Good textbooks for Chemistry GRE, Chemistry Cumulative Exams, and PhD Chemistry Diagnostic Exams.

[Pnictides]

Do all universities use ACS exams for their diagnostic exams? How would one study for cumulative exams besides reading the proposed journal articles the professor tells us?

So far good textbooks I came across are:

Inorganic:

Inorganic Chemistry, 4e by Catherine Housecroft

Physical:

Atkins

McQuarry

Biochemistry

Garrett

Lehninger, Principles of Biochemistry, Nelson, Cox

Organic

Brown, Foote

Bruice

The Art of Writing Reasonable Organic Mechanisms

Analytical

Harris

General Chemistry:

Chemistry, The Central Science

Can anyone think of others?

[contretemps]

I should add:

Inorganic Chemistry

Miessler and Tarr (never really liked Housecroft)

Analytical Chemistry

Skoog

[nechalo]

For those studying for the Chemistry GRE:

The above are all great references, but studying for the subject GRE shouldn't be reviewing all of undergrad. Personally, I didn't care to give the subject GRE anywhere close to that amount of time. (cumulative exams and PhD exams are different though)

I'd recommend to first drop any advanced or not-core curriculum stuff. You really don't need to review The Art of Writing Reasonable Organic Mechanisms - it is a fantastic book for upper level studies of Ochem but just about worthless for this general test. The biochemistry is questionable as well... there may be a little but not a lot on there.

My advice for anyone with limited time: (less than a week up to a month for prep)

Start with ACS prep books for their standardized General, Organic, and Physical Chemistry exams:

http://www.examsinst...Guides_c_1.html

Check your library and library extensions they should have copies floating around for free.

The book's format goes: quick intro to specific section > practice problems with explanations > practice test (answers, but no explanations)

That'll cover most (I'd guess > 70%) of the exam material. Your reference books from undergrad will come in handy to explain in more detail the more forgotten/difficult concepts, but these prep books will be able to "drill" you much more quickly and efficiently to uncover those deficiencies and resolve many of the quick ones.

The ACS Organic and Physical prep books may also be helpful for the exams you take once you are in grad school, especially any exams meant to discover "deficiencies".

Again, though, the goal of studying for the Chem GRE shouldn't be learn everything but to cover as many quick problems and quick concepts, and then move on.

Edited December 5, 2011 by nechalo

[Pnictides]

Do all PhD programs use ACS exams for their diagnostic exams? Do some programs make up their own diagnostic exams?