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'Prep': Blue Blazers and Lacrosse

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By Elissa Schappell

• Jan. 16, 2005

PREP By Curtis Sittenfeld. 406 pp. Random House. $21.95.

Seemingly bathed in a golden light of good fortune, the wealthy keep pieds-à- terre, have trust funds that rival the gross national product of tiny African nations and, of course, are educated at the finest, most upper-crust prep schools. All this is known about the species. What isn't as widely known is what actual life is like behind the hushed, ivy-armored walls of America's elite prep schools. Not the repressive, secret-society-driven hothouse captured in "Dead Poets Society," but life in your typical, sunny, everyday New England boarding school.

Curtis Sittenfeld's debut novel, "Prep," is a four-year, semester-by-semester tour of Ault, a fictional private boarding school in Massachusetts that's populated with boys and girls in khakis and blue blazers whose names alone identify them as spawn of the prosperous. After all, who but the affluent and flamboyantly well bred would dare saddle a child with names such as Tab or Aspeth, which sounds all too much like a lisped pronunciation of "aspic."

John Knowles wrote the seminal American boarding school bildungsroman, "A Separate Peace" (1960), which drew heavily on his own experience at Phillips Exeter, and gave rise to an entire class of coming-of-age at sleep-away-school books. But unlike "A Separate Peace," "Prep" doesn't heave with poetic angst. Sittenfeld's heroine, Lee Fiora (while certainly classifiable as an alienated adolescent), possesses a Midwesterner's level head and a gimlet eye for all things top-drawer. It is Lee's observations of what it's like to be a scholarship student thrust into a world of privilege that shape the novel.

While Lee is obviously bright, her parents are confused as to why she'd want to leave Indiana, and her perfectly acceptable local high school, for an expensive private school on the East Coast. Despite what Lee tells her family, her desire to attend Ault has little to do with the three R's, and everything to do with the prospect of canoodling with a Weejun-wearing laddie.

"I'd pretended it was about academics, but it never had been. . . . I imagined that if I left South Bend, I would meet a melancholy, athletic boy who liked to read as much as I did and on overcast Sundays we would take walks together wearing wool sweaters."

Upon arriving at Ault, Lee finds that life isn't as picturesque as she'd imagined. The reality is she isn't the teacher's pet. She isn't the smartest kid in the class. In fact, she pales in comparison with almost all her fellow students. She isn't the blond alpha girl whom you either want to be or be with; or the charming male sleepover-artist; or the popular, nonthreatening African-American guy; or the shy, high-achieving, suicidal Asian girl. Lee isn't despised or particularly well liked; she is no type. She is just Lee.

What Lee does excel at is disappearing into the wallpaper, hovering just on the fringes, watching, taking mental notes and sitting in judgment of her peers. Even as Lee's estrangement from her family back home grows, their differences magnified by the miles between them, she resists reaching out to her fellow students. She is determined to protect herself at all costs from any sort of awkwardness, passing up school dances and parties to stay in her dorm eating canned soup and paging through old Ault yearbooks.

There is never a moment when Lee entertains the notion that she might compete with her fellow students intellectually or financially, especially not those like the New York "bank boys," the sons of Wall Street tycoons. Lee's father, a sweet, albeit obnoxious, man, owns a mattress franchise. That he bristles at Lee's embarrassment about her middle-class origins only deepens their estrangement. Lee quickly learns the old adage: Only no money and new money talk about money.

"Money is not discussed," she says. "People have so much, so it's like nobody needs to mention it." Still, Lee, like any traveler in a foreign land, quickly learns to recognize the signs that differentiate one class from another.

"You can tell by people's rooms -- whether or not they have stereos, or if the girls have flowered bedspreads, or if they have silver picture frames. . . . And things like, you can send your laundry to a service or you do it yourself in the dorm machines. Or even some of the sports, how much the equipment costs. Ice hockey is a really expensive sport, but something like basketball isn't that much."

It would be very easy to blame the school's not-so-subtle caste system for Lee's problems and unhappiness, but Sittenfeld doesn't. Lee is no saint, and no victim, but rather a willing cog in the machine of exclusion. She declines, for instance, to get involved with a kind and good-looking young man who works in the school kitchen because he's a townie. Gradually, however, Lee comes to acknowledge that it wasn't so much the fantasy of strolling hand in hand with some Camus-quoting lacrosse player that drew her to Ault, but her own desire to do better, to socially trade up.

In the course of four years Lee slowly becomes more like those she has sat in judgment upon. The uptight freshman who is shocked that girls break the rules by smoking off campus is, by her senior year, stealing into an unoccupied day-student room at night for sex.

It is the sex between Lee and her crush, Cross, a boy far more popular than she is, that lifts the book, overlong at more than 400 pages, out of its sophomore slump, and restores its narrative momentum. Sittenfeld captures the teenage hook-up experience in a way that isn't too cringingly young-adult or clinically distant. Lee enjoys the sex and the attention, though she is not naïve enough to believe a boy like Cross would ever openly date a girl like her. Yet she is girl enough to hope she is wrong. In the end, however, Lee's passivity, her refusal to pursue anything past the point where it might get embarrassing, limits her as a character. This isn't to say the story doesn't feel true to life. Sittenfeld's dialogue is so convincing that one wonders if she didn't wear a wire under her hockey kilt.

Which leads to another question. Most novels are autobiographical in some way, first novels in particular. But even allowing for that, "Prep," both in structure and in narrative, feels like a memoir. Without an author photo of a teenage Sittenfeld posed on the quad of an elite East Coast boarding school, we can't know. And it doesn't really matter. What is of interest, and why "Prep" deserves pride of place on any summer recommended reading list, is the incisive and evenhanded way in which Sittenfeld explores issues of class.

Read as fiction, Sittenfeld's novel sets up dramatic expectations that aren't met. By the end of the book -- which culminates in graduation, naturally -- we see that life at Ault hasn't changed Lee in any profound way. She is still awkward, perhaps less vigilantly critical, but you wonder if perhaps she would have become this person even if she had spent her high school years in South Bend. As it is, there is no defining moment, no Knowlesian Gene-and-Finny-in-the-tree scene where we feel that life will never be the same again, or some truth about human nature is revealed.

Postgraduation, we learn which friends Lee still sees, and how the lives of her fellow students have panned out -- the feeling here is not unlike the Hollywood movie trope of running capsule summaries of what's happened to all the characters as the credits roll. In the last pages we see how Lee, having moved beyond Ault, now looks at the world. She has learned a lesson some never do: that the rich can not only be complex and interesting, they can teach a judgmental middle-class girl something about tolerance and grace.

Elissa Schappell is the editor at large of Tin House magazine and the author of "Use Me," a novel.

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The happiest days of your life? Come off it

Curtis Sittenfeld evokes the horror of being a teenager in her examination of the cruelty of cool, Prep, says Viv Groskop

Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld Picador £12.99, pp403

Lee Fiora is a dorky 14-year-old from an embarrassingly ordinary family in South Bend, Indiana, who ends up at Ault, an exclusive Massachusetts boarding school. Prep is the story of her survival there. It is about how she learns to fit in somewhere she doesn't belong, only to suffer social death the moment she finally feels accepted.

Rejected by 14 publishers before it found a home, Curtis Sittenfeld's debut is an addictive portrait of adolescence - The OC meets Donna Tartt's The Secret History with flashes of Clueless. After rave reviews and becoming a New York Times bestseller, it has also been optioned as a film by Paramount.

Prep doesn't come sugar-coated: it is dark and obsessive examination of the cruelty of the coolness hierarchy. Ault is the sort of place where, if you're a girl, your social standing is measured by the intricacy of the flower design on your bedspread. If you're a boy who dislikes sport, you might as well start writing your suicide note now.

