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REA BLOWSSS for bio

rockermcr

Help this thread and tell us what doesn't BLOW for bio.

spiffystars

Can people please post their scores along WITH their recs? Thanks :]

rockermcr

Yes, that's a good idea. I've added the scores for the people who wrote them when they were making a rec. For all the people who made previous recs without scores, post them along with the rec you made.

English Literature:

U.S. History:

- Sparknotes Review Book with 3 Online Tests (A,C,D)
Great for last week review and refresh.
Recommender's score: 790.
- Princeton Review (AP version) (G)
Great prep for the SAT II (some identical questions!)
- Kaplan US History (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.

World History:

Mathematics Level 1:

Mathematics Level 2:

- Barron's (E)
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.

Biology E:

Biology M:

- Princeton Review (B, E)
The practice tests are nothing like the real thing, but the book is still a good review of EVERYTHING in high school chem.

Chemistry:

- Barron's (A, C, D)

Physics:

- 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.

Chinese with Listening:

French:

French with Listening:

German:

German with Listening:

Spanish:

- Barron's (A, C, D, H)
Slightly inaccurate practice tests, but the fact that there are many of them compensates for this.

Spanish with Listening:

- Barron's (A, C, D)
See comments for Spanish without listening.

Modern Hebrew:

Italian:

Latin:

Japanese with Listening:

Korean with Listening:

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
G - Good practice questions (outside of the practice tests)
H - A lot of practice tests (more than 4)

ekirth

Chemistry--Barron's (A,C)--pretty comprehensive review, some extra stuff, but it wasn't too bad. (800)

Biology (M)--Princeton Review (A,C)--again, pretty nice review. I'd actually disagree with the other person who reviewed this, as some of the actual test questions for me were like carbon-copies of the PR ones...but I took this in May '06 so it might have changed since then. (800)

rockermcr

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
G - Good practice questions (outside of the practice tests)
H - A lot of practice tests (more than 4)

English Literature:

U.S. History:

- Sparknotes Review Book with 3 Online Tests (A,C,D)
Great for last week review and refresh.
Recommender's score: 790.
- Princeton Review (AP version) (G)
Great prep for the SAT II (some identical questions!)
- 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.

World History:

Mathematics Level 1:

Mathematics Level 2:

- Barron's (E)
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.

Biology E:

Biology M:

- Princeton Review (B, E), Rec 2: (A, C)
1 and 2: Extremely good practice tests.
Recommender 2's score: 800.

Chemistry:

- Barron's (A, C, D), Rec 2: (A, C)
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.

Physics:

- 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.

Chinese with Listening:

French:

French with Listening:

German:

German with Listening:

Spanish:

- Barron's (A, C, D, H)
Slightly inaccurate practice tests, but the fact that there are many of them compensates for this.

Spanish with Listening:

- Barron's (A, C, D)
See comments for Spanish without listening.

Modern Hebrew:

Italian:

Latin:

Japanese with Listening:

Korean with Listening:

ekirth: I just realized that the comment I put for Bio was meant to be put in Chem. In fact, the rec was supposed to say that the practice tests were very good.

Disneyguy

This is for US History: (I got an 800, BTW)

AMSCO: (B,C,E) I realize this is for the AP test, but it is so unbelievably good at reviewing the important info in a compelling manner. It is the most conversational textbook-ish thing I've ever read. Amazing at reviewing material. (Practice tests are for the AP test, though, so they don't help a ton. It helps for review though.) I pulled it out to look something up during class once, and my teacher went: "That is the best review book for the AP test out there!" Kids were begging to let me loan it to them. I accredit my 800 to this book and my APUSH class.

Barron's: (F, but not slightly, WAY HARDER, H) It's okay for reviewing information, but nowhere near as good as AMSCO. As for the practice tests, they are way, WAY, WAY too hard. I got 30-40 wrong on each one and ended up with an 800. Not worth the money at all, especially with great review books like AMSCO out there. I don't recommend this to anyone. At all. It just provides incredibly inaccurate scores that would make anyone feel like having a nervous breakdown before the test. Not what anyone needs.

