Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

Can anyone tell me what is the best test prep company? I'm trying to study for the SAT 1, but don't know what book is best. Anything will help. Thanks for your help.

By Apguy (Apguy) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 10:59 pm: Edit

Depends on your score. What score are you currently hovering around?

By Curiousgeorge (Curiousgeorge) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 11:05 pm: Edit

I only took the PSAT, and got a 1000 (2 50s), but I'm aiming for a 1500 on the SAT 1.

By Entropie (Entropie) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 11:08 pm: Edit

woah, that's quite an aim! youre going to need to work hard. try using kaplan.

By Aceshigh (Aceshigh) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 11:32 pm: Edit

Start with Cracking the SAT and continue with 10 Real SATs. As you work through the practice questions and tests, you'll hone in on your strengths and weaknesses - and then come back and give us an update on where you might need some additional help.

By Apguy (Apguy) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 11:38 pm: Edit

Yeah, the difficulty goes Princeton Review=easy, Kaplan=medium, Barrons=hard.

I would recommend using PR to get down the basics, get some math content review and learn some great tips. Than work on the massive vocab list with Barrons and their math review. Use 10 Real SATs under timed conditions to evaluate your performance.

By Kimfuge (Kimfuge) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 11:17 am: Edit

I recently finished my freshman year and ended with a SAT verbal score of 550. But I took a rigorous Stanely Kaplan course, I got into the best class in the amongst many different classes in Kaplan that vary, and now after 1 month, I score a 690. I find it quiete an improvement. Go to Kaplan.

By Aoe2guy (Aoe2guy) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 11:49 am: Edit

A good math book, one that teaches you how to think structurally and logically is the one that is going to help you. I would reccommend a kaplan or barrons math workbook, and then take a few practice real math sat sections without time, until you are within a reasonable score range (when i say no time, i mean within a reasonable limit, say 40 min for a 30 min section etc). Once you've done that, time the math sections. try a similar verbal approach, plus reading and writing helps with the vocab. save as many full length real practice tests for a full timed 3hr session.

By Cremebrulee (Cremebrulee) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 11:51 am: Edit

Grubers is good.

By Arora00 (Arora00) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 12:04 pm: Edit

Screw basics, id say go to ur full potential.
Do Barron's. Theres no time for basics and stuff. But seriously, u can improve around a 200 score just by using the 10 Real Sat's carefully. I got a 1000 on PSat's. Then i worked with 10 Real Sat's for two weeks or so(if u do more..its only going to help) and i raised my score by 200 points.

By Serene (Serene) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 12:06 pm: Edit

I agree that it's good to practice with the 10 Real SATs.

For vocabulary list I recommmend Kaplan. HIGHLY recommend.

By Aoe2guy (Aoe2guy) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 12:51 pm: Edit

I've seen the Gruber's book, and somehow i feel that it is one step in the right direction, but not there. first of all, its very convincing to buy a book that a psycologist wrote, but you have to remember that 5th graders aren't publishing kaplan or barrons books at the same time. I think it has a great vocab list, but there are some serious flaws in that book's approach, such as memorizing vocab rather than understanding it or absorbing it through reading. The math is slightly abstract like SAT 1 math, but in another direction if you see what i mean.

By Arora00 (Arora00) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 02:44 pm: Edit

Well i love memorizing words. Theyre easy. And if u know how to memorize good, and u put in the effort to memorize the words then i feel u could do an amazing job on Sat English part, esp Analogies.

By Xiggi (Xiggi) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 03:08 pm: Edit

There was a similar thread just a few days ago. You may want to read it.

http://www.collegeconfidential.com/discus/messages/69/14902.html

By Camron (Camron) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 04:18 pm: Edit

Kimfuge:

I am taking a Kaplan course, but I guess it is the standard one. What rigorous Kaplan course are you taking? What is it called? Is it only inyour area? I didn't know they had a more advanced course.... I really wish I could take that because I get this feeling that the one I am taking is aimed more toward dumb people who have a far lower goal than I do.

By Camron (Camron) on Friday, July 04, 2003 - 04:22 pm: Edit

Bump....