I've coached reviews for the SAT I, SAT II subject tests, AP exams, PSAT and the SSAT/ISEE. I've used almost all of the test prep guides available. Barron's SSAT/ISEE 2005 edition has more typos and errors on the practice tests than any guide I've ever encountered. It's as if the authors made zero effort to proofread the practice sets. Very discouraging for the student.

I own a tutoring company in the Bay Area called Unleashed Learning, and this is one of the books that inspired us to write our own guide for the SSAT/ISEE. The actual content is pretty good, as it covers most of the material you'll see on these tests. The test tips are ok, nothing special. But the format is dreadful! It's like someone wrote it through once, and then rushed to turn it in to go on a ski trip. It's very tough to navigate, especially since many of the pages are just text from the very top to the very bottom. Studing for these tests is tough enough, why make it any more difficult?

This work contains pertinent examples on the English language portion of the exam, as well as the Mathematical computation.
A strength of this presentation is that it focuses the candidate's attention on problems certain to be tested.
The authors set forth a thorough review of techniques for approaching problem sets and completing the exam within the time allotted. This is an exam where each question is allotted approximately 1 and 1/2 minutes. There is barely enough time;
however, there is none to waste.

Much of the higher math is beginning and intermediary algebra.
The student might encounter the following exam questions in math:

- 3 SQR 8 minus SQR 18 = 3 SQR 2
- The area of a square is 4a^2. Find the perimeter. Ans. 8A
- Estimate y= 4x^3 where x= 2/3 Ans. 1.2
- A triangle has an angle of 50 degrees and two equal angles.
Find the angles. 180-50= 130 and 130/2= 65 degrees

- Solve ( a SQR 42/ b SQR 7 )= a SQR 7 x SQR 6/ b SQR 7
The SQR of 7 is in the numerator and denominator:. aSQR6/b

The English language portion of the exam requires paragraph reading and interpretive questions. On paragraph reading, the
candidate should read the questions first, then attempt the answers. Very often, there are questions on "the purpose or theme" of the presentation. The answers may be in the
first sentence or the first paragraph. IT PAYS TO UNDERLINE ON
THIS EXAM.

In addition, candidates are provided sentences to place in a logical order. The exam is straight-forward for the well-prepared candidate. The optimal study regimen would involve
purchasing this text or one like it. Study a formal review
text or course for approximately 3 months prior to the actual
test administration.