Kaplan New SAT 2005 with CD-ROM

Rating:
Summary: A good guide to the new SAT.
Review: The Kaplan books for the SAT tend to be the most reliable which is why I bought this book. The book overall does a good job in explaining the new SAT*. The concepts they give you are quite similar to those from the past SAT books so there aren't too many new strategies to help you take on the new questions if you have already read the books for the previous SAT.
The writing section gives a brief overview of what you will see and follws up wif one or two questions after the explanation. Then they give you tactics in how to write an essay along with a few a essay topics for you to try out. Then there is a end of unit excercise which consists of arouund 40 questions. This overall will be helpful to those not familiar with the SAT II writing and will give extra practice to those that need it.
The critical reading section has the same tactics as given from the past books, so nothing special here. THe format is similar to the writing section (explanation, questions, tactics, end of unit test).
The maths section starts off with the basic concepts of the SAT whihc people of the old SAT should be pretty familar with. Then it moves on to talk about the new topics which will be found in the new SAT which is very helpful as they give you an example question after each new topic. Then again there is an end of unit test. There is a bit which talks about questions which trap the test taker which again is helpful as they give you an explanation for the traps they set up and another end of unit test.
The three practice tests at the end are very good and are a like the real thing. BUT they do not have a scaled score chart which isn't that good as people won't know how well they did.
The CD IS A MUST NEED i think as it comes wif two SATS, one PSAT, a diagnostic, a study plan and explanations to the answers u get wrong in the two SATS in the cd. The extra few dollars will be good as the CD is pretty much half of the things kaplan offer for the new SAT.
Overall this book is soild for those that need help for the new SAT. For those that don't feel like wasting money on this book (if they aready bought last year's one or smth) then i suggest you get one of the new thinner ones (SAT: CRITICAL READING, MATHS, WRITING) for your weakest area, as a lot of the strategies in the book are similar to those of last years. THe major weakness i find is not enough practice for maths. They should have more examples for the new topics rather than just one for each so people know the different question types for the topic. They should include approximate scaled score tables to make it better for thsoe that just buy the book and not the cd. I advise those that are definitely taking the new SAT to get it with the cd for more practice

Rating:
Summary: great strategies
Review: I wasn't sure which book to use, but my friend reccommended this one, so I tried it. FOr someone like me who struggles with tests, I found this book to be a lifesaver. The techniques they teach you to answer teh types of questions you'll see on the test are great. I am a good student, but standardized tests make me cringe, and seeing what questions I can expect and having step by step strategies to be successful on test day was such a relief. I have since taken a few practice tests and done pretty well. Kaplan has a good grasp on what test prep is all about, and I wouldn't use anything else. The writing is so easy to follow and the chapters have content review also. Use Kaplan if you want to be competative.

Rating:
Summary: same old material, shiny new cover
Review: It's all the same stuff from last year's edition of the SAT book. And the test is different now!! it's just the cover is different. Sheesh.



Rating:
Summary: get this book
Review: kaplan is a really good test prep book and u should get it. this not only comes with the detailed book, but it comes with an awesome cd with lessons, tests, games, and a personalized study plan. I recommend this book to anyone preping for the new SAT.

Rating:
Summary: Makes this NEW test thing less scary
Review: This book is great! It really covers everything, even all the stuff that is going to be different! I usually can't understand this stuff, but the strategies are really helping! The CD-ROM really makes it easier to learn and study for the SAT, even with the harder math and the writing section! I totally recommend this to anyone that wants to study for the SAT.