Customer Reviews

Kaplan 12 Practice Tests for the SAT 2008

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3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(5)

 

 

I bought this book after I finished using both the College Board's "The Official SAT Study Guide" and the Princeton Review's "Cracking the SAT" and it has been quite a disappointment. The book is filled with typos, both in the questions themselves and in the explanations to the questions. I have found several math questions where the answer the book gives is incorrect and their reasoning is also incorrect. In addition, in some of the critical reading sections, there are repeat articles and questions from previous practice tests. These practice tests are easier than the actual SAT and in general are not very useful. I would suggest that anyone planning to study for the SAT should first buy the College Board's SAT prep book and then buy the Princeton Review's practice tests if they want more practice. The Kaplan book should only be purchased as a last resort if you have already used both the College Board and Princeton Review books.

Brought this book for my daughter in Aug, 2007. She, a straight-A junior taking 5 AP courses, complained many times that this book is full of errors, incomprehenive explanation, and inconsistant answer. I finally had a chance to sit down with her to go over one math test (math test #3). Surely, there are two mistakes in 47 very basic questions. I am sorry to give this book to my daughter and I shall return the book immediately.

It does serve practice for the SATs, but since I'm good in math, I didn't bother with the math sections.

The writing sections are pretty useful, since their difficulty is similar to those of the actual test.

The reading sections are totally disappointing. When I compare these reading passages and questions with the actual test, Kaplan is very very easy. Buy the Collegeboard's SAT study guide and the online program (DONT WORRY ABOUT COST! COLLEGE IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT. Worrying about the cost of this online program was my major mistake up to now. I took 3 SAT tests without subscribing for the program, and my scores aren't improving too well). I believe this method will help much more. Kaplan SAT was disappointing.

Math section of this book is full of incorrect answers which are not just typos but incorrect reasoning leading to the wrong answer. Very fustrating!

There are many wrong answers in the book and the explanation is way off.
It's like they picked an answer and made up a way to get there.

Especially the math problem on Combinations.
Section 3, Practice Test 3, Question 19

You need Combination skills from Algebra 2

The practice tests in this book are NOT REAL. They are simulated. So who cares? Because the official SAT questions are DIFFERENT. This is like practicing mountain biking when you are going to go road biking.

Buy the Official SAT Study Guide with REAL SAT QUESTIONS, then go buy the Official SAT Study Guide Solutions Manual.

Great book. Many practice tests. Higher Score guaranteed ;)

good choice