10 Best Books for the GRE Quant Preparation
The GRE may test your quantitative reasoning skills, but it’s not your typical math exam. Don’t be fooled by familiar concepts! To ace this section, you need a study resource specifically designed to solve the math problems of the GRE Quant.
While the GRE Quant assesses your basic math skills and understanding of elementary concepts, its true focus lies in your ability to solve problems using quantitative methods. Here’s where a dedicated GRE Quant prep book comes in. These resources can provide you with the necessary tools and strategies to not only master the foundational concepts but also develop a problem-solving approach tailored to the GRE format.
The Importance of Using GRE Quants Preparation Books
GRE quant prep books can be a valuable addition to your test preparation for several reasons:
1. Structured learning
These books offer a well-organised approach, typically progressing from basic concepts to more advanced topics. This helps you build a strong foundation and gradually increase the difficulty level as you gain confidence.
2. Comprehensive content review
Prep books cover all the essential math concepts tested on the GRE, including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. They act as a one-stop shop to refresh your memory and learn about any unfamiliar topics.
3. Practice questions and strategies
A good prep book will provide a lot of practice problems that closely resemble the GRE format and difficulty of actual GRE quant questions. Many books also include explanations and test-taking strategies to help you approach problems efficiently and avoid common pitfalls.
4. Improved accuracy and time management
By consistently practising with practice problems, you’ll develop a stronger understanding of the concepts and become more comfortable applying them under timed conditions. This can significantly improve your accuracy and time-management skills.
5. Identification of weaknesses
As you work through practice problems, you’ll identify areas where you need more practice. Prep books often have diagnostic tests or chapter quizzes that can pinpoint these weaknesses. This allows you to focus your studying more effectively.
The 10 Best Books for the GRE Quants Preparation
To score well on the quantitative section of the GRE in 2024, choosing the best study materials is important. Here’s a list of some of the top GRE quantitative prep books to help you ace your upcoming test.
1. Be a Human Calculator
Be a Human Calculator is a book designed to teach you shortcuts and tricks to solve math problems faster and more accurately on the GRE. It covers a variety of techniques, including mental math and Vedic math, and is aimed at students from middle school to high school as well as those preparing for standardised tests. The book promises to help you ditch the calculator and become a pro at math through creative problem-solving methods.
Price: INR 209
Buy it on Amazon.
2. Barron’s GRE Math Workbook
Barron’s GRE Math Workbook is a study guide designed to help you prepare for the math section of the GRE. It covers all the math topics you’ll need to know, including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. The book includes explanations of key concepts, practice problems, and answer explanations to help you improve your problem-solving skills and test-taking confidence.
Price: INR 3,670.76
Buy it on Amazon.
Read also: Barron's GRE Reviews & Where to Buy?
3. Kaplan’s GRE Math Workbook
Kaplan’s GRE Math Workbook is a book to help you score high on the quantitative section of the GRE. It offers more than 1,000 practice problems to improve comfort and test familiarity, along with content review chapters that cover arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis.
By providing explanations for different solution strategies, including elimination and estimation, the workbook provides you with the tools to not only answer questions correctly but also do so efficiently under timed test conditions.
Price: INR 1,500
Buy it on Amazon.
4. Kaplan’s GRE Prep Plus 2024–2025
Kaplan’s GRE Prep Plus 2024–2025 is a comprehensive study guide designed to help you achieve a high score on the GRE. It offers proven test-taking strategies, essential content review for all three sections of the exam, and six full-length practice tests with detailed explanations. You’ll also get access to a year of online GRE practice questions, video explanations, and live online classes to help you learn from experienced instructors and refine your test-taking skills.
Price: INR 2,367
Buy it on Amazon.
Read also: Kalpan's GRE Prep Plus 2024 Reviews & Where to Buy?
5. The Princeton Review’s Cracking the GRE Mathematics Subject Test
Cracking the GRE Mathematics Subject Test by Steven A. Leduc offers a comprehensive review of all potential topics, including calculus, algebra, and niche areas like number theory. The book goes beyond basic memorization by providing practical strategies and shortcuts to solve problems efficiently and increase accuracy. It also includes practice problems with detailed explanations and a full-length GRE practice test to familiarise users with the test format and timing.
Price: INR 1,038
Buy it on Amazon.
6. McGraw-Hill Education’s Conquering GRE Math
McGraw-Hill Education’s Conquering GRE Math is a study resource designed to help you improve your score on the quantitative reasoning section of the GRE. By working through problems that gradually increase in difficulty, you’ll strengthen your problem-solving abilities in all the areas tested on the GRE. The book offers practice exercises that mirror the format of the real exam, along with full-length practice sections, to help you get comfortable with the timing and question styles you’ll come across on test day.
Price: INR 701
Buy it on Amazon.
Suggested: GRE Preparation Books
7. Official GRE® Quantitative Reasoning Practice Questions, Volume 1, Second Edition
Published by the ETS, Official GRE® Quantitative Reasoning Practice Questions Volume 1, Second Edition is a resource designed to help prepare you for the math section of the GRE. It offers authentic test questions categorised by topic and question type, along with answer explanations and ETS’s own test-taking strategies. The book also includes a review of math concepts commonly tested on the GRE.
Price: INR 799
Buy it on Amazon.
8. The Princeton Review’s Math Workout for the GRE
The Princeton Review’s Math Workout for the GRE aims to be your one-stop shop for acing the quantitative section of the exam. It addresses potential math anxieties by acknowledging rusty skills and offering a comprehensive review of foundational topics. Packed with over 275 practice questions with explanations, the book provides you with strategies for various question types like Quantitative Comparison and Numeric Entry, along with in-depth coverage of algebra and geometry concepts tested on the GRE.
Price: INR 275.53
Buy it on Amazon.
Suggested: Princeton Review GRE Premium Prep Reviews & Where to Buy?
9. The Princeton Review’s 1,014 GRE Practice Questions
The Princeton Review’s 1,014 GRE Practice Questions is a study resource with a focus on practice problems. The book offers a large collection of questions for both the verbal and math sections of the GRE, along with answer explanations to help you understand the reasoning behind each solution. This comprehensive resource can be a valuable addition to familiarising yourself with the format and difficulty level of the GRE, which allows you to identify weaknesses and hone your test-taking skills.
Price: INR 4,616
Buy it on Amazon.
10. Nova’s GRE Math Bible
Nova’s GRE Math Bible is written with the philosophy that GRE math is learnable through strategic techniques. The book offers a thorough review of all relevant math topics spread across 23 chapters. Packed with practice exercises and examples, it aims to not only improve problem-solving abilities but also provide you with time-saving approaches to approach the GRE math section effectively.
Price: INR 9,755.52
Buy it on Amazon.
Read also: 10 Best GRE Prep Books for 2024
From the Desk of Yocket
GRE quant prep books offer structured learning and practice problems. However, choosing the right book depends on your strengths and weaknesses. Consider official materials from the ETS (the GRE’s creators) for a strong foundation. Their Official GRE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Questions provide real GRE problems and explanations. If you need a more comprehensive review, books from established test prep companies like Manhattan Prep, Kaplan, or Princeton Review can be helpful. These offer topic-wise breakdowns, concept explanations, and practice problems with varying difficulty levels.
Remember that practice problems are key. Always look for books with a large question bank that includes different question types you’ll come across on the GRE. Some books, like the Manhattan Prep 5lb and the book of GRE Practice Problems, offer a massive amount of practice, while others might focus on a more targeted approach. For an enhanced experience, consider investing in GRE prep+ resources that offer additional features such as personalized study plans, advanced analytics, and exclusive practice questions.