Top 10 SAT Prep Books for 2022
You might notice that the well-known Barron’s and Princeton Review books are missing from this list but these are the books that most readers tended to shun. Below are the books that were suggested most often by readers and test-takers!
Share This List
1. The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar, Fifth Edition by Erica Lynn Meltzer
Does this book
belong on the list?
From the editor:
The fifth edition of The Ultimate Guide to SAT® Grammar provides comprehensive coverage of all the grammar, rhetoric, and data-analysis concepts tested on the redesigned SAT® Writing and Language Test, and includes more than 300 new in-depth explanations to practice questions. Dozens of exercises help students move from studying concepts individually to applying their skills in a passage-based context. Includes a complete index of Writing questions from the eight exams in the College Board Official SAT Study Guide, 2020 Edition, arranged both by category and by test.
What people are saying
For the writing section, I found Erica Meltzer’s The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar to be particularly helpful; it contains basically all the necessary rules for everything you need, except words in context.
@SilverButterfly21
Erica Meltzer is the Queen. The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar is the bible of SAT prep.
@Anonymous
2. The Complete Guide to SAT Reading, Fourth Edition by Erica Lynn Meltzer
Does this book
belong on the list?
From the editor:
Intended to clearly and systematically demystify what is often considered the most challenging section of the SAT, The Critical Reader: The Complete Guide to SAT® Reading, 4th Edition, provides a comprehensive review of the reading skills tested on the redesigned exam for students who are serious about raising their scores.Includes a chapter-by-chapter breakdown of question types, with in-depth explanations and numerous examples demonstrating how to work through each type; techniques for comprehending complex passages and identifying key information quickly and efficiently; extensive strategies for simplifying and answering paired supporting evidence questions as well as graph- and chart-based data analysis questions; a list of alternate definitions of common words, plus strategies for using context clues to decipher the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary. To allow students to apply the strategies outlined in this book to College Board material while focusing on the specific areas in which they are seeking to improve, this book also includes a list of all the Reading questions from the Official College Board SAT Guide, 2020 Edition, arranged both by category and by test.
What people are saying
Read The Complete Guide to SAT Reading by Erica L. Meltzer. It has in-depth explanations for every single reading concept. I hope this helps.
@Various_Ad5026
The main thing that I think helped was this one book, The Complete Guide to SAT Reading by Erica L Meltzer. I just studied through it around 3-4 years ago – it has pretty useful stuff!
@choey5516
3. The College Panda's SAT Math: Advanced Guide and Workbook by Nielson Phu
Does this book
belong on the list?
From the editor:
A second edition fully updated for the current SAT (2020 and beyond)
This book brings together everything you need to know for the SAT math section. Unlike most other test prep books, this one is truly geared towards the student aiming for the perfect score. It leaves no stones unturned.
Inside, You’ll Find:
- Clear explanations of the tested math concepts, from the simplest to the most obscure
- Hundreds of examples to illustrate all the question types and the different ways they can show up
- Over 500 practice questions and explanations to help you master each topic
- The most common mistakes students make (so you don’t)
This is the most thorough SAT prep out there. For more sample chapters and information, check out http://thecollegepanda.com/books
What people are saying
The College Panda SAT Math book is great for practicing fundamentals: The College Panda’s SAT Math: Advanced Guide and Workbook for the New SAT.
@Jumpy_Sky692
I used The College Panda SAT Math and it was very helpful! Lots of practice problems. Simple explanations. Highly recommend.
@InevitableJelly4417
4. 1600.io SAT Math Orange Book Volume I: Every SAT Math Topic, Patiently Explained by J. Ernest Gotta, Daniel Kirchheimer, George Rimakis
Does this book
belong on the list?
From the editor:
[NOTE: This is Volume I of a two-volume set; each volume must be purchased separately.]
Setting the new standard: The SAT Math book that you’ve been waiting for.
The game-changing 1600.io “Orange Book” establishes a new category of premium SAT instructional materials. This groundbreaking text is not a collection of “tricks” or “hacks” for getting around the SAT’s function of assessing students’ skills. Instead, it meets the test on its own terms by providing comprehensive, clear, and patient education in every mathematical concept that can appear on the exam according to the officially published specifications for the test.
Unprecedentedly rich and comprehensive, this text has 850 pages, 22 chapters, over 900 practice problems broken down into 95 unique categories, more than 200 example problems with multiple written solutions, over 600 SkillDrill™ mini-problems, available video explanations to 1,350 SkillDrill and practice problems, and an innovative appendix that links all 1,508 SAT problems across 26 released practice tests to their corresponding topic explanations in the book.
