Books for Prep | |
 - GRE AudioA perfect solution for a long commute that was taking away my study time. The voice tends to become monotonous after a while and when driving late at night, I limit my listening so I don't fall asleep at the wheel. At first the plethora of discs can be daunting. I've found that if I listen to one cd until I've mastered all of the words and then move on, my retention is much greater. I wish technology allowed for a way to remove words as we master them. Sometimes I zone out on words I already know and miss a few that I don't. Unfortunately, you can't skip one word at a time. The discs are set up in sections of multiple words. Overall, a good value for reclaiming my lost study time and lessening my resentment of my commute. Rating:  - Excellent format but beware of pronunciationAs the other reviewers noted, the audio format is a great way to study vocabulary. I have found it to be very beneficial, playing it in the car, at work, and at home even in the background. HOWEVER, it is filled with a plethora of pronunciation errors. I am surprised that the publisher doesn't have some sort of quality control in place to prevent this. When learning a foreign language the experts recommend that you NEVER pronounce words incorrectly. I think that suggestion is applicable for learning new vocabulary as well. So although I do recommend the study format, I definitely recommend verifying the pronunciation. Rating:  - Straight To The PointOf the many frustrating elements of the GRE, it's the verbal section that can often cause the most anxiety for test-takers. Fortunately, there are a number of GRE prep materials out there on the market; unfortunately, not all of them are created equal. But AudioLearn's GRE Vocabulary prep package goes a long way towards giving test-takers what they need, nothing less and nothing more. The elements here are pretty basic -- the package presents 650 words in terms of spelling, usage, pronunciation, and so forth, along with an accompanying booklet and flashcard software so that both audio and visual learning can be engaged. You're certainly not limited to that combination, though, as the audio portion can be ported over to your iPod or the booklet stuffed into your backpack. One quibble: the voice on the audio sometimes comes across a little stilted. However, it's actually well-paced in terms of actually being able to retain the information. What I like best about this package is that it's straightforward and no-nonsense. So many packages offer tons of bells and whistles that supposedly add value but actually just get in the way, giving you a lot of "extras" that just make you feel more bogged down and intimidated than ever. This package is simple and clear, and leaves you feeling like you can actually get a grasp on the material. That builds confidence, and if you're about to take the GRE you need all of that you can get. Rating:  - Simple idea, the final product should have been betterI really wanted something I could listen to and learn from while driving. If you are looking for back up while studying for the GRE, a review or just if someone wanted to extend their vocabulary, this might not be what you are looking for. It moves too quickly, the example sentences are at times ridiculous, the monotone reading will make your mind wander AND worst of all the audio is terrible. Clicks, hisses, and burps make you think this was once done on someone's home tape recorder and then just dubbed onto cd. Save your money until someone smart comes up with a better cd. They make vocabulary fun and interesting for kids - why do they think adults need boring reads with unrelatable examples? Rating: - Helpful but nothing innovativeNot the best, most innovative product out there, but it is a good companion due to its audio format. This is no ExamKrackers with Jordan and Jon for MCAT, where two hosts have interesting special effects and stories to tell. There are no anecdotal stories... All it consists of is a computerized voice reading off vocabulary words mechanistically. Although the voice is pretty high quality, it makes pronunciation errors. For example, they pronounce epitome as 'epi tomb', instead of 'eh pih to mi' (unofficial transcriptions). Anyway, another thing is that Amazon/Borders sells this product for 10 dollars more than the original AudioLearn website. page 1 of 2
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