Scholarship girl Lee does not fit it at all: she's too working class, too sensitive, too goofy. She both cares too much and not enough about what others think. She is not pretty enough to fit in as a female and she is not a strong enough personality to become one of Ault's rare outsider loner types. Lee is an observer, an expert on Ault's rituals and secret codes from the outside, a memoriser of the school yearbook and a desperate student of insider jargon.

The schoolmates who touch Lee's life, not that she notices until years later (the novel is written in retrospect), provide some of the book's most poignant moments. Lee teaches the wealthy but paranoid Conchita to ride a bike and finally gets to give cool girl Aspeth a haircut (before realising that it is a bit demeaning to be the school hairdresser).

The irony is that Lee never registers that many of the students around her are just as unhappy as she is, that under the cheerleader exterior, they, too, are dying. Lee slowly does discover, though, that some are not quite what they appear: her monster crush on star athlete Cross Sugarman turns out to be horribly misplaced and she woefully underestimates her taciturn, Korean room-mate.

In the end, despite all her forensic observations, Lee understands virtually nothing at Ault until years after she leaves. Sittenfeld's strength is in making this experience feel universal. Despite the American specifics, everyone will wince with recognition at the horror of being a teenager. It's great to relive it all, now that it is happening to someone else.

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The untold story of Prep : Secrets from the making of the cult-classic campus novel

Seija is a Los Angeles-based features editor. Follow her on Instagram @_seija_ for musings on the latest movies, books, and in-flight magazines (really).

Nora Ephron says it best: The end of summer evokes a pang for back-to-school, and all that it entails, like nothing else. Even if you’re not school-supply-shopping in New York or sending your crush a bouquet of freshly-sharpened pencils, the crisp fall air just does something to a person. For the book lovers among us, we feel drawn to campus novels to get lost in the world of textbooks, messenger bags, and fictional boarding school romances. Almost no tome evokes this seasonal spirit better than Curtis Sittenfeld’s Prep .

Sittenfeld’s coming-of-age novel about the intrepid Lee Fiora, who is thrust into the blazer-filled world of the prestigious Ault School, is a cult classic like no other. For the last 13 years readers have been drawn to its pointedly honest (and often times biting) commentary on the world of elite New England private schools. That, year after year, it is equally passed around real-life boarding schools as a self-indulgent celebration of their own lives (remember when the cast of Laguna Beach used to watch The O.C. ?) and passed among young women who found the moneyed world of trust fund babies fascinating and horrifying, is a prime example of the book’s broad appeal.

Perhaps the most impressive piece of trivia about Prep is that it was Sittenfeld’s debut novel. She spoke with EW to share the story about her still-famous novel from over a decade ago, and it all began at the Iowa Writer’s Workshop, where the author was working on her degree. As part of an assignment, she wrote what would later become the last chapter of Prep — but had no intention of turning it into a full-length book at the time.

“I graduated from Iowa in May 2001, and I felt like I had this sort of moment of truth with myself,” explained Sittenfeld. “Where I’d thought, you know if I really want to be a writer I have to finish a book. And I asked myself what do I have, and how do I get to the end of it?”

Sittenfeld was 24 years old when she got to work on the book — and 29 when it published. She took the finished product to her agent, Shana Kelly, who submitted the manuscript to 15 different editors. In a scenario that has come to be all-too-familiar to aspiring authors, several publishing companies expressed interest but then ultimately backed out — some of then even did so several times in a row, until Random House decided to bite.

“People always say to me, how did you decide which publisher to go to,” laughed Sittenfeld. “And I would say it really wasn’t that difficult.”

In spite of the difficult road to publication, Prep took off as soon as it hit shelves. It became a near-instant bestseller and immediately begat not only fervent gushing among teens and adults alike, but a debate about the real-life inspiration for the fictional (or was it?) school and students featured in the novel. Sittenfeld herself not only attended the prestigious Groton School but was serving as a writer-in-residence at the all-boys St. Albans School at the time she finished the book, which provided plenty of inspiration.

“The setting [of Prep ] is essentially Groton,” she said. “The layout of the campus, the schedule of the day, the ritual of the school, those are things I liberally borrowed from Groton.”

The author is quick to point out that almost none of the characters are based on real people from her time at boarding school, including the protagonist Lee. (She did let slip that many of the students’ absurdist names are borrowed from or inspired by WASP-y naming practices). But a few moments from her time at St. Albans made their way onto the page.

“There is a reference to an editorial in the student newspaper that I think literally ripped off a St. Albans editorial about how students should be allowed to wear plaid shorts to class or something like that,” said Sittenfeld. “It was just so irresistibly preposterous that I couldn’t help myself.”

The novelist also borrowed from real life for the book’s central plot device: The infamous game “Assassin,” which pits Lee against her fellow Ault co-eds to see who can tag more people with the foreboding orange stickers, was played during Sittenfeld’s time at Groton. She believes it’s still played there to this day, and yes, that Gossip Girl episode was indeed inspired by the game from Prep .

Some of the book’s other iconic moments almost didn’t come to be — like the title, for starters, which was initially meant to be Cipher but was changed by Sittenfeld’s editor out of concern readers wouldn’t know what the word meant. And the instantly-recognizable cover began as an image of an ivy-covered fence, intended to evoke academic exclusivity. Sittenfeld was reading O Magazine and found a blurb about green ribbon belts making a fashionable comeback; the headline declared “Get Prepped,” so she sent it over to her editor to share the word-play sighting.

“Her assistant emailed me and said, we really like the idea you sent, and we’re working on it, and we’ll have something to show you soon,” the author explained. “It was literally based on a misunderstanding, but then immediately when I saw the new cover, I thought, ‘Oh my God, that’s great.’”

Now, 13 years after that green-ribbon-cover first hit shelves, Sittenfeld is a prominent author. She published her sixth book this spring, a short story collection that has since been optioned by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, a position which gives her a wholly different perspective when it comes to reminiscing on her fairytale debut.

“When I look back, I feel as if my experience with Prep was sort of every first novelist’s delusional idea of how their book will be received,” she laughed. “I also didn’t understand that it’s very unusual for a debut novel that received a $40,000 advance to become a bestseller. It’s shockingly unusual — this was never supposed to be a bestseller.”

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by Curtis Sittenfeld ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 18, 2005

Teenaged years served up without sugar: a class act.

A witty, involving boarding-school drama from Seventeen magazine award-winner Sittenfeld.

Seduced by media depictions of glamorous boarding-school life, South Bend teenager Lee Fiora uses her straight-A average as a ticket out of her LCM (lower middle class, in prep-school speak) home, winning a scholarship to tony Ault. But once there, she’s immediately the dorkey outcast, relegated to the company of the ethnics and the weirdoes. The rest could have been a standard nerd narrative, as Lee pursues the unattainably cool and gorgeous Cross Sugerman and finds an unexpected niche cutting hair for the popular kids. But Sittenfeld is too serious to let the story lapse into cliché. Instead of triumphing, her underdog is gradually corrupted by her frustrated social climbing. Lee’s grades flag while she obsesses about being liked; Cross does finally come to her bed, but keeps it a shameful secret, using her only as an easy sexual outlet. While resenting the popular kids, Lee is too vain to court them, preferring to lurk resentfully in her room. When her loving but lowbrow family comes to visit, she tries only to hide them, sacrificing her parents for an elusive popularity. By the end, Lee’s father has turned his back on her, remarking, “Sorry I couldn’t buy you a big house with a palm tree, Lee. Sorry you got such a raw deal for a family.” Her one close friend and roommate, Martha, serves as a foil. Beginning as an outsider like Lee, Martha finally becomes the senior prefect, generally liked for her straightforward kindness. As for Lee, we never lose sympathy for her, even when it becomes clear that it’s not her classmates’ snobbery but her own that isolates her. The boarding-school formula allows newcomer Sittenfeld the comforting slippers-and-ice-cream haven of chick-lit while allowing much more in the way of psychological insight.

