Customer Reviews

CAHSEE - Mathematics (REA): The Best Test Prep for the California High School Exit Examination in Mathematics (Test Preps)

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Last year, like many other high school students, I was nervous about the exit exam. English has always been my strong point and I was personally more concerned about whether or not I would pass the math, but I thought that the test might be rather hard. I didn't find the booklets that the state provides at high schools too helpful. They give you the basic facts; what standards you'll be tested on and a few examples of test problems. They don't provide many good hints on how to prepare, studying tips, and other similar issues.

My teacher had given me this book, REA's Mathematics CAHSEE preparation, as well as the CAHSEE prep. book for English. I was amazed at how much more thorough these books are than the ones that the state of California provides! The beginning of each book fully explains the CAHSEE and why it is essential for graduation. A break-down of the questions is given (for example, in math, there's 12 questions for Statistics/Data Analysis/Probability, 14 for Number Sense, and so on) and how the score on practice tests is calculated. Each of these books provides two complete practice tests that are incredibly similar to the actual exit exam. A study schedule is given in each of the REA books; Week 1 (study Section 2,) Week 2 (study Section 3), Week 3 (study Section 4), Week 4 (take Practice Test 1), and Week 5 (take Practice Test 2). Breaking down the preparation over a period of time is much less overwhelming than trying to cram everything in a week (or maybe even days) before the exit exam. If you want to pass, you've really got to spread out your study over a few weeks in order to be sure you fully comprehend what you're supposed to have learned.

Not only does each book provide useful test-taking strategies, but will also help improve your understanding of mathematics (as well as English, if you get the other one) overall. It starts with covering the basics and then moves up to more complex topics. For example, the first chapter (Number Sense) deals with topics such as the lowest common denominator, computations, converting fractions/decimals/percents, exponents, and so on. Later topics deal with measurement, geometry, and Algebra. There is always plenty of information provided in earlier chapters to make sure you'll be able to understand what comes later on.

On the mathematics CAHSEE Practice Test 1, I scored 396/450. On Practice Test 2, I scored 390/450. On the real CAHSEE test (which was VERY similar to the various examples and the two practice tests provided in this book), I got a 392/450 (that's about 79% of the questions correct)! I was so glad to have passed, since I have struggled with math for years.

It's never too early to start preparing and this is the book you need!

I studied for three days with this book. I passed! Previously I had failed the math portion of CAHSEE two times. THANK YOU!
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS HELP!

Several concepts are presented incorrectly. Very disappointed in the explanations. They were short, but they weren't shortcuts--they were just incomplete explanations.

This book is junk. The first reviewer must be the author because this book was NOT helpful at all. There were several parts in the book which were inaccurate. There are better books out there which are WAY more helpful (and do not include so many mistakes). Wish I could give this book 0 stars.