8 Best Books for GRE Quantitative Section

The new revised GRE Quantitative Section is easy to crack, given the correct amount of preparation and practice with the right kind of material. While hundreds of books are available on this niche topic, it is difficult to determine which books work best for the test-taker.

Before purchasing a GRE Quant preparation book, understanding the different parts of the GRE Quantitative section is necessary.

GRE Quantitative Section tests the following four areas:

1. ALGEBRA includes Linear Equations, Quadratic Equations, and Coordinate Geometry.
2. ARITHMETIC includes Decimals, Fractions, Percentages, Ratios, Numbers, and their properties.
3. GEOMETRY includes Lines, Angles, Triangles, Circles, Quadrilaterals, Polygons, and 3D figures.
4. DATA ANALYSIS involves Probability, Statistics, Graphs, Tables, Charts, and Distribution data.

The best books to ace the GRE Quantitative are those that cover all these concepts, contain tips to ace them, and also contain practice questions ranging from easy to challenging for each section of the GRE Mathematics. Since most books cannot offer all of the above together, the best results will require two to three books: one that explains each topic scientifically and elegantly and one that contains many practice questions and mock test papers. Lastly, if students find themselves weak in a particular section, a book that contains practice questions for that section alone would be an asset.

List of Best GRE Mathematics Prep Books

Books	Price	Parameters
McGraw-Hill’s Conquering the New GRE Math	$18.00	3 Practice tests
Official GRE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Questions	$15.47	Practice questions sourced from actual GRE
Kaplan’s GRE Math Workbook	$22.36	6 comprehensive practice tests
Princeton Reviews' GMAT & GRE Math Made Easy	$15.73	Shortcuts to increase the pace of problem-solving
Manhattan Prep's GRE All the Quant- 6th Edition	$30.49	Access to digital resources by creating an account with Manhattan
Test Prep Series' GRE Quantitative Reasoning Supreme- 2nd Edition	$44.99	15 practice exercises and 520 solved questions
The PowerScore GRE Quantitative Reasoning Bible	$37.37	350 examples and practice questions
Test Prep Books' GRE Math Workbook	$6.39	2 GRE Practice Tests and 2 Answer Explanations Test

1

McGraw-Hill Education Conquering GRE Math- 4th Edition

Cost- $18.00
This book covers the different types of questions that are generally asked for the GRE, along with intensive practice sessions and other materials to improve the overall math skills of the student. The difficulty level of the questions in this book may not be equal to that of the official test, but if the student is looking for a book that can brush up on basic math skills, then this would be the right choice.

Pros-

• It deals with multiple-choice questions, entry-level questions, problem-solving questions, quantitative comparisons, etc.
• At the same time, the book provides insight into the syllabus as it is focused on the test. This includes both basic and advanced math but only from perspectives required for the test.
• The book also contains practice questions and other prep tools that candidates can use.
• It contains 3 practice tests.

2

Official GRE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Questions- 2nd Edition

Cost- $15.47
Apart from the syllabus and tips about the test, the Official GRE prep book contains information regarding the structure, score, and other facts relating to the exam. The book contains over 150 questions, all of which are real questions taken from official tests, giving a real-time experience when used as practice material.

Pros-

• The book contains 150+ test questions, answers, and explanations.
• The Math review included in the book only covers topics related to the exam and contains hints and tips to help crack the exam easily.
• The questions included in the book are sourced from actual GRE examinations, offering candidates further practice opportunities.

Cons-

• Reviewers claim that the content for the book is the same for both editions of the book released.
• The Kindle version of the book lacks most of the equations and diagrams present in the print version.
• The general review is regarding the low difficulty level of the questions provided that can leave candidates unprepared.

3

Kaplan’s GRE Math Workbook

Cost- $22.36
This book provides a layer-by-layer approach to revealing strategies that are used in the test. Kaplan provides over 1,000 questions and drills. It also aids in helping one understand their level of improvement after each test.

