Cracking the COOP/HSPT (Private Test Preparation) [Paperback]

Jeff Rubenstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 29, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0375761438 | ISBN-13: 978-0375761430 | Edition: 1st

The Princeton Review realizes that acing the COOP and HSPT is very different than getting straight As in school. TPR doesn't try to teach students everything there is to know about math, reading, and English -- only the techniques they'll need to score higher on the COOP and HSPT. There's a big difference. In Cracking the COOP & HSPT, TPR will teach test-takers how to think like the test-makers.

This is accomplished by teaching students how to:
Use process of elimination to eliminate choices that look right but are planted to fool the test-taker
Use "Ballparking" on mathematics sections to narrow the answer choices and save time
Learn how pace oneself, to avoid "dumb mistakes", and earn a higher score
Improve scores by focusing on the material most likely to be tested

*This book includes 4 full-length simulated exams: 2 COOP and 2 HSPT.  All of The Princeton Review's sample test questions are like the ones test-takers will see on the actual COOP and HSPT tests, and every solution is fully explained.

Contents Include:

Part I: Cracking the COOP
What is the COOP?
Memory
Sequences
Analogies
Verbal Reasoning
Reading Comprehension
Mathematics
Language Expression
Answers to COOP extensions
Part II: COOP Practice Tests
Part III: Cracking the HSPT
What is the HSPT?
Vocabulary
Verbal Skills
Quantitative Skills
Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary
Mathematics
Language
Answers to HSPT Exercises
Part IV: HSPT Practice Tests

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

The Princeton Review realizes that acing the COOP and HSPT is very different than getting straight As in school. TPR doesn't try to teach students everything there is to know about math, reading, and English -- only the techniques they'll need to score higher on the COOP and HSPT. There's a big difference. In Cracking the COOP & HSPT, TPR will teach test-takers how to think like the test-makers.

This is accomplished by teaching students how to:
Use process of elimination to eliminate choices that look right but are planted to fool the test-taker
Use "Ballparking" on mathematics sections to narrow the answer choices and save time
Learn how pace oneself, to avoid "dumb mistakes", and earn a higher score
Improve scores by focusing on the material most likely to be tested

*This book includes 4 full-length simulated exams: 2 COOP and 2 HSPT.  All of The Princeton Review's sample test questions are like the ones test-takers will see on the actual COOP and HSPT tests, and every solution is fully explained.

Contents Include:

Part I: Cracking the COOP
What is the COOP?
Memory
Sequences
Analogies
Verbal Reasoning
Reading Comprehension
Mathematics
Language Expression
Answers to COOP extensions
Part II: COOP Practice Tests
Part III: Cracking the HSPT
What is the HSPT?
Vocabulary
Verbal Skills
Quantitative Skills
Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary
Mathematics
Language
Answers to HSPT Exercises
Part IV: HSPT Practice Tests

About the Author

Jeff Rubenstein is the Senior Director of Research and Development for K-12 programs at The Princeton review. He is the author of several books and articles on test preparation.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Princeton Review; 1st edition (August 29, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375761438
• ISBN-13: 978-0375761430
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 0.9 x 10.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #498,681 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars OUTDATED, September 16, 2005

By 

A. zachariah - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cracking the COOP/HSPT (Private Test Preparation) (Paperback)

Please beware, this book is 5 years old and thus outdated in several aspects. For example, there is no memory section on the test anymore. I do not know if Barron's updated its test book recently, but when I took the COOP in 2003, there was no memory section and so both the Princeton Review and Barron's study books were outdated, not to mention several typos and editing mistakes. The Princeton review was not tough enough, and the Barron's book was too tough, in relation to the actual test.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best book available..but beware! BIG error in Answer sheet, October 27, 2000

By 

"williammunzert" (Pawtucket, RI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cracking the COOP/HSPT (Private Test Preparation) (Paperback)

Great book. I plan on using this to prep 8th graders for the HSPT in Pawtucket, RI this month. Content is excellent, layout and design are very appropriate for this age audience. It's an easy read that is packed with useful techniques and strategies, yet it's not as dense as other test prep texts available.

Big caution however. Master answer sheet for use with both practice exams is missing a space for responses to question #41-49!! Glad I caught this one before my class.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great Book but a BIG word of Caution, October 27, 2000

By 

"williammunzert" (Pawtucket, RI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cracking the COOP/HSPT (Private Test Preparation) (Paperback)

Of the books available to prepare 8th graders for the High School Placement Test, in terms of content, layout and tips/strategies, this book is the best around. I plan on using it for a course I'm piloting beginning this weekend (10/28) in Pawtucket, RI.

HOWEVER, I've discovered that the sample answer sheet in the back of the book (for the HSPT) designed for use with the two practice exams is missing space for responses to questions #41-50! I'm hoping this isn't reflective of editing done in the rest of the book, but I wont know till I use the materials in a classroom setting.

I've called Random House, who has notified Princeton Review but as of this writing they have not responded to my call for help in resolving this issue. At the moment, I'm scrambling around for an answer sheet. Wish me luck.