Want to go it alone? Good for you! But not all test prep guides are created equally.
There are three things you should consider when choosing a test study guide.
There are three things you should consider when choosing a test study guide.
1. Accuracy of Practice Questions
It's remarkably difficult to write a test that looks, feels, and behaves the way a real SAT or ACT question does. That's why there are so many terrible study guides out there. The advice is good, but the practice questions are so inauthentic that they don't adequately prepare students for the real thing.
Not ours.
Every single question in our Study Guides is based on an actual test question that was on an actual test. Better practice questions mean a more authentic practice environment and a closer experience to what you're going to have on test day.
Not ours.
Every single question in our Study Guides is based on an actual test question that was on an actual test. Better practice questions mean a more authentic practice environment and a closer experience to what you're going to have on test day.
2. Integration with REAL test question sources
OK. You have a big book of practice questions. They're even good questions. Now what?
Many students believe they can get better at the SAT or ACT if they take a LOT of practice tests. That's true, in the same way that shooting hundreds of free throws will make you a better basketball player.
Practice drills are BORING. Worse, they're often a waste of time. Why slog through an entire section worth of questions just to find the few that you actually needed to do? All of our lessons are followed by a carefully curated list of questions, each one targeted to the relevant lesson, so that you don't waste time working on question you already know how to answer.
Many students believe they can get better at the SAT or ACT if they take a LOT of practice tests. That's true, in the same way that shooting hundreds of free throws will make you a better basketball player.
Practice drills are BORING. Worse, they're often a waste of time. Why slog through an entire section worth of questions just to find the few that you actually needed to do? All of our lessons are followed by a carefully curated list of questions, each one targeted to the relevant lesson, so that you don't waste time working on question you already know how to answer.
3. Up-to-Date Advice
Check the copyright date on your study guide. You wouldn't take medicine that old, would you? Tests change, and good study guides change with them. If you're working out of a study guide that is several years old, you can expect at least some of the advice to be out of date and you'll be preparing for a test that doesn't exist anymore.
Our Study Guides are the most accurate, useful books available. But don't take our word for it...
"This book helped a lot when studying for the SAT. The different methods in the book aren't simple tricks and tips, but effective methods that make the SAT less of a chore and allow you to maximize your score."
Adam T., 2014 National Merit Scholarship Finalist
"This book is very helpful for those who want to raise their SAT scores significantly. This book teaches students tricks that are put into the SATs just to confuse you and make silly mistakes. It helps the student to focus in on what is the most important thing to study, so hours aren't wasted studying useless information. Very thankful to have found this book."
Mrs. G., SAT Tutor and mother of two Ivy League students