Pharmacology, and Atypical Questions....The CD that came with the book is comprehensive, as well, covering thousands of questions within all of the subjects mentioned above....The book reviews about significant topics in a very comprehendable way....The rationales after the questions sharpened my critical thinking skills....On the day of the test, I found that the actual NCLEX questions were very similar to those in this book and CD....Today, after breakfast, I went online and found out the two important letters after my name - RN.
Book Description
Includes:
*A rich online study plan that guides students through all of the integrated assets of the comprehensive program, including the book, online, and software
*Guidance throughout the program, directing students to additional resources within the program if they need it
*A diagnostic experience to help students concentrate on the areas in which they need the most help
*A progress report, so students can keep track of and analyze their performance as they make their way through the program
*Email communication at key points during the program, providing extra tips and guidance, as well as motivation to keep improving
*Monthly online additions to ensure that the student has the latest content and information about the exam
*Remedial content to ensure students are up-to-speed on the basic concepts before attacking higher-level content
*Downloadable strategy and reference guides for easy prep on the go
*Realistic practice experiences
*Online question banks
*5 full-length practice tests with detailed answer explanations
Customer Reviews:
Great Prep Book.......2007-07-11
As a professor, I have used Kaplan materials for over 7 years to teach a prep course for my university. I find the Kaplan materials to be at a realistic testing level and have found that student's scores on the actual exam correlate very well with post course testing exams in the classroom. Many books are too easy and students develop unrealistic expectations. The verbal prep and math prep together with this edition provide an excellent study course.
Nothing really special..........2007-05-31
These GRE study guides are all overrated... I first purchased an Arco study guide for the GRE and it helped me brush up on my rusty math skills and didn't really do anything else. So I then purchased Kaplan in hopes of finding better practice tests and a little more help on the verbal section. Kaplan didn't do much for this either, although the book does provide a list some "hit" words (not very many though). Also, the math that Kaplan has on its practice tests are significantly harder (and scored in a much tougher fashion) than the actual ETS GRE exam and I found this needlessly discouraging and frustrating.
The best advice I would give to future GRE test-takers would be to use the actual ETS practice tests and practice questions that are on the CD-ROM that ETS provides. I also memorized every word in the Princeton Review's "Word Smart for the GRE" and that was a TREMENDOUS help. I ended up scoring: V 670, Q 590
Good luck!
excellent book to help you prepare.......2007-05-22
I bought this book and started using it about 6 weeks before my GRE test, which was today. I hadn't taken a standardized test in the past 10 years, but I managed to pull off an above average score in both the Verbal and Quantitative sections. I would say the only negative thing about the book and included software, is the the way the software practice problems are presented. It would be great to see software that would emulate the actual screens of the GRE and behavior of a computer-adaptive test more closely as well as provide scores for all the practice problems, not just the full tests. I think Kaplan pushes you do perform better by setting the bar on their tests much higher than the actual GRE. If you combine this with the free POWERPREP software from the ETS website, I truly believe that you will be more than adequately prepared for the GRE. Good luck!
Somewhat good review but their proofreaders need to be fired.......2007-05-19
I found the reviews helpful although I found that powerprep software actually helped me out more. But one thing is the amount of mistakes their book and software has! Come on now....students are relying on Kaplan's to help them with the GRE and their proofreaders can't even help with that.
Two Examples:
1. In the software, I chose the right answer and it marked it wrong. Even in its explanation it stated "The answer is 25,000 which makes the answer (D)". But actually 25,000 was answer (C) which is what I picked.
2. In the explanations for a couple of math problem...they explained completely different problems with different numbers!
Talk about annoying. I'm buying a Barron's right now....
GRE Book.......2007-05-16
This book was really helpful to get me in shape for the GRE. It was a great introduction to the test, and I felt 100% more prepared than I would have been if I had not had this book. I would recommend it because of all the great resources you get with it.
