PennDreamer

Hi. I am currently using Barron's SAT 2008 book for the writing practice.
For the writing sections, i ususally score around 700s on the BB. But on Barrrons, i scorea round 650s. It is natural?

Ashraf Eassa

Yeah, Barron's is much harder.

ZorroX99

Are taking Barrons tests beneficial to improving ones score?

Ashraf Eassa

Yes, taking Barron's exams is beneficial to increasing one's score.

lolcats4

I would argue that it's more efficient to just use CB tests. There are so many CB tests floating around that it's best to just use them. Break up the tests into practice sets, take them whole, etc.

The only advantage I see in practicing with harder questions is that the real SAT seems "easier" in an artificial sense. This isn't because Barron's prepared you well, it's because Barron's was so hard that the SAT is a relief.

A better analogy would be training for a sprint race by doing marathons. Marathons will get you in shape, but they are NOT sprints and won't train you for them. But they will make running a sprint seem like cake because they're physically tougher.

Hope this helps.

jamesford

They might be, but time spent on Barron's tests is much better spent on official ones.

asian sensation

^ also, Ashraf Eassa did really well on the SAT's and he used barrons as one of his sources, so repeatedly discrediting non-CB books is misleading itself...

jamesford

^ That's flawed logic. He's one person, and Barron's was ONE of his sources. It's better to use only BB tests. I don't know how much clearer I can make this. Xiggi, whom many people go to for SAT advice, warns against using non BB tests.

lolcats4

^^ Exactly. It most likely wasn't his sole practice test source.

You can get a great score any which way you want. But why put more time and effort into it than is necessary?

Ashraf Eassa

I think Barron's is useful because their tests are in the SAT style, except instead of having a bunch of easy, medium, and hard questions sprinkled throughout in CB style, it's mostly mediums and hards. It's good to have practice on these kinds of questions because, quite frankly, those are the ones people usually get wrong.

That said, don't use Barron's for score prediction, just use it to practice your general skill in math, reading, and writing. If you build up the general skill, that skill transfers anywhere -- whether it's CB SATs, Kaplan, Barron's, or hell, even on math problems in the real world!

asian sensation

i did say barrons was one of his sources ;P

but i was just trying to say that sometimes, tests besides the one the BB offers actually does help ><

jamesford

Exactly. So you can't credit his success to Barron's alone. He probably did CB tests, which are the only tests you should take.

asian sensation

^ i know, i know ><

but the fact that barrons contributed shows that holistically discrediting non CB books isn't an accurate thing to say. im not saying any of you said that non CB books are TOTALLY unwise to use, but instead suggested that BB tests are better (i agree on that..), but in case anyone has such an antagonistic view of non CB books, it's just to let them know that doing other prep isn't always a bad idea.

as someone else said, as long as you don't use it to judge your score..

jamesford

I don't have anything against people who believe in/use non CB materials, but I've come to the personal conclusion that only CB tests are valid practice materials. Whatever you do is your decision.

asian sensation

yeah. i mean like, it doesn't hurt to take non CB tests, but if you want a real judgment of where your score lies, use the BB tests.

its sort of like preparing for SAT II's..people like using barrons for math II because it over prepares them..so sort of the same for SAT prep?..