List of the best review books

<p>**LEGEND</p>

<p>A - Accurate practice tests.
B - Good for learning material you don't know.
C - Easy to read and understand.
D - Not a lot of superfluous material.
E - Teacher recommendation.
F - Slightly harder than the real thing
G - Good practice questions (outside of the practice tests)
H - A lot of practice tests (more than 4)**</p>

<p>**English Literature:</p>

<p>U.S. History:**</p>

<ul>
<li>*Sparknotes Review Book with 3 Online Tests<a href="A,C,D">/I</a>
Great for last week review and refresh.
Recommender's score: 790.</li>
<li>*Princeton Review (AP version)<a href="G">/I</a>
Great prep for the SAT II (some identical questions!)</li>
<li>*Kaplan<a href="A,B,C,D,G">/I</a>
Read it cover to cover a week before the exam and felt really prepared. It really helps for stuff you didn't cover in class.
Recommender's score: 790.</li>
</ul>

<p>**World History:</p>

<p>Mathematics Level 1:</p>

<p>Mathematics Level 2:**</p>

<ul>
<li>*Barron's <a href="E">/I</a>
Almost everyone uses it and my teacher recommends it, even though it's COMPLETELY unrealistic (because it's a lot harder). But, because it's so much harder, it prepares you wonderfully, and the real thing is a breeze.</li>
</ul>

<p>**Biology E:</p>

<p>Biology M:**</p>

<ul>
<li>*Princeton Review <a href="B,%20E">/I</a>, Rec 2: (A, C)
1 and 2: Extremely good practice tests.
Recommender 2's score: 800.</li>
</ul>

<p>Chemistry:</p>

<ul>
<li>*Barron's <a href="A,%20C,%20D">/I</a>, Rec 2: (A, C)
1: The practice tests are nothing like the real thing, but the book is still a good review of EVERYTHING in high school chem.
2: Some extra information, but not too much.
Recommender's score: 800.</li>
</ul>

<p>Physics:</p>

<ul>
<li>*Barron's <a href="A,%20B,%20C,%20D">/I</a>
Practice tests were somewhat different from the actual, but in general still good preparation. Little superfluous material, however preparation in some parts is on the scarce side.</li>
</ul>

<p>**Chinese with Listening:</p>

<p>French:</p>

<p>French with Listening:</p>

<p>German:**</p>

<p>**German with Listening:</p>

<p>Spanish:**</p>

<ul>
<li>*Barron's<a href="A,%20C,%20D,%20H">/I</a>
Slightly inaccurate practice tests, but the fact that there are many of them compensates for this.</li>
</ul>

<p>Spanish with Listening:</p>

<ul>
<li>*Barron's<a href="A,%20C,%20D">/I</a>
See comments for Spanish without listening.</li>
</ul>

<p>**Modern Hebrew:</p>

<p>Italian:</p>

<p>Latin:</p>

<p>Japanese with Listening:**</p>

<p>Korean with Listening:</p>

<p>ekirth: I just realized that the comment I put for Bio was meant to be put in Chem. In fact, the rec was supposed to say that the practice tests were very good.</p>

<p>This is for US History: (I got an 800, BTW)</p>

<p>AMSCO: (B,C,E) I realize this is for the AP test, but it is so unbelievably good at reviewing the important info in a compelling manner. It is the most conversational textbook-ish thing I've ever read. Amazing at reviewing material. (Practice tests are for the AP test, though, so they don't help a ton. It helps for review though.) I pulled it out to look something up during class once, and my teacher went: "That is the best review book for the AP test out there!" Kids were begging to let me loan it to them. I accredit my 800 to this book and my APUSH class.</p>

<p>Barron's: (F, but not slightly, WAY HARDER, H) It's okay for reviewing information, but nowhere near as good as AMSCO. As for the practice tests, they are way, WAY, WAY too hard. I got 30-40 wrong on each one and ended up with an 800. Not worth the money at all, especially with great review books like AMSCO out there. I don't recommend this to anyone. At all. It just provides incredibly inaccurate scores that would make anyone feel like having a nervous breakdown before the test. Not what anyone needs. </p>

