Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar by Erica Meltzer BOOK review

<p>Hi guys,</p>

<p>From what I I can tell a lot of people are worried on the forums about their Writing Section score. I have made a formal review (originally intended to post on amazon) for a book on SAT grammar and have copy pasted it here. I hope you guys like it and helps you make a decision on how you will pursue your practice in the Writing Section. Please let me know if the review has been helpful!</p>

<p>Review: Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar</p>

<p>Throughout the world of SAT prep there is a plethora of advice, strategies, books, courses, tutors, books et cetera. So it is sometimes hard to separate the good from the bad. With this in mind, I am here to offer you a review of the Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar. Before we start, I want to be very clear, this book does not include tips on the ESSAY portion of the SAT which constitutes a part of the overall Writing section score. This book is for the Multiple Choice Writing part of the SAT, which includes Identifying Sentence Errors, Fixing Sentences & Improving Paragraphs.</p>

<p>A little bit of background about me, as of right now I am a rising senior who has taken the SAT two times. The second time I took it I practiced with the strategies outlined in this book and achieved an exactly 100-point increase from 650 to 750. I am going to take it for the last time in October and hopefully will achieve the very close to 800 score that I desire.</p>

<p>On to the review, A lot of people who have been disappointed with the score they received on the Writing section of the SAT are in luck. This book in conjunction (no pun intended) with the 2nd edition Blue Book will be the pathway to a very high score in the writing section. </p>

<p>For those of you who have not heard of the author, Erica Meltzer is a Manhattan based tutor with around 5+ years of tutoring experience and is very good at what she does. She has a blog in which she posts daily tips for the Critical Reading and Writing section of the SAT. </p>

<p>This time around she has come up with a book of the writing section, which will become the definitive guide for all grammar related issues of the SAT. This book covers EVERYTHING that has been tested and will be tested with examples, tips, tricks, and strategies, everything you could ask for to ACE the SAT. The author does not waste one’s time covering things that HAVE NOT appeared on the exam as some prep course material do. </p>

<p>There is no fluff in this book; it gets directly to the point. No exaggerating ennui grammar rules to memorize. The author knows all the intrinsic details that comprise the Writing portion of the SAT. She has deconstructed the Writing section of the SAT scrupulously to get to the finest detail. For example, when describing the Error-Identification questions she lists all possible type of errors in order of frequency (16 in total), then she explains each one in finest details with examples and when one is confident with the material, are some practice exercises to make sure one understands the material being tested. After that there are cumulative exercises that help one understand the overall material and lastly Specific Error ID strategies. After that, it is the same thing with Fixing Sentences. Rules, exercises, practice, et cetera. All very detailed and concise.</p>

<p>There is one last thing that I haven’t mentioned; my favorite part of the book. This is the part that helps distinguish this book from the rest of all SAT prep materials… the last 20 pages of the book, This section is comprised of the entire 2nd edition Blue Book Writing section, practice tests (10 in total) deconstructed. In Appendix A all the multiple choice questions in the writing section are put in order of concepts tested and in Appendix B all multiple choice questions are put in order number; “Questions by Test”. So depending on how you plan to practice whether it be by order of test or by order of concepts you have either way to approach and practice. Say, for example, you are having difficulties with “Dangling Modifiers” you could search in Appendix A all the questions in the Blue Book that deal in that specific category. Another example, you are doing a practice test in order from the Blue Book, say practice test #4, and you don’t understand question 10 you can search in Appendix B for what that question is testing. This really comes in handy when practicing. </p>

<p>Throughout the book, she gives strategies and overall makes one feel confident about the SAT in general. There is no doubt if one does complete the book and practices with the Blue Book one will score very highly in this section.</p>

<p>Somehow the writing section has ostensibly become a “difficult” section of the SAT. Nothing can be further from the truth. This book has been made to help you dispel that notion. With certain rules, strategies and patterns under your belt the Writing section can, in a certain twisted way, be fun to tackle.</p>

<p>For all prospective buyers; Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors and stressed out parents this is the guide you want for the writing section of the SAT. This is the book that SAT tutors don’t want you to have, as you’ll be taking away their business! hehe. </p>

<p>If you are still not sure if this book is for you, there is a more than generous preview (20 pages) of this book in the author’s website. If you like what you see, then do yourself and SAT score a favor and buy this book!</p>

<p>Now if we can only convince Ms. Meltzer of making a Critical Reading book…</p>

