Best College & High School Test Guides
The 2018 edition of The Official SAT Study Guide doubles the number of official SAT® practice tests to eight – all of them created by the test maker.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The Official SAT Study Guide, 2018 Edition (currently $16) is the most essential preparation book for the new, revised SAT and PSAT, which began in March 2016 and October 2015, respectively, because it’s the only physical source of official revised SATs—the practice SATs in other third-party books are nothing more than subpar imitations of the real thing. However, the PDFs of all 8 tests in this book, along with moderately helpful answer explanations, can also be downloaded from the College Board / Khan Academy websites for free (google "SAT Practice Tests - The College Board"). In addition, there are no score conversion tables provided: you will have to download the “Daily Practice for the New SAT” mobile app for iOS/Android, which allows you to take a picture of your answer sheet on your cell phone, then have it scored automatically, or to visit the College Board website (google "Scoring your SAT Practice Test #1") in order to manually convert your raw scores (total number correct on each section) into scaled scores (400-1600 scale, with additional sub-scores). On the other hand, the physical book does still have its advantages over a bunch of PDFs—perhaps most importantly, the tests are already printed out for you (for now, the SAT is still a paper and pencil test, and you are allowed to write on the test, so in the interest of practicing the way you play, you should never attempt to take it on a computer screen). Many of the one-star, harshly negative reviews of this book will have nothing to do with the quality of the book and practice tests themselves; it's simply that the reviewers had expected 8 different practice SATs from the ones already released on the College Board / Khan Academy websites, and were thus disappointed when they saw the same tests in this book. In addition to the 8 tests, this book contains many additional pages of SAT prep advice, some of which cannot be found anywhere else, along with the practice tests and answer explanations that can be also found online. Although much of the first part of the book is superfluous, and most of it is also available online through Khan Academy, it does offer some moderately helpful tips in its introduction, including a test structure recap, concept overview, practice questions and explanations, as well as an essay rubric, scoring guidelines, and sample essays. However, I must applaud the College Board for increasing its level of transparency, and for releasing the tests in PDF form to benefit those who cannot afford to buy the book, as well as adding detailed answer explanations (though very often, the explanation provided in the book is not the simplest way to solve the question). Quick tip: when taking practice sections or full tests in this book, don't bother filling in the bubbles--just circle your answers (unless you plan to score your test using the "Daily Practice" app). For some reason there is currently no way to download the Essay Space PDF online (ahem, College Board, please get on this), but if you want to practice filling in the bubbles, then you can google "Answer Sheet - New SAT Practice Test." When it comes time to re-try the questions, I recommend that you either buy a 2nd copy of the book to keep blank, or that you print out a fresh copies using the free PDFs provided by the College Board. Lots of question pairs where the second question in the pair asks for “the choice that provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question.” For this reason, always glance at the next question for clues as to where the answer might be found. For example, one major reason to consider taking the New SAT instead of (or in addition to) the ACT is that the SAT allows you more time per question than does the ACT. Thus, if time management is a major issue, then the SAT might be a better test for you: SAT Reading = 1.25 minutes per question (75 seconds). ACT Reading = .875 minutes per question (52.5 seconds). SAT Grammar (Writing and Language) = .8 minutes per question (48 seconds). ACT Grammar (English) = .6 minutes per question (36 seconds). SAT Math = 1.4 minutes per question (83 seconds). ACT Math = 1 minute per question (60 seconds). Please keep in mind that this book is not necessarily the best source of SAT strategy. My current favorite authors for serious SAT-prep books are Erica Meltzer for Reading and Writing/Language (The Critical Reader), Nielson Phu (The College Panda) for the Math and Essay sections, Richard Corn for Math, and Mike McClenathan (PWN the SAT) for Math. Real SAT questions are of course always better to practice with, but for the new SAT, they are currently in short supply. So you should also try to get your hands on a copy of the October 2016 PSAT (copies were sent to students who took the test), as well as PSAT practice tests #1 and #2, which you can also download from the College Board website."
