7 Best-Selling Graduate Preparation Books Millions Love

These Graduate Preparation Books, authored by leading experts from Educational Testing Service, Princeton Review, Kaplan, and others, offer best-selling, proven strategies for graduate exam success.

Updated on June 27, 2025
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There's something special about books that both critics and crowds love, especially when it comes to preparing for the demanding tests that graduate school requires. Millions of students lean on trusted guides that provide authentic materials and clear strategies rather than guesswork. Graduate preparation remains a pivotal step for advancing academic and professional goals, and having the right resources can make all the difference in your confidence and performance.

The books featured here are authored by well-established authorities and organizations in the test preparation field—like Educational Testing Service (ETS), which develops the GRE, and Princeton Review, known for its deep insights into MBA admissions. These works reflect decades of expertise and real-world results, offering you direct access to practice questions, detailed strategies, and insider perspectives that have helped countless test takers.

While these popular books provide proven frameworks and widely validated methods, you might also benefit from creating a personalized Graduate Preparation book tailored specifically to your skills and goals. This approach combines these trusted methods with your unique learning needs, making your preparation even more effective. Consider exploring creating a personalized Graduate Preparation book to complement these expert resources.

Best for authentic GRE preparation
Educational Testing Service (ETS), the nonprofit behind the GRE, TOEFL, and other major assessments, offers this Super Power Pack as a definitive resource. Drawing on decades of expertise and testing experience worldwide, ETS designed this bundle to provide you with authentic practice tests and insights into the GRE’s structure. Their unique position as the test maker means you get truly representative materials to guide your preparation.
Official GRE Super Power Pack, Second Edition book cover

by Educational Testing Service··You?

The Official GRE Super Power Pack, created by Educational Testing Service, delivers direct access to the test maker’s insight, combining three official guides into one bundle. You’ll find four full-length real GRE tests, hundreds of authentic practice questions, and detailed explanations that clarify both verbal and quantitative reasoning. The book doesn’t just show you what’s on the test; it walks you through strategies tailored for each question type and offers scored sample essays with commentary to sharpen your analytical writing. If you’re preparing for the GRE and want to study with materials that mirror the actual exam, this pack offers a focused, efficient path to build your test skills.

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Business School Essays That Made a Difference, 6th Edition offers a detailed look inside the MBA admissions process, focusing on the essays that can make or break an application. With examples from successful candidates and commentary from admissions officers at schools such as the University of Chicago Booth and University of Virginia Darden, this book provides a practical framework for applicants. It serves those preparing for graduate business programs by revealing how to present their experiences and aspirations effectively in writing, addressing a critical component of graduate preparation that goes beyond test scores and transcripts.

What started as a need to demystify MBA admissions essays became a focused guide packed with real examples and expert insights. Princeton Review compiles authentic essays from successful applicants, accompanied by commentary from admissions officers at top schools like MIT Sloan and Dartmouth Tuck, revealing what works and what doesn’t. You’ll gain a clear understanding of how to craft essays that go beyond test scores and GPAs to showcase your unique story and fit for business school. This book is particularly useful if you’re navigating competitive MBA applications and want to sharpen your writing with concrete examples and insider perspectives.

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Best for custom exam strategies
This AI-created book on graduate exam preparation is tailored to your specific goals and background. By sharing your current skill level and focus areas, you receive a book that concentrates on what matters most to you. Personalized insights help you target your study time effectively, avoid common pitfalls, and build confidence. Unlike generic guides, this book is created just for you, making preparation more relevant and engaging.
2025·50-300 pages·Graduate Preparation, Exam Techniques, Time Management, Study Planning, Test Format

This tailored book explores detailed strategies designed specifically for graduate exam success, focusing on your unique background and goals. It covers essential topics such as advanced study techniques, time management, test-specific content reviews, and stress reduction methods, all calibrated to your current knowledge level. By matching your interests and academic profile, this personalized guide reveals insights that have helped millions of learners excel. The book examines proven approaches to mastering exam formats and question types while integrating personalized pacing and review plans. It offers a focused, engaging learning experience that addresses your specific goals, making your preparation both efficient and effective.

Tailored Guide
Exam Success Techniques
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for foundational GMAT math skills
In 2000, Teach for America alumnus and Yale graduate Zeke Vanderhoek founded Manhattan Prep with a vision to transform test prep through expert educators. Since then, Manhattan Prep has risen from a boutique tutoring company to a global leader offering GMAT, GRE, LSAT, ACT, and SAT courses and materials. This book reflects their commitment to student-centered learning, combining expert instruction with extensive practice resources designed to strengthen your math foundations for the GMAT.

