<p>OK, I'm looking at two standardized testing prep books I just bought in utter shame. </p>
<p>I can't think of one way that prep books help students succeed. I can't think of one good reason how prep books help colleges pick applicants.</p>
<p>It takes the natural away from natural ability. By using these books we cease learning, and become exactly what every college wants us to be.</p>
<p>I'd boycott these books altogether, but I'm a victim of society, and I've gone against my principles because of the college I want to go to. </p>
<p>So does everyone agree with me? Or do people out there really think that quantitatively answering everything while eliminating qualitative nature is really the way to academic fulfillment.</p>
<p>Sorry if I sound like Inquiline. I'm just really passionate about the difference between an "exceptional student" and an actual learner. I think that smart high school students have lost their way.</p>
<p>I actually agree with you on this, the SAT (for example) is such a horrible measure of one's intelligence. I'm talking about the math portion particularly. I don't think they really test what you know. An 8th grader could do all the actual math, they just want you to think in a weird (stupid) way.</p>
<p>But you have to do well to get into that college you want to go to... So yes, I also use a prep book lol</p>
<p>The ultimate question I'm asking is: Do you all consider yourselves slaves to the whims of collegiate requirements? (I.E. arbitrary SAT ******** sections like math where they use superlative vocabulary in order to confuse you).</p>
<p>yea i think anyone who uses a ton of SAT words in passive speech probably is either an English major or an A Hole... isn't the point of language to communicate with more people? why use words that most people don't know? like using Lackadaisical instead of Uninterested? i use that word just cause it sounds funny tho.</p>
<p>I pretty much agree with you...test prep books/classes are worthless to society. On the individual level, it might be good to use them and get into a college, but that just means one other person didn't get in (whose test scores might have represented actual knowledge or intelligence and not just test-gaming skills). This is why I didn't study for my standardized tests.</p>
<p>Test Prep books are a great boon to many people in society, to help them get into college. Imagine the chaos if one couldn't study for the SAT? I can only think of countless people crying their eyes out after being shipped off to community college after that. And then think about books for the LSAT and such too...</p>
<p>Test Prep Books are a true great help to society</p>
<p>And it doesn't matter if it takes away from nature - nature sucks and deserves to be destroyed in favor of humanity. Nature can die for all it is worth as long as humanity remains dominant.</p>
<p>I meant to use them for all my ap tests last year, but I didn't end up using it...(i feel bad for wasting the money) and I never studied for the ACT or SAT. I ended up with a 30 on the ACT so I feel pretty good. (Although my SAT corresponds to a 28 or 29)</p>
<p>IMHO, test prep books are useless if you don't have working batteries in your calculator.</p>
<p>Course, I never even thought about using a prep book, and I certainly did more than fine on my MCAS/PSAT/SAT/ACT. The calculator batteries, though. ): I could have done so much better on my math ACT. Oh well.</p>