LEGEND A - Accurate practice tests.
B - Good for learning material you don't know.
C - Easy to read and understand.
D - Not a lot of superfluous material.
E - Teacher recommendation.
F - Slightly harder than the real thing. (Write F+ if it's a lot harder than the real thing)
G - Good practice questions (outside of the practice tests)
H - A lot of practice tests (more than 4) English Literature:
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Kaplan (C, F, G, H)
The review sections are generally superfluous (unless you need a review of literary terms), but the practice tests are great, though they are slightly more difficult than the actual test in that they use more esoteric words (hey, better overprepared than under, right?). For best results, you may want to use it with the Princeton Review book (see below).
Reviewer’s score: 780.
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Princeton Review (A, C, G)
I felt that their practice tests were more similar to the actual test than Kaplan's, though their review sections are similarly redundant. Quantity, however, seems to matter over quality, so if you must choose either
PR or Kaplan, I would go with Kaplan.
Reviewer’s score: 780.
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Barron’s (B, C, F, G, H)
Very comprehensive and complete. It contains everything you could possibly look for in a prep book, including excellent explanations and practice questions. Goes above and beyond the necessary material (it even contains an essay-writing section).
U.S. History:
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Sparknotes Review Book with 3 Online Tests (A,C,D)
Great for last week review and refresh.
Recommender's score: 790.
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Princeton Review (AP) (G)
Great prep for the SAT II (some identical questions!)
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Kaplan (A, B, C, D, G)
Read it cover to cover a week before the exam and felt really prepared. It really helps for stuff you didn't cover in class.
Recommender's score: 790.
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AMSCO (AP) (B, C, E)
It is the most conversational textbook-ish thing I've ever read. Amazing at reviewing material. The practice tests are helpful for review, even though they are AP practice tests. Note: The recommender for this book is the same as the one for the Barron's book.
Recommender's score: 800.
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Barron's (F+, H)
This book is MUCH harder than the real thing, and the recommender got 30-40 mistakes on each practice test despite getting an 800 for the actual test. Use if if you want to be very well prepared, but do not fret over a bad score, because it is highly inaccurate. Note: The recommender for this book is the same as the one for the AMSCO book.
Recommender's score: 800.
World History:
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Princeton Review (A, B, C, G)
This book is awesome because it covers everything in a comprehensive, easy to read, and cohesive review.
Recommender's score: 800.
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Barron’s (AP) ( B, C)
If you're taking AP, just get this book and use it to study for AP and SAT II. It's VERY detailed, so start studying at least a month in advance. Very comprehensive, excellent text.
Mathematics Level 1:
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Princeton Review (C, D, E )
Covers everything for this test, and is easy to read.
Mathematics Level 2:
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Barron's (E, F+) Rec 2: (F+, H)
Almost everyone uses it and my teacher recommends it, even though it's COMPLETELY unrealistic (because it's a lot harder). But, because it's so much harder, it prepares you wonderfully, and the real thing is a breeze.
Recommender 2's comment: Very much harder than the real thing, but with 8 practice tests.
Recommender 2's score: 800.
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SAT II Math for Dummies (A, B, C, D)
I'm a good math student so I didn't feel the need to review much or research the best book. This book helped clear up a few miscellaneous topics (probability, sets, unions, etc.) that showed up on the real test.
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McGraw Hill (A, H)
I didn't use the McGraw Hill for studying. I used Barron's for all my studying...McGraw Hill for practice tests because i finished all the practice tests in Barron's. Tests are pretty accurate. I usually skipped two or less but on the real test I skipped 3.
Recommender’s score: 800.
Biology E:
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Princeton Review (A, B, C, D)
Two of my friends used this book and said it was great. Both got 800s.
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Barron’s (C, D, E, F+)
The fact that it was so hard, scared me, but made the real test seem like a walk in the park.
Recommender’s score: 800.
Biology M:
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Princeton Review (A, C, D) Rec 2: (B, C, D, F, G) Rec 3: (A, B, C, D)
Two of my friends used this book and said it was great. Both got 800s.
Chemistry:
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Barron's (B, E) Rec 2: (A, C) Rec 3: (B, F, G)
1: The practice tests are nothing like the real thing, but the book is still a good review of EVERYTHING in high school chem.
2: Some extra information, but not too much.
Recommender's score: 800.
3: There was some unnecessary information, but it's fairly well done. I did a few practice tests and skimmed the topics that were confusing or unfamiliar to me. For me, the T/T/CE section was the hardest, but this book had questions that prepared me for the test very well.
Recommender’s score: 790.
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Princeton Review (A, B, G) Rec 2: (B, C)
Recommender's score: 770.
Recommender 2's comment: Lacks some information, and is extremely brief and easy. However, it's good to use to learn material you don't know. The third practice test contains a lot of material that was not covered by the book, and is thus very difficult. This book isn't enough for someone who wants to get an 800.
Recommender 2's score: 760.
Physics:
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Barron's (A, B, C, D)
Practice tests were somewhat different from the actual, but in general still good preparation. Little superfluous material, however preparation in some parts is on the scarce side.
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Kaplan (B, C)
Good for acquiring a general knowledge of previously unknown material, however the Princeton Review book is required for more in-depth knowledge. Practice tests are much easier than the real thing.
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Princeton Review (A)
Explanation of concepts is hard to understand, but practice tests are extremely accurate, although there aren't many of them.
Chinese with Listening:
French:
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Princeton Review (A, B, C, D, G)
The French exam is very centered on grammar, so a lot of the book is focused on that, which makes it a bit dull and boring. However, the practice tests were extremely accurate.
Recommender's score: 760 (but on the listening exam...)
French with Listening:
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Princeton Review (A, C, G)
The book includes a very short and unhelpful section for students who will take the listening exam, but at least they tried. The book is good for the reading-based portion of the exam.
Recommender's score: 760.
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Barron's (B, C)
This book includes a CD for the listening section, however it has its drawbacks. The same people were used for all the clips on the CD, which is bad because you get used to their voices. This could make you have to strain to listen to the people for the real test. It's better than nothing, though.
Recommender's score: 760.
German: German with Listening: Spanish:
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Barron's (A, C, D, H)
Slightly inaccurate practice tests, but the fact that there are many of them compensates for this.
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Kaplan (B+, E, G)
The book is extremely organized and in-depth so it is more for learning rather than for reviewing. Regardless, it gives in-depth lessons and explanation of grammatical rules (very important in Spanish). Tons of great practice questions, as well as a great diagnostic test. My score went from a 650 to a 740 with this book.
Recommender's score: 740.
Spanish with Listening:
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Barron's (A, C, D)
See comments for Spanish without listening.
Modern Hebrew:
Italian:
Latin:
Japanese with Listening:
Korean with Listening:
Listening tests in general:
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The Official Study Guide for all SAT Subject Tests by the College Board (A, H)
This book is great for the listening tests because it has CDs for all the subjects, and all the exams are taken from previous years. However, it cannot be used for studying because it consists only of practice tests.
All tests in general:
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The Official Study Guide for all SAT Subject Tests by the College Board (A, H)
Great practice tests for all the exams. However, there is nothing more in the book except practice tests (one per subject).
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enjoy studying