Book Description
Students planning to take the Graduate Record Exam will find six full-length model tests with answers and explanations in this up-to-date manual. They will also find intensive test topic reviews covering antonym questions, analogy questions, sentence completion, reading comprehension, vocabulary, analytical writing, quantitative comparison, data interpretation, and math. A 3,500-word master vocabulary list with definitions is supplemented with a GRE high-frequency word list. The CD-ROM enclosed with the book offers a computer-adaptive model GRE test that is similar in structure to the actual GRE test. All questions on the CD-ROM are answered and explained, and exam results are scored automatically.
Customer Reviews:
Helpful Resource .......2007-10-09
I purchased this book in April in preparation for an early August GRE. The Barron's book was my main source of preparation. I created a study schedule up to the date of the test, based on the material in this book. I did EVERY practice exercise. The book is very thorough. I found all sections to be helpful. My personal weakness was/is Math so I did get the Ultimate Math Refresher the last 2 1/2 weeks before the test. I highly recommend that also. I also purchased the GRE Official Guide so I could get some extra Math practice in. I worked with the GRE Powerprep as well. Still, Barron's was my primary source. The Barron's writing section was very helpful in my opinion, but writing is probably one of my better suits. If it's not yours, you may want to try a supplement to the Barron's book. I DID study all 50 of the vocab. lists in the Barron's book. I'd say that's pretty important. So, how did I do on the exam? I scored 670 in Math, 700 in Verbal, and 5.5 on the writing. Good luck to you!
Pretty comprehensive review.......2007-10-04
I couldn't decide between this book and the Princeton Review book (Cracking the GRE, 2007 Edition (Graduate Test Prep)), so I ended up buying & using both. Clearly, Barron's has an extensive vocabulary list. I must admit that, in the end, I wasn't able to study all the words (there's so many!), but there's a high-frequency word list that helps you prioritize which words you should be sure to learn. In comparison to the PR book, Barron's had a lot more exercises; there's a group of exercises at the end of each section. That gave me a lot of practice in applying concepts that I had just reviewed. Also, the book has 5 model tests, which means you have a lot of chances to practice. However, since these are paper-based tests, they're different from the CAT test that you'll actually be taking, and they don't really reflect what your actual scores will be. The CD that comes with this edition of the book simply didn't compare to the online supplement to the PR book. Of interest on the CD are a diagnostic test and a CAT practice test. However, the practice test on the CD recycles all the questions you see in the 5 tests in the book. I took all the tests in the book before I took the one on the CD, and let's just say my score was a little higher than expected because I had remembered the answers to a lot of the questions. I think Barron's gave a pretty good review of the material that shows up on the GRE, but I'd recommend the PR book if you want to get a better idea of how you'll actually do on the GRE.
Excellent GRE prep.. with a couple of caveats.......2007-09-28
I tend to over-research everything, so before embarking on my GRE prep I spent the better part of a day in my neighborhood B&N looking at the plethora (that's a GRE word right there) of prep books available for purchase. My eventual conclusion was that Barron's approach appears to differ substantially from all the other guides, in that it does not place much emphasis on "hacking" the GRE. Instead, it gives you well-thought out guidance and practice opportunities, all with the bare minimum of fluff (I am looking at you, Kaplan). In any case, I gradually became convinced that Barron's would be best suited for my studying style and goals, and it was therefore the only guide that I've used in the course of my GRE prep, along with some freely available ETS materials that I'll touch on in a bit.
So, a month later, with the test finally behind me and having scored in the high 700s on both sections, I still feel that Barron's is a quality product. Firstly, the word lists are excellent; there were at least 3 words on the actual test that I wouldn't have known if it wasn't for Barron's "Essential" list. The ginormous 3500 word list is also quite useful, although I found the word selection to be a little arbitrary -- there are some weirdly specialized terms (tessellated?), and a couple of words felt antiquated (benison? really now). I did like how Barron's went the extra mile with the example sentences -- some were unexpectedly clever and good for a chuckle. Having said that, Barron's also appears to place too much importance on distinguishing fine shades of meaning -- some of the analogies are almost guaranteed to give you a headache, and I thought that the Powerprep and the real GRE were considerably less anal-retentive on that front. Also, the Analytical Writing section is quite short; it won't help you much if your writing skills aren't already reasonably up to par. On the plus side, it has some valuable tips about adapting your writing to the GRE format; the information about structuring your essay was well thought out and matched up with the guidelines on the ETS website. So kudos on the verbal -- the actual test held no surprises on that front, with the level of question difficulty about equal to that of Barron's.
