I hope to do a few things with this post.
- 1) Give a definitive list of the materials and their evolution over the years.
- 2) Reduce my PMs by having a post that answers some of the FAQs I get.
- 3) Help some sellers with current materials get a fair market price and have a list available that prevents buyers from getting taken when buying outdated books.
First off, SDN classifieds are by far the best place to get used BR materials. Most of the feedback about dishonest activity (scams) and bait-n-switch listings (outdated material or counterfeits with missing pages) come from Craigslist, so you should never buy from Craigslist. Ebay has items from time to time, but in many cases they cost more used than you'd pay for them brand new. It would be a sad experience if you paid more than twice what they cost brand new and then you got a 1995 book in the mail. For the sake of getting current materials, you should look primarily to SDN if you opt to buy the materials used. In your negotiations, it might also help you to know that older versions of the books cost less brand new than the current versions, so if you see someone trying to sell 2007 biology books for $50, they're asking the same amount that they paid brand new.
Here is a general pricing suggestion for the materials. You should always ask about the writing in each book and the print date.
PHYSICS
The physics books underwent a major change during 2010 and the latest version of the book is "pure gold" and "amazing" as many users at SDN have put it. You shouldn't settle for anything less than the very latest version, used or new.
Brand new from the company: $60 for the pair
Used
from November 2010 or later should run you about
$45-$55 for the pair, depending on the shape. To make sure you are getting the correct version, ask the seller if the "Golf Ball passage" is on page 53 of Book I. If it is, then you have the right book.
Used
2009-November 2010 should run you about
$35-$45 for the pair, depending on the shape. This version has the
temporary blue cardboard cover.
Used
2006-2008 should run you about
$30-$40 for the pair, depending on the shape. This version has a regular light blue cover. It lacks explanations to the B-questions.
Anything before 2006 just isn't worth getting with so many newer versions on the market.
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GENERAL CHEMISTRY
The general chemistry books underwent a notable change during 2009 that upgraded the electrochemistry chapter significantly and a few other chapters to a good extent. The latest version is very good, but older versions (even as far back as 2004) will suffice.
Brand new from the company: $60 for the pair
Used
from 2009 or later should run you about
$45-$55 for the pair, depending on the shape. To make sure you are getting the correct version, ask the seller if the topic of "galvanizing" is on page 282 of Book II. If it is, then you have the right book.
Used
March 2008-October 2008 should run you about
$35-$45 for the pair, depending on the shape. This version has the temporary tan cardboard cover.
Used
2004-2007 should run you about
$30-$40 for the pair, depending on the shape. This version has a regular light blue cover. It has few questions in selected chapters and shorter answer explanations to many questions
Anything before 2004 just isn't worth getting with so many newer versions on the market.
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ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
The organic chemistry books underwent a major change during 2004 when the test writers changed the topics that were covered and then again in 2007 after the switch to the CBT.
There is a new version due out in late 2011 or early 2012 that will be quite different from the current version (and will look similar to the physics book). The latest version is best, but older versions (as far back as 2004) will suffice.
Brand new from the company: $60 for the pair
Used
from August 2007 or later should run you about
$45-$55 for the pair, depending on the shape. To make sure you are getting the correct version, ask the seller if the topic of "Edman's reagent" is on page 199 of Book II. If it is, then you have the right book.
Used
2004-2007 should run you about
$30-$40 for the pair, depending on the shape. This version has a regular tan and rust cover. This version lacks some of the biological topics that have been integrated into the latest version.
DO NOT USE ANY VERSION BEFORE 2004!!! The test changed and those books contain topics that are no longer tested.
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BIOLOGY
The biology books have undergone small changes with each printing. These changes generally included correction of typos, updates of drawings, and a few questions and/or explanation changes. In early 2011, a practice test was added to the back of each book. These exams are invaluable as summaries. The latest version is best, but older versions (as far back as 2004) will suffice.
Brand new from the company: $60 for the pair
Used
from March 2011 or later should run you about
$50-$55 for the pair, depending on the shape. To make sure you are getting the correct version, ask the seller if there is a practice exam that starts on page 339 of Book I. If it is, then you have the right book.
Used
2009-March 2011 should run you about
$40-$50 for the pair, depending on the shape. This version has the
temporary red cardboard cover.
Used
2004-2008 should run you about
$30-$40 for the pair, depending on the shape. This version has a regular tan and rust cover. This version lacks some of the questions found in the later versions.
DO NOT USE ANY VERSION BEFORE 2004!!! The test changed and those books emphasize topics that are not tested as heavily.
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VERBAL REASONING and WRITING SAMPLE
The verbal reasoning book underwent a major change during 2009 when there was a concerted effort to include multiple ways to solve questions. The latest version is best, but older versions (as far back as 2006) will suffice.
Brand new from the company: $75 for the pair
Used
from 2011 or later should run you about
$60-$65 for the pair, depending on the shape. To make sure you are getting the correct version, ask the seller if the passages on 332 and 390 are different. If they are, then you have the right book.
Used
2009-2010 should run you about
$45-$55 for the pair, depending on the shape. This version has a regular tan cover but has more pages than the previous version (a little over 700 pages). This version has some copies that accidentally have the same "Boomerang passage" listed twice.
Used
2006-2008 should run you about
$35-$45 for the pair, depending on the shape. This version has a regular tan cover but has fewer pages than the latest version (a little over 400 pages). This version lacks some of the questions found in the later versions.
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The suggested prices are based on sales over the past few months at SDN. The list below is a few suggestions to follow on any purchase of used books.
- 1) Always ask for the edition (copyright year). Older books cost less brand new and should not have the inflated value some people ask for them.
- 2) Clean passages and questions are a must. Even the slightest amount of writing ruins the integrity of the practice experience. Hold out for clean copies.
- 3) For physics and biology, the newest versions are best and it's worth paying a little more to get them.
- 4) PDF versions are illegal and buying and/or selling them can seriously harm your chances of going to medical school if caught. Most people get caught when a fellow premed reports them.
- 5) Nearly all of the illegal pdf versions currently on the market are the 2009 version (lacking verbal) and the person who illegally did the scanning omitted some essential pages.
- 6) BR books retain their value more than any other books (check the classifieds and you'll be stunned). Buying them new (or the most current used versions) is worth the investment because of their resale value.
- 7) If you sell your used books through SDN classifieds, you should list the print year so people know they're getting the latest version. You are welcome to link this post if it helps your sale.
- 8) This post will be updated when the new organic chemistry books are released. It will be updated again when the new general chemistry book is released late next year.
