Good GRE books for vocabulary

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Originally Posted by Koa

what's GRE?

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Seriously, nobody?

The GRE is the graduate record examination. Almost all graduate programs in America (with the exceptions of medical and law school) require it.

Capacityplanner, I actually took mine last fall so it's fairly fresh in my mind. If you've only got a limited amount of time to study for it, I wouldn't recommend going around and reading pieces of actual literature. It is an ideal way of learning vocab, but only if you have an unlimited amount of study time. I recommend getting an actual GRE prep book with a vocab list in it and studying from that. The advantage is that they'll actually have practice tests so that you can see if you can apply what you learned.

I've heard really good reviews of the Kaplan's Verbal workbook. I didn't use it so I wouldn't know but you might want to check it out. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Kaplan-GRE-Exa...6807178&sr=1-1

I used Barron's prep book (http://www.amazon.com/Barrons-GRE-Gr...6806893&sr=1-6), but I wouldn't recommend it. Although their vocab list is pretty comprehensive, there are actually some definitions which are wrong, and even occasional entries with NO definitions whatsoever. The editors did a bad job with this book. But you can check out the user ratings of many GRE prep books on amazon.com.

PS - what grad program are you applying to? I'm actually prepping to take my GRE in English lit in April.

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Originally Posted by Lulim

As some people around here seem to know what GRE is, why does nobody feel called upon to answer that question?

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It's an expensive, three-part test designed to let graduate schools know the abilities of their applicants. One of the sections tests verbal ability--which is what the first poster wanted wanted help with. Looking at his post, though, I think this person probably already took the test months ago. I'm not entirely sure why the conversation started up again. Anyway, we have the GRE in the Unites States, and perhaps it's also used in Canada. I don't think it's used much outside of North America.

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Originally Posted by capacityplanner

Hi all,

A question -- I am studying for the GREs (especially the verbal/analytical).

What books would you recommend to really improve vocabulary?


capacityplanner

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If you can afford it, a private tutor. They will usually provide you with books. At least mine did.

1) We basically used the higher level version of the Vocab Book series that we used in High School (can't remember the series name off the top of my head).

2) You could also find an SAT Vocab Prep.

3) Take practice GRE tests. Keep track of the words you get wrong. Memorize those words.

4) Find word games online. I found a vocab game that cycled words and their definitions, but every once in awhile you would get old questions. This proved to be a fun way to improve vocab fast.

5) I would advise against sitting there with a dictionary and trying to memorize the dictionary. Unless you are a) really dedicated and think you could learn that way b) have a long time before you can take the test.

Make sure you can write a decent essay too.

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Originally Posted by Wilde woman

(with the exceptions of medical and law school)

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Yeah, but they have their own tests. For Law school it's LSATs. I have no idea what medical school requires, but I'm sure it requires a test.

In America, life is a series of standardized test after standardized test, then you die.

I'm planning to pursue a graduate degree in English, so I'll be taking the GRE as well as the Subject test in Literature some time in the next two years or so. I'm preparing for both of them by working through a reading list I found which is organized by their frequency in showing up on the Subject Test:

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Troy/5187/gre.html

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Originally Posted by Drkshadow03

Yeah, but they have their own tests. For Law school it's LSATs. I have no idea what medical school requires, but I'm sure it requires a test.

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Yes, I know. Law school requires the LSAT and med school requires the MCAT. And these are much harder tests than the GRE general test. I wasn't implying that these graduate programs don't require tests...of course they do.

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Originally Posted by Wilde woman

Yes, I know. Law school requires the LSAT and med school requires the MCAT. And these are much harder tests than the GRE general test. I wasn't implying that these graduate programs don't require tests...of course they do.

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Oops sorry.