<p>There are a lot of choices and options and "2nd Edition" or "3rd Edition", so which ones would you recommend? I already have the SAT Study Guide Second Edition, or better known as the Blue Book, and the SAT 2400, 4th Edition. Here is my wishlist:</p>
<ul>
<li>SAT Vocab Book</li>
<li>2 SAT Math Books</li>
<li>SAT Writing Book</li>
<li>SAT Critical Reading Book</li>
</ul>
<p>Get the Blue Book, and look for Barrett’s new Black Book and Edwards’ Maxximum SAT. Direct Hits are OK, but hardly necessary. The rest of the bunch are better checked out at the library. </p>
<p>Do not use any of the synthetic tests. Avoid the huge wordlists and irrelevant and misleading junk such as Dr. Chung. </p>
<p>Stick to the basics, work smart, and discuss strategies here.</p>
<p>The official guide and DVD latest edition have been recalled last month. It may be related to the upcoming renovation of the SAT. For vocab, you may check out your local library to see if they have any. My D use Smart Words and More Smart Words. However, you need to start early to learn vocab as it really take time. Have you taken the first practice test and what is your current standing? If you are already on par, you may just home in the practice books. My suggestion is to form a book exchange club with your peers and have each one buy a different practice books. You will finish each book within a month in summer and you will not look back to it again.</p>
<p>@xiggi
What obligates you to support these relatively novel prep books at such a surprising whim? Would you still recommend Gruber’s and DH as mentioned in your SAT prep guide?</p>
<ul>
<li>What obligates you? Simple answer. Absolutely nothing;</li>
<li>to support? … I am suggesting the books I consider better than the rest </li>
<li>these relatively novel prep books? … what is novel about those books? As far as I know, the authors present the same true and tested strategies that I endorse – for the most part. And in case you meant recent or newish, they are new versions of previous efforts.</li>
<li>at such a surprising whim? why do you think it is surprising or … whimsical?<br></li>
</ul>
<p>Would you still recommend Gruber’s and DH as mentioned in your SAT prep guide?
Gruber’s remain a good source book, and it belongs in the category “the rest of the bunch” that is best checked out at the library. And most definitely belongs in the “avoid the synthetic tests” part. </p>
<p>I may have mentioned Direct Hits in the past, and at best offered a lukewarm … why not! In the genre, it beats the asinine studying of thousands of words because it adds some context. Not extraordinary different from what a critical and proactive reading of past tests would deliver, except that reading the past tests should deliver a LOT more words and even more context. </p>
<p>Do I believe that DH deserves the effusive praise it garnered around here a couple of years ago? Do I believe that the “hit” statistics were accurate and relevant? Nope! Never did and never will buy those arguments. </p>
<p>I recommend getting Rocket Review Revolution (preferably from the library to avoid the exorbitant prices online) for critical reading and writing, and Gruber’s SAT workbook for math.</p>
<p>I apologize for portraying a wrong sense of tone. I guess my snobbish use of words through the process of trial and error led to a bad first impression. (Just trying to review for Saturday’s test by implementing rather ‘challenging’ words in basic conversation.)</p>
<p>When reading this forum, I had abruptly googled a sense of what the books looked like and what they contained. However as obviously observed, my supposed research of these books were too broad to draw premature assumptions. I will be sure to research these books further to determine if they would be of help to me. I appreciate the advice and yet again apologize for my arrogance.</p>