"The 8 official practice tests in this book are indispensable (therefore five stars) but they are the same as the ones posted on the College Board and Khan Academy web sites, so it is reasonable to ask, “Why buy this book?”. The main reason is that students should take practice tests using pencil and paper because that is how the SAT is administered."
"I’ve recognized quite a few problems I’ve learned in school but mostly forgot the solutions over time, and when I see the explanation provided in the book, I know it’s not the simple way I learned at school, but rather an odd, more difficult way to do it."
The bestselling prep guide from the makers of the ACT test Offers bonus online content to help boost college readiness Contains the real ACT test forms used in previous years. The comprehensive guide to this year's ACT ® test, with real full-length practice tests. To help you better review test subjects and improve your understanding, the guide provides clear explanations for every answer and ideas for boosting your score on the English, math, reading, and science tests as well as the optional writing test.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"We’ve been waiting since 2011 for a newer edition of the Real ACT Prep Guide, and at long last, it’s here: the 3 new tests in this book reflect the minor changes to the ACT Reading and Science portions, and most importantly, the major changes to the new ACT essay (Writing) section. This book continues to be the most essential preparation guide for the ACT, because it is the only source of official test questions—the practice ACTs in all other books are nothing more than subpar imitations of the real thing. The book contains only 3 new tests, which is why I’m removing one star from my review, but again, that’s better than only 1 new test (google “Preparing for the ACT Test 2016”), which until now is all that was available. Combine the 3 tests in this book with the Real ACT Prep Guide, 3rd Edition The Real ACT Prep Guide (Book + Bonus Online Content), (Reprint) (Official Act Prep Guide), and the free online test mentioned above, and you’ve got 9 official ACT tests total. Combine them with the 4 other tests available for free online (google “ACT Action Plan - McElroy Tutoring” for links), and you’ve got a healthy dose of 13 official practice tests that should be sufficient for a full ACT preparation. There is also some overlap between the recently released ACT Tests and the April 2015 / June 2015 versions of the test, but I wouldn't worry about that: those two tests were not publicly released, so most students don't have any way to obtain the April and June 2015 ACTs, despite the fact that copies were made available to students who took the tests. Reading - almost exactly the same (35 minutes, 40 questions), but the new ACT now includes Dual Passages (google “Preparing for the ACT Test 2016”, open the PDF, and scroll to pages 36-38 for an example of what the dual passage looks like). ——. SAT vs. ACT: These days, many students prefer the ACT to the SAT Official SAT Study Guide (2016 Edition) (Official Study Guide for the New Sat). For example, one major reason to consider taking the New SAT instead of (or in addition to) the ACT is that the SAT allows you more time per question than does the ACT. Thus, if time management is a major issue, then the SAT might be a better test for you: SAT Reading = 1.25 minutes per question (75 seconds). ACT Reading = .875 minutes per question (52.5 seconds). SAT Grammar (Writing and Language) = .8 minutes per question (48 seconds). ACT Grammar (English) = .6 minutes per question (36 seconds). SAT Math = 1.4 minutes per question (83 seconds). ACT Math = 1 minute per question (60 seconds). ——. Here are my top recommendations for ACT Practice and Strategy, ranked from most helpful to least: 1) This Book. 2) The Free Online Practice Test from ACT (google “Preparing for the ACT 2016”). 3) The Real ACT Prep Guide, 3rd Edition: The Real ACT Prep Guide (Book + Bonus Online Content), (Reprint) (Official Act Prep Guide) or The Real ACT (CD) 3rd Edition (Official Act Prep Guide). 4) The 3 other Official ACTs available for free online (google “ACT Action Plan - McElroy Tutoring”). 5) The Ultimate Guide the Math ACT: Ultimate Guide to the Math ACT. 6) For the Love of ACT Science: For the Love of ACT Science: An innovative approach to mastering the science section of the ACT standardized exam. 7) Mighty Oak Guide to Mastering the ACT Essay: Mighty Oak Guide to Mastering the 2016 ACT Essay: For the new (2016-) 36-point ACT essay. 8) The Complete Guide to ACT Reading: The Complete Guide to ACT Reading. 9) The Complete Guide to ACT English: The Complete Guide to ACT English, 2nd Edition. 10) ACT Quantum Free Math Videos - explanations to every question in the 3rd edition of the Real ACT prep guide, plus the 4 additional tests available online. 11) Barron’s ACT, 2nd Edition: Barron's ACT, 2nd Edition (Barron's Act (Book Only)). For those of you who will be taking the ACT with accommodations, you should also know that extended time is more flexible than on the SAT."
