Customer Reviews

Master the SAT & PSAT 2000 ED (Sat and Psat (Arco), 2000)

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

 

 

this book was ok, but it didn't really help me at all. I took a sample SAT and after I worked through the entire book, my score still didn't change at all. This book gives you a lot of detail about what the PSAT and SAT are like, and also a vocabulary list and lots of practice questions. It'll probably be good just to work through anyway before the SATs. The wording in the book was good and easy to understand.

Arco and Barron publish the best SAT/PSAT study guides and outlines available, in my opinion. I have generally found Arco to have harder problems than Barron's in mathematics, but Barron's has introduced vocabulary flash cards into many of their books - an unbeatable way to study, which should be extended to all mathematical theorems and definitions. See my review of Barron's study guides and sample tests for more details, but remember to put theorems and definitions on flash cards BEFORE working massive amounts of problems. Most people do the reverse and cannot possibly remember what the theorems say or where to use them from a pile of homework as big as a garage! It is OK to have one example flash card for each theorem, but do not put more than 2 lines of ordinary handwriting on front and 2 on back of a flash card for rapid shuffling both alphabetized and non-alphabetized, and learn them backwards and forwards. In mathematics, an equation is usually as important to read and know from right to left as from left to right, and likewise with theorems (the premise or "if" and the conclusion or "then"), and most students do not know them backwards, which tests easily reveal. Most students also do poorly with theorems in shuffled order, especially when they are trying to remember garage piles of homework. Homework and massive problem solving are to practice what you already know in different contexts, not to learn what theorems and definitions say.

Arco and Barron publish the best SAT/PSAT study guides and outlines available, in my opinion. I have generally found Arco to have harder problems than Barron's in mathematics, but Barron's has introduced vocabulary flash cards into many of their books - an unbeatable way to study, which should be extended to all mathematical theorems and definitions. See my review of Barron's study guides and sample tests for more details, but remember to put theorems and definitions on flash cards BEFORE working massive amounts of problems. Most people do the reverse and cannot possibly remember what the theorems say or where to use them from a pile of homework as big as a garage! It is OK to have one example flash card for each theorem, but do not put more than 2 lines of ordinary handwriting on front and 2 on back of a flash card for rapid shuffling both alphabetized and non-alphabetized, and learn them backwards and forwards. In mathematics, an equation is usually as important to read and know from right to left as from left to right, and likewise with theorems (the premise or "if" and the conclusion or "then"), and most students do not know them backwards, which tests easily reveal. Most students also do poorly with theorems in shuffled order, especially when they are trying to remember garage piles of homework. Homework and massive problem solving are to practice what you already know in different contexts, not to learn what theorems and definitions say.