Pub Date: Jan. 18, 2005

ISBN: 1-4000-6231-4

Page Count: 416

Publisher: Random House

Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2004

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A LITTLE LIFE

by Hanya Yanagihara ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 10, 2015

The phrase “tour de force” could have been invented for this audacious novel.

Four men who meet as college roommates move to New York and spend the next three decades gaining renown in their professions—as an architect, painter, actor and lawyer—and struggling with demons in their intertwined personal lives.

Yanagihara ( The People in the Trees , 2013) takes the still-bold leap of writing about characters who don’t share her background; in addition to being male, JB is African-American, Malcolm has a black father and white mother, Willem is white, and “Jude’s race was undetermined”—deserted at birth, he was raised in a monastery and had an unspeakably traumatic childhood that’s revealed slowly over the course of the book. Two of them are gay, one straight and one bisexual. There isn’t a single significant female character, and for a long novel, there isn’t much plot. There aren’t even many markers of what’s happening in the outside world; Jude moves to a loft in SoHo as a young man, but we don’t see the neighborhood change from gritty artists’ enclave to glitzy tourist destination. What we get instead is an intensely interior look at the friends’ psyches and relationships, and it’s utterly enthralling. The four men think about work and creativity and success and failure; they cook for each other, compete with each other and jostle for each other’s affection. JB bases his entire artistic career on painting portraits of his friends, while Malcolm takes care of them by designing their apartments and houses. When Jude, as an adult, is adopted by his favorite Harvard law professor, his friends join him for Thanksgiving in Cambridge every year. And when Willem becomes a movie star, they all bask in his glow. Eventually, the tone darkens and the story narrows to focus on Jude as the pain of his past cuts deep into his carefully constructed life.  

Pub Date: March 10, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-385-53925-8

Page Count: 720

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: Dec. 21, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2015

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PERSPECTIVES

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

by Harper Lee ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 11, 1960

A first novel, this is also a first person account of Scout's (Jean Louise) recall of the years that led to the ending of a mystery, the breaking of her brother Jem's elbow, the death of her father's enemy — and the close of childhood years. A widower, Atticus raises his children with legal dispassion and paternal intelligence, and is ably abetted by Calpurnia, the colored cook, while the Alabama town of Maycomb, in the 1930's, remains aloof to their divergence from its tribal patterns. Scout and Jem, with their summer-time companion, Dill, find their paths free from interference — but not from dangers; their curiosity about the imprisoned Boo, whose miserable past is incorporated in their play, results in a tentative friendliness; their fears of Atticus' lack of distinction is dissipated when he shoots a mad dog; his defense of a Negro accused of raping a white girl, Mayella Ewell, is followed with avid interest and turns the rabble whites against him. Scout is the means of averting an attack on Atticus but when he loses the case it is Boo who saves Jem and Scout by killing Mayella's father when he attempts to murder them. The shadows of a beginning for black-white understanding, the persistent fight that Scout carries on against school, Jem's emergence into adulthood, Calpurnia's quiet power, and all the incidents touching on the children's "growing outward" have an attractive starchiness that keeps this southern picture pert and provocative. There is much advance interest in this book; it has been selected by the Literary Guild and Reader's Digest; it should win many friends.

Pub Date: July 11, 1960

ISBN: 0060935464

Page Count: 323

Publisher: Lippincott

Review Posted Online: Oct. 7, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1960

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by Harper Lee

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Best SAT Prep Books

Our in-depth guide covers the best sat study books on the market to help you crush this all-important exam.

Prepping for the SAT can be an extremely stressful time for future college students. You want to do well, but you’re not totally sure what to expect or even where to start. The good news is that there are a ton of useful prep books on the market to help you master the skills, tricks, and tips necessary to get a high score and expand your choice of colleges and universities. Below is our in-depth guide covering five of the best SAT study books on the market this year.

Summary : The Best SAT Books of 2024

Based on our team’s review and analysis, the best SAT prep books on the market today are:

• Kaplan’s SAT Prep Plus
• SAT Prep Black Book Second Edition
• Barron’s SAT Study Guide
• College Board’s Official SAT Study Guide
• Princeton Review SAT Premium Prep

Keep reading for more information about our team’s picks of top-rated SAT prep books.

#1 | Kaplan’s SAT Prep Plus

One of the most robust prep books on the market, Kaplan’s SAT Prep Plus features a broad overview of the exam, how it works, and what kinds of questions you can expect to see across the three sections of the test. It also offers a broad range of practice questions and five full-length practice exams , in addition to detailed sections covering content review.

In total, there are over 1,500 practice questions in the book . I found Kaplan’s practice material to be highly realistic and particularly helpful in predicting the kinds of patterns I would see on the actual exam.

Kaplan is a very respected prep company that excels at being concise but comprehensive . And that’s exactly what Kaplan’s SAT Prep Plus gives you, so you’ll be able to approach the SAT with confidence.

If there is a downside, it’s that some experts find the book to be a bit lacking in its challenge level. Still, it covers just about every SAT concept and topic you’ll encounter in the exam, making it among the best SAT Math, English, and Reading prep books .

In fact, the sheer coverage of this book puts it ahead of many other study guides, and it can serve as a great refresher or overview, especially when used in conjunction with other books.

➡ RELATED : Read our review of the Kaplan SAT Course

#2 | SAT Prep Black Book Second Edition

Earning its place among the best SAT prep books by being chock full of insightful advice, strategies, tips and tricks, is the SAT Prep Black Book Second Edition . It provides an in-depth look at the test, from its design to the types of questions you might encounter and why those questions are included.

It also provides details on the format and structure of the test, as well as tidbits of information such as how you can watch out for trick questions and why those questions are there.

Personally, I found this to be very helpful. It helped me identify answers that were there to distract from the real answer, and explained the reasons for them and how to escape this particular trap.

Finally, it breaks down a number of online SAT practice exams, with thorough answer explanations for four of them . This can help you determine why you may have missed a question so you can do better the next time around.

The SAT Prep Black Book is an outstanding guide for students of just about any level because it can help you not only learn the tricks but also change the way you look at the test overall. This aspect especially aided me in planning my own test taking strategy. If there’s a downside, it’s that there aren’t any original practice exams in the book; you’ll need to seek those out online.

➡ Also Worth Reading : PrepScholar SAT Course Review

#3 | Barron’s SAT Study Guide

If you’re looking for practice exams, Barron’s SAT Study Guide will fit the bill. There are four complete practice exams between the covers, and the book gives you access to two more online. That means you’ll have plenty of opportunities and time to run through the test and practice your test-taking skills .

This guide also features a diagnostic test that can help you to get familiar with how the SAT works, enable you to focus on your weak points to improve upon and get you into the right mindset to approach the exam.

The Barron’s guide does require a degree of drive and self-application to really get the most out of the book. You’ll need to be willing to dive in and take it seriously, engage at a high level with the content and keep laser-focused on your goal. No book can give you that kind of focus, however; that’s on you.

If you can engage with the text and stay focused and determined, this book can help you break down the material into manageable chunks and give you the practice you need . It also uses some of the same tricks as the real exam, so you’ll get used to tricky wording and distracting answers.

I was a big fan of the textbook, and felt good about its role in my test prep. It’s certainly among the best SAT math prep books, as well as English and reading prep books.

➡ Also Worth Reading : Prep Expert SAT Course Review

#4 | College Board’s Official SAT Study Guide

Why choose the College Board’s Official SAT Study Guide ? The title says it all. This is the only study guide that has been written and authorized by the authors of the test itself (even if it is from a couple years back).

What this means is that the practice questions you’ll encounter are very close to those you’ll come across in the actual exam. In addition, inside you will find comprehensive breakdowns of why the right answers are correct. The book includes walk-throughs of each quiz, exam and question , as well as guidance on how to handle the essay question.

In my opinion, seeing real questions from actual tests was useful. Finally, the book contains a detailed overview and guide to the exam itself, why the questions are phrased and presented as they are and how you can recognize the patterns and tricks used.

