Arco Math for Smart Test-Takers (Arco Academic Test Preparation)

Rating:
Summary: SAVE your MONEY, TIME,and EDUCATION
Review: I haven't read this book but I am familiar with their high school prep book for catholic students. There are at least 100 incorrect answers in the book. They even give an incorrect formula for the area of a circle. If a student really uses this book they will miss every math question that involves circles! I would have put this review under the title of that book but the new edition is not out yet, and its not taking reviews. Get any book but these!

Rating:
Summary: SAVE your MONEY, TIME,and EDUCATION
Review: I haven't read this book but I am familiar with their high school prep book for catholic students. There are at least 100 incorrect answers in the book. They even give an incorrect formula for the area of a circle. If a student really uses this book they will miss every math question that involves circles! I would have put this review under the title of that book but the new edition is not out yet, and its not taking reviews. Get any book but these!

Rating:
Summary: horrible! do not buy this book
Review: This book contains multitudinous mistakes, and if an unsuspeting test-taker is not careful, he is sure to learn frequent fatal falsehoods. Great examples are (x²+y²) = x²+2xy+y², and (x-y)² = x²-y² (p. 178). Furthermore, 93, 87, 57, and 51 are not prime, as page 33 asserts. Finally, the book asserts that if x = -1, then x^4 -x^3 -x^2 - x - 1 = 2. This is not the case; it equals 1. This books has caused must grief, bewilderment, and confusion. It is fortunate that it was designed for smart test takers, for dumb test-takers will need all their wit to overcome its errors. Unfortunately, no wit will be left for the test.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, full topics coverage book
Review: This book is really great, specially for the SAT, PSAT and ACT tests. After reading this book I got an average of 96% of correct answers in those 3 tests. It will take you from the basics of algebra to the most advanced part of it that you really should know. A MUST for math test takers. Really great!

Rating:
Summary: horrible! do not buy this book
Review: This book is terrible. In addition to the many errors it is far too simplistic. I will be returning this book. Arco should be ashamed. I wish I had seen Eric's review before i bought this book.

Rating:
Summary: Better books exist and careless editing will drive you mad!
Review: While the title suggests a focus on the more challenging math facing those taking standardized tests, having read this book and several others cover-to-cover, I felt it missed the mark. It was less comprehensive and less exhaustive than similar books, particularly on the really tough questions/topics. For example, in the area of Combinations/Permutations the book fails to provide the general formula used for combination problems. Instead, it suggests the reader should make a list of all the possible combinations. Hardly a sound strategy for a 'smart test taker'. However, the greatest shortcoming of this book is the abundance of careless mistakes. In many cases these are obvious typos ( = in the place of a -) but other times terms are excluded from equations, and in some cases decimal points and digits are missing. Some pages are out of control, like page 195, where one can find no less than five glaring errors. These errors are a real frustration and will slow the readers progress. The bottom line this book does not go further than others on the tough math questions and sloppy editing waists the readers time!

Rating:
Summary: Better books exist and careless editing will drive you mad!
Review: While the title suggests a focus on the more challenging math facing those taking standardized tests, having read this book and several others cover-to-cover, I felt it missed the mark. It was less comprehensive and less exhaustive than similar books, particularly on the really tough questions/topics. For example, in the area of Combinations/Permutations the book fails to provide the general formula used for combination problems. Instead, it suggests the reader should make a list of all the possible combinations. Hardly a sound strategy for a 'smart test taker'. However, the greatest shortcoming of this book is the abundance of careless mistakes. In many cases these are obvious typos ( = in the place of a -) but other times terms are excluded from equations, and in some cases decimal points and digits are missing. Some pages are out of control, like page 195, where one can find no less than five glaring errors. These errors are a real frustration and will slow the readers progress. The bottom line this book does not go further than others on the tough math questions and sloppy editing waists the readers time!