Customer Reviews

Kaplan SAT/ACT/PSAT 2006 Platinum (PC & Mac)

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

 

 

I've found this software pretty useful for studying for my ACT so far. It gives you a diagnostic test, and has lessons that explain how the test is done and everything. I also like the way they show you how the test is done step by step. It's good that they have lessons read out to you, since I tend to skim and fall asleep while attempting to read the guide books.
My problem is their sad attempt at making the thing fun by putting in corny little cartoon characters and jokes. But then again, I guess it's sort of hard to teach something as boring as Test Prep while making it entertaining, so they get points for trying. The other reviewer complains about it making the screen go all white. I haven't had any such problems.
I do reccommend getting some book study guides to go along with it though. This CD is great for teaching you everything, but it's a bit annoying to have to take math tests on the computer, since you can't write on it and stuff.(although it's helpful that it calculates your score for you) It takes too much extra time to have to re-draw figures on a piece of scrap paper. The best reason to get this software is if you're like me and tend to skim and nod off while trying to read lessons in a book. I find it more helpful to have it read aloud. But if you don't have speakers on your computer, this won't be very helpful.
Bottom line is, this is definitely a helpful software, although it's a little boring. But don't only depend on this, get a book as well. (Both of those together will still be cheaper than a course!)
edited 5/6
I just used this softwares SAT II: US History program, and I really don't reccommend it for that part. While the normal SAT and ACT parts are definitely helpful, don't trust this program to help you greatly improve SAT II scores. The program only had review and one diagnostic test (no other practice tests!) it was also done in an entirely different and very bad format from the ACT and SAT cds.
So, get this program for its ACT/SAT stuff, not SAT II!

This program would not properly load onto my computer and I have loaded hundreds of programs over the years. A call to Kaplan resulted in them attempting to hand me off to the people who actually burn the cd's.

I won't ever buy anything from this company again if I can avoid it.

After studying for just five hours, I was able to increase my ACT Score three points on my composite (From a 26 to a 29). I can only imagine how much it would have gone up if I would have put more time into the CD. I highly recommend this product for anyone that is serious about their ACT Score.

This is a very good review source, especially because it is for everyone, guys like me that like to study for a long time or even last minute people. I would recommend getting the Collegeboard blue book for the real tests, and also some type of other book to study. This is an ok form of study but it is not complete.

I purchased this product for my 16 year old daughter. My impressions are based on her comments and reactions to the software which have been uniformly positive. She spends a lot of time at the computer already and, having the software loaded, finds time to practice in between other activities. There is a tremendous amount of content in the product with lots of opportunity for practice and review. The interactivity makes the review and feedback process very fast. Highly recommended, especially when compared to the cost of the in person courses.

I needed to review high school math concepts for an impending standardized test (not the ACT or SAT, nor even the GRE), and this product saved my life. I deliberately chose the 2006 edition, not the latest 2007 edition, because I just needed a review for high school geometry, exponents, fractions, etc. My wife teased me about doing three years of math in only a few weeks. I strongly sugget that anyone that needs some type of mathematics, reading comprehension skill, or verbal acutity review think about buying this product, regardless of whether the test they are reviewing for is the PSAT, SAT, ACT, or the like.