If this book has a downside, it’s that it doesn’t really offer tips and tricks , but instead focuses on making sure you have the skills so you don’t need them.

#5 | Princeton Review SAT Premium Prep

Rounding out our top 5 is the budget-friendly but still comprehensive guide to tackling the exam, Princeton Review SAT Premium Prep . It’s similar to the Barron’s guide in that it gives you a thorough overview of the exam with all of the concepts you need, plus strategies for how to manage time and approach the test questions .

It offers four complete practice exams in the text, and gives you access to five more online.

Each question is provided with a thorough answer and explanation so you can consider your approach to answering. This will help get you into the proper mindset on test day.

An additional online component provides a useful scoring tool for the practice tests . It also includes a range of test-taking tips and tricks that are certain to improve your approach to taking the SAT, and your final score and results.

The book is a bulky one with nearly 900 pages of content . The bookworm in me loved this, but for others the page count can make it a bit intimidating.

However, it’s so well organized and laid out that using it is a breeze. It’s one of the few study guides out there that can be used all on its own. It’s jam-packed with all you need to get ready to take the exam.

➡ RELATED : Read our review of the Princeton SAT Course

Preparing For The SAT

These are just a few of the top SAT prep guides on the market . If you grab any of these books and dedicate time each day to studying, you’re almost certain to improve your scores. The quality of your study material is important, but consistency in studying is even more key.

If you find yourself wanting a little more, a SAT prep course or SAT tutor might be something to consider. Our list of the best SAT prep courses can be found here .

Keep in mind, not all SAT prep courses are expensive as those from Kaplan and Princeton Review . For example, Magoosh and PrepScholar offer courses for less than $200.

➡ Read Next : Barron’s vs Princeton Review SAT Prep Book Comparison

What is the best SAT prep book?

After reviewing over a dozen different SAT prep options, our team likes the SAT prep books from Kaplan and Barron’s.

Where to buy SAT prep books?

Perhaps the easiest and most convenient place to buy SAT prep books is through an online retailer like Amazon. When shopping, make sure you are looking for the most recent edition of the book you are interested in.

Every product is independently selected by (obsessive) editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.

The Best ACT and SAT Prep Books, According to Perfect Scorers

As a soon-to-be high-school junior, I, along with millions of students , will be taking the SAT later this year. Many of us have been preparing in one way or another since the start of freshman year, but as the exam date draws near, I’ve found the abundance of study books and other standardized testing prep resources to be overwhelming (and expensive) — and that’s especially true for an increasing number of students who plan to take both the SAT and the ACT.

To determine what’s actually worth buying, I reached out to nine students who earned perfect scores on the ACT and/or the SAT, sourced through local news stories and contacted, in true Gen Z form, over Instagram DM. Ahead, the resources that helped them ace the tests.

The Best ACT Prep Books

Seven out of nine students I spoke to found The Official ACT Prep Guide , written by the makers of the ACT, to be particularly helpful. It’s “one of the most thorough review books I have encountered,” incoming University of Texas Dallas freshman Anisha Holla says. “It not only covers and explains all topics unique to the ACT test but also includes innumerable practice questions.” Practice tests are included, and students can access additional full-length tests and resources online. Incoming Duke University freshman Naomie Gao liked using the online features to “create question banks specifically for the question types you’re struggling with.”

Dhruv Rungta , who will be a freshman at the University of Virginia, called Barron’s ACT 36 “the best book for explaining all the concepts.” This guide focuses on some of the harder portions of the ACT, which is ideal for students aiming for a perfect score. “I really think it’s concise and a perfect tool for anyone,” Rungta adds.

Incoming Princeton University freshman Shrey Addagatla says this book is “as efficient as possible.” A more advanced guide, it bypasses ACT basics and focuses on specialized methods to help students achieve top scores. Since the Princeton Review ACT Elite 36 focuses on teaching strategies and the Princeton Review ACT Prep has practice tests, these two books are even more effective when paired together.

Addagatla, who previously served as an ACT tutor, used the Kaplan Test Prep book with his students. The book contains one practice test and with the purchase of this book, four online practice tests are available. “Kaplan ACT Prep Plus focuses on specific skills included in the ACT more than other prep books,” Addagatla notes.

As someone who struggled with the science section of the ACT, Mason High School student Ayanav Roy found the ACT Math and Science Workbook “especially good” because of the test-taking strategies and practice material. And while he liked this particular edition, Roy notes that “if either the math or science portions are a weakness for you, any book by Barron’s will be helpful.”

Roy found practice questions from The Complete Guide to ACT Reading to be very similar to the actual ACT exam. The book addresses common question types and provides two full-length practice tests. “If reading comprehension is an issue for you, then this book is the way to go,” Roy advises.

The Best SAT Prep Books

Like the Official ACT Prep Guide , the Official SAT Study Guide provides students practice tests straight from the College Board. Though free versions are available on sites like Khan Academy, Nisala Kalupahana , who earned perfect scores on both the SAT and the ACT, prefers a paper version, which replicates the experience of taking the actual exam. “You should always try to study with the real deal,” Kalupahana advises.

For more targeted prep, Kalupahana, who will be attending Vanderbilt University this fall, liked this math-specific prep book. He felt the math section required the most subject matter knowledge and he wanted to be prepared. “There’s always a possibility they’ll throw one crazy question in that you won’t be able to answer because you just don’t know the concept,” Kalupahana says.

Incoming Washington University in Saint Louis freshman Caroline Sauer found this book to be “invaluable” for SAT and ACT prep alike. She worked her way through the entire book and found it to be “quite challenging, specifically in the end chapters.” This math guide includes 16 practice tests and more than 250 practice questions.

Recommended additional test prep

Painless Grammar is true to its name; Gao called it an “enjoyable, lighthearted way to learn basic grammar.” While the book is not marketed specifically towards the ACT or SAT, Roy says “it very well could be.” “Beyond just test prep, having a solid understanding of grammar helped my writing and reading comprehension as well,” Gao says.

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The 7 Best GRE Prep Books for Effective Study

Whether you’re taking the GRE for an MBA or law school, you’re going to need to prep for the GRE in order to get admitted to a top school. We’ve ranked the 7 best GRE prep books for 2024 that are proven to raise your score.

7 Best GRE Prep Book Reviews

Manhattan prep 5-lb book of gre practice problems.

This is the top of our list as the best GRE prep book and also ranked #1 as the best GRE prep book overall. This GRE book is organized into 33 chapters and contains 1,800+ practice problems! 

The practice problems in this book have been created to mirror the actual problems you will encounter on the GRE in terms of style, form, and content. Rather than passively reading through prep materials, you will actually learn by doing . Through practice, students preparing for the GRE can build their math and verbal skills using simple instructions and step-by-steps. 

What sets this book apart is their 30-50 practice problems for each topic, which can help you develop an understanding of the nuance between different kinds of math problems. There are over 500 pages of just math problems alone, which can be especially helpful for those boosting their math skills. 

Top Feature: The number of GRE practice questions

Students Should Also Consider: Their Online GRE Prep Course

Imagine having 1,800+ practice problems in one book - well now you can get all this practice and more with the Manhattan Prep 5lb Book of GRE Practice Problems.

• 1,800+ realistic practice problems (in book and online)
• 33 concept chapters
• Additional GRE Math practice
• Best seller for GRE prep on Amazon
• Words/vocabulary tested is more difficult than the SAT

For more practice, check out our list of Free GRE Practice Questions and Tests

Official GRE Super Power Pack

The official GRE Super Power Pack (and each of the GRE books that you can also purchase individually), are the only GRE prep books that are put out by the makers of the ETS . This makes it among the top of our list of the best GRE prep books because you get real GRE official practice tests to work with.

 We love Manhattan Prep for their practice problems and ability to build speed and confidence on the GRE, but there is still a lot to be said of working through real GRE problems under simulated GRE testing conditions. You simply cannot recreate the experience without actual problems that others have taken on the GRE.

