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.
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The
Official SAT Study Guide
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
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Maximum
SAT
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- |
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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 their 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- |
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Gruber's
SAT
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+ |
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Barron's
SAT
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-
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Barron's
2400
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
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Rocket
Review Revolution: SAT
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-
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Kaplan
SAT
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
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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+
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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+
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10
Real SATs
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
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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-
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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-
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