<p>direct hits, or essential 500
both are by larry krieger</p>
<p>Okay… How much words has this book got?</p>
<p>McGraw Hill 2013 edition with 6 practice tests, how good is the critical reading and writing sections?</p>
<p>I used the 10 extra practice test from the cb website</p>
<p>I did pretty well on the reading and math on my PSAT. But I did not do as well on the writing. Any advice for what book I should get to do better at writing?</p>
<p>I gave my SAT for the first time in December and my score was 1580… -_-
here’s the break up-
Critical Reading-490
Math-570
Writing-520
I know the score’s are really low! Well I only used the College Board’s Blue Book.
I know that i can do much better at the Math section (a bit more of practice). But my CRITICAL READING IS HORRIBLE! and my writing…I have no comments on it! 
I WANNA INCREASE MY SCORE TO A 2100+ and I’m ready to practice as hard as it takes to get the score.
I decided to look up for some books and I found my self sorta drowned in reviews for “Barron’s SAT”, “Barron’s SAT-2400”, “Kaplan’s”, “Princeton Review” and “Gruble’s SAT GUIDE”. No one likes “Kaplan’s” and “Princeton Review” but people like the “Gruble’s” for it’s Math(which i’m not that concerned about). I also heard about “THE BLACK BOOK” BY MIKE BARRETTE but no one actually discussed about it. It’s mainly available on amazon but i’m a bit skeptic about the reviews on amazon about this book. WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK? IS IT WORTH A SHOT? I also considered the Barron’s books cause they are known for their over preparing questions and tests. I feel that the Math part of the Barron’s SAT would be really easy for me but the critical reading would be a challenge for me and the Math part of Barron’s SAT-2400 would be challenging (in a good way) but the critical reading would be super hard for me! WHAT SHOULD I DO? COULD ANYONE PLEASE ADVISE AS TO WHICH BOOKS SHOULD BE USED TO ACHIEVE MY GOAL??</p>
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<p>Moderator’s note: Because of the explosion of similar threads, we have decided to consolidate the latest threads about SAT books. In the future, new threads that posted and ignore the previous discussions will be merged or deleted.</p>
<p>My DD is using the Blue SAT book plus the Black Book by Mike Barrett. I’ll let you know how it goes. She scored 63 on CR, 59 M and 47 W on the PSAT. Trying to bring the W up to at least 530 or so and we have a scholarship in mind that requires a 1300 CR+M which I think we’re in striking distance. I also got her a Barron’s vocab (a book of words basically). Now let the nagging commence. Good luck. Just pick something and do it, any studying will help.</p>
<p>thank you cmgrayson so that means that the “Black Book” is good for critical reading?</p>
<p>Any known test prep book is good for taking practice tests but to get your reading score up, you have to read alot! Read 30 classics or so and your reading score will go up significantly. Also remember to memorize about 2000-5000 vocab cards.</p>
<p>What iPrinceton said. We’re using SAT Blue plus Black Book for test practice and the vocab book is for word, word, word (word meaning). Don’t wait for us though, just pick something and try it, I don’t think one book is that much better than the other and online reviews are simply opinion.</p>
<p>Black book is supposed to break down the SAT by section. We’ll review it here when done to see if it does that. She has taken a peek at it though hasn’t tackled in depth and says it looks promising. I paid like $17 on Amazon and it came today.</p>
<p>thank you iPrinceton and cmgrayson. After looking at the opinions that both of you have put up I feel that everyone has different learning and understanding abilities and I just need to discover mine! 
btw thank you cmgrayson it would be really highly appreciated if you review the performance of the book :)</p>
<p>Yes, Aaruliu - I think anything that you study will be fine, just repeat repeat repeat practice tests, read read read and vocab vocab vocab. When will you retake the test (January?) Good luck! I will review the black book technique sometime in January, my D is scheduled for the January 25 SAT.</p>
<p>Hello Folks,
I kind of need help.
I have the following books and don’t know to use them in what order or degree.
Also, are these books sufficient enough?(looking to improve,get a 2250+)
<em>I plan to take it on March 8th and take it after if I feel I need to do better.</em></p>
<p>Books I have:</p>
<p>MATH:
1#)SAT Barron’s(The Big book 26th Edition)
<em>The Math section looks comprehensive.
However, is the Barron’s SAT 2400 or the Barron’s SAT Math Workbook better?</em></p>
<p>[Barron’s</a> SAT, 26th Edition (Barron’s Sat (Book Only)): Ira K. Wolf Ph.D., Sharon Weiner Green M.A.: 9781438000190: Amazon.com: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Barrons-26th-Edition-Book-Only/dp/1438000197]Barron’s”>http://www.amazon.com/Barrons-26th-Edition-Book-Only/dp/1438000197)</p>
<p>2#) Dr. Chungs SAT Math Book with the 20 tests and 58 tips.