<p>Now that I think about it, though, if you want the assurance that you've done well on something way harder than the real thing, it might help. But again, I thought the information was totally random and I came across terms I'd never heard before. It did have 8 practice tests.</p>

<p>**LEGEND</p>

<p>A - Accurate practice tests.
B - Good for learning material you don't know.
C - Easy to read and understand.
D - Not a lot of superfluous material.
E - Teacher recommendation.
F - Slightly harder than the real thing (F+ means that it's a lot harder than the real thing, which can be a good thing)
G - Good practice questions (outside of the practice tests)
H - A lot of practice tests (more than 4)**
AP - Review book designed for the AP exam. Thus, practice tests are automatically unaccurate for the SAT.</p>

<p>**English Literature:</p>

<p>U.S. History:**</p>

<ul>
<li><p>*Sparknotes Review Book with 3 Online Tests<a href="A,C,D">/I</a>
Great for last week review and refresh.
Recommender's score: 790.</p></li>
<li><p>*Princeton Review (AP)<a href="G">/I</a>
Great prep for the SAT II (some identical questions!)</p></li>
<li><p>*Kaplan <a href="A,B,C,D,G">/I</a>
Read it cover to cover a week before the exam and felt really prepared. It really helps for stuff you didn't cover in class.
Recommender's score: 790.</p></li>
<li><p>*AMSCO (AP)<a href="B,%20C,%20E">/I</a>
It is the most conversational textbook-ish thing I've ever read. Amazing at reviewing material. The practice tests are helpful for review, even though they are AP practice tests. Note: The recommender for this book is the same as the one for the Barron's book.
Recommender's score: 800.</p></li>
<li><p>*Barron's<a href="F+,%20H">/I</a>
This book is MUCH harder than the real thing, and the recommender got 30-40 mistakes on each practice test despite getting an 800 for the actual test. Use if if you want to be very well prepared, but do not fret over a bad score, because it is highly inaccurate. Note: The recommender for this book is the same as the one for the AMSCO book.
Recommender's score: 800. </p></li>
</ul>

<p>**World History:</p>

<p>Mathematics Level 1:</p>

<p>Mathematics Level 2:**</p>

<ul>
<li>*Barron's <a href="E">/I</a>
Almost everyone uses it and my teacher recommends it, even though it's COMPLETELY unrealistic (because it's a lot harder). But, because it's so much harder, it prepares you wonderfully, and the real thing is a breeze.</li>
</ul>

<p>**Biology E:</p>

<p>Biology M:**</p>

<ul>
<li>*Princeton Review<a href="B,%20E">/I</a>, Rec 2: (A, C)
1 and 2: Extremely good practice tests.
Recommender 2's score: 800.</li>
</ul>

<p>Chemistry:</p>

<ul>
<li>*Barron's <a href="A,%20C,%20D">/I</a>, Rec 2: (A, C)
1: The practice tests are nothing like the real thing, but the book is still a good review of EVERYTHING in high school chem.
2: Some extra information, but not too much.
Recommender's score: 800.</li>
</ul>

<p>Physics:</p>

<ul>
<li>*Barron's <a href="A,%20B,%20C,%20D">/I</a>
Practice tests were somewhat different from the actual, but in general still good preparation. Little superfluous material, however preparation in some parts is on the scarce side.</li>
</ul>

<p>**Chinese with Listening:</p>

<p>French:</p>

<p>French with Listening:</p>

<p>German:</p>

<p>German with Listening:</p>

<p>Spanish:**</p>

<ul>
<li>*Barron's <a href="A,%20C,%20D,%20H">/I</a>
Slightly inaccurate practice tests, but the fact that there are many of them compensates for this.</li>
</ul>

<p>Spanish with Listening:</p>

<ul>
<li>*Barron's<a href="A,%20C,%20D">/I</a>
See comments for Spanish without listening.</li>
</ul>

