McGraw-Hill's Top 50 Skills for a Top Score: ACT Math [Paperback]

Brian Leaf (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 26, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0071613765 | ISBN-13: 978-0071613767 | Edition: 1

We want to help you succeed on the math portion of the ACT*

"If you want a short but concise guide to the ACT with every trick and mathematical explanation necessary to get a perfect score, this is the book for you." -- Dr. Michele Hernandez, author of the A is for Admission, The Middle School Years, and Acing the College Application

"Brian gives practical tips and tricks specifically designed to outwit the ACT's formula, and he does it all with a sense of humor and fun. Nice job!" -- Danica McKellar, actress ("The Wonder Years," "West Wing"), mathematician, and author of New York Times bestsellers Math Doesn't Suck and Kiss My Math

We've put all of our proven expertise into McGraw-Hill's Top 50 Skills for a Top Score. With this book, you'll master the essential skills identified by a prominent ACT instructor and add points to your score. You'll get focused instruction on these crucial skills, helpful exercises, pre- and posttests to check your weaknesses and progress, and two additional tests on the accompanying CD-ROM. With McGraw-Hill's Top Skills for a Top Score: ACT Math, we'll guide you step by step through your preparation and give you the tools you need to succeed.

Inside you'll find:

• 50 essential skills with step-by-step sample exercises
• A pretest to identify your weaknesses and a posttest to track your progress
• Two additional tests on CD-ROM
• Strategies to help you answer every type of ACT math item

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Brian Leaf, MA, is the founder and director of New Leaf Learning Center in Western Massachusetts. In his 17 years of private teaching and tutoring, Brian has instructed SAT and ACT preparation to thousands of students from throughout the United States and around the world. His private tutoring sessions have a two-year wait list. Brian is a member of the American School Counselor Association and the Massachusetts School Counselors Association.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (August 26, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071613765
• ISBN-13: 978-0071613767
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 0.6 x 10.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #60,518 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #37 in Books > Education & Reference > College & University > Test Preparation > ACT (American College Tests)

More About the Author

Brian Leaf, M.A., is the author of eleven books, including Misadventures of a Garden State Yogi, Name That Movie!, Defining Twilight, and McGraw-Hill's Top 50 Skills for a Top Score. He is the only man alive to have written both a yoga memoir and multiple test-prep guides. He is not sure if this is a noble or dubious distinction.

Brian is Director of the New Leaf Learning Center in Massachusetts, where he has helped thousands of students from throughout the United States manage ADD and overcome test and math phobias.

Brian graduated from Georgetown University in 1993 with a B.A. in Business, English, and Theology.
In 1999, he completed a Masters through Lesley College specializing in yoga and ayurveda for Attention Deficit Disorder.
Brian is certified as a Yoga Instructor, Ayurvedic Practitioner, Massage Therapist, Energyworker, and Holistic Educator, and he is an avid meditator. He has also dabbled with Bach Flower Essences, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, Reiki, Shiatsu, and Tai Chi. Can you top that?

So what's the connection between yoga and test-prep? Let's just say that one of Brian's first yoga teaching gigs was at the ETS corporation (Educational Testing Service) in Princeton, NJ. They're the folks who make the SAT. So now Brian gets paid hundreds of dollars per hour to share what he learned while the test-makers were half asleep in relaxation pose.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Son's math score went up EIGHT points December 24, 2010

By Cecilia L. Lynch

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

My son originally scored a 16 in Math on his first ACT. We tried two other ACT prep books before this one. They were long and tedious and mainly just reviewed math skills. This book went well beyond the skills needed and explained how to attack a variety of problems that are common on the ACT. Each of the 50 skills are broken down into a one page explaination and an additional page of five practice problems. There are study cards for each skill so you can review the skill daily to help remember it. Sam was able to cover two to five skills daily without feeling overwhelmed or defeated. His score increased to a 24. In each of the subscore areas, he increase by 4 points for an overall increase of eight points. I strongly recommend this book. It was completedly different than other books we tried and apparently it's fairly effective. He might have done better had he finished the last ten skills. He only finished the first 40 skills in the book.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Prep For The Math Portion Of The ACT April 15, 2010

By rockstartech

Format:Paperback

I have not been in school since 2006 and I just took my ACT last weekend. After signing up for the ACT, I spent hours online trying to pick out the book that would help me prepare. I am very strong with English and Reading, but a little more than rusty on my Math skills. I decided to purchase a book that would mainly focus on the Math section. This book was my decision. The only book I purchased for ACT prep. At first I was unsure if I had made the right choice in the one book that would help me get ready for this big test. When I sat down and started taking the pretest, I realized I was in deeper than I thought. But when the lessons started--I mean the "skills", I started to understand the equations and it made the Math seem a lot simpler. Each lesson has 5 questions; ranging from easy to hard, that help you review each skill. After you are through with all the skills, there is a review and a posttest. There is also a CD-ROM attached that has 2 additional practice test. I completed the book and both practice tests. The night before the test, I didn't need to cram. The Math test was second, after English. I was so confident with my Math and with the help of a good calculator (TI-30XIIS), I even had time to go back and check my work! This book really helped me prepare for everything that was included on the test. I was so happy with the results and how much I learned!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Quick review of what's on the ACT Math. August 2, 2010

By Girlscout63

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you just want a quick review book than this is the book for you. This book is short,concise, with all topics reviewed. All answers are clearly explained. The first review gave a very accurate description of how the book was organized, so I will not repeat. The book itself is well organized.
However, if are looking a more intensive math practice,a better book would be McGraw-Hill's CONQUERING THE ACT MATH.