Included in this bundle are 3 GRE prep books by ETS, The Official Guide to the GRE , Official GRE Verbal Reasoning Practice Questions , and Official GRE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Questions .

Top Feature: REAL GRE practice questions

Who Needs This: All students should supplement any prep with real ETS material

All GRE prep needs to be supplemented with REAL GRE practice questions - which can be found in this Official ETS GRE Super Power Pack!

• 4 real GRE tests (2 online simulating real GRE test)
• 600+ real GRE practice questions & explanations
• Sample essays and raters' responses
• Better value than purchasing each book separately
• Content can overlap between books
• Fewer details provided in explanations than Manhattan Prep

Kaplan GRE Prep Plus

Making it third on our list of the best GRE prep books for overall study is Kaplan’s GRE Prep Plus . This newer edition was released on September 7, 2021 and differentiates itself by the sheer volume of GRE practice questions . 

Kaplan sets itself apart from the ETS and Manhattan Prep materials because it provides tips and resources for applications for grad school. 

Included in this GRE book and online are a combined 1,700 practice GRE problems as well as timed practice sets for every section of the test. Utilizing their online computer-based testing format, you will be able to view individual performance summaries to help enable you to personalize your study plan . 

Top Feature: Higher score guarantee or your money back

Students Should Also Consider: Their In-Person GRE Course

This comprehensive GRE review includes 6 practice tests, strategy, and an online study portal... all while providing a higher score guarantee!

• 1,700+ practice questions
• 5 full-length GRE tests online + 1 printed in book
• Individual performance summary after each online exam
• Online videos break down question types and applications
• Does not include official GRE tests
• Not a lot of changes since last edition

Magoosh GRE Prep

Magoosh is shaking the test prep industry a bit with their low-cost alternative to the commercial test prep products that used to dominate the scene. This affordable GRE study guide makes it among the top of the best GRE prep books list for its helpful and thorough lessons in Math and AWA.

Unlike the other books that make our best GRE prep books list, Magoosh’s GRE Prep Book does not come with thousands of practice questions to work on, but the ones that they do provide (130 total) are of high quality and have pretty robust explanations. They show you the level of difficulty for each question as well as what percentage of their online students answered a question correctly. 

In this book, they provide you with a 1-month Study Schedule, but you can also find other Magoosh 2, 3, and 6-month study schedules utilizing their material. You also will have access to one full-length GRE practice test.

Top Feature: Includes coupon for 20% off Magoosh GRE Course

Students Should Consider: Their On-Demand GRE Course

A budget-friendly option for students that includes a discount for those considering the Magoosh online GRE prep course .

• 130 practice GRE questions and detailed explanations
• Detailed study schedule to help you stay on track and study effectively
• 1 full-length GRE practice test (created by Magoosh)
• Stats for each question show how you fared versus other Magoosh students
• Doesn't include any real GRE questions
• Some questions don't include in-depth answer explanations

Best GRE Prep Book for Analytical Writing

Gre analytical writing: solutions to the real essay topics.

For those who are struggling on the Analytical Writing portion of the GRE, we recommend Vibrant Publisher’s GRE Analytical Writing: Solutions to the Real Essay Topics – Book 1. 

What you will get in this book are 73 solved essays from the pool of official Issue and Argument topics. The book provides a rubric for forming responses, strategies for interpreting the topics, as well as an approach for answering each of the essays provided in the book. You will also have the opportunity to read a sample essay as a benchmark.

Essentially, once completing these essays and having a good grasp on key points to ask yourself when reading through the issue, taking the AWA section of the GRE will be a simple and straightforward process.

Top Feature: Simplified method to create any response

Students Should Consider: Book 2 and Book 3 in this series 

Essay framework and examples that can help you to organize your essays on test day.

• 73 Solved Issue and Argument topics with strategies
• New essays included
• Scoring guides
• Some spelling/grammar mistakes
• Varied levels of essay examples

Best GRE Prep Book for Verbal Reasoning

Ets official gre verbal reasoning practice questions.

Included in this book are 150 real GRE Verbal Reasoning questions as well as an overview of the section itself by the actual writers of the test. When it comes to getting GRE prep materials from subject matter experts, getting it from the ETS is as close to the source as you can get.

The questions offered in this book are grouped by the GRE question type and difficulty level so that you can build your test-taking skills. Additionally, there are mixed practice sets with in-depth answers so that you can learn from each question. This is among the best GRE prep books for getting the feel of the real GRE.

Additionally, you will get an overview of the Analytical Writing section including strategies, sample tasks, and sample scored essays.

Top Feature: REAL ETS Verbal Reasoning Questions

Students Should Also Consider: The ETS Super Power Pack for a Better Value

For those who are struggling with Verbal Reasoning, getting practice and prep material from the test makers can be the best way to improve!

• 150 real GRE Verbal Reasoning questions as well as in-depth answers and explanations
• Created by the ETS themselves
• Tips and insight on questions from the source
• Questions are grouped by question type and difficulty level
• Few changes from older edition

Best GRE Prep Book for Quantitative Reasoning

Ets official gre quantitative reasoning practice questions.

Much of what was just said for the ETS Official GRE Verbal Reasoning Practice Questions can be applied to the ETS Official GRE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Questions book as well. You’re going to get 150 real GRE Quantitative Reasoning questions paired with in-depth answer explanations. These questions are grouped by question type as well as difficulty.

Included in this book is also a GRE Math Review that covers the topics you’ll likely need to know for the GRE. You’ll learn about the GRE Quantitative Reasoning test content, scoring, as well as strategies and tips from the test makers themselves. 

Top Feature: 150 REAL GRE Math Questions from the ETS

150 Quantitative Reasoning practice questions with explanations to help boost your score.

• 150 real GRE Math questions & detailed explanations
• Created by the ETS, so questions are realistic
• Questions grouped by type and difficulty
• Similar to last edition (if you have an older version, it's probably ok to use)

For those who just want to purchase the Official ETS Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning books, you can save money by opting for the Official GRE Value Combo .

A value combo of the Official ETS GRE Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning practice question books will save you money.

Best GRE Vocab Flashcards

Kaplan gre vocabulary flashcards.

Here are 500 GRE vocab flashcards that will help you build a strong vocabulary for the Verbal Reasoning test. Included on each flashcard is a synonym and pronunciation of each word.

Along with a synonym and pronunciation of each GRE vocab word, you will also get a sentence in context that will help you with your recall. 

For those who are more tech-savvy, you can also access these GRE vocab flashcards on their app! In their online portal, you will be able to also access video instruction on how to build your vocab and how to use your flashcards effectively. 

Top Feature: App allows you to use flashcards on any device

Who Needs This: Students struggling on GRE vocab

Physical flashcards for GRE vocab that can also be accessed digitally on their app.

• Can be accessed on any device with the app
• Can be linked to other free Kaplan GRE resources
• Not printed on the best card stock

Thinking about enrolling in a course? Check out the 5 Best GRE Prep Courses that made our list! 

Best GRE Prep Books FAQ

What are the best gre practice tests.

The best GRE practice tests are ALWAYS the real official tests from the ETS. You can access 2 of these practice tests for free on the ETS website . 

Are old GRE books still helpful?

The most significant change on the GRE was in 2011. Generally speaking, each year comes new editions for each GRE prep book. If you have an edition that is a few years old, you should be ok.  

Is Princeton Review GRE test prep worth it?

The Princeton Review GRE is ranked the top among the best GRE prep courses in our list for 2024. These live online GRE courses are extremely personalized and contain a great deal of practice. 

Are Barron’s GRE prep books good?

Barron’s did not make our list of the best GRE prep books. Students who used this GRE book ranked the questions as not being as difficult as the GRE and did not feel prepared for test day. 

Can I study for the GRE in 2 weeks?