<p>**Modern Hebrew:</p>

<p>Italian:</p>

<p>Latin:</p>

<p>Japanese with Listening:</p>

<p>Korean with Listening:**</p>

<p>Anyone with any non-USH review books?</p>

<p>I just want you to know that your legend is ridiculous. Lmao. </p>

<p>Can't do bold, so...</p>

<p>For AP US, I used REA and I won't get the results until July, but I really think I got at least a four. REA is like Barron's, it's extremely densely packed with information and the practice tests are very difficult. But I felt very under prepared at the beginning. I got REA a few days before the exam and skimmed it all, and I think it made a huge difference -- yeah, I took the class, and yeah, I learned a lot there. But I was nervous and now I'm confident I did well; I really think REA made the difference. </p>

<p>Classify <em>that</em>.</p>

<p>Make a better legend and I will gladly use it.</p>

<p>Good thread idea, rockermcr....but I just wanted to point out that I think there is small error on the list. I think the first poster who recommended the Chemistry book only mentioned B and E.</p>

<p>But great thread idea and I have some of these books written down on a list now. :)</p>

<p>You're right. The same person recommended Barron's Chem and PR Bio M, so I accidentally mixed up their legends.</p>

<p>**LEGEND</p>

<p>A - Accurate practice tests.
B - Good for learning material you don't know.
C - Easy to read and understand.
D - Not a lot of superfluous material.
E - Teacher recommendation.
F - Slightly harder than the real thing (F+ means that it's a lot harder than the real thing, which can be a good thing)
G - Good practice questions (outside of the practice tests)
H - A lot of practice tests (more than 4)
AP - Review book designed for the AP exam. Thus, practice tests are automatically unaccurate for the SAT.**</p>

<p>**English Literature:</p>

<p>U.S. History:**</p>

<ul>
<li><p>*Sparknotes Review Book with 3 Online Tests <a href="A,C,D">/I</a>
Great for last week review and refresh.
Recommender's score: 790.</p></li>
<li><p>*Princeton Review (AP) <a href="G">/I</a>
Great prep for the SAT II (some identical questions!)</p></li>
<li><p>*Kaplan<a href="A,B,C,D,G">/I</a>
Read it cover to cover a week before the exam and felt really prepared. It really helps for stuff you didn't cover in class.
Recommender's score: 790.</p></li>
<li><p>*AMSCO (AP)<a href="B,%20C,%20E">/I</a>
It is the most conversational textbook-ish thing I've ever read. Amazing at reviewing material. The practice tests are helpful for review, even though they are AP practice tests. Note: The recommender for this book is the same as the one for the Barron's book.
Recommender's score: 800.</p></li>
<li><p>*Barron's<a href="F+,%20H">/I</a>
This book is MUCH harder than the real thing, and the recommender got 30-40 mistakes on each practice test despite getting an 800 for the actual test. Use if if you want to be very well prepared, but do not fret over a bad score, because it is highly inaccurate. Note: The recommender for this book is the same as the one for the AMSCO book.
Recommender's score: 800. </p></li>
</ul>

<p>**World History:</p>

<p>Mathematics Level 1:</p>

<p>Mathematics Level 2:**</p>

<ul>
<li>*Barron's<a href="E">/I</a>
Almost everyone uses it and my teacher recommends it, even though it's COMPLETELY unrealistic (because it's a lot harder). But, because it's so much harder, it prepares you wonderfully, and the real thing is a breeze.</li>
</ul>

<p>**Biology E:</p>

<p>Biology M:**</p>

<ul>
<li>*Princeton Review<a href="A,%20C,%20D">/I</a>, Rec 2: (A, C)
1 and 2: Extremely good practice tests.
Recommender 2's score: 800.</li>
</ul>

