"What SAT Physics and Math Level 2 books should I get?" SAT Subject Test book reviews

Test Preparation SAT Subject Test Preparation
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<p>If you want to see this guide grow, for every 10 replies, I will spend another hour searching! Already over 3 or 4 hours have been dedicated to this guide :)</p>

<p>Summary
If you don't want to spend very much and are pretty decent at the subjects, grab:
[list=summary]
[li]Physics:</a> PR (good tests and decent coverage of concepts) and also use[/li][li]Physics:</a> Sparknotes (practice tests)[/li][li]Math</a> Level 2: Barron's (essential. harder than the real thing, around ~650 in Barrons and you can get 800 on the real thing)[/li][li]Math</a> Level 2: Sparknotes (realistic practice tests)[/li][li]Math</a> Level 2: CB Official for Math level 1 and 2[/li][li]Math</a> Level 2: Ti-Nspire CAS Calculator (STRONGLY recommended if you can afford it, will save a lot of time)[/li][/list]</p>

<p>SAT Physics
Books
[list=physics]
[<em>]Kaplan</a> SAT Subject Test Physics 2010-2011 Edition The tests are slightly easier than the real thing, but the explanations are easier to understand than the ones in PR. Buy this if you need to go over the content contained in the test and would benefit from better explanations.
[li]Princeton</a> Review Cracking the SAT Physics Subject Test, 2011-2012 Edition The best overall book. Has great tests (if slightly easier), and the explanations are decent, but as I mentioned, some are a bit hard to understand.[/li][li]CB</a> The Official Study Guide for All SAT Subject Tests, 2nd Ed<a href="newly%20updated">/url</a>. Worth it just for the one real SAT Physics test.[/li][li][url=<a href="http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/sat2/physics/%5DSparkNotes:">http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/sat2/physics/]SparkNotes:</a> SAT Physics Actually really good! They also offer 5 tests, though with a free account you only get one. I did read about a workaround but don't want to condone that. [/li][</em>]Barron's Physics: Avoid this. Practice tests are different to the real thing, and in some areas it doesn't teach you enough, and others it has stuff you don't need to know.
[/list]</p>

<p>Sample scores with those physics books
PR: 800, 750
Sparknotes: 780, 790, 790
CB blue book practice: 800
Final result: 800</p>

<p>Other useful physics information
CC:</a> Advice for Physics
Sat</a> Physics Resources - ProProfs Forums</p>

<hr>

<p>SAT Math Level 2/II
Books: **If Aiming for 800
[list=math800]
[li]CB</a> The Official SAT Subject Tests in Mathematics Levels 1 & 2 Study Guide Essential as it comes with a real test.[/li][li]Barron's</a> SAT Subject Test Math Level 2 The best. Overpreps you, but really helpful.[/li][li]Meylani-RUSH</a> 15 Realistic Tests for the SAT Subject Test Math Level 2: Up to date and true to life: with 3 fully solved bonus tests Warning: serious overprep. [/li][li]Amazon.com:</a> 10 more Realistic Tests for the SAT Subject Test Math Level 2: different from the 15 Realistic Tests (Volume 2) (9781451594164): Rusen Meylani: Books Warning: super-serious overprep.[/li][li]SparkNotes:</a> SAT Subject Test: Math Level 2 Nice and realistic tests, and the coverage of material is pretty good too.[/list]</p>[/li]
<p>Books: If NOT Aiming for 800
[list=mathnot800]
[li]CB</a> The Official SAT Subject Tests in Mathematics Levels 1 & 2 Study Guide Essential as it comes with a real test.[/li][li]McGraw-Hill's</a> SAT Subject Test: Math Level 2, Second Edition Just for if you want some more practice tests, but not the uber-hard Meylani ones.[/li][li]Barron's</a> SAT Subject Test Math Level 2 Optional - it does over prep you, but definitely recommended.[/li][li]SparkNotes:</a> SAT Subject Test: Math Level 2[/list]</p>[/li]
<p>Calculator stuff**
[list=calculator]
[li]TI-Nspire</a> CAS with Touchpad: Electronics AMAZING calculator. Extremely fast to use, and so many functions. Saves me >5 minutes I am sure.[/li][li]TI-Nspire</a> CAS Graphing Calculator Older version of the above calculator. This is the one I have. The newer one is slightly better but don't hesitate to get this one, it is pretty much as good.[/li][li]TI-Nspire</a> For Dummies - Can't vouch for this being any good sorry (I haven't read it).[/li][li]CC:</a> SAT 2 Math Programs to load onto your calculator (to save time)[/list]</p>[/li]
<p>Sample scores with these Math II books
Person 1: 600s in barrons = 750
Person 2: low 600s in barrons = 780
Person 3: <650 barrons = 790
Person 4: 600s barrons, 750 sparknotes = 800 real
Person 5: mcgraw hill 800s, barrons 650-740s, sparknotes & PR 800s = 800 real
Person 6: sparknotes 780-800s, CB Official Test 1 780, CB Official Test 2 800 = 800 real</p>