Pros-

• It includes six comprehensive practice sets for Quantitative Reasoning.
• It includes a diagnostic tool designed for more precise quantitative practice and a review of essential mathematical skills and concepts such as arithmetic, algebra, data interpretation, geometry, and probability.

Cons-

• Readers have expressed that the explanations in various sections lack clarity and do not flow together cohesively.
• Most of the information provided in the book contains content that does not pertain to the examination.

4

Princeton Reviews' GMAT & GRE Math Made Easy

Cost- $15.73
This book contains preparation strategies and techniques that are tailor-made for the GRE test. It focuses on gaining that extra point more than following conventional problem-solving standards. They focus more on shortcuts and other methods to increase the pace at which the student solves problems without compromising the accuracy of the answers.

Pros-

• The book offers straightforward methods to address key concepts present in the exams, such as Algebra, Statistics, Geometry, and additional topics.
• The book also contains strategies and tips that one can use to gain higher scores on the test.

Cons-

• The readers discovered that the book was filled with excessive filler content.

5

Manhattan Prep's GRE All the Quant- 6th Edition

Cost- $30.49
Manhattan Prep’s GRE All the Quant offers comprehensive lessons that delve into the essential facts, rules, and strategies for each type of math question and content area found on the GRE. By creating an account on Manhattan's platform, students gain access to digital resources that align with the latest updates to the exam sections.

Pros-

• The book offers not only essential facts, formulas, and rules but also effective strategies designed to help readers conserve both time and mental effort during the examination.
• Every chapter concentrates on a specific category of mathematics relevant to the GRE, providing comprehensive "lessons" on the techniques involved, accompanied by practice exercises.

Cons-

• Readers assert that the book is the same as its earlier edition.
• Readers assert that the book lacks logical organization, a lack of a strategic approach, and insufficient practice problems.
• Readers assert that the practice tests included with the book purchases are of poor quality.

6

Test Prep Series' GRE Quantitative Reasoning Supreme- 2nd Edition

Cost- $44.99
The Test Prep Series GRE Quantitative Reasoning Supreme includes questions encompassing all subcategories: arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. It also provides detailed explanations of answers to facilitate a better understanding of the correct approach to solving each problem.

Pros-

• The book features 15 timed practice exercises and 520 solved questions, each accompanied by comprehensive answers.
• The book categorizes its questions into three levels of difficulty: easy, medium, and hard. This classification will assist students in adequately preparing to tackle any question presented in the test.

Cons-

• The readers noted several inaccuracies in the book's content.

7

The PowerScore GRE Quantitative Reasoning Bible

Cost- $37.37
The PowerScore GRE Quantitative Reasoning Bible is the authoritative study resource for the Quantitative Reasoning segment of the GRE. It encompasses everything from basic operational principles to the intricate details of functions within the coordinate plane.

Pros-

• The book offers a detailed analysis of Multiple Choice, Numeric Entry, and Quantitative Comparison questions, along with exercises designed to assess mastery of operations.
• The book offers comprehensive descriptions of eight different solution strategies, along with more than 350 example and practice questions, each accompanied by thorough explanations.
• The book includes a glossary of mathematical terms utilized within its content and necessary for the GRE.

Cons-

• Readers assert that numerous mistakes are present throughout the text.
• Readers claim that although the book offers several sound arguments, it also includes many other aspects that were not addressed in the test.

8

Test Prep Books' GRE Math Workbook

Cost- $6.39
The workbook usually covers all the essential mathematical topics tested on the GRE, including Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, and Data Analysis. Each section explains key concepts, formulas, and problem-solving strategies.

Pros-

• The book contains a comprehensive review of all the chapters for the mathematics section of the test.
• The book also contains 2 GRE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Tests, and 2 Answer Explanations Test
• Readers valued the text's clarity, highlighting that the examples are well-explained. The diverse range of practice tests is impressive, and the answer key at the end offers useful insights for students who might have missed any questions.

Cons-

• Reviewers claim that the instructions and examples provided in the content section are insufficient to answer the prep questions provided in the sets.
• Readers discovered that it contains numerous errors and lacks a comprehensive explanation of concepts or rules, presenting only a simple list.