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Rating: 
Summary: So few examples
Review: Do not waste your money on this title. There are so few examples and they don't resemble the actual SAT questions at all.
Rating: 
Summary: Comprehensive, realistic book raised my score!
Review: Don't try to take the SAT II Writing Test without a prep book--specifically the Princeton review book. In all honesty, it's a very tricky test but definitely not impossible if you're prepared. The majority of the test consists of those tricky "find the sentence error" or "correct the sentence," which can be daunting--I was certainly daunted. The Princeton Review book methodically goes through every category of error that you will be tested on, giving numerous examples that turned out to be extremely similar to the acutal test questions. I can't emphasize enough how important this is: you WILL feel confident on the test because you already know what you need to be on the lookout for. (Ex: subject-verb agreement, idioms, tenses, etc.) The explanations are clear, concise, and VERY thorough without being too boring. The section on identifying sentece errors has the same clear, effective format. It also includes the best peice of writing test advice: DON'T be afraid to pick choice E--"no error." When all else fails go with the ol' intuition.
But what of the dreaded essay? Don't worry, this book covers that too. It gives lots of sample questions, and directs you as to what eXaCtLy makes a strong essay. My experience says the'yre right: at least on example from literature, then one from life, or history. And your essay should fill up the space they give you. Anyway, the samples are very good (the real questions are usually easier, judging by the ones I've heard), and the advice clear.Wait, you say! What about the Literature Test?? The section on preparing for the literature test (which, if you study for both, is really trickier than the writing), is equally effective. The book includes many passages of poetry and prose which are VERY similar to those found on the actual test. Once again, the book outlines specific areas with which you will need to be familiar and does a very good job explaining each example and literary term. In a relatively short space, this book manages to give you a comprehensive review of literature, its structure, and how to analyze it.
In sum, I highly recommend this book to anyone preparing for either (or both) of these tests. The practice tests in the back are great (5 full ones!), all the examples realistic and clear, the explanations thorough and helpful. Most importantly, this book will allow you to go into the tests knowing what types of questions and tricks you'll encounter and how to effectively tackle it. Believe me, it drastically helped my score and gave me all the prep and info I needed.
Rating: 
Summary: This Book Horrible!!
Review: I fully intended to happily learn all the ins and outs of the SAT II Writing. Learning about the Literature part too would just be a two for one deal. The thing that should have set my antennae up was how short the book was for studying for two SAT IIs. But the sparkling review from that one person who oozed satisfaction because of the book dissolved my doubts.
This PR book is horrible. First, there are three tests in the books but without one word of explanation. I was left wondering, why did I get this wrong? Secondly, there are drills after each very short lesson, but those explanations were really only a couple words. Thirdly, the supposed essays they give you that are supposed to teach you what a good essay looked like, was trash. They showed you two horrible essays that were four sentences long that everyone should know already not to do. The third essay was supposed to be good but it was a trite essay on Romeo and Juliet that wouldn't have gotten more than a four. Fourth, they give wrong information because length is not the only thing those people are looking for. Lastly, when "teaching" about idioms, they state that there are no rules, you just have to know how to "listen" to them?? Well you know what, that isn't true! The book could teach you a few things, but very few, and no better than another book could. I recommend Sparknotes SAT II Writing. It actually teaches you thoroughly and gives you explicit explanations. Plus Sparknotes is less money than the overpriced no good Princeton Review Writing & Literature.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent SAT II Writing guide but useless for Literature.
Review: The Princeton Review has published an excellent preparation guide for the SAT II Writing test. Complete with drills on virtually every grammatical pitfall you may encounter, a quick run through the book should be enough to adequately prepare for the test or at least to identify your weak areas. The drills are ten problems each but there are many of them so that you don't have the chance to get bored as you would with a traditional grammar book. Nevertheless, while Cracking the SAT II is excellent grammar preparation, it is quite useless in preparing for the essay section of the SAT II Writing or for SAT II Literature. Given the nature of both, success largely depends on your ability to write/read and is virtually impossible to drill and study for. This book only helps with the SAT II Literature by giving you two practice exams to get used to the kind of questions that will be asked. If you need a touch up on your grammar skills for the SAT II Writing, this text, complete with two practice exams, is an indispensible resource.
Rating: 
Summary: PR sucks...
Review: You know... Ive always heard that the PR was a good prep book, so I went out and bought this book. The drills are ok...but its not that good. There are 3 practice tests in this book, but there are no explanations. It just tells you the answers and moves on to another test. I first thought that I got a "defected" book...but no...all my friends told me that their books were also answer-explanation-less. Dont buy this book...get yourself a Barrons.
Rating:
Summary: PR sucks...
Review: You know... Ive always heard that the PR was a good prep book, so I went out and bought this book. The drills are ok...but its not that good. There are 3 practice tests in this book, but there are no explanations. It just tells you the answers and moves on to another test. I first thought that I got a "defected" book...but no...all my friends told me that their books were also answer-explanation-less. Dont buy this book...get yourself a Barrons.
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