<p>Should I get Rocket Review or Princeton Review for SAT prep? I already have the big blue book, but since those two books are made from the same company, maybe its not necessary to get both.</p>
<p>Also, would it make a difference if I get the PR one for 2005 and not 2006 (its cheaper)?</p>
<p>Also note, that I am a rising junior and I am primarily focusing on getting a good score (like 220) on the PSAT's. Any tips would be helpful.</p>
<p>Out of these two, PR is better. Despite the fact that lots of people criticize it, it has its advantages, as well (strong vocabulary list, good basic approaches for each section, math in particular). A friend of mine has aced the test (accepted to yale, harvard, dartmouth, duke etc.) and he advised me not to get rocket review (I own PR). But do me a favor: DO NOT RELY ON PR ONLY. Purchasing the blue book is a must, good you possess it. But if you have any money disposable, consider McGraw Hill (judging from what I have heard, having read lots of praise). </p>
<p>This book must be THE $HIT.</p>
<p>I have McGraw...it's good, but it's only so good</p>
<p>I have RR also, and it is pretty good at giving more tips on the test, while McGraw is more of the foundation of the actual concepts tested.</p>
<p>McGraw-Hill's SAT I, Second edition (McGraw-Hill's SAT I) (Paperback) </p>
<p>Is that the one you guys are talking about? The problem is, I dont have much money to spare. But possibly I can scrap up some for this one too.</p>
<p>
[quote]
McGraw-Hill's SAT I, Second edition (McGraw-Hill's SAT I) (Paperback)
[/quote]
Yes this is the one. I have a copy too.</p>
<p>it's like 20 bucks...</p>
<p>yeah, but I have to buy alot of other books... so 20 bucks piles up...</p>
<p>what other books?</p>
<p>My advice: I think RR is ok for strategy and such if you are not a good test
taker.
Princeton Review versions do not change much from year to year.
PR is not as indepth. </p>
<p>The basic strategy advice is generic.
Be logical. The SAT is not out there to trick you.
Guess if you can eliminate 1 choice. If you are totally stumped, just pick the shortest answer for sentence correction. Don't waste time on harder questions. </p>
<p>RR has some better strategy, but the strategy in the book is obvious and generic. </p>
<p>I found both somewhat useless after skimming through for an hour or two on each. Blue Book + online course is good enough. If you must, get RR (its better than PR) for teh strategy and wordlists, but DO NOT EVEN TOUCH THE FILTHY TESTS. </p>
<p>Borrowing it from a friend or something is better. It isn't worth $20.</p>
<p>RR seems to help though, I have a couple of friends who read rocket review and scored 2290 and 2400. Both attribute their scores to RR and their insane prep and money. 2290 spent around $1000 and 2 months. 2400 spent around $5000 and 2 years of hard prep.</p>
<p>@sai2004: that's insane.</p>
<p>let me tip you off: check the used & new section at amazon.com. no matter what you want to purchase, you ought to get it cheaper there.</p>
<p>the thing is, opinions do always differ and generally one has to come to one's own conclusion. I'll be reading several books, just to be sure.</p>
<p>thanks for the tips guys.</p>
<p>Hmm, well, then, maybe now get RR and McGraw Hill? I have been using the used section at amazon, unfortunately, the newer versions of these books have little difference in the price. </p>
<p>I'll probably just get the 2005 versions of these books. So McGraw Hill seems to be a definite, now its RR vs PR. Maybe I will just get RR for the summer, and then skim through PR in Barnes and Noble before the test around September.</p>
<p>princeton reviews 11 free practice tests, from what ive seen from about 1-2 practice tests has been the most like the collegeboards real tests. Barrons by far the worst. </p>
<p>Now, if you already have the blue book, I would suggest getting the Collegeboard Online Course</p>
<p>IT has all the explanations for the blue book, + 7 more practice tests. Around 4 quizzes for each of the 5 math parts, 3 writing parts, and 3 Critical reading parts. So thats about 44 quizzes of about 10-30 questions each. </p>
<p>ALl you should need is the blue book + the online course. Practice tests are the best way to study. Collegeboard easily offers the best answer explanations by far, and while reading them you learn the kinds of traps that they set for you.(sometimes a page for a problem)</p>
<p>edit:
also if you are looking to up your vocab, barrons has a list(flash cards) of about 500 words in the back of one of its SAT I books. It helped me alot on the sentence completions</p>
<p>^^ The PR Book has flash cards in the back, too.</p>