The shortest recommended GRE prep is 1 month. We do not think you can comfortably stuff all of this content review, practice, as well as test simulations into 2 weeks. Here are our recommended GRE study plans . 

How Many Hours Should I Study for the GRE? 

Students generally need between 50-200 hours of GRE studying to significantly raise their scores on the GRE.

Best GRE Prep Books – Wrap Up

If you made it through this whole list of the best GRE prep books and you’re still on the fence, then we recommend starting with Manhattan Prep’s 5 lb. Book of GRE Practice Problems.

By utilizing this list of the best GRE prep books, chosen by REAL GRE test takers, we are confident that you will reach the GRE score of your dreams. Comment below with your experience with these GRE books or if you have any others that you think should have made the list!

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Best HSPT Prep Books: Top Picks to Ace the Exam

Preparing for the High School Placement Test (HSPT) can be a daunting task, but having the right prep materials can make all the difference. That’s why we spent hours researching and testing various HSPT prep books to identify the best options available.

The HSPT is a standardized test used by many Catholic and private schools as part of their admissions process. It covers various subjects such as math, reading, and language skills. A good HSPT prep book should provide comprehensive coverage of all the topics included in the test and offer effective strategies for test-taking.

When choosing an HSPT prep book, it’s important to consider the level of difficulty of the practice questions, the clarity of explanations, and the relevance of the content to the actual test. With so many options available, it can be challenging to find the right one.

We tested and reviewed several HSPT prep books and identified the ones that stood out for their quality, comprehensiveness, and effectiveness. In the following sections, we’ll share our top picks and what makes them the best options for HSPT test takers.

Best HSPT Prep Books

We have researched and tested various HSPT prep books to compile a list of the best options for students preparing for the High School Placement Test. Our team of experts has evaluated each book based on its content, effectiveness, and user-friendliness. Whether you are looking for comprehensive study guides or focused practice tests, our list has got you covered. Let’s dive into the best HSPT prep books available on Amazon.

The Best Test Preparation for the Catholic High School Entrance Exams (COOP & HSPT) (REA) (Test Preps)

If you’re looking for a comprehensive HSPT prep book, we highly recommend The Best Test Preparation for the Catholic High School Entrance Exams (COOP & HSPT) (REA) (Test Preps) by Research & Education Association.

• The book provides detailed explanations for each correct answer, which is helpful for understanding the material and improving your score.
• It covers all the necessary topics and provides plenty of practice questions to ensure you’re fully prepared for the exam.
• The book is well-organized and easy to navigate, making it easy to focus on specific sections or topics.
• The book is quite lengthy, which may be overwhelming for some students.
• Some of the practice questions are more difficult than what you may encounter on the actual exam.
• The book doesn’t provide any online resources or interactive tools for further practice.

Overall, we highly recommend The Best Test Preparation for the Catholic High School Entrance Exams (COOP & HSPT) (REA) (Test Preps) as a top choice for HSPT prep books. It’s comprehensive, well-organized, and provides plenty of practice questions and detailed explanations to help you succeed on the exam.

The book covers all the necessary topics, including math, reading, vocabulary, language, and science, and provides ample practice questions to ensure you’re fully prepared. The explanations for each correct answer are detailed and helpful, making it easier to understand the material and improve your score.

However, the book is quite lengthy, which may be overwhelming for some students. Additionally, some of the practice questions are more difficult than what you may encounter on the actual exam, so it’s important to keep that in mind when studying. Finally, the book doesn’t provide any online resources or interactive tools for further practice, which may be a drawback for some students.

Overall, if you’re looking for a comprehensive HSPT prep book, The Best Test Preparation for the Catholic High School Entrance Exams (COOP & HSPT) (REA) (Test Preps) is an excellent choice.

Catholic HS Entrance Exams Prep Book

If you’re looking for a comprehensive guide to help you prepare for Catholic High School Entrance Exams, Catholic HS Entrance Exams Prep Book by Kaplan Test Prep is a great option.

• The book covers all the major topics and concepts that are tested on the HSPT exam, including math, reading, vocabulary, grammar, and more.
• It includes numerous practice questions and practice tests that are designed to simulate the actual HSPT exam, giving you valuable practice and experience.
• The explanations provided for each question are clear and easy to understand, making it easy to learn from your mistakes and improve your score.
• The book is quite lengthy and can be overwhelming at times, so it may not be the best choice for those who are short on time.
• Some of the questions and practice tests may be more difficult than the actual HSPT exam, which could lead to unnecessary stress and anxiety.
• The book may not be suitable for those who are looking for a more interactive or engaging learning experience, as it is primarily text-based.

Overall, Catholic HS Entrance Exams Prep Book is a great resource for anyone who is looking to prepare for the HSPT exam. It provides comprehensive coverage of all the major topics and concepts, and includes plenty of practice questions and tests to help you improve your score. While it may be a bit lengthy and text-heavy, it is still a highly effective study tool that can help you achieve your goals.

HSPT Strategies and Practice, Second Edition: 3 Practice Tests + Comprehensive Review + Practice + Strategies (Barron’s Test Prep)

If you’re looking for a comprehensive HSPT prep book, HSPT Strategies and Practice, Second Edition: 3 Practice Tests + Comprehensive Review + Practice + Strategies by Barron’s Test Prep is definitely worth considering.

• The book includes three full-length practice tests, which are great for gauging your progress and identifying areas where you need to improve.
• The review sections are thorough and cover all the topics that the HSPT tests, including math, verbal, reading, and language skills.
• The strategies and tips provided in the book are helpful for approaching different types of questions and maximizing your score.
• The book is quite long, with 576 pages, which may be overwhelming for some students.
• Some of the practice questions may be more difficult than what you’ll encounter on the actual HSPT, so don’t get discouraged if you find them challenging.
• The book is geared towards students in grades 10-12, so if you’re younger, you may want to look for a different prep book.

Overall, we would recommend HSPT Strategies and Practice, Second Edition: 3 Practice Tests + Comprehensive Review + Practice + Strategies for anyone who is serious about doing well on the HSPT. The book is comprehensive and provides a lot of helpful information and practice materials to help you prepare.

The review sections are well-organized and easy to follow, and the practice tests are a great way to get a sense of what the actual HSPT will be like. We also appreciated the strategies and tips provided in the book, which were useful for approaching different types of questions and maximizing our score.

That being said, the book is quite long, so you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to work through it. Some of the practice questions may also be more difficult than what you’ll encounter on the actual HSPT, so don’t get discouraged if you find them challenging.

Overall, we think that HSPT Strategies and Practice, Second Edition: 3 Practice Tests + Comprehensive Review + Practice + Strategies is a great choice for anyone who wants to do well on the HSPT.

HSPT: 2500+ Practice Questions

If you’re looking for a comprehensive HSPT prep book, HSPT: 2500+ Practice Questions is a great choice. With over 2500 practice questions and full-length practice tests, this book provides ample opportunity to practice and prepare for the HSPT.

• The book provides a large number of practice questions, which is great for those who want to practice extensively.
• The questions are similar in format and difficulty level to the actual test, which makes them a good representation of what to expect on test day.
• The book includes full-length practice tests, which is a great way to simulate the test-taking experience and get a sense of how well you’re prepared.
• The explanations for the answers are sometimes brief and may not be sufficient for those who need more detailed explanations.
• The book does not include any strategies or tips for test-taking, which may be a drawback for those who are looking for more guidance.

Overall, HSPT: 2500+ Practice Questions is a great choice for those who want to practice extensively and get a sense of what to expect on the HSPT. The book provides a large number of practice questions and full-length practice tests, which is great for those who want to simulate the test-taking experience. However, the book’s length and lack of detailed explanations and strategies may be a drawback for some students.

HSPT Prep Book 2022-2023: Secrets Study Guide for the Catholic High School Placement Test, Full-Length Practice Exam, Step-by-Step Video Tutorials: 3rd Edition

If you’re looking for a comprehensive HSPT prep book that covers all the topics and strategies you need to know for the Catholic High School Placement Test, then the HSPT Prep Book 2022-2023 is a great choice.