The methods Manhattan Prep developed while growing from a boutique tutoring company to a global leader in test prep provide the foundation for this book. GMAT Foundations of Math focuses on refreshing core math concepts essential for the GMAT, with clear explanations and over 700 practice problems that reinforce basic skills. It includes interactive online resources like practice tests and video lessons created by instructors who score in the 99th percentile. You’ll appreciate how the book breaks down fundamental topics, such as number properties and algebra, to build your confidence before tackling advanced questions. This book suits anyone needing to solidify math basics, especially if you’ve been away from math for a while or want a structured refresher before more intensive prep.

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Best for comprehensive GRE strategies
Educational Testing Service (ETS), a nonprofit dedicated to educational measurement since 1947, authors this guide based on their long history of developing and scoring the GRE and other major tests worldwide. Their expertise ensures you receive the most accurate insights into the GRE General Test, the exact question types you'll face, and how your performance will be evaluated. This guide reflects ETS’s unique qualifications and extensive data, making it a reliable foundation for your GRE preparation.
The Official Guide to the GRE General Test book cover

by Educational Testing Service··You?

What sets this guide apart is that it comes directly from the makers of the GRE, Educational Testing Service (ETS). You get an insider's look at every section of the test, from Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning to Analytical Writing, along with hundreds of authentic practice questions that mirror the actual exam experience. The book breaks down scoring methods and offers strategies tailored to each question type, helping you understand not just what to study, but how to approach the test. If you're aiming for graduate or business school and want a resource that reflects the real test's demands, this guide is tailored for you, though it assumes you're ready to engage deeply with a dense, information-rich manual.

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Best for data-driven GRE practice
Magoosh is a leading online test-prep company based in Berkeley, California, known for assisting over 1.5 million students in mastering standardized tests through their digital platforms. Their expertise in crafting adaptive, data-informed study materials shines in this GRE preparation book, which captures the essence of their successful online program. With a score improvement guarantee backing their premium resources, Magoosh offers a thoughtfully designed guide that converts complex exam content into manageable lessons and practice questions, empowering you to approach the GRE with confidence.
GRE Prep by Magoosh book cover

by Magoosh, Chris Lele, Mike McGarry··You?

When Magoosh, a prominent online test-prep company, developed this GRE guide, their goal was clear: to bring data-driven, accessible study tools to students preparing for graduate school entrance exams. This book distills their extensive online resources into hundreds of practice questions, detailed video explanations, and strategic study schedules that target the GRE's Quantitative, Verbal, and Analytical Writing sections. You gain insight into question difficulty and common pitfalls through statistics derived from thousands of users, allowing you to focus your efforts efficiently. Whether you're new to GRE prep or supplementing your studies, this book provides structured guidance and measurable progress indicators that help you sharpen your skills and manage your time effectively.

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Best for rapid score improvement
This AI-created book on graduate exam preparation is tailored to your background, skill level, and specific goals. You share which exam areas and study techniques interest you most, and the book focuses on delivering exactly what you need for rapid improvement. By customizing daily actions and pacing, it helps you build the skills critical for success in a manageable 30-day plan. This approach makes your study time more efficient and aligned with your personal strengths and challenges.
2025·50-300 pages·Graduate Preparation, Exam Strategy, Daily Study Plans, Time Management, Skill Assessment

This tailored book explores accelerated study plans designed to help you achieve rapid gains in graduate exam performance. It covers daily focused actions that build your skills efficiently, combining widely valued insights with your personal background and goals. By tailoring content to match your unique interests and experience, it reveals how to boost your scores through a well-paced, manageable 30-day plan. The book examines key exam topics, optimal pacing, and practical routines that fit your learning style, making preparation both effective and engaging. This personalized approach ensures the content aligns with your specific needs, turning broad advice into meaningful, targeted progress.

Personalized Content
Accelerated Learning
1,000+ Happy Readers
For over 80 years, Kaplan Test Prep has been helping students grow their knowledge, skills, and confidence for Test Day. Offering preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, their expertise culminates in this detailed MCAT review set. The authors’ deep understanding of the exam and updates to reflect the latest test changes make this resource especially valuable for those seeking medical school admission.