Now on to the math, which is a bit of a mixed bag. On the positive side, the math review is excellent, takes a while to get through, and has some pretty good exercises that get the brain cells firing. In fact, there were a couple of questions on the actual exam that contained "traps" that I was able to recognize quickly due to having seen them in Barron's earlier. However, the test experience on the Q section was very different from Barron's; the time constraints were intense, after the first few questions the level of difficulty increased substantially past anything I've seen in the book, and didn't let up until the very end. I think this may also be why reviewers tend to disagree about whether or not the actual test is more difficult than the material contained in the book. This is probably due to the way the CAT works; it'll give you questions tailored to your level of knowledge. Thus, it's possible that some reviewers had questions that were easier than the book, and some whose questions were more difficult. Having said that, my GRE score were higher on the actual exam than on any of the practice tests from Barron's..
Impressively, the book appears to be almost completely error free. My copy had some typesetting issues with a couple of Quantitative Comparison questions on the sample tests (one or both of the values were missing), but that wasn't overly bothersome. Unfortunately, the Barron's CD is essentially worthless -- it repeats questions from the paper exams, and the actual test experience has a much different feel. Make sure to download the PowerPrep software from the ETS website, but be careful -- if you are taking a PowerPrep practice test at night and your computer's clock rolls over to 12:00am, the software will inform you that you have just ran out of time and kick you out of your current section.
Anyway, that's my take -- hope someone finds this useful..
Barrons is what you need.......2007-09-25
First off let me say I am not good in math and I had not heard ALOT of these words prior to ordering this book. After taking the exam Barrons certainly helped alot because all the words I ever encountered on any practice test were in this book. I used this book, GRE Bible, Powerpre, and the Ultimate Math Refresher. This book teaches you the mechanics of the GRE and offers an abundance of words. I went through the most frequent word list, made flash cards of those words, and made flash cards of any word I encountered on any other practice exam. Instead of reading barrons all night long I just took practice test after practice test which allowed me to get in the flow of taking the exam. The reading comprehension was a bit dense at first but after reading several passages I get use to it. The key is to take multiple tests. GRE bible has 15 tests. Keep taking tests and using this book.
BEWARE. POWERPREP is the only software that gives scores close to the actual GRE exam. GRE Bible is WAYYYYY harder than the actual exam.
Too much great info!.......2007-09-03
I bought this book after reading all the reviews on Amazon. And yes, the 3000 word list is a bit daunting, but I focused my attention on the ones that they hi-lighted as being the high-frequency words to appear on the GRE. That helped ease the anxiety of having to learn 3000 vocab words. I loved that Barron's provided example sentences following their definitions b/c it helped jog my memory as I was studying. Compared to Kaplan, I also loved Barron's approach to the analytical writing portion...it's very straightforward and helpful in the way they instruct you to formulate your essays. I scored pretty high marks on that portion and I primarily used the tips provided by Barron's. As for the math portion, well, I'm entering a social science field, so I just glazed over that part. Overall, I would recommend coupling this purchase with the Princeton GRE prep b/c both offer unique techniques to tackling the GRE.
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Books Index
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A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, Third Edition (PMBOK Guides)
PM FASTrack: PMP Exam Simulation Software, Version 5
Hot Topics Flashcards for Passing the PMP and CAPM Exam: Hot Topics Flashcards 5th Edtion (Hot Topics)
The PMP Exam: How to Pass On Your First Try (Test Prep series)
Q & As for the PMBOK Guide
