The GRE exam is always around the corner. And for the best chance at success, you need the best GRE preparation book.
After the U.S., India has the most number of GRE test takers. Despite having the second-largest number of test-takers, Indian students still score below the mean score in 2 out of 3 sections.
You can find heaps and heaps of books for GRE preparation that all claim they’re the best. But you need an unbiased review to know which are actually the best books for GRE preparation and why. Read on for that unbiased review.
The Official Guide to GRE General Test – Fourth Edition
Author: Educational Testing Service (ETS) | Current edition: 4th Edition (2024)
Who better than the test makers to get your resource material from? ETS GRE books are formatted in the same way the GRE exam is. You only need an ETS account to access POWERPREP practice tests – free, without buying the book.
Top Amazon Review:
“I’m a Harvard grad, 99% GRE scorer, and full-time tutor who has taught the GRE for 16 years. This book and the free GRE PowerPrep software from ETS remain the very best sources of GRE practice questions.”
Pros:
- Has the GRE prep software – experience the real test environment.
- Accurate questions that are likely to appear on your GRE exam.
- 4th Edition updated for the revised Sept 2023 format including single AW task.
Cons:
- Digital format of the book can be hard to navigate.
- Limited practice questions compared to third-party books.
Consensus: This book gives you the most authentic simulation of the real GRE exam. The best single source for accurate practice questions.
Magoosh GRE Prep Book
Author: Chris Lele, Mike McGarry
One of the main advantages of the Magoosh GRE prep book is that it gives you strategies to prepare for the exam – plus a study schedule. Magoosh’s practice questions are even harder than ETS’, which helps prepare you for the real test.
Top Amazon Review:
“GRE Prep by Magoosh is an accessible, organized book. It provides lots of basic info on the GRE, many synthetic practice questions and explanations, links to online study plans, and references to other learning resources.”
Pros:
- Lots of online learning resources.
- Answer explanations by GRE authors.
- Questions marked with difficulty ratings.
Cons:
- Separate book needed for verbal section.
- Some quantitative questions don’t closely resemble actual GRE questions.
Consensus: An excellent resource for the quantitative section. Use a separate prep book for verbal.
Kaplan GRE Prep Plus 2025-2026
Author: Kaplan Test Prep | Current edition: 2025-2026
Most GRE test-takers regard this as the best all-round GRE prep book. It has a good overview of all the sections and includes 1,500+ practice questions with varying difficulty levels, plus 6 practice tests (one offline, five online).
Top Amazon Review:
“In terms of structure, each section and subsection of the test is broken down with a dedicated chapter in the book. At the end of each chapter, there are practice problems coupled with detailed solutions.”
Pros:
- Video lessons for visual learners.
- Easy-to-comprehend language.
- Teaches tricks to solve difficult questions.
Cons:
- Practice tests aren’t as hard as the real exam.
- Slightly more expensive than other GRE prep material.
Consensus: Reliable, comprehensive study material. Best for students who want full section coverage with practice test access.
The Princeton Review GRE Premium Prep
Author: The Princeton Review | 36th Edition
The Princeton Review’s GRE preparation book is one of the few that teaches you how to manage time – a crucial skill on a timed exam. Covers all sections and teaches you how to identify and avoid GRE traps. Comes with 7 practice tests – 2 offline and 5 online.
Top Amazon Review:
“This book is great if you haven’t taken a math class in a long time. It literally goes back to the beginning to explain rudimentary algebra and arithmetic concepts, and it’s worded in a way that’s easy to understand.”
Pros:
- Teaches time management alongside content.
- Sections are accurate to what appears on the GRE exam.
- Practice tests very similar to actual GRE.
Cons:
- Some grammatical errors and typos reported.
- Quantitative analysis section is relatively easy.
Consensus: Especially good for the verbal section and building test-taking strategies.
Barron’s GRE Test Prep
Author: Sharon Weiner Green, Ira K. Wolf
Barron’s GRE Test Prep book has questions most similar to the real questions that may come on the exam. Its vocabulary section is particularly comprehensive.
Top Amazon Review:
“Pretty good book to prepare for GRE. Does come with many examples and strategies to help with the scores.”
Pros:
- Very comprehensive vocabulary section.
- Practical GRE test-taking advice.
- Practice questions emulate the real test.
Cons:
- Verbal strategies section needs improvement.
- Some answer explanations are unnecessarily complicated.
Consensus: Reliable for the vocabulary section. Combine with another book for quantitative prep.
GRE Prep 2025-2026 by Test Prep Books
Author: Joshua Rueda | Current edition: 2025-2026
This comprehensive book breaks down all three sections and provides detailed explanations for all questions. Good for deepening your understanding of GRE question types.
Pros:
- Gives reasoning for every question.
- Tricks to solve difficult GRE questions.
Cons:
- Does not come with practice tests – you’ll need a separate source for timed practice.
The Consensus:
This is a book you can refer to if you want to get a deeper understanding of the questions. But don’t rely on just this book for your GRE prep.
Manhattan Prep’s 5 lb. Book of GRE Practice Problems – Third Edition
Author: Manhattan Prep | Current: 3rd Edition with 2,000+ problems (was 1,800)
This is the book for someone who needs a large volume of practice problems. With 2,000+ problems and 15 interactive lessons, it prepares you extensively for the real test.
Top Amazon Review:
“I have been able to finish 70% of this book in 15 days, and I can say that it has some really amazing and thorough practice which is what you need for this exam!”
Pros:
- Online learning modules for visual understanding of GRE questions.
- Questions very similar to actual GRE.
- Detailed, easy-to-understand answer explanations.
Cons:
- Weak coverage of the analytical writing section.
- Doesn’t indicate the difficulty level of questions.
Consensus: If you want heavy practice volume, this is the book. Comprehensive, prepares you well for the real test.
Also Read: GRE Study Materials 2026: Full List Including Free Resources
Also Read: How to Prepare for GRE Exam 2026: Complete Strategy
Also Read: GRE Exam 2026: Complete Guide – Format, Fees and Registration
What’s Next After You’ve Chosen Your Books?
After you’ve aced the GRE exam, it’s time to start applying to your preferred courses and colleges. If you’re not sure where to start, GradRight is what you need.
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