List of the Best SAT Subject Test Prep Books

7/29/2019 List of the Best SAT Subject Test Prep Books

1/5

List of the Best SAT Subject Test Prep Books

So this thread:List of the best review books has been buried for quite a long time and people don'tbother looking all the way through, searching, etc. There have been tons of threads asking for goodprep materials for so and so test, so I have posted the most updated list here:

Listening tests in general:

- 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 aretaken from previous years. However, it cannot be used for studying because it consists only ofpractice tests.

All tests in general:

- 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 practicetests (one per subject)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:

- Kaplan (C, F, G, H)The review sections are generally superfluous (unless you need a review of literary terms), but thepractice tests are great, though they are slightly more difficult than the actual test in that they usemore esoteric words (hey, better overprepared than under, right?). For best results, you may want touse it with the Princeton Review book (see below).

Reviewers score: 780.

- Princeton Review (A, C, G)I felt that their practice tests were more similar to the actual test than Kaplan's, though their reviewsections are similarly redundant. Quantity, however, seems to matter over quality, so if you mustchoose either PR or Kaplan, I would go with Kaplan.Reviewers score: 780.

- Barrons (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 necessarymaterial (it even contains an essay-writing section).

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, E, F, G)Recommender 1: Read it cover to cover a week before the exam and felt really prepared. It really
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-subject-tests-preparation/358168-list-best-review-books.html?highlight=review+bookshttp://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-subject-tests-preparation/358168-list-best-review-books.html?highlight=review+books


2/5

helps for stuff you didn't cover in class.Recommender 1's score: 790.Recommender 2: I wasn't in APUSH, and my class started with Civil War onward, so I had not learneda good 30% of what was on the test. I read Kaplan cover to cover and did 2 or 3 of the practice tests.The tests were slightly harder but left me extremely prepared. The chapters were concise and greatfor only teaching you what you need to know.Recommender 2's score: 790

- AMSCO (AP) (B, C, E)It is the most conversational textbook-ish thing I've ever read. Amazing at reviewing material. Thepractice tests are helpful for review, even though they are AP practice tests. Note: The recommenderfor 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, butdo not fret over a bad score, because it is highly inaccurate. Note: The recommender for this book isthe same as the one for the AMSCO book.Recommender's score: 800.ditto above. on average 40-45 mistakes despite scoring high on the actual test. There is no scale for

the tests, but there was a lot of overlap on the may exam.Recommenders score: 770

World History:

- Princeton Review (A, B, C, G)This book is awesome because it covers everything in a comprehensive, easy to read, and cohesivereview.Recommender's score: 800.

- Barrons (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 startstudying at least a month in advance. Very comprehensive, excellent text.

Mathematics Level 1:

- Princeton Review (C, D, E )Covers everything for this test, and is easy to read.

Mathematics Level 2:

- 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 realthing is a breeze.Recommender 2's comment: Very much harder than the real thing, but with 8 practice tests.Recommender 2's score: 800.Recommender 3's comment: Ignore the diagnostic test, it's crazy. As for the 8 practices tests, I think

they're really good(althoug harder than the real thing) if you want to get an 800 for sure.Recommender 3's score: 800

- 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 bookhelped clear up a few miscellaneous topics (probability, sets, unions, etc.) that showed up on the realtest.

- 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


3/5

tests because i finished all the practice tests in Barron's. Tests are pretty accurate. I usually skippedtwo or less but on the real test I skipped 3.Recommenders score: 800.

Biology E:

- Princeton Review (A, B, C, D)

Two of my friends used this book and said it was great. Both got 800s.

- Barrons (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.Recommenders score: 800

I quote, I studied this book for like a day and I got an 800. The Barrons book is so hard, but it madethe test so much easier. I wanna go take a real test to prove to myself that I know Bio.Recommenders score: 800

note: the recommender actually spent around 10 days carrying around the Barrons book and studyingin various nooks and crannies. Not to mention the hours she must have spent studying at home.

Biology M:

- 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.note: all PR editions are identical from 2006-2010. (dont worry I checked.)

-Sparknotes (well organized. none of the other letters apply)It was well organized by topic which was nice. Some errors included, but youre on your own for thatone. Would not recommend.Recommenders score: (730, 760)

Chemistry:

- 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 EVERYTHINGin 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 andskimmed the topics that were confusing or unfamiliar to me. For me, the T/T/CE section was thehardest, but this book had questions that prepared me for the test very well.Recommenders score: 790.Recommenders score: 770

- 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'sgood to use to learn material you don't know. The third practice test contains a lot of material thatwas not covered by the book, and is thus very difficult. This book isn't enough for someone who wantsto get an 800.

Recommender 2's score: 760.

Kaplan (A, B, C, D, F, G)

The Kaplan books seem to get a bit of a bad rap, and I'm not entirely sure why. I did 3 Kaplan tests,read through a few chapters, and no other studying, and I was really prepared.Recommender's Score: 780

Physics:

- Barron's (A, B, C, D)


4/5

Practice tests were somewhat different from the actual, but in general still good preparation. Littlesuperfluous material, however preparation in some parts is on the scarce side.

- Kaplan (B, C)Good for acquiring a general knowledge of previously unknown material, however the PrincetonReview book is required for more in-depth knowledge. Practice tests are much easier than the real

thing.

- Princeton Review (A)Explanation of concepts is hard to understand, but practice tests are extremely accurate, althoughthere aren't many of them.

Chinese with Listening:Sat II Vol 2 W/ CD (Chinese Edition)

only SAT Chinese book out there. Written by the College Board.Amazon.com: Sat II Vol 2 W/ CD (Chinese Edition): College Board: Books

French:

- 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 ita bit dull and boring. However, the practice tests were extremely accurate.Recommender's score: 760 (but on the listening exam...)-REAREA has a really good book for SAT French. It has some really good grammar explanations and itspractice tests are pretty accurate.Recommenders score: 750

French with Listening:

- Princeton Review (A, C, G)The book includes a very short and unhelpful section for students who will take the listening exam, butat least they tried. The book is good for the reading-based portion of the exam.

Recommender's score: 760.

- Barron's (B, C)This book includes a CD for the listening section, however it has its drawbacks. The same people wereused for all the clips on the CD, which is bad because you get used to their voices. This could makeyou 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:

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

- 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 inSpanish). Tons of great practice questions, as well as a great diagnostic test. My score went from a650 to a 740 with this book.Recommender's score: 740.


5/5

Spanish with Listening:

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

Modern Hebrew:

Italian:

Latin:

Japanese with Listening:

Korean with Listening:

-Scholastic Aptitude Test SAT Subject Test (cassette tape included) compiled by SAT II

and published by: YBM/Si-sa (Copyrighted in ROK) [one of the only two books that were

found after weeks of searching]Unfortunately its for Korean speakers only as the whole book uses sparse English (only for necessarytranslations when reviewing contents and for directions on the practice tests) unless the user is highlyproficient at Korean. Personally as a native speaker, I like this book more because it covers various

topics and serves as a decent review.

- SAT II Korean with Listening by: Insook Jung Cho publisher: Hollym International

Corp. (copyrighted in USA)I dont like it very much. There are 10 practice tests, but not much to show for review. Everything inKorean can also be found in English on the following page.Recommenders score: N/A not planning on taking until further notice.

Documents

List of the Best SAT Subject Test Prep Books