Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT

I used the 1999 version of this book back when I took the SAT test. I suppose I should be reviewing that version, but I am going to review this one instead so people who are considering buying it know what a valuable tool it is. A combination of my shoddy high school and my lack of effort made me ill prepared for the SAT. I spent about two months using this guide and did much better than most of my peers. This is just from going over the vocabulary and English portion. I didn't even read the math portion. If I had done so, I probably would have done even better. The book is entertaining and contained some very useful strategies for memorizing boring things. I recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about taking the SAT test.

This is a very good book. It is funny and smart. It shows you how to beat the SAT without freaking yourself out. To me, the book covers the materials just right wihout going overemphasizing certain topics. Even though the book doesn't have practice tests, it is filled with good strategies. It even shows you how to concentrate for the SAT, which I think is really important, since you're going to sit in the same place for more than 3 hours.

This is the most engaging and entertaining SAT review book that I have ever seen. It is a bit irreverant and written in a tongue in cheek style which is exactly what would capture a teenager's attention. "Up Your Score" was recommended by a learning center for my teenage son, and we had so much fun reviewing the vocabulary that even four years later he still remembers the hilarious examples. I'd say the book did its job.

This book is awesome due to the fact that it is written by six top notch students with a sense of humor. The half of the puns and jokes are actually funny and will, just like everyone here said, keep you motivated (as far as you can go with a test prep book). 3 of the writters have scored 1600s and they know the ways to help you get a good score too, such as skills of concentration, preparation, food smuggling and cheating. This book is a definite recommend for anyone serious with the SATs.Get this book and a book with a lot of practice questions and you are set.

There's one thing that separates this book from all the other SAT books -- it's written BY students FOR students. That, and you actually WANT to keep reading it. There's nothing dry and boring about this book. It's funny, it's helpful, and I give it more credit for helping me raise my Verbal & Math scores than any of the other books that I bought. I believe that the only books you really need to prepare for the SAT I are "Up Your Score" for insight on the test, tips on how to master the different types of problems, and a no-fail vocabulary builder, and "10 Real SAT's" for the practice tests. I've recommended "Up Your Score" to all my friends-- it's the only SAT book I've read that was fun to read & helpful at the same time.