Recommended SAT Books
We've put together a list of SAT books that we recommend. This list should keep even the most voracious of SAT test takers busy. In order to design the most effective SAT prep program for yourself, we recommend mixing and matching many of the books on the list. Any good program should center around the use of the Official Study Guide, which is the gold standard of SAT prep books.
The Official SAT Study Guide, Second Edition By College Board
Useful for: Real SAT practice questions.
Avoid: Tips and Strategies sections.
This book includes 8 official practice tests from the College Board, the maker of the SATs. It is the only guide on the market that has real SAT questions and is, in our opinion, the best guide to which to practice and prepare for the test.Grade: A
Useful for: Supplement to the Official Study Guide, Strategies and tips.
Maximum SAT is designed to be the unofficial companion guide to "The Official SAT Study Guide" by the College Board. This book analyzes the different types of questions in the Official Study Guide and helps student recognize patterns in problems that come up. It also provides a structured way of studying through the Official Guide.
Grade: B-The Official SAT Study Guide Solutions Manual
Useful for: Solutions to the Official Study Guide.
The College Board's Official SAT Guide is unquestionably the best guide out there since it has real SAT questions. However, although it provides answers to their questions, it fails to provide a thorough explanation on how the answers were derived. This unofficial guide has step-by-step solutions to those questions and will help students understand how to determine the "best" answers.
Grade: B-Useful for: Math and Writing sections, Building concepts.
The Gruber's SAT book, which we utilize on our prep courses, is known for having great review sections, especially for grammar (the writing section) and for math. This is probably one of the best books for actually learning the concepts and material. It also include 5 practice exams, but they tend to be more difficult than those in the College Board book.
Grade: B+Useful for: Math, Writing, Word list, Building concepts.
Avoid: Practice exams tend to be more difficult.
This is a solid guide for the SAT. It provides tactics and strategies to familiarize students with SAT tricks, vocabulary flash cards to increase word power, 6 full practice tests, and reviews in critical reading, grammar and math. The Barron's also includes a lengthy 3500 word list for building your vocabulary.
Grade: A-
Useful for: Advanced tips and strategies, Math concepts.
This book is geared towards students who are already are scoring in the 2000+ range. The book bypasses the standard test prep drills and offers advice and strategies for tackling the hardest questions. The book does a particularly good job in its Math section.
Grade: B
Useful for: Strategies and Tips, Critical Reading and Writing, Great Word List
This relatively new book is considered one of the best SAT preparation books on the market. Written by Adam Robinson, an SAT expert, it combines effective techniques, study strategies and most importantly, motivates students to succeed. It also has a quality 300 word list, which is second only to the Direct Hits vocabulary list.
Grade: A-
Your standard fare SAT prep book. The questions and examples in the Kaplan book tend to be easier than those in other prep books like Princeton Review and Barron's.Grade: C
Princeton Review SAT
Another standard fare SAT prep book. The book includes strategies, full-length practice exams and a "Hit Parade" vocabulary list.Grade: C+
Princeton Review 11 Practice Tests
Useful for: Ample practice questions
Avoid: Critical Reading sections tend to be more difficult than the real thing.This book should provide enough practice questions for your SAT preparation. However, we strongly recommend exhausting all College Board resources for real SAT questions first, which includes the Official Guide (8 tests) and the Online Official Course (6 tests).
Grade: C+
This book is the only other guide that offers real SAT practice questions created by the test makers, the College Board. The only problem is that the tests are for the old SATs, which only tests the Critical Reading and Math section. Also, the analogy type questions have become obsolete in the new SAT. However, it does provide good practice for the reading passages and for math. This book is no longer published, but it is still available for sale used (in new condition) on sites like Amazon and Ebay.
Grade: B
Direct Hits Core Vocabulary of the SAT (Volume 1)
The Directs Hits word list is compilation of 190 vocabulary words from the most recent SAT exams. Although a short list, the words on the list have the highest frequency of appearing on the SAT than any other word list currently available.
Grade: A-
Direct Hits Toughest Vocabulary of the SAT (Volume 2)
Volume 2 is an extension of the Direct Hits vocabulary, with an additional 176 words. Volume 2 includes more advanced vocabulary including words pertaining to subject areas and words with multiple definitions.
Grade: A-