• The book includes a full-length practice exam that simulates the actual HSPT, giving you a chance to practice your test-taking skills and get a sense of what to expect on test day.
• The step-by-step video tutorials are a helpful supplement to the book, providing additional explanations and visual aids to help you understand the material.
• The book is easy to read and well-organized, with clear explanations and examples that make it easy to follow along.
• Some users have reported that the book is not as comprehensive as they would like, and that it may not cover all the topics that are on the HSPT.
• The book may be too basic for some students who are looking for more challenging practice questions and strategies.
• The book is only available in paperback, which may not be convenient for some users who prefer digital formats.

Overall, we recommend the HSPT Prep Book 2022-2023 for students who are looking for a solid introduction to the HSPT and want a comprehensive study guide that covers all the essential topics and strategies. While the book may not be as comprehensive as some users would like, it provides a good starting point for students who are just beginning their HSPT preparation.

Buying Guide

When looking for the best HSPT prep book, there are several factors to consider. We recommend keeping the following features in mind to ensure you choose the right product for your needs.

Content Coverage

The first thing to consider is the content coverage of the book. You want a book that covers all the topics that will be on the HSPT exam. Look for a book that includes practice questions and explanations for each topic. A book that covers all the content areas of the exam will help you prepare effectively.

Practice Questions

Practice questions are essential to preparing for the HSPT. Look for a book that includes a large number of practice questions with detailed explanations. The more practice questions you have, the better prepared you will be for the exam. Make sure the book includes questions that are similar to those on the actual exam.

Difficulty Level

It’s important to choose a book that matches your skill level. If the book is too easy, you won’t be challenged and won’t improve. If the book is too difficult, you may become discouraged and lose motivation. Look for a book that matches your current skill level and gradually increases in difficulty.

The format of the book is also important. Look for a book that is easy to read and understand. The book should be well-organized with clear explanations and examples. You may also want to consider a book that includes online resources, such as practice tests or video tutorials.

By keeping these factors in mind, you can choose the best HSPT prep book for your needs. Remember to choose a book that covers all the content areas of the exam, includes a large number of practice questions, matches your skill level, and has a clear and easy-to-understand format.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-rated hspt preparation books available this year.

We have researched and compiled a list of the most highly recommended HSPT prep books for this year. Some of the top-rated books include “Barron’s HSPT,” “Kaplan HSPT Prep,” and “The Princeton Review HSPT Prep.” These books offer comprehensive coverage of all the topics covered in the HSPT and provide ample practice questions and tests to help you prepare for the exam.

Where can I find HSPT prep books in PDF format?

Many HSPT prep books are available in PDF format and can be easily downloaded from the publisher’s website or online retailers such as Amazon. Some of the popular books available in PDF format include “Cracking the HSPT” by The Princeton Review and “HSPT Prep Book” by Test Prep Books.

Can I access free HSPT practice tests online?

Yes, there are several websites that offer free HSPT practice tests online. Some of the popular websites include “Varsity Tutors,” “PrepScholar,” and “TestPrep-Online.” These websites offer a variety of practice tests and questions to help you prepare for the HSPT.

Which HSPT prep courses are considered the most effective?

There are several HSPT prep courses available, each with its own unique teaching style and approach. Some of the most effective HSPT prep courses include “Kaplan HSPT Prep,” “The Princeton Review HSPT Prep,” and “Barron’s HSPT.” These courses offer comprehensive coverage of all the topics covered in the HSPT and provide ample practice questions and tests to help you prepare for the exam.

What strategies are recommended for studying for the HSPT?

To prepare for the HSPT, it is recommended that you start studying well in advance of the exam date. Create a study schedule and stick to it, focusing on one topic at a time. Take practice tests regularly to assess your progress and identify areas where you need more practice. Use HSPT prep books and courses to supplement your studies and get familiar with the format and types of questions on the exam.

What score is considered above average on the HSPT?

The HSPT is scored on a scale of 200-800, with 600 being the average score. A score above 600 is considered above average and indicates a strong understanding of the concepts covered in the exam. However, the score requirements for admission to specific schools may vary, so it is important to check with the schools you are interested in to determine their score requirements.

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Molecular Systems Design & Engineering

The fabrication of the photothermal antibacterial platform for bacterial infectious skin wound healing: a review.

Antibiotics are currently the main strategy to treat bacterial infections, but they can cause bacterial resistance, and it is urgent to solve this problem. The emergence of photothermal therapy provides a new opportunity for the prevention and control of bacterial infection. The preparation of photothermal antibacterial platform for bacterial infection wound is very important. In recent years, photothermal agents have been widely used in infection control and wound healing due to their strong antibacterial properties and low drug resistance. PTAs are nanomaterials themselves, or small molecules loaded in nanoparticles, are the basic elements of PTT. In this review, we discuss the characteristics of wound dressings in skin wound healing, types and main functions of antibacterial photothermal therapy (PTA), fabrication and application of wound dressings. Finally, the current challenges and future development of PTAs as a photothermal antibacterial platform for wound healing are summarized and discussed.

• This article is part of the themed collections: MSDE Recent Review Articles, 2024 , Molecular Bioengineering. and Emerging Investigator Series

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Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the best ap biology books 2022: full expert reviews.

Advanced Placement (AP)

It's extremely important to have reliable books for learning and studying the material covered in AP classes. This is particularly true for AP Biology, considering the complexity and breadth of the content of the course. The format of the AP Biology exam was modified in 2013 and again in 2020; as a result, some books have kept up with these changes better than others.

In this article, we'll tell you which books are your best bet for acing AP Biology and which ones you should use only at your own risk!

What's in This Guide to the Best AP Bio Books?

This is our take on the best books to help you do well in AP Biology (the class and the exam). In the first two sections, we've included the best textbook as well as a few high-quality review books.

In the third section, we've included a couple of review books from popular test-prep companies that we rate a bit lower. We wanted to give you more specific details about the issues with these prep books so you can supplement them appropriately if you've already bought them (or choose to buy them because you're used to the format).

Our assessments of these AP Biology books are derived from Amazon reviews by students and educators as well as our personal impressions after perusing them. We provide pros and cons for each book along with an overall summary of what it offers and whether I recommend it. I've also rated each book on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest score.

Let's get started!

The Best AP Biology Textbook: Campbell Biology, 12th Edition

Price: Between $54-74.99 to rent and $84-150 to buy on Amazon.

Rating: 9/10

This text is one of the most universally accepted college-level biology books. It's written at a high level, but, according to student feedback, it appears that most people have found it relatively easy to understand and generous in its use of diagrams and examples. We recommend this book as a reliable AP Biology textbook if you're self-studying or having a lot of trouble understanding your in-class textbook.

• Easy-to-follow organizational structure
• Great examples that help you understand biological concepts quickly
• Helpful illustrations and diagrams throughout
• Clear writing style
• Used in real college classes, not just AP classes, so it could be useful to you in the future, too!
• Students sometimes complain that the book is overly dense and wordy
• It's pricey—even the eText and used versions are currently pretty expensive

The Best AP Biology Review Books

This is a list of the review books we think will be most helpful to students studying for the AP Biology exam. The highest-rated books include comprehensive coverage of the course material, excellent practice questions, and helpful test-taking and study-planning tips for students.

Pearson Education Test Prep Series for AP Biology, 2020 Edition

Price: About $40 on Amazon

Rating: 8/10

Even though this review book technically goes with a specific textbook, you can easily use it on its own . From all that I've read, this book is a solid, well-organized representation of the content and format of the AP Biology exam.

• Includes high-quality free-response and multiple-choice questions at the end of each chapter
• Effectively highlights the most important things you need to know about each topic area
• Encourages readers to make connections between topics, which is critical on the exam
• Because this book was published early in 2020, its content doesn't quite align exactly with the current format of the AP Bio test. 

