(Part 2) Best sat test guides according to redditors

I'm military as well, and tried Khan Academy, but I wouldn't rely on it if you're serious about getting a good score.

I like the Barron's SAT book best out of the 3 I've tried (also used Kaplan and the Collegeboard Blue Book.) It's the most comprehensive, and has detailed explanations for all of the questions on their practice tests. I felt like the Kaplan book was just test taking strategies, which is not what you want to rely on; you want to actually know the material front and back.

Lastly, unless you're extremely self-motivated, I'd recommend getting a really good tutor (be wary, though, cause there are a lot of shit tutors out there.) It helps to have someone to guide you, give you strict deadlines, and an ambitious workload.

Take as many practice tests as you can after you've studied what you need to, and make sure you're taking them while under the appropriate time constraints, and preferably completing whole tests in one sitting to properly replicate what you'll experience on test day. Hope this helps, and good luck!

This book is arguably better than Meltzer's. Take it from me, I've used both books and this book increased my score much more than Meltzer's: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018L8U57K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_EEIyzbK7RA7RJ

The person who wrote it started out with an average score and worked independently up to a perfect score. The strategies actually work! Three weeks ago, I had 39/52 in reading. Now I have 49/52

The problem with this approach is that it assumes the student understands the characteristics of the questions he's missing. This is a dangerous assumption: many questions contain multiple concepts and even skillful teachers don't always know why a student missed a question.

I developed a Comprehensive Skills Assessment that is designed to do that work for you (http://www.amazon.com/Specifix-Prep-Comprehensive-Skills-Assessment/dp/1484070313). It's a two-part test (first part is a paper and pencil SAT test and the second is an adaptive online assessment) that will pinpoint all the topics you need to study and create a study plan for you). This is a much more effective and efficient way to prepare in such a short time frame. If you're interested, let me know and I'll get you set up.

Be careful with a lot of the online diploma programs, make sure it's accredited in your state. Unfortunately, there are a lot of scams, and many of them prey on immigrants.

I would just get a GED over Penn Foster, to be quite honest. Their fees are, in my opinion, totally outrageous. What state are you in?

Here's some more info:

I do an overview of the GED exam in one of my videos https://youtu.be/RqBmvgnaJQg?t=121 That's the specific section with the GED, but I also describe the other HSE exams.

Also there are GED practice tests and questions at, ged.com. They actually have a number of free resources, after you register for a free account - but make sure that is the test for your state.

>are there textbooks that i should get?

Kaplan is popular around here, there are several different ones. The McGraw-Hill is quite good as well. Get one of them. Passing the GED is about practicing.

First things first, make sure GED is the authorized HSE (High School Equivalency) examination in your state.

Look on this chart for updated information:

https://www.careeronestop.org/FindTraining/Types/State-HSE-Options.aspx

I have an overview of the different HSE equivalency exams I did here in video form in that same video.

The GED is no longer a state designated HSE in 10 states (excludes Federal Correctional, certain exceptions):

• Indiana
  
• Iowa
  
• Louisiana
  
• Maine
  
• Missouri
  
• Montana
  
• New Hampshire
  
• New York
  
• Tennessee
  
• West Virginia
  
  The test itself -
  
  With Math - Algebra, Basic Math, and Graphing on the co-ordinate grid and slope are often sticking points for students
  
  I have a GED math review course that goes over that and plenty of other stuff on youtube with videos 5-10 minutes in length if you want to check that out. It's free
  
  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhKeRZHhWR9veH4hmUy4bPTHp8Dqg-RT0
  
  Here's the playlist for the entirety of my GED language arts review course.
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM3j7BJ3DQA&list=PLhKeRZHhWR9sGgcVquYpXtmJcZO7ugsSr
  
  I have some readings in the exercises I think you'll like, including a wonderful selection from Sherlock Holmes (and I even linked a free audiobook if you'd like to listen as you read along), Dickens, a corrupt Tammany Hall politician (a favorite of mine), among others, so you can practice your skills while reading some interesting materials. The GED readings may not be particularly interesting, but at least mine aren't dull.
  
  The review course has a number of short (5-10 minute) videos so you can skip around and focus on what you need reviewing, plus longer In-depth (often 15m + reading), Guided Practice (10-25m) and Reinforcement Exercises to help guide you through improving your skills and preparing you for the kinds of questions and passages on the GED exam. It also has real essay preparation with an actual essay prompt to practice on. The course is free. The total length is about 4 1/2 hours of content.
  
