Kaplan Nystce: Complete Preparation for the Last & Ats-W, Second Edition

Having just failed the CST in February, I was EXTREMELY nervous about taking the LAST & the ATS-W in April. I knew I couldn't go in cold turkey. So I went online and ordered this review book (based pretty much on price!) and was very satisfied. I just found out today that I passed both exams and this book was a big help. It gave several sample questions, webpages with information and other useful info. (I wish it had more sample questions, but what can you do. I also wish it gave more info about scoring- even though I know that info isn't released.) But anyway it was a good book, and very helpful. If only they made review books for the Content Specialty exams!!

This book is very useful for those future teachers who would like some guidelines for taking the certification exams. The practice exams were very realistic and very similar to what the actual tests were like. It was especially helpful in demonstrating how you should outline and structure your writing for the essay questions.

I bought several review books for these tests and this one was the best. The questions for the ATS-W are right on the mark, actually slightly harder than the actual exam but exactly the right kind of questions. The material review is brief and it doesn't tell you much about education, but knowledge of education is actually not so important for passing this exam. What it does tell yout is how to pass the test: what the test makers want you to know and say, how to identify correct answers and how to recognize incorrect ones, how to write the essay. For effiecient studying to pass the ATS-W, it's perfect. As for the LAST, it's mostly reading comprehension- not a hard exam but very hard to study for so don't waste too much time trying. Good luck.

I moved to NY from another state and had an English BA and an MA with only 6 credits of education. I was very nervous about passing due to my lack of teaching experience and education. This book was excellent and helped prepare me for what to expect and how to time myself during the exams, especially the essay. I passed both exams with high scores on my first try. I also purchased another study guide for the NYSTCE and found it to be lacking and found the sample questions not very accurate to what was actually on the exam. This is a wonderful guide.