<p>Chemistry:</p>

<ul>
<li>*Barron's<a href="B,%20E">/I</a>, Rec 2: (A, C)
1: The practice tests are nothing like the real thing, but the book is still a good review of EVERYTHING in high school chem.
2: Some extra information, but not too much.
Recommender's score: 800.</li>
</ul>

<p>Physics:</p>

<ul>
<li>*Barron's <a href="A,%20B,%20C,%20D">/I</a>
Practice tests were somewhat different from the actual, but in general still good preparation. Little superfluous material, however preparation in some parts is on the scarce side.</li>
</ul>

<p>**Chinese with Listening:</p>

<p>French:</p>

<p>French with Listening:</p>

<p>German:</p>

<p>German with Listening:</p>

<p>Spanish:**</p>

<ul>
<li>*Barron's<a href="A,%20C,%20D,%20H">/I</a>
Slightly inaccurate practice tests, but the fact that there are many of them compensates for this.</li>
</ul>

<p>Spanish with Listening:</p>

<ul>
<li>*Barron's<a href="A,%20C,%20D">/I</a>
See comments for Spanish without listening.</li>
</ul>

<p>**Modern Hebrew:</p>

<p>Italian:</p>

<p>Latin:</p>

<p>Japanese with Listening:</p>

<p>Korean with Listening:**</p>

<p>How are Kaplan for Both Literature and Physics?
BTW i am aiming for an 800 in both</p>

<p>Anyone else with a rec??</p>

<p>Physics:
- Kaplan (B,C)
good explanation in my opinion. I would recommend this book to start learning material you don't know, and then turn to PR book for more in-depth explanation. But, do not rely on Kaplan tests - they are way too easy.</p>

<ul>
<li>Princeton Review (A)
Very good tests, too bad there are only 2 in the book. Material explanation is not easy and requires already some understanding of physics topics.</li>
</ul>

<p>by barron being good for chem and mahth do you mean the new books that have come out....or the old school books</p>

<p>How to Prepare for the SAT II Chemistry (by Barron) pub 01
or
SAT Subject Test in Chemistry (Barron's How to Prepare for the SAT) pub 06</p>

<p>and for math
How to Prepare for the SAT II Math Level II C (by Barron) pub 03
or
Barron's SAT Subject Test Math Level 2 2008 pub 07</p>

<p>which ones did you guys use...and is it safe to get either since SAT subject tests do change much (assuming)?</p>

<p>any one know???</p>

<p>^Get the newer books.</p>

<p>**English Literature:</p>

<p>U.S. History:**</p>

<ul>
<li><p>*Sparknotes Review Book with 3 Online Tests <a href="A,C,D">/I</a>
Great for last week review and refresh.
Recommender's score: 790.</p></li>
<li><p>*Princeton Review<a href="AP%20version">/I</a> (G)
Great prep for the SAT II (some identical questions!)</p></li>
<li><p>*Kaplan US History<a href="A,B,C,D,G">/I</a>
Read it cover to cover a week before the exam and felt really prepared. It really helps for stuff you didn't cover in class.
Recommender's score: 790.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>**World History:</p>

<p>Mathematics Level 1:</p>

<p>Mathematics Level 2:**</p>

<ul>
<li>*Barron's<a href="E">/I</a>
Almost everyone uses it and my teacher recommends it, even though it's COMPLETELY unrealistic (because it's a lot harder). But, because it's so much harder, it prepares you wonderfully, and the real thing is a breeze.</li>
</ul>

<p>**Biology E:</p>

<p>Biology M:**</p>

<ul>
<li>*Princeton Review<a href="B,%20E">/I</a>
The practice tests are nothing like the real thing, but the book is still a good review of EVERYTHING in high school chem.</li>
</ul>