Kaplan Test Prep leverages over 80 years of experience to craft this extensive MCAT review set, designed to align closely with the latest exam requirements. You’ll explore focused content updates, like revamped CARS strategies and Behavioral Sciences walkthroughs, that sharpen your critical thinking on exam day. The set’s layered approach, from high-yield badges to chapter quizzes, helps you prioritize study efforts efficiently. If you’re aiming for medical school and want a resource grounded in expert insight and real exam patterns, this collection guides you through the science, reasoning, and practice tests that mirror the actual MCAT experience.

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Best for self-driven LSAT preparation
Mike Kim is a widely respected LSAT educator known for his ability to decode standardized tests and boost student performance. Having co-created the Manhattan LSAT courses and materials, he crafted this guide specifically for motivated self-studiers. His extensive experience and insight make The LSAT Trainer a trusted resource that offers practical strategies and ample practice tailored to the latest exam format.

Mike Kim is one of the top instructors in the LSAT realm, and his work on this book reflects a deep understanding of standardized testing mechanics. The methods he developed while co-creating Manhattan LSAT materials are distilled here for the self-driven student seeking real score gains. You’ll find targeted strategies for every question type, plus over 160 official practice questions with solutions that sharpen your reasoning and reading skills. This book suits anyone aiming to improve their LSAT results independently, especially those who want clear, focused guidance without fluff.

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Proven Graduate Prep, Personalized for You

Get expert-backed methods tailored to your unique graduate exam needs and goals.

Targeted study plans
Efficient learning paths
Personalized exam strategies

Trusted by thousands of graduate exam enthusiasts worldwide

Graduate Prep Mastery Blueprint
30-Day Score Boost System
Strategic Foundations Formula
Success Blueprint Secrets

Conclusion

The collection of these seven best-selling Graduate Preparation books reveals a few clear themes: trusted authenticity from official test makers, strategic insights from admissions experts, and targeted skill-building from specialized educators. Together, they offer proven frameworks that many have relied on to navigate the complexities of GRE, GMAT, MCAT, and LSAT exams.

If you prefer a structured approach grounded in official practice materials, starting with the Official GRE Super Power Pack and The Official Guide to the GRE General Test is wise. For validated essay strategies that get results, Business School Essays That Made a Difference offers invaluable insider views. When foundational math skills are your focus, GMAT Foundations of Math is a smart pick. For those driven to self-study effectively, The LSAT Trainer delivers clear guidance.

Alternatively, you can create a personalized Graduate Preparation book to combine proven methods with your unique needs. These widely-adopted approaches have helped many readers succeed by offering tested strategies and real-world insights to boost your graduate exam readiness.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start by identifying your target exam. For GRE, the Official GRE Super Power Pack or The Official Guide to the GRE General Test provide authentic practice. If you’re aiming for MBA essays, Business School Essays That Made a Difference offers focused guidance. Choose based on your immediate test goals to avoid overwhelm.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Graduate Preparation?

Not at all. Books like GMAT Foundations of Math break down core concepts for beginners, while others like GRE Prep by Magoosh offer structured guidance for all levels. They’re designed to build your skills step-by-step, whether you’re just starting or refining your knowledge.

What's the best order to read these books?

Begin with foundational materials like GMAT Foundations of Math or the official GRE guides to understand test formats and question types. Then, dive into strategy-focused books like GRE Prep by Magoosh or Business School Essays for application-specific advice. Tailor your order to your exam timeline and areas needing the most work.

Do I really need to read all of these, or can I just pick one?

You can pick based on your exam and preparation needs. For example, if you’re focusing on the MCAT, Kaplan’s MCAT Complete 7-Book Subject Review is comprehensive. If essay writing is your hurdle, Business School Essays That Made a Difference is targeted. Quality over quantity matters most.

Which book gives the most actionable advice I can use right away?

GRE Prep by Magoosh stands out for actionable, data-driven strategies and practice plans you can apply immediately. The LSAT Trainer also offers clear drills and focused tactics for quick score improvements. Both emphasize practical steps you can implement from day one.

Can personalized Graduate Preparation books really complement these expert resources?

Yes, personalized books combine the proven strategies from expert guides with your unique background, goals, and learning style. They help focus your study time on what matters most for you. Explore creating a personalized Graduate Preparation book to get tailored support alongside these trusted resources.

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