Yep. Who would have thought that the big secret to mastering the SAT was merely working with the book by the makers of the test? I'm a minority student who comes from a poor lower-middle class family. This would have to be the best $10 I've ever invested! After taking the test, I scored high enough to qualify for acceptance into Morehouse College (dubbed the "black Harvard University").

I highly recommend that if you're going to take the SAT I, grab this book. Your friends will be wasting hundreds, perhaps even thousands of dollars getting test prep courses and SAT vocabulary books that are essentially dull and useless. The best way to practice is to practice using old versions of the test, and that is why this book is the answer.

I also recommend buying a full-version copy of the demo CD-ROM that comes along with it. The videos and timed practice exams are fully worth it and get you prepared as if you were actually taking the test. After you taken the test on paper using the sheets in this guide book about 3-4 times, you'll be fully armed and ready for the SAT.

The only set back, which explains why I only gave four stars, is that this book had a misprint section with incorrect answers and I had to goto to the College Board website to download them in PDF. Aside from that, this book is great.

It even goes so far as to explain the make-up of the test. I didn't know there was an experimental section until I read this. Now, the book says that one would not be able to tell which was the experimental section, but judging from relative difficulty on test, I think one could easily tell it was the hardest one. Had I known this before, I would have been more confident in my testing. Even though I felt I did miserably, I in fact ended up scoring pretty decently.

Parents get this for your kids. You won't regret it. I'm giving my copy to my little brother and sister to help them get into UCLA and Cal.

This book is now officially worthless because there will be no more old SAT test taking. Do not buy this book if you have or are a son or daughter taking the SAT. The same goes for all non New SAT. Anything that is NEW SAT is good.

The real strength in this book is the practice tests. They are literally the real thing. There is no better way to raise your score. Though I do recomend another book with this one to raise your vocabulary and such. I recomend it for everyone and, being a seventh grader, think this book is perfect for anyone in any grade. I raised my score from an 1130 to a 1350!

I brought this book (and "Boot Camp for Your Brain - SAT I") for my niece to study during her summer break. She just called to tell me that her SAT score went up 150 points.

Another Reviewer stated this book will help raise your score from 600 to 700, but it did more than that for me. I didn't start studying until TWO WEEKS before the test. I dumped the vocabulary cards and math guides and jumped right into the practice tests. My lowest practice score was 1190, my real life SAT score was 1380.

My advice: simulate the real test as best you can. No bathroom breaks, no snacks, no friends, no music, etc. Use a cooking timer to clock yourself, when it dings STOP. Don't leave your desk. Don't stop to review sections, do the whole test at once.
Don't focus on the free online versions, nothing is the same as practicing with pencil and paper.

When you're done, look at your answers and redo all the math problems you did wrong. Pay attention to which type of problems give you trouble or which terms confuse you. The math section is really a Mensa Logic Test in disguise, so after you do this a few times you'll start recognizing the tricks they use. (If it were really a math test I wouldn't have done well because I never got past basic geometry.)

For the Verbal: find something that is completely over your head and read it. This may sound stupid, but it will improve your reading skills dramatically. Search online for the different types of Analogies, look at your answers to see which types give you the most trouble.

Day before the test: Don't review anything, just get the stuff together that you'll need. Put fresh batteries in your calculator. Spend all day having fun. Wash your hair. Being clean is a great ego boost.

Lowest Practice Score: Math 580 Verbal 610
Real SAT: Math 680 Verbal 700

Bonus feature: You might see some of the same questions in this book on your test!! (I did!)