<p>Chemistry:</p>

<ul>
<li>*Barron's<a href="A,%20C,%20D">/I</a></li>
</ul>

<p>Physics:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>*Barron's<a href="A,%20B,%20C,%20D">/I</a>
Practice tests were somewhat different from the actual, but in general still good preparation. Little superfluous material, however preparation in some parts is on the scarce side.</p></li>
<li><p>*Kaplan<a href="B,%20C">/I</a>
Good for acquiring a general knowledge of previously unknown material, however the Princeton Review book is required for more in-depth knowledge. Practice tests are much easier than the real thing.</p></li>
<li><p>*Princeton Review<a href="A">/I</a>
Explanation of concepts is hard to understand, but practice tests are extremely accurate, although there aren't many of them.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>**Chinese with Listening:</p>

<p>French:</p>

<p>French with Listening:</p>

<p>German:</p>

<p>German with Listening:</p>

<p>Spanish:**</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Barron's<a href="A,%20C,%20D,%20H">/I</a>
Slightly inaccurate practice tests, but the fact that there are many of them compensates for this.
*

Spanish with Listening:</p></li>
<li><p>*B
arron's<a href="A,%20C,%20D">/I</a>
See comments for Spanish without listening.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>**Modern Hebrew:</p>

<p>Italian:</p>

<p>Latin:</p>

<p>Japanese with Listening:</p>

<p>Korean with Listening:****LEGEND</p>

<p>A - Accurate practice tests.
B - Good for learning material you don't know.
C - Easy to read and understand.
D - Not a lot of superfluous material.
E - Teacher recommendation.
F - Slightly harder than the real thing
G - Good practice questions (outside of the practice tests)
H - A lot of practice tests (more than 4)**</p>

<p>LaNY2007: Thanks for the recs, but can you include the score you got on the physics exam?</p>

<p>wow this is a great list! </p>

<p>but does anyone have any recommendations for world history?</p>

<p>chemistry- princeton review a,b,g
got a 770</p>

<p>does anyone have recs for literature?</p>

<p>Biology M- Princeton Review B,C,D,F,G</p>

<p>CollegeInfo: Got a score to accompany the rec?</p>

<p>LEGEND</p>

<p>A - Accurate practice tests.
B - Good for learning material you don't know.
C - Easy to read and understand.
D - Not a lot of superfluous material.
E - Teacher recommendation.
F - Slightly harder than the real thing. (Write F+ if it's a lot harder than the real thing)
G - Good practice questions (outside of the practice tests)
H - A lot of practice tests (more than 4)
</p>

<p>**English Literature:</p>

<p>U.S. History:**</p>

<ul>
<li><p>*Sparknotes Review Book with 3 Online Tests <a href="A,C,D">/I</a>
Great for last week review and refresh.
Recommender's score: 790.</p></li>
<li><p>*Princeton Review (AP version)<a href="G">/I</a>
Great prep for the SAT II (some identical questions!)</p></li>
<li><p>*Kaplan<a href="A,%20B,%20C,%20D,%20G">/I</a>
Read it cover to cover a week before the exam and felt really prepared. It really helps for stuff you didn't cover in class.
Recommender's score: 790.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>**World History:</p>

<p>Mathematics Level 1:</p>

<p>Mathematics Level 2:**</p>

<ul>
<li>*Barron's<a href="E">/I</a>
Almost everyone uses it and my teacher recommends it, even though it's COMPLETELY unrealistic (because it's a lot harder). But, because it's so much harder, it prepares you wonderfully, and the real thing is a breeze.</li>
</ul>

<p>**Biology E:</p>

<p>Biology M:**</p>

<ul>
<li>*Princeton Review<a href="B,%20E">/I</a> Rec 2: (B, C, D, F, G)
The practice tests are nothing like the real thing, but the book is still a good review of EVERYTHING in high school chem.</li>
</ul>

<p>Chemistry:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>*Barron's<a href="A,%20C,%20D">/I</a> Rec 2: (A, C)
1: The practice tests are nothing like the real thing, but the book is still a good review of EVERYTHING in high school chem.
2: Some extra information, but not too much.
Recommender's score: 800.</p></li>
<li><p>*Princeton Review<a href="A,%20B,%20G">/I</a>
Recommender's score: 770.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>Physics:</p>

