Are Powerscore course texts worth it without the course? Forum

[krasivaya]

Hey all,

So I found a great deal for the Powerscore course texts - $50 for the set, not marked up.

Before going for it, I was wondering what TLS thought about their usefulness? I searched through the stickies and found a lot on the value of the courses but not the course texts in particular. I'm already planning on getting the Powerscore bibles, the Superprep and as many practice tests as I can get my hands on. Would these course texts be a good supplement to those self-study materials?

I guess this is mostly geared toward people who have used them. Thanks for being endlessly helpful!

EDIT: These are what I'm talking about, not the Bibles:

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[bhan87]

$50 is a bargain for an unmarked set of course books. The main value is having practice problems divided into types, and because it's a Powerscore course set, it'll correspond perfectly with the bibles.

[Chong]

Hi, I have the three Powerscores and the PTs, but nothing else; and I have not taken the courses.

In my opinion, they are helpful, except perhaps the RC Powerscore, but it is not without useful insights either. However, I probably would not read too much into the LR Powerscore's classification of questions, since an Assumption question is in a sense the same as a Weaken question, or a Strengthen question or a Must be True question, depending on how the question stems are phrased. Yes, the techniques does differ, but I do not think the way the question stems are phrased should be as important a classifying criterion. The argument is. Therefore Chapter Two of LR is the most important insight, where it focuses on analyzing the facts and conclusions. The Games Powerscore is a good instruction, but not so without the PTs.

[krasivaya]

Hi, I have the three Powerscores and the PTs, but nothing else; and I have not taken the courses.

In my opinion, they are helpful, except perhaps the RC Powerscore, but it is not without useful insights either. However, I probably would not read too much into the LR Powerscore's classification of questions, since an Assumption question is in a sense the same as a Weaken question, or a Strengthen question or a Must be True question, depending on how the question stems are phrased. Yes, the techniques does differ, but I do not think the way the question stems are phrased should be as important a classifying criterion. The argument is. Therefore Chapter Two of LR is the most important insight, where it focuses on analyzing the facts and conclusions. The Games Powerscore is a good instruction, but not so without the PTs.

Thanks for the insight Chong, but I think you may be talking about the bibles. I'm talking about the course texts, the ones you get from taking the course or purchase off somebody who has taken it.

@bhan87: That's what I was thinking Just wanted to get some second opinions since, in undergrad, $50 is like food for a week.

[zozin]

I mean it's good practice, they break it down nicely into LR/LG/RC and you practice individual questions/sections. Those are a older version though, because the new ones are 5 volumes.
You can learn technique from PowerScore and practice with Testmasters.

[Ocean64]

YES! it's as if you bought LR, LG and RC bibles all in one but with much more content and even deeper insight.
you'll also get 4 recent PTs.