Rating: Summary: The BEST overall book in prepping for the SAT Review: Of the major, fat, well known SAT prep books (Barron's, Princeton Review, Kaplan) this one is by FAR the best. What makes this book stand out is it shows you the easiest and fastest way to answer a given question. For example, on a math question, there will be about four ways to go about solving that particular problem. The book will outline the four ways, show you which one was the best, and even show you shortcuts you never would have realized. Thanks to Dr. Gruber, multiple variable factoring used to be a process I saved for my TI-89. Not anymore. THe book showed me how to do it MUCH quicker in my head using simple math shortcuts and common sense. The best part is, it shows you tips, shortcuts, and strategies for virtually every time of problem one will encounter on the SAT. Much better than other prep books of its size, and also a little cheaper. How could you possibly go wrong?
Rating: Summary: Awesome! Finally raised my score! Review: So I'm one of those people that got a good score of 1430 but wasn't satisfied. I tried every book under the sun before taking the SAT the second time. I looked at Kaplan's book directed for 1600 scores. I used Barron's ('cause it's the most challenging)... but none of them worked. Then I saw this one, and I looked at the verbal review and was thrilled. I studied using its preparation + 10 Real SATs and scored in the 99th percentile for verbal and 97th for math. I raised my score 130pts. If you're hitting ceilings on your point totals with other books, this one will help you break through and get the score you want. Go for it and PRACTICE with 10 REAL SATS. You'll do so well!
Rating: Summary: Turns one into an indomitable SAT warrior. Review: Thank you, Dr. Gruber! This book is the best SAT prep book on the market. Dr. Gruber has written and edited the book for the student who is SERIOUS about doing well on the SAT. Whereas other prep books by Princeton, Kaplan, and Barrons convince one that he is only days away from SAT success by being compiled of EASY questions that give one a false sense of security, Dr. Gruber tells you the facts straight out and there is no pretense by which one thinks that they can raise their score from 1300 to 1590 in a few weeks. This book requires MONTHS of studying. 6 months are needed just to go through the 150,000-word vocabulary list. I took the PSAT in the 10th grade and was disparaged by my score of 1390. The following spring, my father bought me this book. The first day I took the diagnostic SAT which Dr. Gruber includes in his book so as to discover one's weak and strong points. My score on that test was a 1440. Now I'm going to be a senior and I can't say I'm too disappointed with my 1580 on this test from the June test date. Who knows, maybe I'll take the test again..see if I can get the 1600. Thanks, Dr. Gruber.
Rating: Summary: THE BEST SAT book Review: The first time I took SAT (After the Kaplan course) I got a 1290. Then I got the Gruber book, and REALLY REALLY REALLY studied it. Do all the tests at least 2 times. I found that out of all the SAT Prep books out there, Gruber's questions most closely resemble the real test. On my second SAT attempt I got a 1400. Also, I highly recommed getting the '10 Real SATs' as a companion to this book, and doing all the tests there couple of times as well. Overall, I studied for the second test for four months with these two books and was very impressed with the results. I am starting to study for the GRE now, and I think I will start with Gruber for this test also. Also recommended: 10 Real SATs by Cathy Claman (Editor), College Board
Rating: Summary: Typos, typos, and imbecilities Review: There are SO many typos in the answer keys of some of the exercises [I feel that it] render almost all the sample tests useless (unless one goes back question by question to find all the errors, and since one is unlikely to go back to look at a question believed to have been answered correctly, one doesn't actually know how well one has done.) Worse, in the section meant to analyze capabilities, [I feel] it is often assumed that one doesn't know how to do a question -- and hence the only correct answer is to say that one has guessed! As a result, one may be misled to work on a course of study that is unnecessary, and miss the one that is! A shocking piece of work.
Rating: Summary: Quite good! Review: This book offers a really good preparation for the SAT!! Its tests are really hard, which is always a good way to improve. It helped me a lot, especially with the review which was separated into very appropriate categories. Disadvantages: there is a lot material taught that will not be used on the actual SAT, and the format is a bit more different. Yet, I've studied from the Barron's textbook, from the 10 real SATs, and some other books. I think that the best preparation would be to the use the Gruber's book, and in addition do the 10 Real SATs (although now they are kind of outdated).
Good luck to everyone!
Rating: Summary: The closest thing to a book from an SAT course!! Review: This is a solid book, by far the best complete package for the SAT I. It is common knowledge in the test prep industry that SAT prep courses keep their best material for their own publications; many people actually sign up for courses so that they can get the materials! This book, however, gives you much of the same information that a good test prep course would give you. This book is especially good in the math section, with a comprehensive review, but I would like to see more strategies and practice in the verbal section. You will also find lots of vocab tests, but these are the simple kind, in which you are given a word and you have to choose the best synonym; a bit tedious and old-fashioned, but still necessary. In a word, this is the best book you can buy. And you can't beat the price!!
Rating: Summary: Best SAT book out there Review: This is one of the best SAT review books on the market. I learned over 2000 new words with the help of this book. I also went through many of the math problems and realized that I had no mathematical abilities whatsoever. I studied the strategies and explanations and got better. I didn't get a chance to go through much of the book so I wasn't expecting great scores. I took the PSATs hoping for a 1350. Instead, I got a 1440. I have also taken the SATs twice. My highest combined is a 1490. Not Ivy League material but much more than I had hoped for. I will study the Gruber book in depth over the summer and take the SATs for a third time in the fall. I recommend this book to everyone. Give yourself at least two to three months to study though. It is a very thick book.
Rating: Summary: Actually raised my SAT score Review: This is one of the few SAT preps you can use that will actually raise your score. I only used the "Strategy" section of this book (I procrastinated) and it raised my combined SAT score by 100 points. This book makes all of the confusing math question seem very simple, and helps you make it through the verbal section without second-guessing yourself. I would recommend this book to anybody who is taking the SAT, it's even more effective than classes. GET THIS BOOK!!!! If you use it in any significant amount your score will be higher.
Rating: Summary: Actually raised my SAT score Review: This is one of the few SAT preps you can use that will actually raise your score. I only used the "Strategy" section of this book (I procrastinated) and it raised my combined SAT score by 100 points. This book makes all of the confusing math question seem very simple, and helps you make it through the verbal section without second-guessing yourself. I would recommend this book to anybody who is taking the SAT, it's even more effective than classes. GET THIS BOOK!!!! If you use it in any significant amount your score will be higher.
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