Cracking the SAT II: Biology & Biology E/M 1999-2000 (Princeton Review Series) (Paperback)

by Theodore Silver (Author), Princeton Review (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
WE KNOW THE SAT II: BIOLOGY
The experts at The Princeton Review study the SAT II: Biology and other standardized tests each year to make sure you get the most up-to-date, thoroughly researched books possible.

WE KNOW STUDENTS
Each year we help more than two million students score high with our courses, bestselling books, and award-winning software:

WE GET RESULTS
Students who take our courses for the SAT, ACT, and many other tests see score improvements that have been verified by independent accounting firms. The proven techniques we teach in our courses are in this book.

AND IF IT'S ON THE BIOLOGY AND BIOLOGY E/M EXAM, IT'S IN THIS BOOK
We don't try to teach you everything there is to know about biology--only the techniques you'll need to know to score high on the SAT II exam. There's a big difference. In Cracking the SAT II: Biology and Bio E/M, 1999-2000 Edition, you will learn to think like the test makers and:

*Eliminate answer choices that look right but are planted to fool you
*Earn more points by reviewing and mastering the biology topics most likely to be tested
*Avoid the traps that trick most students
*Use targeted review techniques to crack the complex structures and functions of organisms

Practice your skills on the full-length sample tests inside. The questions are just like the ones you'll see on the actual SAT II: Biology and Bio E/M exam, and we fully explain every solution.

From the Inside Flap
WE KNOW THE SAT II: BIOLOGY
The experts at The Princeton Review study the SAT II: Biology and other standardized tests each year to make sure you get the most up-to-date, thoroughly researched books possible.

WE KNOW STUDENTS
Each year we help more than two million students score high with our courses, bestselling books, and award-winning software:

WE GET RESULTS
Students who take our courses for the SAT, ACT, and many other tests see score improvements that have been verified by independent accounting firms.  The proven techniques we teach in our courses are in this book.

AND IF IT'S ON THE BIOLOGY AND BIOLOGY E/M EXAM, IT'S IN THIS BOOK
We don't try to teach you everything there is to know about biology--only the techniques you'll need to know to score high on the SAT II exam.  There's a big difference.  In Cracking the SAT II: Biology and Bio E/M, 1999-2000 Edition, you will learn to think like the test makers and:

*Eliminate answer choices that look right but are planted to fool you
*Earn more points  by reviewing and mastering the biology topics most likely to be tested
*Avoid the traps that trick most students
*Use targeted review techniques to crack the complex structures and functions of organisms

Practice your skills on the full-length sample tests inside.  The questions are just like the ones you'll see on the actual SAT II: Biology and Bio E/M exam, and we fully explain every solution.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Princeton Review (March 2, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375752978
• ISBN-13: 978-0375752971
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #797,557 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good for mediocracy, July 6, 2000

By A Customer

I am a biology teacher who was looking for a book to help another teacher's student prepare for the SAT II's in Biology. I was attracted to this book because it seemed to have a lot of helpful test taking strategies and because it was a fairly easy read. The student I worked with, who had done very well in a competitive high honors biology class, did the entire book, and the two practice tests, yet she only scored a 650 on the real exam. In looking over other materials, I can now see that the Princeton Review manual is a lot less thorough, although it is clearer and more readable. Since many courses do not cover all the material on the exam, lack of thoroughness can mean the student does not get any exposure to several topics. If you are looking for an above average score, this book is certainly easier to follow, as well as more enjoyable. However, it is not for the person loking for the highest possible score. In addition, the amount of mistakes the book has is pathetic- for example, they left out how to score one of the tests!

The Princeton Review has a good reputation, but I am beginning to believe they are for the average to slightly above average level student. This is not the only book by them in which I have had a negative experience- I doubt I'll buy something from them again.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Too many mistakes. Covers just basics., February 16, 2000

By A Customer

It's a shame they didn't proofread the book. The number of mistakes in the 1999-2000 edition which we bought in Spring 1999 rendered it totally unacceptable. [Just two examples of the types of careless mistakes found throughout: on page 27 the drawing of a peptide leaves out a double-bonded oxygen. In the first test there are two errors in the answer section: in one case the answer key gives the wrong letter for the answer (the explanation section is correct) and in another, the explanation section gives one letter for the answer but proceeds to explain why another one is correct. My son even found two mistakes on one page of the text; I wish I could remember which page.] These sorts of mistakes made it impossible to trust anything else in the book.

If they would remove all the mistakes it would be a very helpful, easy-to-read book for those who need quick help in order to score decently. For those striving to score in the top brackets (above 700), a "meatier" book like the Barron's is essential; this one is rather minimalist in its coverage of the material.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great practice material but still needs improvement, May 2, 1999

By A Customer

This book really teaches you the stuff you need to know on the SAT II Biology test. It uses simple English to make it much more easy to digest. You will definitely understand what is going on. However, this book doesn't cover some of the stuff that is on most Biology tests. Princeton Review should include more topics and more diagrams of cells, organisms, etc.

This book is good for people aiming for a score around 600 - 650. But if you want a higher score, get another book.