Big mistake.
But is the entire Manhattan GRE test series actually worth your time? Or is it just a torture device disguised as test prep?
Many students panic when they take a Manhattan practice test. They score 155Q, then take an official ETS test three days later and score 163Q. Why? Manhattan’s quant questions often require more steps or trickier logical leaps than ETS actually uses. Manhattan writes questions for a math contest ; ETS writes questions for a reasoning test . If you buy the Manhattan Prep books, you get access to six online practice tests. This is where things get controversial. manhattan gre test series
This surgical precision is the series' superpower. Let’s talk about the 5lb. book first, because it’s usually the entry point.
If you’ve spent more than ten minutes researching GRE prep, you’ve seen the same names pop up: ETS (the gold standard), Magoosh (the tech-savvy budget option), Kaplan (the old guard), and then... Manhattan Prep. Big mistake
It is a sheer volume monster. There are over 1,800 quant problems. If you have test anxiety because you haven't done math since high school, this book will beat the rust off your brain with a sledgehammer. The repetition builds muscle memory.
Master both, and that 170 is yours.
Do the Manhattan 5lb. book for practice on Tuesday night. Take a Manhattan practice test on Saturday morning. But on Sunday? Review the official ETS material. Notice how the language is cleaner, the traps are fairer, and the math is less convoluted.
The verbal section in the 5lb. book is... fine. But the quant is harder than the real GRE . Many students panic when they take a Manhattan practice test