<p>-* Barron's<a href="A,%20B,%20C,%20D">/I</a>
Practice tests were somewhat different from the actual, but in general still good preparation. Little superfluous material, however preparation in some parts is on the scarce side.</p>

<ul>
<li><p>*Kaplan <a href="B,%20C">/I</a>
Good for acquiring a general knowledge of previously unknown material, however the Princeton Review book is required for more in-depth knowledge. Practice tests are much easier than the real thing.</p></li>
<li><p>*Princeton Review<a href="A">/I</a>
Explanation of concepts is hard to understand, but practice tests are extremely accurate, although there aren't many of them.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>**Chinese with Listening:</p>

<p>French:**</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Princeton Review<a href="A,%20B,%20C,%20D,%20G">/I</a>
The French exam is very centered on grammar, so a lot of the book is focused on that, which makes it a bit dull and boring. However, the practice tests were extremely accurate.
Recommender's score: 760 (but on the listening exam...)
*

French with Listening:*</p></li>
<li><p>*Princeton Review<a href="A,%20C,%20G">/I</a>
The book includes a very short and unhelpful section for students who will take the listening exam, but at least they tried. The book is good for the reading-based portion of the exam.
Recommender's score: 760.</p></li>
<li><p>*Barron's<a href="B,%20C">/I</a>
This book includes a CD for the listening section, however it has its drawbacks. The same people were used for all the clips on the CD, which is bad because you get used to their voices. This could make you have to strain to listen to the people for the real test. It's better than nothing, though.
Recommender's score: 760.
*

German:</p></li>
</ul>

<p>German with Listening:</p>

<p>Spanish:**</p>

<ul>
<li>*Barron's<a href="A,%20C,%20D,%20H">/I</a>
Slightly inaccurate practice tests, but the fact that there are many of them compensates for this.</li>
</ul>

<p>Spanish with Listening:</p>

<ul>
<li>*Barron's<a href="A,%20C,%20D">/I</a>
See comments for Spanish without listening.</li>
</ul>

<p>**Modern Hebrew:</p>

<p>Italian:</p>

<p>Latin:</p>

<p>Japanese with Listening:</p>

<p>Korean with Listening:</p>

<p>Listening tests in general:**</p>

<ul>
<li>*The Official Study Guide for all SAT Subject Tests by the College Board<a href="A,%20H">/I</a>
This book is great for the listening tests because it has CDs for all the subjects, and all the exams are taken from previous years. However, it cannot be used for studying because it consists only of practice tests.</li>
</ul>

<p>*All exams in general: *</p>

<ul>
<li>*The Official Study Guide for all SAT Subject Tests by the College Board <a href="A,%20H">/I</a>
Great practice tests for all the exams. However, there is nothing more in the book except practice tests (one per subject). </li>
</ul>

<p>If you make a recommendation for a book that's already on the list, and if your reasons for recommending the book are very different from the original recommender's, be sure to include a comment.</p>

<p>I've added two new category, although they're not actual tests. The first is for language tests with listening because I know from experience that it's extremely difficult to find review books for these exams. The second is for the exams in general (so if one book is good for more than one exam, you can list it along with the exams it's good for). For these two categories, it is not necessary to include your score on the exam.</p>

<p>I've also personally made a recommendation for French and French with Listening.</p>

<p>When everybody says use the Barron's book for the Mathematics II test, do they me they mean the "HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE SAT II MATH LEVEL II C" (Published in 2003!!)? Because, Barron's hasn't published a book on MATHII ever since. (They will publish on in Jan 2008---which is too far in the future)
cf. <a href="http://barronseduc.com/test-preparation-sat-ii.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://barronseduc.com/test-preparation-sat-ii.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Actually...they have published them after 2003....EVen though i have the 2003 one at my home.</p>

<p>But... do you mean everyone's using a book made for the old "mathIIC" test to prepare for the new "mathII" test? I mean, what are the differences between the old test and the new one, and is it okay to just use a old book to prepare for the new test??</p>