<p>Ok. Are the Princeton Review and Kaplan book much easier in terms of SAT tests than the Official 10 real SATs book from the collegeboard?</p>
<p>I last got a 560 (very bad day) on the SAT writing a year back and now I easily got a 740 (or whatever the raw score of 43 out of 49 is on the MC adjusted already). This was the first SAT practice in the new SAT blue book. Have I gone mad or have I just improved 180 (no yet consistent though) in a section!! Seriously I had much time left as well :) :) :). </p>
<p>So is the collegeboard book easier than Princeton review or Kaplan??</p>
<p>I am just so freakin happy....hard work seems to pay off....!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>i've heard that the princeton review and kaplan ones are designed to be a little tougher to a) encourage you to study more and b) to make the real thing seem easier when it comes time to take it....which i guess would make those 2 programs seem like they work</p>
<p>remember, i just "heard" this...i can't verify it or anything</p>
<p>I think the Kaplan ones are harder than the real SAT tests, and I think they are also misrepresentative of the test itself. Of course, this was pre-NEW SAT, so I don't really know anything.</p>
<p>I agree with sjay that the Princeton and Kaplan tests may be harder, to encourage you to prep and make the real thing seem easier. Also, I have been an AP Spanish teacher and found that the pretend tests were different than the real tests in subtle but important ways. A test writer for the simulated tests might only be aware of these differences if he had taught the course himself. For these reasons, I am a believer in the REAL tests put out by the College Board itself for practice. Doing as many as possible of these (within reason, of course :) ) seems to help the most.</p>
<p>Most of the PR and Kaplan's are either slightly easier than the real test or slightly harder. The only genuinely overly-hard prep would be Sparknotes. They seem to go into far too much depth for almost everything. But then- if you know Sparknotes, you'll find the real test a joke.</p>
<p>I liked the good ole College Board book because it was most representative of the real tests. The Real SATs is kinda easy and I agree that Kaplan is a bit harder. Dunno bout sparknotes though</p>
<p>I can testify that the Princeton Review book I used (it has 11 practice tests I think) was bit tougher than the real thing. I was routinely getting around 2250 on the practice tests, but I got a 2390 on the real thing.</p>
<p>At ANY rate a 740 is MUCH MUCH MUCH better than my 560 last year....even if the 740 was a practice...if you adjust for comfort it probably equals about a 700 still....MUCH MUCH better than a 560..BY FAR! :) (so happy)</p>
<p>But you know what...preparing for the timing for the ACT has helped me as well. The timing in the ACT is horrible! I NEVER FINISH. The SAT is harder but gives you lots more time which is better for me.</p>
<p>You know its bad when you get a 99% on the science and social science component of the reading and a horrid 40% on the lit/arts area....you can tell which passages I tackled first and which ones I did in the remaining....umm 5 minutes...:)</p>
<p>In any case...SAT is actually better in terms of timing NOT difficulty.</p>
<p>Yep, a lot of people grow a lot in reading experience and confidence with math from junior year to senior year. (For example, my PSAT score UNDERpredicted my senior year SAT I score.) Since you have time to retest, go for it, and see what that does for your apps.</p>
<p>READ THE WHOLE SECTION IN THE BEGINNING OF THE PRINCETON REVIEW BOOK</p>
<p>Their tips for how to take the test helped me a ton...especially on the writing section. The writing section tips tell you what to look out for on writing multiple choice. Trust me...it helps a lot.</p>
<p>Best practice tests are 10 real sats...no question about that in my mind.</p>