Customer Reviews

How to Prepare for the SSAT/ISEE (Barron's How to Prepare for the SSAT/ISEE)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I've coached reviews for the SAT I, SAT II subject tests, AP exams, PSAT and the SSAT/ISEE. I've used almost all of the test prep guides available. Barron's SSAT/ISEE 2005 edition has more typos and errors on the practice tests than any guide I've ever encountered. It's as if the authors made zero effort to proofread the practice sets. Very discouraging for the student.

I agree with the West Coast reviewer that this book is full of errors! On the math section, answers for the questions are often wrong! Wrong explanations are given, for THREE of the twenty questions in just one section I did (before throwing the book away). Some of it is poor editing, as the problem they solve is different from the problem presented in the test. Other errors just make no sense but are based on an incorrect understanding of the math concepts involved. Put this one in the trash!

I've tutored students for the SSAT and ISEE for over 5 years now. Thankfully, I've only had the misfortune of having to use this book a few times. Barron's is a respected test prep company and they do publish good guides for other tests/subjects -- but not the SSAT/ISEE.

It's not just that there are too many errors in the book -- which there are. (There are far, far more than other test prep books.)

No, it's also that the questions in this book do NOT actually prepare you for the SSAT or the ISEE. Other test prep books (Princeton Review, Kaplan, etc.) for the SSAT/ISEE do a pretty good job of mirroring the question types, styles, and difficulty levels that are present in the official test prep books (which are only available from the SSAT and ISEE websites, and I highly recommend them). But the Barron's book seems to have barely attempted to mimic the real test questions. I remember trying to work through a math section with a student and giving up after about five questions because the questions were written so poorly AND clearly required the use of a calculator -- but calculators aren't allowed on the test! Obviously the test-makers thought they could just throw together a book of easier SAT problems and call it a day. Shameful.

Maybe someday I'll be able to update this review and say that they've completely updated the book and it now measures up. But that day hasn't yet come. For now, if you buy this book for your student, you will be doing them a disservice.

The tests are riddled with errors - do not buy this book unless you are prepared to check the answers before you have your child do the tests!

This book does not include lower level test prep. It would be nice to know that in advance.

Highly recommend. This book is worth it even just for the test-taking tips. It has helped my son immensely.

I bought this book for my 13yr old 8th grader. It's an excellent resource guide for anyone taking the test. I would also suggest the Barrons book in additon to this.

This work contains pertinent examples on the English language
portion of the exam, as well as the Mathematical computation.
A strength of this presentation is that it focuses the
candidate's attention on problems certain to be tested.
The authors set forth a thorough review of techniques for
approaching problem sets and completing the exam within the
time allotted. This is an exam where each question is allotted approximately 1 and 1/2 minutes. There is barely enough time;
however, there is none to waste.

Much of the higher math is beginning and intermediary algebra.
The student might encounter the following exam questions in math
(according to the author):

- 3 SQR 8 minus SQR 18 = 3 SQR 2
- The area of a square is 4a^2. Find the perimeter. Ans. 8A
- Estimate y= 4x^3 where x= 2/3 Ans. 1.2
- A triangle has an angle of 50 degrees and two equal angles.
Find the angles. 180-50= 130 and 130/2= 65 degrees

- Solve ( a SQR 42/ b SQR 7 )= a SQR 7 x SQR 6/ b SQR 7
The SQR of 7 is in the numerator and denominator:. aSQR6/b

Plenty of math questions (identical to the above) are
provided by the author throughout the text. As such, this is an
important strength of the work. As a former teacher of
College Algebra,Probability/Statistics and Computer Applications,
I can attest to the importance of solving many pertinent problem
sets to grasp the subject matter comprehensively.

The English language portion of the exam requires paragraph reading
and interpretive questions. On paragraph reading, the
candidate should read the questions first, then attempt the answers.
Very often, there are questions on "the purpose or theme" of the presentation. The answers may be in the first sentence or the first paragraph. IT PAYS TO UNDERLINE ON THIS EXAM. The authors of this text explain the cited methodology. Some students could benefit from additional reading practice.

Vendors; such as "Speed Your Read", "Eye Q" or Evelyn Wood provide instructional algorithms which set the reading speed incrementally up to 2000 words per minute or thereabouts. A weakness of this work is that the author may assume too much information about the reading component of the exam. Some students would benefit from
a supplemental reading course in order to strengthen their
overall performance on the SSAT exam.

In addition, candidates are provided sentences to place in a logical order. The exam is straight-forward for the well-prepared candidate.
The optimal study regimen would involve
purchasing this text or one like it. Study a formal review
text or course for approximately 3 months prior to the actual
test administration. This acquisition is valuable because it
explains how to study for the exam comprehensively without cramming
the night before the test administration.

A minority of students (perhaps 1/2 of 1%) can literally look at individual problems and solve them . Most students are not in this category. They will require a thorough preparation in order to
acquire the skills requisite to solving the problems correctly
and within a reasonable period of time.

This text explains the various examination techniques. It sets forth
pertinent problem sets and prepares students fairly comprehensively
for the SSAT test administration. If you purchase this book and
find any errors, report them to the publisher. I've done so
with other review texts. Sometimes there are errors.
Other times there are either bad questions originating from
the testing agency itself or questions with alternative
interpretations.

In my experience, the publisher's interpretation of questions and model
answers can differ substantially from your own. For this reason,
the testing agencies do a statistical sample of live papers and
develop a fair grading rubric to overcome any unclear interpretations
on specific questions.