Recipe 1400 : Ingredients

Its shopping time folks! You need quite a few ingredients, some are hard to come by, some are dime a dozen, ALL are very important. There are different ingredients used by different people in different measures, I chose mine, after extensive research, combing through innumerous blogs, forums, and sites. So, I'm sure they represent a fair selection. Go ahead, and grab your ingredients.

1) Barron's GRE 2009: People say Barron's is like a slimy, slippery fish: hard to handle, but delicious when cooked. Its the Bible of GRE preparation, there is no denying it. For BITSians, the Quantitative tips and preparation exercises given in Barron's are more than enough. The word lists are comprehensive, and thorough. A highly helpful feature is the Barron's master list of "High Frequency Words", very nicely given. Barron's is a book, which shouldn't be bought from the chic exclusive retail bookstore outlet. Go to your gully bookstores, bargain away, and land a book for as cheap as you can.

P.S: Get the latest edition (2009), and don't forget to check for the CD inside. Yes, even the pirated ones nowadays come with CDs. Thanks to GRE prep demand in India. Price range: Anywhere between Rs.150 - 300.


2) The GRE BIG BOOK : Next to Barron's the Big Book is the most important ingredient. Its a rather rare ingredient. It has been out of print since 1996 and is relatively difficult to obtain in hard copy. Why is such an outdated book so important? Well, my dear friends, the Big Book is the compilation of all previous GRE questions right from 1970s to the present, compiled by none other than ETS itself! The Big Book has some of the toughest Verbal questions, and a solid preparation with Big Book is a sureshot path to a great verbal score! Also, the Big Book is the only book to give actual percentile scores for each and every question, as the statistics are none other than those of test takers themselves! All in all, a great book, a must buy.

P.S: Try to get a book with no answers marked in it, as that would be really helpful. Big Book is utterly useless for Quant Preparation. Price range: Rs 250 to Rs 400. Depends on availability.

3) The Master Book: Third in order of importance. Yet the most creatively satisfying. Yes, you guessed right! You make it yourself. The Master Book is the single most important tool which helps your remember all those tough tough words. Im not being optimistic. Writing anything down leaves you with a photographic memory and a personal connection, which helps you remember better. Pure psychology. And also, its the greatest gift you can have during revision time, without having to search hundreds of pages for those difficult words. faithfully maintain your Master Book, and jot down all the tough words you come across.

P.S: Try not to use someone else's master book. It would in effect, be the same as using any other book. Price Range: Rs.20 to Rs.200. Depends on your father's bank balance.

4) KAPLAN GRE CD (An Old One): Kaplan is one more brand in educational testing material. Famous for its tough questions. Real help in simulating actual test conditions. The CD comes with also revision sections. Hang on. Why did I ask for an old one? Why not the latest one? Well, this is my secret ingredient. The old test format had 38 questions in 3o minutes for Quant and 30 questions in 30 minutes for Verbal, unlike now, when it is relatively easier. So this tougher practice helps time management.

P.S: Be careful about the CD you obtain, that its in working condition. "But where do I get it?", you may ask. The answer is: our very own DC++!! Long Live DC at BITSG.

5)GRE Powerprep Software: Lets learn the dish from the inventors themselves. The GRE Powerprep Software assumes tremendous importance because it comes from the makers of the test themselves. It is also updated fairly frequently, so makes awesome test practice! It also puts to rest any fears of not having any practice in the current pattern, while relying on the Kaplan "38 in 30" format.

P.S: The s/w is available for download in the downloads section of GRE in www.ets.org. Price: FREE FREE FREE!

6) Miscellaneous: What is a dish without garnish, and without the aromas? This is where, your individuality comes to the front. Scour DC for all the softwares available, choose your favorite verbal games and flash card softwares. Search the net for new tests, quicker tests and tougher tests. Answer them and get instant feedback, the world is yours, so make use of it.

P.S: Try as much as possible, to use freely available stuff. No point spending money, when not really required.

As you can all see, in effect, all I have asked you to buy, is two books. That is all. The rest comes in freely, from ready sources. A fair warning however, the GRE score doesn't depend on the NUMBER of books you buy. The ingredients are after all ingredients. Getting the ingredients is just the starting, the real excitement lies ahead. And don't forget: As they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Stay Tuned.

Cheers.
If GRE coaching was started in campus, VKD would never finish even one word list in class.