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05-07-2008, 07:30 AM
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#1 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Threads: 11
Posts: 247
| Which book to start off with?
Hi all,
I'm an international, so I've never really focused on the SATs, and since I'll be taking them next year, I'm planning on revising over the summer.
I've got 3 books:
- The Official SAT Study Guide
- Rocket Review
- Barron's 2400
I'm not sure, however, which one to start off with. Which strategies to read first etc. I'm obviously not going to start with Barron's because that's for later (once I'm scoring pretty high), but between the SAT study guide and RR, whcih one do I read and revise first?
Thanks | 
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05-08-2008, 07:13 PM
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#2 | | Junior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Threads: 3
Posts: 30
| You should start off with RR because it teaches all of the basics, tips, and tricks. It's extremely helpful. After you've mastered everything in RR, then you should go onto Barron's 2400. It says on the cover that this it's meant for students are are already doing well on the sat, and want to further improve their score. you should only use the official book for the practice tests. Don't follow any of the study guides in that book because they want you to take the test their way, which won't result in the highest score. | 
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05-08-2008, 08:21 PM
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#3 | | Member
Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts Gender: Male
Threads: 47
Posts: 486
| Barron's 2400 is good for practice, but I didn't find it nearly as helpful as RR. In Barron's, the math is way harder than anything you need for the SAT and many WR questions test things that the SAT doesn't test. The CR strategies are decent, though some of the practice passages are iffy, and even though the advice is good, it's far less comprehensive than RR's. The only thing I really learned from it that I didn't get from RR was to mark up the passage where the line based questions are before reading and then stop reading every paragraph or so to answer those questions. | |
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05-08-2008, 08:26 PM
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#4 | | Member
Join Date: Nov 2007 Gender: Female
Threads: 8
Posts: 540
| I need to get this RR book (but is it like basic tips stuff or does it actually have the potential to help someone who's been through all that strategy *stage* and now just needs a lot of practice)?
I don't know, I found Barron's 2400 AWESOME. I mean... the writing techniques and rules REALLY helped me. My score went up about 100 points. Last time I got a 640 on W (even though I was usually getting 700+ on my practice tests) and this time I only studied writing from Barron's and I am pretty sure I got over 730 at least. In fact, I have -0 in MC right now. I hope I got at least a 9 on the essay. 
Either way, good luck!  | |
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05-08-2008, 09:02 PM
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#5 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Threads: 12
Posts: 53
| I liked Maximum SAT | |
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05-08-2008, 10:21 PM
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#6 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Threads: 8
Posts: 44
| Now I'm working with Barron 2400 but I will turn into RR afterward. I don't know how you guys think but personally Barron 2400 is good. I hope my score is better. | |
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05-09-2008, 12:31 PM
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#7 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Threads: 11
Posts: 247
| Thanks for all the tips guys. So I will only plan on using the BB for practice tests, and not actually for strategy. I think I'll start with RR, and once my practice tests move into the high 600s-700s, I'll start focusing on Barrons. Currently, I'm in the 600s for CR and W, and 700s for M. I've only actually taken 1 practice test, though, so hopefully I'll be able to boost my score with these books!
Thanks for all the tips! | |
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05-09-2008, 07:06 PM
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#8 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008 Gender: Female
Threads: 23
Posts: 109
| I didn't want to make a new thread, so I figured I'd ask my question here...
I have RR, BB, and Barron's How to Prepare for the SAT. My question is, I'd like to do very well (...as would everyone) and everyone says that Barron's 2400 is for those serious about getting a top notch score. Is "How to Prepare for the SAT" going to be helpful for me at all, or should I try to exchange it for 2400 (even though I bought it four months ago but have not yet gotten to it...)?
Also, how is the math section compared to the Math Level 2 Subject Test? I think I did pretty well on that, and math was my weakest section on PSAT. | |
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Yesterday, 03:46 PM
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#9 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Threads: 4
Posts: 37
| The Math section is very easy compared to the Math Level 2 Subject Test. Math Level 2 includes trigonometry and advanced algebra, but SAT Reasoning Math is basic stuff like functions, geometry, and rudimentary algebra. If you've forgotten all of the easy material while you were learning the more advanced things, a brief review should be sufficient. Just practice a little and you'll do fine, I'm sure. | |
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Yesterday, 07:04 PM
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#10 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008 Gender: Female
Threads: 23
Posts: 109
| Thanks, Lu Jinny!
I'm just a bit nervous because I had taken a Math Level 1 practice test just for the heck of it and did worse than on the Level 2 practice tests. But just like you said, I should just probably just review the easier stuff. | |
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Yesterday, 07:49 PM
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#11 | | New Member
Join Date: May 2008
Threads: 0
Posts: 19
| oh man, looks like i really need to get the barron 2400 over the summer, and the Rocket review.
honestly,i've never heard of the rocket review before, but since u guys recommended,im definitely gona get one .
the books i have sucks, i have the kaplans, barrons "how to prepare for the SAT", and a princeton review 11 pract.
is the barron 2400 cover like SAT(in green), 2400(in red) ??just to make sure~ so idont get the wrong book | |
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Yesterday, 08:11 PM
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#12 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Threads: 11
Posts: 247
| ^ I think my Barron's 2400 is green, but I'm not sure. You can check on Amazon  | |
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