<em>I have done like 25 tips maybe? Math is supposed to be like Middle-School level but, you know how the College Board is. I just not quite sure when I should start taking the test. This is due to the fact that I have heard it is a Great Book and people swear by it. If you have worked through it, please let me know how to use it.</em></p>
<p>[Dr</a>. John Chung’s SAT Math: 58 Perfect Tips and 20 Complete Tests, 3rd Edition: Dr. John Chung: 9781481959797: Amazon.com: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Dr-John-Chungs-SAT-Math/dp/1481959794]Dr”>http://www.amazon.com/Dr-John-Chungs-SAT-Math/dp/1481959794)</p>
<p>3#) Blue Book’s Math Review(Pretty Basic)</p>
<p>WRITING:</p>
<p>1#)The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar by Erica Meltzer(looks pretty good so far)</p>
<p>[The</a> Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar: Erica L. Meltzer: 9781463599881: Amazon.com: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/The-Ultimate-Guide-SAT-Grammar/dp/1463599889]The”>http://www.amazon.com/The-Ultimate-Guide-SAT-Grammar/dp/1463599889)</p>
<p>2#)How to write a 12 Essay in 10 days.( Academic Hacerz)</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/645763-how-write-12-essay-just-10-days.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/645763-how-write-12-essay-just-10-days.html</a></p>
<p>CRITICAL READING:
1#) <em>DIRECT HITS VOLUME 1&2</em> Heard a lot about this</p>
<p>[Direct</a> Hits Core Vocabulary of the SAT 5th Edition (2013) (Volume 1): Direct Hits, Ted Griffith: 9781936551132: Amazon.com: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Direct-Hits-Vocabulary-Edition-Volume/dp/1936551136]Direct”>http://www.amazon.com/Direct-Hits-Vocabulary-Edition-Volume/dp/1936551136)</p>
<p>2#) Sparknotes 1000 common SAT words list and the 250 one.</p>
<p>3#) The Barron’s 3500 word list</p>
<p>4#) Picture these SAT words(Barrons with it 300 Hot words)</p>
<p>5#) Harvest SAT words</p>
<p>6#) Miscellanous SAT sources that I feel are necessary.</p>
<p>*How do you feel about Critical Reading Workbook by Barron’s?</p>
<p>Others:
<em>I have the Blue Book and signed up for the SAT Online Course.</em></p>
<p>I have a question also on how to use these about 20 tests.
People say these test are invaluable and to exhaust other Test Company Prep(Barron’s,PR, & Kaplan) Test sources. Apparently, Barron’s is the most reliable. Also, apparently you can buy past SAT test for $3 and the Official SAT Practice test are online.(So that’s like 3 more)</p>
<p>I Would greatly appreciate any of you guys input!
Thanks beforehand.</p>
<p>cmgrayson, since I’m a junior right now and already taken it once to see how well I could do it without much help I feel that I should give it in March
thank you 
and good luck to your Daughter too! :)</p>
<p>Moderator’s note: Because of the explosion of similar threads, we have decided to consolidate the latest threads about SAT books. In the future, new threads that posted and ignore the previous discussions will be merged or deleted.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>How about reading the multiple stickied threads on the site, and follow the few instructions. After a while, you might start to differentiate between the solid and proven advice and the ones that amount to the one-eyed leading the blind. </p>
<p>For instance, while the Black Book by Barrett is very good, the math book by Dr. Chung is pure garbage. Advice to use non-College Board tests is poor, and so is the mythical and non-sensical advice to … study word lists. This later is one of the worst possible use of your time.</p>
<p>Again, there is no need to reinvent the wheel.</p>
<p>What are some good books to increase my score in the writing section? I did fine on CR+M but not so much on the writing.</p>
<p>After going through previous posts on this thread, I realized everyone here recommends different books. Like there are are a thousand books recommended by CCers here. 
</p>
<p>I need help with CR and vocab. One books that alot of people here use for vocab is Direct hits. Volume 1 +2. So my question. Is it enough to do only volume one alone for vocab? Also, is barrons a good book to practice CR? Aannnyyyybbooddyyyy. Please share your thoughts!</p>
<p>Hi guys!</p>
<p>I am sort of joining this thread late, so sorry if this question has already been asked, but besides the blue book, which SAT prep books have the most practice tests (quantity and quality-wise)?</p>