Now that I think about it, though, if you want the assurance that you've done well on something way harder than the real thing, it might help. But again, I thought the information was totally random and I came across terms I'd never heard before. It did have 8 practice tests.

rockermcr

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 (F+ means that it's a lot harder than the real thing, which can be a good thing)
G - Good practice questions (outside of the practice tests)
H - A lot of practice tests (more than 4)
AP - Review book designed for the AP exam. Thus, practice tests are automatically unaccurate for the SAT.

English Literature:

U.S. History:

- Sparknotes Review Book with 3 Online Tests (A,C,D)
Great for last week review and refresh.
Recommender's score: 790.

- Princeton Review (AP) (G)
Great prep for the SAT II (some identical questions!)

- 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.

- 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.

- 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:

Mathematics Level 1:

Mathematics Level 2:

- Barron's (E)
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.

Biology E:

Biology M:

- Princeton Review (B, E), Rec 2: (A, C)
1 and 2: Extremely good practice tests.
Recommender 2's score: 800.

Chemistry:

- Barron's (A, C, D), Rec 2: (A, C)
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.

Physics:

- 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.

Chinese with Listening:

French:

French with Listening:

German:

German with Listening:

Spanish:

- Barron's (A, C, D, H)
Slightly inaccurate practice tests, but the fact that there are many of them compensates for this.

Spanish with Listening:

- Barron's (A, C, D)
See comments for Spanish without listening.

Modern Hebrew:

Italian:

Latin:

Japanese with Listening:

Korean with Listening:

Anyone with any non-USH review books?

yougotjohn

I just want you to know that your legend is ridiculous. Lmao.

Can't do bold, so...

For AP US, I used REA and I won't get the results until July, but I really think I got at least a four. REA is like Barron's, it's extremely densely packed with information and the practice tests are very difficult. But I felt very under prepared at the beginning. I got REA a few days before the exam and skimmed it all, and I think it made a huge difference -- yeah, I took the class, and yeah, I learned a lot there. But I was nervous and now I'm confident I did well; I really think REA made the difference.

Classify *that*.

rockermcr

Make a better legend and I will gladly use it.

BigB_85

Good thread idea, rockermcr....but I just wanted to point out that I think there is small error on the list. I think the first poster who recommended the Chemistry book only mentioned B and E.

But great thread idea and I have some of these books written down on a list now.

rockermcr

You're right. The same person recommended Barron's Chem and PR Bio M, so I accidentally mixed up their legends.

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 (F+ means that it's a lot harder than the real thing, which can be a good thing)
G - Good practice questions (outside of the practice tests)
H - A lot of practice tests (more than 4)
AP - Review book designed for the AP exam. Thus, practice tests are automatically unaccurate for the SAT.

English Literature:

U.S. History:

- Sparknotes Review Book with 3 Online Tests (A,C,D)
Great for last week review and refresh.
Recommender's score: 790.

- Princeton Review (AP) (G)
Great prep for the SAT II (some identical questions!)

- 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.

- 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.

- 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:

Mathematics Level 1:

Mathematics Level 2:

- Barron's (E)
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.

Biology E:

Biology M:

- Princeton Review (A, C, D), Rec 2: (A, C)
1 and 2: Extremely good practice tests.
Recommender 2's score: 800.

Chemistry:

- Barron's (B, E), Rec 2: (A, C)
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.

Physics:

- 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.

Chinese with Listening:

French:

French with Listening:

German:

German with Listening:

Spanish:

- Barron's (A, C, D, H)
Slightly inaccurate practice tests, but the fact that there are many of them compensates for this.

Spanish with Listening:

- Barron's (A, C, D)
See comments for Spanish without listening.

Modern Hebrew:

Italian:

Latin:

Japanese with Listening:

Korean with Listening:

Sheed30

How are Kaplan for Both Literature and Physics?
BTW i am aiming for an 800 in both

rockermcr

Anyone else with a rec??

LaNY2007

Physics:
- Kaplan (B,C)
good explanation in my opinion. I would recommend this book to start learning material you don't know, and then turn to PR book for more in-depth explanation. But, do not rely on Kaplan tests - they are way too easy.

- Princeton Review (A)
Very good tests, too bad there are only 2 in the book. Material explanation is not easy and requires already some understanding of physics topics.