"The practice tests are great."
"Thorough book to assist with test prep."
"Great product."
"Lots of great material was provided in this book and it was extremely high quality."
"Recommended by the school for preparing for ACT."
"Test prep tutors essentially function as an unpaid evangelizing force that recruits students to take one test or the other. Make no mistake; College Board has also failed to provide enough test prep materials for students who are serious about improving their test prep scores. As Co-Founder of Clear Choice Test Prep, I've personally authored more than 2500 pages of 100% white-label test prep workbooks. Our resources are now used by hundreds of independent tutors and test prep companies across the U.S. and around the world. Furthermore, our custom branded workbooks include resources that make the information more actionable for test prep: macro-strategies for each test section, pacing guides, concept-centric lessons, 850+ practice problems, and hundreds more skill builder exercises."
For less than what you would pay for each book separately, the bundle packages The Official. Guide to the GRE® General Test, 3rd Edition ; Official GRE Verbal Reasoning Practice Questions, Volume 1 ; and Official Quantitative Reasoning Practice Questions, Volume 1 . The Official GRE® Super Power Pack offers: • Significant savings over purchasing each book separately. • Everything you need to know about the test, direct from the test maker. • 4 complete, real GRE tests – 2 in the book and 2 online. • 600 real practice exam questions, many with detailed answer explanations. • The test maker’s own tips for answering each question type. • Scored sample Analytical Writing essay responses and reader commentary. • Access to GRE POWERPREP® Online. • eBook content that is fully accessible for individuals with disabilities. Educational Testing Service (ETS) (Princeton, NJ) is a private, nonprofit organization devoted to educational measurement and research, primarily through testing.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Official Guide to the GRE, 3rd Edition: The Official Guide to the GRE General Test, Third Edition. Official Verbal Practice Questions, 2nd Edition, Volume 1: Official GRE Verbal Reasoning Practice Questions, Second Edition, Volume 1 (Test Prep). Official Quantitative Practice Questions, 2nd Edition, Volume 1: Official GRE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Questions, Second Edition, Volume 1 (Test Prep). Ultimately, you will need these 3 books for an optimal GRE preparation, because the included practice tests / questions are the real deal. After many years of receiving scant practice material from ETS, I am relieved to say that ETS has now provided enough official materials for a nearly full preparation for the GRE, so the purchase of other learning and strategy guides can be kept to a minimum. The GRE is scored from 130 to 170 in both sections, for a total of 340 points. Timed Practice Test #1: This is your first official GRE practice test, and should be taken at the beginning of your preparation to establish a baseline score. To take a diagnostic test, click “Timed Practice Test 1” or “Timed Practice Test 2.”. There is a row of buttons at the bottom of the software that says “Start Test / Resume Test / Review Answers:”. Start Test = resets any old tests (WARNING! Review Answers = review your performance on the test, section by section (you cannot go back once you've completed a section without exiting and reviewing again). --------------------------------------. RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: In-between Timed Practice Tests #1 and #2 is the best time for students to work through the Official GRE Super Power Pack (these books), which consists of approximately 600 more real GRE questions for practice, along with (moderately helpful) answer explanations and learning sections. Try Cliff’s Notes Math Review for Standardized Tests, 2nd Edition: CliffsNotes Math Review for Standardized Tests, 2nd Edition (CliffsTestPrep). Need more help with Vocabulary? Book of GRE Practice Problems (Manhattan Prep GRE Strategy Guides). Want to go down the rabbit hole and learn every tiny detail of the GRE? Then try the Manhattan Prep GRE Series: Manhattan Prep GRE Set of 8 Strategy Guides (Manhattan Prep GRE Strategy Guides) You can either buy the entire library, or one book at a time: GRE Fractions, Decimals, & Percents (Manhattan Prep GRE Strategy Guides)."