  With some studying and effort, you can do this :)
  
  P.S.
  
  Kaplan and McGraw-Hill Book purchase links:
  
  Kaplan
  
  https://www.amazon.com/GED-Test-Prep-Plus-2019/dp/1506239439
  
  McGraw-Hill
  
  https://www.amazon.com/McGraw-Hill-Education-Preparation-Test-Third/dp/1260118282

There is also one from the old book: https://www.amazon.com/Real-Subject-Tests-College-Board/dp/0874477573

If you find any other real ones, then please let me know :)

I also recommend this book!

https://www.amazon.com/500-Words-Remember-Them-Forever/dp/0965326306

The title is too true. My 8th grade teacher taught us 10 words a week from this book and it’s been over a decade and my brain STILL jumps immediately to the story whenever I see any of those words. I always think, “Oh!! That was one of the SAT words!”

It basically breaks the word down into similar sounding words that relate to a story to help you remember the definition. Like, I remember the word “ambivalent” was taught as “val inside ambulance” and the story was a woman named Val who was going into labor so the ambulance came to take her and she knew she needed to go to the hospital, but her husband wasn’t home yet and so she couldn’t decide whether to stay and wait for him or to go! And she was going back and forth trying to make the decision, so ambivalent means having mixed feelings.

These are from page 410–411 of McGraw-Hill Education GRE 2020.

Thanks for the contest, trying to study hard and get into a good college. I already spent all my christmas cash, so some books would be great.


http://smile.amazon.com/PWN-SAT-Essay-Mike-McClenathan/dp/1491007648/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1451681637&sr=8-2-spell&keywords=pwnsat


http://smile.amazon.com/PWN-SAT-Guide-Mike-McClenathan/dp/1495933180/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451681637&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=pwnsat

these help a lot. Just read these during class.

Even if you have four months, it's not terribly realistic to go from 500s to 700s/800. It took me six months of self-studying and an intensive SAT prep course to go from 680 to 740. You can't miss any questions to earn an 800.

As /u/WhackAMoleE noted, it's more important to learn SAT specific stuff than math in general. If you're just looking to improve your math score, then I don't think it's terribly necessary to enrol in a test-prep class.

Helpful resources:

College Confidential

Official SAT Study Guide

Official Full SAT Practice Test (free)

Barron's SAT— much better than Princeton Review or Kaplan, especially if you're aiming for a high score

Good luck!

Hmm Thanks for the advice! I will get started soon
Do you think this is anygood?
http://www.amazon.com/The-Official-SAT-Online-Course/dp/145730001X/ref=pd_sim_b_4

10 Real SATs Book

Have fun :)

PM me and I will send a copy of my GMAT-specific grammar guide (https://www.amazon.com/Last-Minute-GMAT-Grammar-Techniques-ebook/dp/B00OZURCRA/)--it's a good enough place to start.

Agreed that idioms are frustrating, but just go through the OGs and write down all the ones that are used. Most are fairly strict as to "what the GMAT wants."

Yes, you might see ones that aren't in the OGs--however, assuming a level that isn't totally stratospheric, the idiom shouldn't be the only thing defining whether the sentence is correct/incorrect. That is, "real grammar" ought to make the answer reasonably clear.

I actually would recommend the RUSH book for math 2. It's incredibly difficult, more so than Barron's and I pretty much guarantee if you do every problem in the book you'll score an 800 easy.

http://www.amazon.com/Redesigned-Pattern-Strategy-Practice-College/dp/099116573X this one is good

I'd say focus almost exclusively on the MC for the writing section, since the essay isn't nearly as important as people think. I was actually thinking of starting an SAT essay subreddit to practice critiquing essays because that is something I could use practice with to get better at.

Reading is the hardest section to raise your score in, and you're already in the 92nd percentile. Therefore, the return on investment for any studying that you would do for the reading section is quite low. But if you're trying to get in a top 20 college, it might be worth a little studying with these:

• The Direct Hits series is quite good for vocab
  
• The author of the Ultimate Guide just released a book for the critical reading section literally today. It's probably excellent, but I can't wholeheartedly recommend it yet
  
  For math, it's a similar problem; you're in the 96th percentile, so you don't have much room to improve. That said here are some resources:
  
  
• I'm a huge fan of PWN the SAT, and here's his book
  
• Much of the information in the book is available for free on his website
  
• I've heard good things about this book, and the kindle version is on sale for $3 today
  
• Dr. Chung's book is great if you need to drill exercises
  
  75% of your studying time should be devoted to the writing section.