Sterling Test Prep AP Biology Practice Questions, 2022 Edition

Price: About $35 on Amazon

If you're in an AP Biology class and already have access to a textbook, I'd definitely recommend this book as a study aid for the exam . You might buy this book along with another book on this list that has more information about test-taking strategies and the exam format.

If you use this book as a resource for practice questions, you can also use Sterling’s self-teaching guidebook to get a concise overview of the material on the exam to supplement your studying. While their book of questions is not a stand-alone AP Biology book, it's definitely an awesome tool to have in your arsenal!

• Includes a diverse array of more than 1,500 high-quality practice questions
• Material and difficulty level aligns well with the format of the exam (lots of molecular and cell biology questions)
• Has detailed answer explanations for all practice questions
• Is accompanied by online resources that give you even more practice testing opportunities
• Questions are divided by subject area , so if you're having trouble with a particular portion of the curriculum, you can focus on that material specifically
• It's a less guided studying experience than what some other books offer—you have to be able to plan your time responsibly to get the most out of the questions and explanations
• The book is pretty much just questions and doesn't provide an overview of what's tested on the exam
• If you're self-studying for the test, you’ll probably need to rent or buy their additional guide as you'll want to have some background knowledge before diving into practice questions (though the answer explanations will help you)

CliffsNotes AP Biology, 2021 Edition

Price: About $19 on Amazon

This prep book is helpful if you want to clarify some of the concepts you'll learn in your AP Biology class and see a more concise summary of the information . We wouldn't recommend relying on it completely as your only source of review material, since many students felt that it didn't give them all the tools they needed to do well on the exam.

If you get this prep book, be sure to do lots of supplemental practice questions . Still, it's a good baseline resource for content!

• Includes sections with information on test-taking strategies and how to answer different types of questions
• Has two full practice exams with answers and explanations
• Includes a detailed overview of all the labs and major content areas (with review sections) at the end of each chapter to help you retain the background information you'll need
• It's relatively dense , and the amount of text might be overwhelming for some students
• Many reviewers of previous editions commented that the book was informative but didn't necessarily prepare them well for the actual AP Biology test.

Barron's AP Biology, 7th Edition

Price: About $15 on Amazon

Rating: 6/10

This is a mediocre review book overall. You can probably use it to review the content you need to know for the test or to help you understand concepts in your AP class, but we wouldn't rely solely on the practice test materials and testing strategies in this book. Though Barron's is usually pretty dependable, it seems as though this book might be a bit tedious.

• Covers all the basic information you'll need to know for the exam
• Practice questions help you memorize key facts and concepts
• Diagrams are plentiful and easy to understand
• The overall layout is pleasing to the eye and might be easier to read than other less well-designed review books
• Students complain that there's too much superfluous content and that the book is sparse on important test-taking tips
• Practice questions are mostly fact- and memorization-based and do not fully prepare you for the analytical format of the AP Biology test
• There seems to be consensus that the free-response questions here are particularly bad and are not at all comparable to the free-response questions on the AP Bio exam

AP Bio Review Books to Avoid or Use Only as Supplements

This section is for AP Biology books that aren't the greatest but that you might already have or plan to buy because you're most familiar with the prep companies that make them.

These books can still be somewhat useful, but we'd advise that you supplement them with other review books we've rated higher (see above) . We'll go through the pros and cons of each of them so you can get a better idea of where and why they fall short.

5 Steps to a 5: AP Biology 2022

Price: About $14 on Amazon

Rating: 5/10

This book does a good job of outlining a study plan for the test, so it might help you in structuring your prep time. Its coverage of AP Biology concepts is thorough, but it's not the easiest to study. If you get this book, you should use other sources for additional practice questions to ensure you're getting the most out of your studying (the Sterling book in the first section could be a good place to start).

• Guides you through the creation of a study plan that fits your needs
• Covers the four "Big Ideas" in the AP curriculum and has plenty of information about the facts you'll need to know for the test
• Content review is pretty dense and difficult to get through

The Princeton Review's Cracking the AP Biology Exam, 2022 Edition

Price: About $16 on Amazon

We tend to like Princeton Review books because they're very student-friendly and not as dry as some other review books.

The main positive aspect of this prep book is that it gives you a strong foundation for planning out your studying and approach to the test . We'd recommend supplementing this book's content and practice questions with another more comprehensive AP Biology book on this list.

• Starts with a high-level overview of how to plan out your studying and how to use the book effectively, so it's easy to follow
• Walks you through the process of designing a study plan for your individual needs
• Has an extensive section on test-taking tips, including mnemonic devices that will come in handy during the exam
• Text in the content review section is broken up so it's easy to read and not overwhelming— diagrams are plentiful , too
• Key terms and practice questions are provided at the end of each content chapter
• Includes 6 practice tests
• Information isn't as in depth as it chould be
• Main complaints were that this book is too shallow and simple for a really good review of the AP Biology curriculum
• Practice questions might be less difficult compared to those on the real test

Kaplan's AP Biology Prep Plus 2020 & 2021

Price: About $25 on Amazon

Rating: 4/10

This book is okay as far as content goes, but it's not that easy to use as a review tool overall. It won't help you much with the actual ins and outs of the AP Bio exam. You should supplement it with another book that gives you access to better practice questions and more concise content summaries.

• Is structured around the four "Big Ideas" on the AP Bio test, making it easy to follow and keep track of what topics you're struggling with, if any
• Has a very detailed review of concepts with helpful diagrams
• Some students might not like the fact that the review questions are divided by the four "Big Ideas" in AP Biology and not by smaller chapter sections—this makes it more difficult to use the book as a focused review tool
• The book is a bit long-winded , so it's not as easy to quickly go over concepts
• Tries too hard to relate to students and writes some test-taking tips in an oblique way (e.g., one of the tips for free-response questions is "Writing Smart Stuff Gets You Points"—it's simplified to the point where it doesn't even mean anything without reading the rest of the wordy explanation)

Which AP Biology Books Should You Get? Should You Avoid?

We don't think there are any AP Biology review books that are horrible enough for you to avoid at all costs, but there are quite a few that won't do much for you by themselves .

The point of a book is to specifically and effectively prepare you for the AP Biology test. Accurate and comprehensive biology content isn't enough— it's much more important to have access to practice questions that are a faithful reflection of what will be on the test . You don't want to be in a position in which you know a lot about biology but are unable to apply the facts you know to scenarios you haven't seen before when you take the test.

When choosing from this list of AP Bio books, you should consider your individual needs as well as the nature of the test . If you think you'll need more guidance in structuring your test prep, you might buy one of the books that gives more instruction on how to devise a study plan (even if it's in the lower-rated section, such as 5 Steps to a 5 ). You could then supplement that book with another one from the higher-rated section that has great practice questions.

Make sure that your AP Biology review books and textbooks cover all the important bases. In other words, they should give you the tools you need to create a study plan, learn biology content, and do relevant practice questions . Reference real versions of the current AP Biology test to compare questions on the test with the practice questions you've been doing and confirm that you're on the right track!

What's Next?

Itching to get started with AP Bio prep right away? We cover cell theory , enzymes , cell structures ( endoplasmic reticulum and cell membrane ), homologous and analogous structures , and the photosynthesis equation with subject-specific guides.

If you're like most high-achieving students, you're probably wondering how many AP classes you need to take to get accepted to an elite college. Check out this article to learn how many AP classes you should take based on your goals.

Are you investigating different options for earning college credit while still in high school? Learn more about the pros and cons of AP classes versus community college classes and which option might fit better with your needs.

Thinking about being pre-med in college? Learn more about being pre-med , including how to prepare for pre-med in high school , schools with great pre-med programs , and helpful books to read as a pre-med student . If you're thinking about being pre-vet instead, you should definitely check out our guide on how to become a veterinarian .

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Samantha is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, 5's on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar.

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