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Rating: 
Summary: Most people don't understand the SAT........
Review: First of all, I must stress the point that many people say is bad about this book. People say that it doesn't teach the material on the SAT. It just helps you out by giving tips and such. While this is true, that is the point of the SAT. You cannot try to learn the SAT material in a book. The people who try to do this usually do not do well. You just need help on taking the test. If you don't know the material, then you wouldn't be scoring well on the SAT. I made a 1300 before this book, and then my score jumped to 1540. I knew most of the material but I fell for a lot of traps. So if you are making decent scores and know the material, this book will help you a lot.
Rating: 
Summary: Not good or helpful for those with semi-decent scores
Review: I bought this book with the intentions of reviewing the material the SAT tests, hoping to raise my score from a 1340 to maybe 1400+. I was disappointed. Instead of reviewing the material, the authors mainly just try to teach you ways to guess. This would be a very good thing for someone who is sure that they have not mastered all the vocabulary or concepts tested and just needs a way to score a few extra points on things they have no clue about, but not someone with an above average score trying to find out what they're messing up on.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: I loved this book. It improved my SAT score a great deal because it is incredibly user-friendly and has very useful information. Also, the authors of this book really understand what students need to work on when preparing for the SAT. Unlike other books that try to teach students ALL the math and verbal basics, this book focuses on essential topics that the SAT covers so students don't waste time studying unimportant information and helps them to avoid becoming even more confused about what to expect. Additionally, this book is written in a humorous style, which makes reading it more enjoyable than reading many other books I have come across. The SAT is a stressful enough experience, and I think this book helps reduce as much stress as possible. I have recommended this book to several people and they have all benefitted from greatly from it. Good luck!!
Rating:
Summary: Super preparation for anyone, including high scorers
Review: I've not read this year's edition, but I'm familiar with the editions of previous years. Without a doubt, this is the best test preparation book I have ever read, and I have read no small number of them. As others have pointed out, some of the strategies the authors describe border on the obvious, but these are sufficiently important, few, and entertainingly presented that this small lapse is quite acceptable. The book's practice tests are refreshingly indistinguishable from real SATs; they are certainly the best available, though those in Kaplan's SAT book are quite good as well. Many reviewers have declared this book to be insufficient for those who seek high scores. I disagree strongly. Good advice is good advice, even if presented in a manner less than ceremonial. Pedantic word lists assembled without attention given to what words will likely appear on the SAT, though impressive and temptingly concrete, are not the best use of any preparer's time. Of greater importance than a presentation of all the math and English needed for the SAT is a thorough, insightful walking through of SAT questions, and that's where this book shines. This book, the College Board's book of ten real SATs, and a functioning noggin are all anyone needs to succeed on the SAT. But if you've got money to spare, you might try the Kaplan book, too -- another look at strategy and a few more realistic practice tests can only help. I have not yet taken the SAT. On practice tests, my scores started as low as 1440 but have since climbed well into the 1500's -- even to the point of a 1590 most recently. More than to any strategy, I attribute the improvement to increased familiarity with the test, and I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the contribution this book has made.
Rating: 
Summary: A mediocre test preparation book
Review: Many people go for the most popular book on the market, for example the Princeton Review or Kaplan. However, this book solely explains how to take the SAT, using tips and tricks provided by the author. Although knowing about "Joe Bloggs" and traps to avoid, this is not a satisfactory replacement for other SAT books on the market. The "Hit Parade", which is a list of SAT words that frequently come up on the SAT is alright. The Verbal section explanations and tricks are satisfactory. They just suggest that you memorize vocabulary and in conjunction, use their strategies. Math (which is my difficulty) is not explained thoroughly in this book. Yes, knowing the strategies is very very helpful, but honestly, there is no way you can get a high score without knowing how to solve the problem. The Math section of this book is shallow and does not provide adequate practice to prepare you for the SAT. For the Verbal Section of the SAT, I recommend you get:
1) Barron's Guide to the SAT (21st Edition) For the Math Section of the SAT, I recommend you get:
1) Gruber's Complete SAT to SAT Preparation Good luck.
Rating:
Summary: I am an esay rater
Review: Ok it DOES TEAH YOU STUF.
It just goes too basic on math.
Common area of a rectagle. But its better than KAPLAN which dosen't teach you anything.
Kaplan only teaches you 5 steps, and how to do the test, not any material. Its better than Barrons up to a point. Barron isn't as well oragnanised. It's all crammed up. I got 1570 before having this book.
I got 1600 after reading this book with Barrons.
Kaplan SUKS
Rating:
Summary: Super preparation for anyone, including high scorers
Review: Without a doubt, this is the best test preparation book I have ever read, and I have read no small number of them. As others have pointed out, some of the strategies the authors describe border on the obvious, but these are sufficiently important, few, and entertainingly presented that this small lapse is quite acceptable. The book's practice tests are refreshingly indistinguishable from real SATs; they are certainly the best available, though those in Kaplan's SAT book are quite good as well. Many reviewers have declared this book to be insufficient for those who seek high scores. I disagree strongly. Good advice is good advice, even if presented in a manner less than ceremonial. Pedantic word lists assembled without attention given to what words will likely appear on the SAT, though impressive and temptingly concrete, are not the best use of any preparer's time. Of greater importance than a presentation of all the math and English needed for the SAT is a thorough, insightful walking through of SAT questions, and that's where this book shines. This book, the College Board's book of ten real SATs, and a functioning noggin are all anyone needs to succeed on the SAT. But if you've got money to spare, you might try the Kaplan book, too -- another look at strategy and a few more realistic practice tests can only help. I have not yet taken the SAT. On practice tests, my scores started as low as 1440 but have since climbed well into the 1500's -- even to the point of a 1590 most recently. More than to any strategy, I attribute the improvement to increased familiarity with the test, and I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the contribution this book has made.
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