"I bought these for my daughter."
"Use these to study for the GRE-- they are made by the test maker."
"This has been my saving grace."
"Good enough way to study for the GRE."
"Turns out I didn't need it."
"So helpful and cheaper than going to the local bookstore."
Best GED Test Guides
Always study with the most up-to-date prep! Our prep books and online resources provide the expert guidance that students need at every step of their educational journey – incorporating years of test-specific data and strategies tested by Kaplan students and our own expert psychometricians.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"GED test 2017, 2016 and GED test premier 2017, They are the same."
"The teacher said this was a great buy and has everything she will need for the class and practicing before taking the final tests."
"I was impresseed that this book is a study guide for all of the 2017 GED exams."
"I am very excited about finally receiving my GED book."
"My son took the practice tests along with studying with this guide."
"The online part allows you to keep track of your progress better than the book."
Best High School Entrance Test Guides
The HSPT Exam is extremely challenging, and thorough test preparation is essential for success. These sections are full of specific and detailed information that will be key to passing the HSPT Exam. Concepts and principles aren't simply named or described in passing, but are explained in detail. The guide is laid out in a logical and organized fashion so that one section naturally flows from the one preceding it. Because it's written with an eye for both technical accuracy and accessibility, you will not have to worry about getting lost in dense academic language. Each answer is explained in depth, in order to make the principles and reasoning behind it crystal clear. We've helped thousands of people pass standardized tests and achieve their education and career goals. Our Study Guide for the HSPT Test Is Unlike Any Other. If you'd like to get the HSPT score you deserve, to quit worrying about whether your score on the HSPT is "good enough," and to beat the test taking game, then this might be the most important message you read this year. Our original research into the High School Placement Test (HSPT), offered by the Scholastic Testing Service (STS), reveals the specific content areas and the essential skills that are critical for you to know on the HSPT. Our company's name is Mometrix Test Preparation, and we have a team of standardized test researchers who have worked on developing our study guide for the HSPT. Some academic studies have revealed that test takers do not really benefit from the traditional test preparation process. But we knew there had to be a solution- if test takers were not doing well on the HSPT despite high intelligence, there had to be a set of secret keys to the test that would open the door of success for these test takers. One reason some test takers do well on the day of the test is that they have made the critical connection between the material they learned and how to use the material to succeed on the HSPT. Shows you super speed methods to get through the questions you know with ease- Saving you time so you concentrate on the hardest questions without rushing Keys to questions that "give away" the wrong (or right) answers- You get credit for some of the questions without really even knowing anything about them Details the EXACT STUDY PLAN for the HSPT that we believe gives the most results in the least time- No matter if you're studying for a week or a month, you won't waste the precious study time you have on useless activities Get quick, customized help for the questions you have- just send us a quick email and we'll get back to you promptly with the answer. Our researchers are more than just academic theoreticians who understand the technical nature of standardized tests, but are also experts on test taking itself- they reveal the exact skills and the information you'll need to perform under pressure during the test. Many test takers use exactly the wrong strategy, but you can avoid the pitfalls with the help of our standardized test experts The secret keys that "gives away" the right answer a lot of the time- You know the special "flags" and the specific "giveaways" to look for Our quick problem solving method for the problems with variables- You speed right through these notorious time-wasters The most efficient and accurate method for picking the right answer on reading questions- You won't be puzzled trying to read the mind of the test question writer, but will instead know exactly what to look for to pick the best answer Warns you of the "fact traps" to watch out for - You won't fall prey to these easy to miss questions Provides you with a system for predicting answers before you even see the choices- You'll be amazed at what you already know