<p>Should I use the official SAT guide from the CollegeBoard or other prep study books from Kaplan, PR, etc? Which books do you prefer, and which of the prep books helped your score the most?</p>
<p>Look, It kinda’ depends on the editions and the type of books you’re talking about. I have tried the “CollegeBoard Preparation book-Second Edition” and the “Kaplan 12 Tests Preparation-Edition of 2007”; from my experience, I can tell you that the Kaplan is better, in my opinion, than the CollegeBoard because it had 2 tests more than the CollegeBoard, which had 10, and because the Kaplan had answers and explanations. Practice is always good, but knowing why were you wrong is surely very beneficial. That’s my opinion only though, after all.</p>
<p>Oh I forgot to add that I’m assuming that you are already experienced with the SAT. If you are not, the CollegeBoard book I mentioned has more than just tests, in contrast with the Kaplan one I also mentioned.</p>
<p>If you are on a tight budget and can’t buy more than one book, get the Official SAT Study Guide 2nd Edition. The best way to raise your SAT score is to take several practice tests.</p>
<p>If you are willing to buy more though, buy more. Try to take as many practice tests as possible. I think that Princeton Review’s practice tests are the most similar to Collegeboard’s tests, so I would recommend getting one of their books. (They have two: the regular SAT book with strategies and 4 practice tests, and the book with nothing but SAT practice tests. I like the vocabulary “hit parade” lists that PR has though, so I got the regular book). Kaplan also has a book with 12 practice tests. I’ve taken one of the practice tests, and I don’t think the tests are that similar to Collegeboard’s, but I still use them anyway. After all, any practice is good practice. (And my cousin used it to raise is score from a 1700 to a 2290).</p>
<p>Barron’s is good as well, but not for its practice tests. Barron’s has several helpful tips and strategies that you can use to ace the SAT. I read over my Barron’s book once, and I found it fairly helpful.</p>
<p>Get the College Board book if you’re only getting one, and take all the practice tests in it. The first half of the book with tips, etc. is actually not very helpful - there are strategies, tricks, etc. that they do not go into, and much of their advice will get you into the median range, but not high if you follow it. PR is good for strategies, but IMO bad for practice tests.</p>