Cracking the NEW PSAT/NMSQT, 2005 Edition

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I am a prospective sophomore who hopes to achieve National Merit Scores in order to qualify for a prestigious summer program. Thus, I am naturally interested in any books offering practice tests on the 'new PSAT."

Apparently, the author wanted to get this book published quickly, well before the administration of the 2005 PSAT, in order to attract the greatest amount of customers. Unfortunately, the rush to publish this book has also produced numerous errors. After taking a look at this book, I am glad that I checked it out from the library, rather than buying it.

Both practice tests are error-ridden, with numerous typos and even problems that did not include all of the information required to solve the problem. One question in the critical reading portion stated...

"6. Based on the passage, all of the following countries are considered part of Scandinavia EXCEPT

A: Germany
B: Denmark
C: Finland
D: Sweden
E: Norway"

Any person with basic geographic knowledge would know that Germany is not part of Scandinavia (someone pointed out that Finland wasn't part of Scandinavia either but this question tests context, and some consider Finland a part of Scandinavia). So essentially, a person could easily get this question correct wihtout reading the passage. This question is only one of many poorly designed questions in this book.

The strategies in the rest of the book are basic strategies that you can find in any Princeton Review book. If you seriously want to perform well on PSAT in the next administration, I would recommend that you order any book other than this. Unless you are willing to go through incomplete practice tests.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I have had a lot of success with Princeton Review books in the past (AP's and SATII's), but this book was a major exception. I bought last year's version to prepare for last year's PSAT and the two books were EXACTLY the same. There is very little new information in this book and the pratice tests are littered with typos that don't allow the test-taker to effectively solve the problem. I will absolutely buy the KAPLAN version of this book and I might consider buying them in the future if I ever find a Princeton Review book as poorly written/edited as this one.

Rating:
Summary: Buy the newer 2005 Cracking the SAT from Princceton Review
Review: The PSAT is now essentially an abbreviated version of the NEW SAT without the essay section. This book, rushed to print before the final format of the New SAT was released on 10/2004, is riddled with errors. You don't need it anyway, since the more recently published 2005 Cracking the New SAT contains essentially all the exercises in this one, plus additional practice. You can use it to study for the PSAT and the New SAT. You will also be given a FREE practice PSAT by your school, which will allow you to get your timing down for the slightly shorter PSAT. Bottom line: Buy Cracking the New SAT 2005 instead.

Rating:
Summary: Horrible book for the new PSAT, get Kaplan instead!
Review: There are really only two main contenders for the position of 'best review book for the PSAT'. Kaplan's New PSAT definitely wins this contest.

I found that Cracking the New PSAT really didn't tell me how to 'crack' anything. Rather, the book re-outlines common sense principles that don't help you much.

The practice tests are horrible. I found them somewhat inaccurate of realistic results. Also, the review tests included in this book contain numerous errors and typos - some that affect the question so that you cannot give an answer.

My conclusion: don't get this book! Buy Kaplan's instead.