What people are saying
I strongly recommend the Orange Book from 1600.io. The two-volume set extensively covers every topic that appears on the Math section, with ample basic drills to sharpen your understanding before transitioning to more SAT-like problems. You’ll also have an appendix of questions from past SATs arranged by category so that you can find the corresponding chapters easily. The book is great for any level, as you can skip easily to chapter recaps on topics you think you sufficiently understand already, and it will instill within you the necessary work ethic and care to cut down even those last few errors to acquire a top percentile score by achieving full mastery of the content.
@bananaman911
The Orange Book (for Volume 1) goes into depth, and ends in about ~400 ish pages or so. It helps a lot in that case if you’ve got enough time to prepare yourself for the SAT.
@diskectomy
5. 1600.io SAT Math Orange Book Volume II: Every SAT Math Topic, Patiently Explained by J. Ernest Gotta, Daniel Kirchheimer, George Rimakis
Does this book
belong on the list?
From the editor:
[NOTE: This is Volume II of a two-volume set; each volume must be purchased separately.]
Setting the new standard: The SAT Math book that you’ve been waiting for.
The game-changing 1600.io “Orange Book” establishes a new category of premium SAT instructional materials. This groundbreaking text is not a collection of “tricks” or “hacks” for getting around the SAT’s function of assessing students’ skills. Instead, it meets the test on its own terms by providing comprehensive, clear, and patient education in every mathematical concept that can appear on the exam according to the officially published specifications for the test.
Unprecedentedly rich and comprehensive, this text has 850 pages, 22 chapters, over 900 practice problems broken down into 95 unique categories, more than 200 example problems with multiple written solutions, over 600 SkillDrill™ mini-problems, available video explanations to 1,350 SkillDrill and practice problems, and an innovative appendix that links all 1,508 SAT problems across 26 released practice tests to their corresponding topic explanations in the book.
What people are saying
If you’re not shy about investing in another resource, I strongly recommend the 1600.io Orange Book. It has detailed explanations for every topic, as well as “building block” exercises to reinforce your skills before applying them to SAT-style questions, and it has an appendix that will make it easy for you to identify the corresponding topic of the questions you’re missing.
@bananaman911
In my opinion, the best resource you could use to get your math up like 50 points would be 1600.io’s Orange Book. It helped me get an 800 Math and has everything you could ever ask for!!
@Dry-Implement1456
6. SAT Prep Black Book: The Most Effective SAT Strategies Ever Published by Mike Barrett
Does this book
belong on the list?
From the editor:
The fully up-to-date SAT Prep Black Book, Second Edition gives you unique, effective SAT strategies from Mike Barrett, an SAT tutor with clients all over the globe who pay him hundreds of dollars an hour for phone tutoring. In addition to extensive and effective training on every aspect of the SAT, the SAT Black Book gives you detailed, systematic, easy-to-follow walkthroughs for every question in 4 of the College Board’s official SAT Practice Tests. The Black Book is a must-have in your SAT preparation, whether you want to
- make a perfect 1600 to apply to an Ivy,
- score a 450 in each section to claim a sports scholarship,
- or anything in between.
You can find the first 4 Practice SAT tests from the College Board for free on the College Board’s website, or in the “Blue Book,” which is the College Board’s Official SAT Study Guide, 2016 Edition or 2018 Edition—both editions contain the first 4 official SAT practice tests. (The SAT Prep Black Book has no affiliation with the College Board.) The Black Book and the real practice SAT tests from the College Board are all you need to get your best possible SAT score.
What people are saying
I recommend the SAT Prep Black Book from Mike Barrett. It has some pretty good strategies and new ways to tackle the questions.
@dithmal
I started off just reading Mike Barrett’s SAT Prep Black Book, and when I took my first practice test after that, following his strategies, I made a 770 on EBRW.
@Own_Appointment_1050
7. KALLIS' Redesigned SAT Pattern Strategy 3rd Edition by Kallis Edu
Does this book
belong on the list?
