Customer Reviews

SAT II Writing Preparation Guide (Cliffs Test Prep)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am an English teacher, writer and translator, and I work with students preparing for the SAT II Writing Test. The prep book by Casson is the best one I have found so far. The review material is outstandingly concise and clear, and the practice tests are very good. This book is especially useful for students who do not have much time to prepare, but I would recommend it to anyone who is going to take SAT II Writing. Also, unlike some other prep books, this one contains no typographical errors and contradictions.

When I was looking for an SAT II Writing preparation book, I checked a number of them. This one caught my eye because THE COLLEGE BOARD REVIEW called it the "best trade market publication" on the subject. I agree. Of the books I checked, this one had the best written questions and answers. I recommend it enthusiastically.

I am extremely pleased with this book. Not only does it go from topic-to-topic explaining all the details, it also gives extensive practice in those particular areas. The organization is excellent, allowing you to go to any specific section that you need help on. The tests themselves are good, although not as scientific as the ones on the real SAT II Writing. Altogether, I am a very satisfied customer.

This book was amazing! I used it to help prepare for my SATII writing, and it helped me earn a perfect score. The text is highly organized and divided into coherent sections with examples, questions, and practice exams. If you're looking to improve your score, this book is the way to go.

im an international student as well, and although i didnt get 780 with one weeks practice, i did manage a good score (720). this book taught me everything i needed to know for the test, and i really recommend it. it even has 5 practice tests.

I used this book for my own preparation as well as a base text to teach a 6-week course to 8 homeschool students. Though the book is not organized as a course, it was followed as an outline. We used the first of five sample tests as a baseline pre-test in the first class session. The highest scoring student on this 'pre-test' would have had a composite scaled score of 400. After the course the third test was used as a final exam. The highest scoring student's scaled composite score on the final was 500 and my own went up to 700. You do learn so much more when you have to teach it.

The text is generous in that 5 full practice exams are provided and the grammar overview has many examples of good and bad grammar illustrations.

I also like the fact that several sample student essays are provided so that you can get an accurate 'feel' for the writing quality expected at the various score ranges.

There are flaws to the text that did prove frustrating. It does not have an index. This made locating information difficult at times. I particularly found it frustrating locating the chart to convert the raw score to the scaled score as it isn't even referenced in the table of contents but is imbedded in a FAQ section in the middle of the book. If you have purchased this book and taken one of the tests that scaled score is important to you. It should have been prominetly placed within the text precisely at the location where you would 'have the raw score in hand'.

As I stated earlier this was used as an outline for the course. I had to do considerable expanding of the topics with internet research to get a good feel for the grammar that was covered. Topics are handled with a more conversational tone though plenty of examples of good and bad grammar are provided. If you are expecting a programmed course with formatted lessons you will be disappointed. However, if you have a pretty good grasp of grammar already and primarily need only an orientation to the test design itself this text is quite useful.

The text did do a good job of helping me to realize the test-maker tricks which are designed to trip up the mediocre students. This knowledge accounted for a significant part of the score improvement. A general grammar handbook would never have developed this understanding.

Improvements to the text would have included:
index
grammar review with a little more depth and 'course-styled' structure

Recommended for students preparing to take the PSAT, as well. Is among the best of all the standardized test prep books I've used in my four years as a private tutor. Excellent!

im an international student as well, and although i didnt get 780 with one weeks practice, i did manage a good score (720). this book taught me everything i needed to know for the test, and i really recommend it. it even has 5 practice tests.