<p>I got mine in the mail today! I’m so excited!</p>

<p>Has anybody used this book? [SAT</a> Rules for Success](<a href=“http://www.blackstonereview.com/buy-book.html]SAT”>http://www.blackstonereview.com/buy-book.html)</p>

<p>I ordered it a few days ago. It looks promising. I actually used her sat grammar rules available for free on her website to score 78/80 on writing mc.</p>

<p>And I’m referring to the book that is the subject of the review.</p>

<p>I think it really is a definitive guide. Everything is in there. It definitely sounds plausible that your experience is real. There is no reason it can’t happen with her rules and guide.</p>

<p>RE @Somewhere 2017- I haven’t heard much from the other book except three reviews on amazon around the same date -.- so they don’t look to reliable my friend.</p>

<p>Yeah, I’m going to stay away from that book. I’ll get Meltzer’s book instead. Speaking of which, I tried to order it but couldn’t and then went to her blog and found this:</p>

<p>TUESDAY, JULY 5, 2011</p>

<p>The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar will be temporarily unavailable
Dear all, </p>

<p>The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar will be temporarily unavailable from Amazon while I make some minor revisions. While looking through the book, I discovered some terminology errors that should <em>not</em> impact the effectiveness of the explanations in terms of their application to the SAT but that nevertheless need to be corrected. For anyone who has already ordered the book and would like to obtain the revisions, please email me, and I will be happy to send you the modified pages as soon as they are available. </p>

<p>My sincere apologies,
EM</p>

<p>:( Also, I found on her blog that she suggested this book: [Amazon.com:</a> Write the SAT Essay Right!: Ten Secrets to Add 100 Points to Your Score (9781934338780): Laura Wilson: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Write-SAT-Essay-Right-Secrets/dp/1934338788/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1310087538&sr=8-1]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Write-SAT-Essay-Right-Secrets/dp/1934338788/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1310087538&sr=8-1) Has anybody used it?</p>

<p>RE @Somewhere2017</p>

<p>I forgot to mention that in the review thread. She told me a couple of days ago that she was going to do some minor revisions and a little few details that will certainly add to the book. But don’t worry she told me the final book will be available really soon. I am guessing she will make a blog post as to when they are available again. You will not be disappointed.</p>

<p>If you want to satiate and/or start reviewing for the writing section before the book peruse through her blog to get a feel for her writing (no pun intended!) style. </p>

<p>As for the essay book, she does swear by it and from what I have heard it is a good book for people who are scoring into the 6-8-10 who want to improve to the 12. She also has some tips of the essay in some of her blogposts although not a lot, definitely good posts Personally I have my own approach for the essay section which works for me and has helped me get a 10 and 11. So I wouldn’t be able to help you out with that one! If you are interested in my formula send me a pm I’ll fill you in on it. It’s not for everyone and requires a bit of audacity but with practice you’ll be getting high scores.</p>

<p>@ SAT ezrahusney,</p>

<p>I’m searching the internet and I cannot find Erica Meltzer’s website you are talking about that has free information. Can you provide me with a link? Thanks</p>

<p>PaperchaseAlex</p>

<p>I hope the book becomes available soon. It looks like it could be a boon for my Writing MC score.</p>

<p>It’s not in stock. Has anyone used the book? Is it any good? I’m seriously considering purchasing it.</p>

<p>It’s available now: <a href=“https://www.createspace.com/3577394[/url]”>https://www.createspace.com/3577394&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Is the book even good? Like practice tests, etc or is it just the whole English grammar? R u advertising :o lol jks</p>

<p>Sorry, I meant ‘it’s now in stock’.</p>

<p>The author doesn’t even go out of her way to add a decent cover page… No thanks. I rather use Silverturtles grammar guide. It’s much more too the point, rather then adding bluffs that we don’t need.</p>

<p>^It’s foolish to dismiss what could be a valuable resource simply due to its unappealing cover. For all we know, it could be a gem. I, for one, will wait for a few more reviews to see if it’s worth buying.</p>

<p>There’s a saying about a book and its cover, but I can’t quite remember what it is.</p>

<p>Don’t judge a book by it’s cover?</p>

<p>^just what i was thinking lol</p>

<p>To be honest, I found the cover to be quite quirky when I first got it. But I like it, it’s different to those languid SAT books that look so lackluster and just have an overall ennui feel.</p>

<p>Plus, you’ll never lose it among the myriad of SAT books in your house haha.</p>

<p>If you’re not going to buy the book because of a cover…more power to you. You’re the one that’s losing out :).</p>