A comprehensive Mathematics review written in some of the easiest non-technical language you've ever read- You get a "plain talk" refresher on the most critical areas you will need to master for the HSPT Mathematics sections Includes instructions detailing the best way for you to get started with your preparation efforts so you can begin the path of improving your scores immediately Courteous, unlimited customer service is 100% free- if you need the product emailed to a different address, lose the product, or have any other difficulty- the help you need is just a short email away and our representatives are active 7 days a week helping customers The research of our team of test experts is 100% independent and original -- Our exclusive "calibration strategy" to help you never go too fast OR too slow when answering even the toughest questions Do you know what a "hedge phrase" is? Learn why looking for the key "weasel words" in the question can help identify the correct answer Why "new information" in the answer choices almost always means that the answer choice is wrong- and the way to avoid this trick planted by the clever test writers Learn to avoid this time-draining mistake on the test - why the technical terms you don't know can be a major stumbling block and waste precious time, and the way that you can work around them The secret to using the contextual clues in the questions and the answer choices to make important distinctions between the right and the wrong answer choices The two situations where you should NOT check your answers thoroughly How to avoid careless mistakes by using the quick "double check" system. It will more than pay for itself relative to the time it will take you Test writers will often quote directly from the question in an answer- learn whether this is something you should trust or avoid Why "extreme statements" in the answer choices are dead giveaways for wrong answers- find out how to detect the subtle differences between reasonable answers and the answers that are almost always wrong Learn how to group your answer choices into "families" that often narrows down the pool of correct answers- this is a quick way to immediately eliminate one or two of the answer choices and increase your odds of getting the question right. We cover the 5 essential skills necessary to do well on the HSPT, plus comprehensive reviews covering the Reading Comprehension, Mathematics & Quantitative Skills, Verbal Skills, and Language tests individually.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I am a teacher and I purchased this book to help me in providing a good review and preparation guide to my students who will soon be taking the high school placement test for selective enrollment."
"Regardless of HSPT, this guide also has great test taking tips."
"Great review - very helpful to prepare for the exam."
"It is a good review material if you don't have too much time."
"The practice questions were great."
"These books are a great combination in helping to prepare for the HSPT exam because my son is able to read about how to answer and work through questions in the guide and then use the practice tests to prepare."
"The review sections are very detailed and will be useful even beyond HSPT preparation."
"This book has been a very useful aid for teaching my daughter how to study for the exam."
Best PSAT & National Merit Test Guides
Intended to clearly and systematically demystify what is often considered the most challenging section of the SAT, The Critical Reader: The Complete Guide to SAT® Reading, 3rd Edition , provides a comprehensive review of the reading skills tested on the redesigned exam for students who are serious about raising their scores.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Binding of book bent - book damaged."
"Good product."
"It very explanatory,easy to understand."
"Very meticulous and methodical, covering literally every possible rule that the exam could test and also throwing in tricky-ish questions that the exam might use to disguise the correct answers."
"Brief explanation and rationale on each tests questions are very useful."
"I've only read 150 pages and already feel like this is one of the best books available."
"The exercise is not very useful for my sons, who is year 9 &10 but good at English."
Best Prep School Test Guides
That’s why this book has more questions than even 10 full-length exams - well over 1,500 practice questions dedicated only to the Upper Level ISEE. • Two full-length tests ; a diagnostic test to help you pinpoint the areas in most need of improvement, and a practice test to help familiarize students with the real thing. The 2018 edition of this book updates the previous versions, introducing a new content area, and expanding the diagnostic and practice tests to be full-length tests.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Very helpful."
