<p>Hi, </p>
<p>I keep hearing these conflicting opinions on Barron's test prep books. Some people tell me they're really good for the SATs but then other people tell me they're nothing like the SATs so I shouldn't bother with them. Other people tell me that they're really good for studying for AP exams. What's the deal? Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Baron's better for AP, Kaplan better for SAT. Princeton Review mediocre for both. The Baron's and Kaplan's philosophy is that if they make their textbooks much harder than the real thing, and you manage to do well on their practice tests, then you will definitely do well on the actual test.</p>
<p>I'd challenge your comment on kaplan, when i did practice SAT for both PR and kaplan, I was getting 2100s avg for 3 tests? (lowest was like 2030) and my 5 PR test avg were like 1860 .. and thats a big diff if you ask me</p>
<p>I think the Barron books differ greatly in quality. The AP Psych book is great, for instance, but the AP Economics book I'm using right now is iffy at best (AP Stats book seemed good, AP Calc book wasn't that good... those are the 4 Barron books I've used, just as a point of reference). I agree with goshamoossy, though: Kaplan is generally better for SAT, PR is average for both.</p>
<p>Kaplan is better for SAT?... I always thought it was a lil easier than the actual thing.</p>
<p>The books by each publisher vary widely in their effectiveness for a given subject.</p>
<p>Barron's AP Computer Science and Psychology books are great: I know this from experience.</p>
<p>barron's "goodness" varies from subject to subject; each book is written by a different author. u can generalize taht barrons for ap is more indepth, while PR's is for a quicker brushup, but there's still inconsistencies in between. kaplan seems to be in between barrons and pr in ap review.</p>
<p>for sat's i have less experience, but some barron's books have that "#1 most popular" book thingy, some don't (i don't think the newer white books have 'em anymore), but those tend to be the better barron's books. not all of the barron's books have this logo, so i'm guessing its selective and real when they mean #1... at that time i guess... just by my experience.</p>