From the editor:
Achieve your goals on the Redesigned SAT using the dynamic KALLIS’ SAT Pattern Strategy. We help you prepare through active engagement. In the pages that follow, you will find a minimum of pages devoted to common sense advice or useless strategies. Instead, you will learn by doing. Nothing builds confidence like practice. We have closely modeled our examples, practices, and 6 full-length tests on the College Board’s actual Redesigned SAT questions. Completing the practices and tests in this book will help you approach your SAT test date with a calm sense of knowing exactly what to expect. You have been learning in school for many years. What you need now is a resource that will help you review all that you have learned, so that you can efficiently demonstrate your skills in exactly the way that the SAT demands. The second edition of KALLIS’ SAT Pattern Strategy offers you: An analysis of questions you are likely to encounter on the Redesigned SAT. A laser-like focus on each of 100 question topics.1000+ Practice Questions to help you gauge your understanding.6 Full-length Tests designed for practice, practice, practice.Concise answer explanations that will not waste your time.
What people are saying
Longtime Verbal tutor. For me the best book for writing is Kallis SAT Pattern. It’s rigorous, with detailed answer explanations.
@Xerebros
I started with Kallis’ Redesigned which still remains my favorite book.
@mrnegetivekarma
8. Official SAT Study Guide 2020 Edition by The College Board
Does this book
belong on the list?
From the editor:
Review every skill and question type needed for SAT success – now with eight total practice tests.
The 2020 edition of The Official SAT Study Guide doubles the number of official SAT(R) practice tests to eight – all of them created by the test maker. As part of the College Board’s commitment to transparency, all practice tests are available on the College Board’s website, but The Official SAT Study Guide is the only place to find them in print along with over 250 pages of additional instruction, guidance, and test information.
With updated guidance and practice problems that reflect the most recent information, this new edition takes the best-selling SAT guide and makes it even more relevant and useful. Be ready for the SAT with strategies and up-to-date information straight from the exam writers.
What people are saying
I’d cut the practice tests down to every two weeks, and I’d only use the official tests. The main 8 are on Khan (but I recommend buying the Official SAT Study Guide).
@Settele_Tutoring
I took the SAT earlier this year, and mainly what I did to prepare was take practice tests on paper from the Official SAT Study guide. There are only like 8 or so actual tests or something, so to keep the material fresh you should definitely pace yourself, but I did one or two per week and spent the rest of the time on correction and analysis of what I did wrong. Those tests are structured EXTREMELY similarly to the actual SAT, and they really helped a lot timing wise when I sat down for the actual test.
@Haunting_Safety7892
9. PWN the SAT: Math Guide by Mike McClenathan
Does this book
belong on the list?
From the editor:
Do you crave a higher score? Are you willing to do a little hard work to achieve it? Good. I knew I liked you.
This new edition of the PWN the SAT Math Guide, with over 200 new practice problems was created to help ambitious, highly motivated kids maximize their SAT math scores. It teaches you the math you need to know, showcases techniques that will make a difference, and above all, emphasizes nimbleness—the ability to approach problems in multiple ways to find the one that works best.
Read this book from beginning to end, with a pencil in hand and a calculator by your side. When you’re done, you’ll be able to approach test day with confidence: very few questions will surprise you, and even fewer will be able to withstand your withering attacks.
Stand tall, intrepid student. Destiny awaits.
What people are saying
I’d suggest you practice using the book PWN the SAT. I improved my math from 690 to 780, on the real test, thanks to it.
@According-Youth-4609
The PWN the SAT prep book (I got on Amazon) was a tremendous help
@Asleep_Monitor_1063
10. StudyLark Guide to SAT Writing and Language: The Essential Guide for Highly Motivated Students by David Lynch
Does this book
belong on the list?
From the editor:
Boost your score with a modern approach and 600 practice questions in this remarkable guide to SAT grammar and writing.
According to a moderator of the largest online SAT study forum, this book “is easily a top-tier book . . . It clearly surpasses [the most popular books] in currency and quality of exercises.”
The StudyLark Guide to SAT Writing and Language is an exceptionally thorough guide to everything you need to take your score to the next level. It is the product of years of research and the analysis of thousands of real test questions. We’ll show you everything that’s on the test—and nothing that’s not. It is also shaped by countless hours in the classroom with real students working to master the Writing section. We know what kinds of grammar and stylistic topics give people trouble, and we’ve discovered the explanations that make the most sense.
What people are saying
I recommend getting a grammar book like StudyLark Guide to SAT Writing and Language if you want to supplement your reading with more grammar rules-driven instruction.
@1600io
The StudyLark Guide to SAT Writing and Language by David Lynch is a relatively new, high-quality writing book.
@Fair_Bullfrog_8110