<p>I put a lot of effort into making this guide, and would really appreciate any comments you have! Remember, every 10 comments, and I'll spend another hour looking into stuff for this (that might mean that if it gets 30 comments, I'll go and research another 2 subjects)</p>

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<p>Very good guide!</p>

<p>I learn from Halliday Resnick Walker book. Do you think I will get necessary knowledge for SAT II physics from there?</p>

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<p>Depends on what score you want to get. If you are aiming for the really high scores and you have at least a month to study, I would suggest doing the Sparknotes and PR. I really think it is worth buying those, the PR tests are accurate. However, if you can’t afford it then go with just Sparknotes. Cheers</p>

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<p>Whats the difference between the two calculators? I’m trying to decide if spending the extra money would be worth it or not.</p>

<p>Also, thanks for the recommendation on the books. This guide really helped me a lot.</p>

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<p>This is an awesome post!</p>

<p>I always used a scientific casio calculator in school.
Is it on the one hand possible and on the other hand
worthwhile to get used to a graphic calculator?</p>

<p>An if so, why would you suggest the TI-Nspire over the TI-89?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

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<p>Sounds really good, would like one for Bio :]</p>

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<p>@Jumosasa
There isn’t too much difference, but if you can afford it go for the new one. If you parents are happy to pay for the new one, it is worth it even if it saves you an extra minute.</p>

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<p>@Amad3us
Thanks very much :slight_smile: and yes, 100% yes! The Nspire is much faster to use than the 89. Even if you have the 89 already I would strongly recommend replacing it with an Nspire. You will be super glad that you have it during the exam.</p>

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<p>Ok. For the physics SAT I’ll get “Physics: PR”, for the SAT I’ll get a book from College Board and what should I take for Math 2 level to get some expierience with this kind of test?</p>

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<p>get barrons</p>

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<p>@Makaveli94 Yep, as djsash said, go with Barrons.
Btw guys, post has been updated.
If you need more tests for physics, and want to try and guarantee an 800, get Barrons for physics too.
[Amazon.com:</a> Barron’s SAT Subject Test Physics (9780764143533): Herman Gerwitz, Jonathan S. Wolf M.A.: Books](<a href=“http://amzn.to/itWin1]Amazon.com:”>http://amzn.to/itWin1)</p>

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<p>If I can buy only one, what is better for physics? Barrons or PR?</p>

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<p>PR is much better!</p>

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<p>Is PR Maths 2 level also better than Barrons Math 2 level?</p>

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<p>Much better!</p>

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<p>This thread is a great resource. I used it to pick out my review books for Math II (Barron’s and the online SparkNotes one), so thank you!</p>

<p>What features does the TI-Nspire have that make it so valuable? I have the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition, and I want to know how much of a difference an upgrade would make.</p>

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<p>aussietechie, I have rported u to the office of testing integrity that u have been using an illegal calculator. Your test scores may be invalidated</p>

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<p>gbraing:
Do yourself a big favour and get the Nspire. The 84 does not compare - in fact, even the 89 does not compare. Everything is so much faster to do on the Nspire - though you might have to use them both to realize this (which I have done).
Everything has easy menu options which can be quickly accessed (keyboard shortcuts), super powerful functions, etc - I could go on and on.</p>

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<p>engmath:
Haha not sure if that is a joke or not. Kind of seems like an anti-joke to me.</p>

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<p>Seriously, engmath what are you on about</p>