| As an SAT Tutor and College Coach, I make it | | | | each page. There are some basic but necessary |
| my business to read every relevant piece of | | | | rules of grammar designed to help with the |
| literature on the subject of SAT Test Prep. I | | | | writing multiple choice part of the SAT. The essay |
| must admit that I have been in the test prep | | | | section is excellent and a must read. The Math |
| business for some time and as a result I am | | | | tutorial is fresh and it introduces many time |
| jaded and skeptical when reading anything that | | | | saving tricks with the use of a calculator. There |
| promotes "new ideas". Surprisingly, "Hack The | | | | are some errors in the Math section which the |
| SAT" (Penquin Books) by Eliot Schrefer brings | | | | author promises will be corrected with the next |
| some fresh ideas to the stodgy world of | | | | printing. A sharp student who can spot these |
| standardized test preparation. The book was | | | | errors will know he or she is paying attention! |
| recommended to me with much hype. The author | | | | In the final chapter, there is a comprehensive mini |
| is a multi faceted fiction writer, non-fiction writer, | | | | quiz which the author calls an SAT Drill. The |
| and tutor to Manhattan's elite children. | | | | answer key refers the student to the particular |
| Written in a semi sarcastic tone a la "Up Your | | | | page where the question's concept is reinforced. |
| Score" (a favorite study guide of mine) the book | | | | A special bonus section on college applications is |
| has many smart and sometimes funny | | | | very informative. |
| approaches to the reading, writing and math | | | | I recommend "Hack The SAT" to students who |
| sections of the SAT. The author gives the | | | | have taken the exam at least once and have |
| student what he calls, several "tricks of the | | | | already read "Up Your Score". Schrefer's book |
| trade"--time saving, problem solving methods as | | | | boldly contends that his secret strategies can |
| well as techniques to avoid the silly traps the | | | | raise your score hundreds of points. The |
| testmakers often set. Schrefer's writing style | | | | operative word here is can. He and I both agree |
| attempts to communicate in the language of a | | | | that all the slick shortcuts in the world will not |
| High School Junior or Senior. Whether he succeeds | | | | improve a student's score unless that student is |
| is anybody's guess. I haven't been in High School | | | | committed to sitting down and taking as many |
| for over 30 years. | | | | practice exams as possible. The same way major |
| The book gives some solid advice on how to | | | | league baseball players take batting practice every |
| properly attack a critical reading passage. A | | | | day before the game, the student must practice, |
| running vocabulary list appears at the bottom of | | | | practice, practice. |