"There was so much reading and math practice we didn't even have enough time to get through it all (we only bought the book one month before the test)."
"This book is much better than those by Princeton Review and/or Kaplan because the manner is which the questions are framed, particularly those involving vocabulary, mirrors what I have seen in the actual official practice ISEE."
"Broken up by concept, the book provides hundreds of practice questions to clarify and solidify the key concepts of the ISEE."
"one of the best ISEE Prep book out there."
"This is a really useful book and the best we found by far (we tried quite a few)."
"What an awesome guide - we've picked through a couple other ISEE test books and I would thoroughly recommend this one."
Best Regents Test Guides
This useful supplement to high school Earth Science textbooks features: A comprehensive, newly streamlined topic review covering fundamentals of astronomy, geology, and meteorology The 2011 Edition Reference Tables for Physical Setting/Earth Science More than 1,100 practice questions with answers covering all exam topics drawn from recent Regents exams One recent full-length Regents exam with answers.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Using to prep for Jeopardy."
"Topics are extensively covered, my son is using it as a reference and loves it."
"This was recommended by my child's teacher, and she did well on the state rests."
"This book definetley helped me pass my regent, it has an abundant amount of crucial information."
"It's so good and has so many information inside."
"Boring but best review out there."
Best Citizenship Test Guides
In You Were Born Rich , Bob Proctor has done it again, this time taking you step by step to the surprising discovery that success is not always reaching out for something that you don't have but rather only reaching over and rearranging the pieces already there. As a speaker, author, consultant, coach, and mentor, BOB PROCTOR works with business entities and individuals around the world, instilling within them not only the mental foundations of success and the motivation to achieve, but also the actionable strategies that will empower them to grow, improve, and thrive in today's ever-changing world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"After reading this book I know it was attracted to me because I needed guidance and confirmation as to who i am and it resonate to exactly what I needed to hear to guide me in the right direction,it is super powerful and totally addictive when u truly uncover the truth about who and what you are."
"It forced me to reconsider things I have believed in the past about myself, my abilities and the abilities of those around me."
"Bob Proctor is an amazing teacher, gives you the keys on how to be anything you want to be."
"Just get this book read and apply it...it is life changing."
"It was specifically (almost) about money!"
"I did start by making a goal card and will get there by December 2013. Goes into great detail of how important the subconscious mind is and the effect it has on real results."
"Completely compelling I love every single chapter it is like having a self adventure with your way of thinking and living."
"Mr. Bob Proctor has become the "New King" of the Personal Development World."
Best Driver's Education
CDL Study Guide Book: Test Preparation & Training Manual for the Commercial Drivers License (CDL) Exam Developed for test takers trying to achieve a passing score on the CDL exam, this comprehensive study guide includes: •Quick Overview. •Test-Taking Strategies. •Introduction. •Driving Safely. •Transporting Cargo Safely. •Transporting Passengers Safely. •Air Brakes. •Combination Vehicles. •Doubles and Triples. •Tank Vehicles. •Hazardous Materials. •School Buses. •Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection Test. •Basic Vehicle Control Skills Test. •On-Road Driving. •Practice Questions. •Detailed Answer Explanations.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"You are better off reading your state issued manual."
"I bought the book for my dad and he loved it."
"Very well written study book."
"I love the layout of the book as it separates each topic very clearly making it much easier to study for this exam."
"This is an excellent book for anyone studying to get a CDL."
"Full of necessary information for taking the CDL test and maintaining your license."
"I bought the book in the Kindle edition. I wanted a resource like this, because I wanted something that was formatted for my Kindle reader which would be as easy as reading / flipping through a book. It is more like viewing a series of pictures rather than reading through a book, and the type is so small that you have to enlarge the pages to read them. What I mean is that, and I hope this is unique to the Kindle edition, pages are broken, and sloppily continued (most of the time) on the next page."
"I never used it and passed the tests for the CDL-A and all endorsements/restrictions by using the manual and online tests."