@cheesemage45 A book that is more of a ‘crash course’ is McGrawHill’s Short Course for the SAT. For more extensive material, look at the Barron’s New SAT and SAT 1600 books. In my opinion, those three books are the best for learning the format and the information. If you are looking for accurate practice tests/questions then Khan Academy and the Official CB website is the place to go. Most of the other companies should have accurate tests in future editions of their books, so I would hold off on buying any 1,000 page PR or Kaplan book for now. If you aren’t particularly strong in math, but can nail the Evidence Based Reading/Writing Sections, Barron’s 1600 is the best fit for you.
is the new kaplan premier or the princeton one any good?
Could somebody here please review Erica meltzers critical reader for new SAT. I am dissapointed to hear that she doesn’t have her own practice tests and there and it’s only her own exercises and I don’t like that she mentions college board tests because I want to do those separately. Despite this, it still seems like the best reading book out there.
Also, could somebody please review Steve warners new SAT math problems book?
Also, I plan to start studying mid July for October 1.
@markj4994 The Critical Reader is a well designed book but difficult to understand at times. IES Prep has a pretty solid book; however, it’s mostly composed of practice tests (which are very accurate). I have seen Warner’s problem book and honestly it’s not too impressive. Try College Panda’s Prep books for math. They have an instruction-based book, as well as a practice test book. More books will be released over the course of the summer, and I am waiting for better instructional material, specifically for the Reading section. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask away.
Reading Section: Erica Metzler’s “The Critical Reader.”
Writing: The College Panda’s SAT Writing: Advanced Guide and Workbook for the New SAT
Math: The College Panda’s SAT Math: Advanced Guide and Workbook for the New SAT’
Practice Tests: Khan/Collegeboard
^ After doing some light research, these are the books I’m inclined to purchasing for each section. For those of you that have them and/or know about them, what are the pros and cons of each? Are there better options?
Also, how good are Erica Metzler’s “The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar” and the “PWN the SAT: Math Guide”?
@Pawrrrrrr Don’t worry about buying The Ultimate Guide to SAT Gramar or PWN the SAT Math. You have already chosen the best three books IMO. Although, keep in mind that Khan Academy has roughly 1500 questions for English, 1000 for Math, and 250 for Reading. While it has sufficient amounts of practice for Math/English, the number of Reading questions is lacking. Also, The Critical Reader does NOT have a practice test in it. My recommendation is to either get Barron’s New SAT Reading workbook or IES Test Prep’s New SAT Reading book.
@zealousscholar Alright, I’ll settle for those three!
Im stuck with choosing which books. Here are some that I have seen mentioned the most
KALLIS’ Redesigned SAT Pattern Strategy
Barron’s PSAT/NMSQT 1520: Aiming for National Merit
Barron’s Reading Workbook for the NEW SAT
I dont plan on getting the College Board Blue Book Since I found it free from CollegeBoard here:
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/inside-the-test/study-guide-students
Is the “The Critical Reader” really worth it. I feel that the author released the book too early with little information (July 28, 2015)"
I havent heard too much about College Panda. What is the general consensus?
@ZealousScholar I signed up for the khan academy course and set it up to give me 40 questions daily. I had been wondering since there are so little practice questions what happens when I run out? Do they just start repeating questions?
@cerealguy3
Erica Meltzer wrote the Critical Reader based off the information and practice tests in the Blue Book. To me, it seems very accurate. Even if she wrote it today, is there really any extra information that she would have?
Collectively, based on peer reviews and online reviews, College Panda seems like one of the best prep materials out there. Wish they had a reading book.
I don’t consider 2500+ questions so little, but I am not sure what happens? I haven’t used it as a main resource yet bc I want to get through some of the prep books before first. Guess you’ll find out what happens in around 70 days…
I looked at all the big-name publishers and most of their practice tests are terrible. The questions do not capture the complexity and nuances of authentic SAT questions. The ones that I found that have the most realistic practice tests are Ivy Global and Kallis SAT prep books.
Does anyone know of SAT books that prep you in this particular format? I’m interested in books that teach question stem types, drill on those types, and provide explanations all on the same pages. For example:
Math
Question
Heart Of Algebra
Answer: A
Explanation
The Collegeboard book does this, but it does this to a low extent (only a few pages out of some 800). I’m looking for a book that exclusively adopts this style.
R/M/W is OK
Hi,
Sorry if someone has asked this before (first time on this thread).
What is the best book for PSAT (I am aiming for national merit) or SAT since PSAT is similar to SAT. I already have the blue book. I am looking for a book that actually explains not just giving practice something like what @GMKoon suggested.
I got my hands on the Kallis book. The reading questions don’t really seem like authentic CB questions…
@YoLolololol How is the Math section? Does it identify weaknesses and drill you on those weaknesses?
@GMKoon What do you mean it identifies weaknesses? I mean it’s your job to find the weaknesses and find the topic and drill you on them. From what you are asking, you might benefit from $400 Prepscholar lessons. They identifiy your weaknesses and drill you. I wouldn’t use these for math lessons, really. I liked Steven Warner’s book for the Old SAT math, but I’m not sure how his new SAT books are like. Hope this helps.
I would take CB Practice Tests and get most of the questions correct. I would read the explanation and comprehend the questions, but I would want more to solidify my understanding of the question type. The topics I get wrong are the topics I want to be drilled on.
I’m wondering whether Barron’s 1600 (“Barron’s SAT 1600: Revised for the NEW SAT”) or Princeton Review’s 1600 (“SAT Elite 1600: For the Redesigned 2016 Exam”) would be a better choice. I have checked them both on Amazon but they either have no reviews at all or very few ones.
I’m going to be a freshman this September but I want a head start and so I plan to work on either of the mentioned books after having finished McGraw Hill’s SAT 2016 Edition & Princeton Review’s Cracking the New SAT Premium 2016, since I do aim for a top score.
Thanks in advance.
Those “1600” books are not that good or advanced.
Has anyone tried “Paul’s New Math SAT Workbook”? It had good reviews on Amazon, so I bought it and am looking it over. I like the “Barrons New Math SAT Workbook”, which works for students in the 550-700 range. The Paul’s book is supposed to be at the 700+ level.