Scholastic Assessment Test

10 Best SAT Books For Preparation Of 2024 (Features & Ratings)

February 12, 2024
The 10 Best SAT Preparation Books

The SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) is a standardised exam widely used for college admissions in the United States. It evaluates a student's skills in Reading, Writing & Language, and Math. Students can benefit from the SAT preparation books to prepare for the standardised test. These books cover the SAT syllabus, which includes topics like critical reading, grammar, vocabulary, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. The SAT books focus on helping students with the format and content as they highlight test strategies, practice questions, and detailed explanations. Whether a student needs a comprehensive review or targeted practice in specific areas, SAT prep books offer a convenient and effective way to get ready for this important academic milestone.

This Article includes

Best SAT Books for Preparation in 2024 

The best SAT prep book is a comprehensive study guide designed to help students prepare for the Scholastic Assessment Test. SAT exam books comprise all important components, including critical reading, writing and language, and mathematics. They frequently contain sample questions, practice exams, and thorough explanations to aid students in understanding subjects and refining their test-taking techniques. Following are the recommended SAT test preparation books one must consider: 

1. Barron's SAT Study Guide

Key Features: Multiple editions covering 4 practising tests, practice questions, and time management tips
Best For: Students who prefer a combination of content review and practice materials
Author: Brian W. Stewart
Publication: Barron's Educational Series
Cost:
$26.96
Rating:
4.2/5 
Link:
Amazon

Barron's SAT prep book is renowned for providing a thorough study of the material, several practice exams, and practical test-taking advice. There are several lengthy practice exams included, which might aid in your familiarisation with the structure and scheduling of the test. In-depth explanations of each response are also included in the book, which can be useful in pinpointing your areas of weakness. This may be the best SAT study guide for every student, owing to its learning style and individualised approach. 

2. College Board's Official SAT Study Guide

Key Features: Detailed information about the latest test format and explanations of answer choices for questions
Best For:
Students who prefer a focus on official practice tests and explanations from the test
Author/Publication:
The College Board
Ratings:
4.3/5 
Cost:
$22.31
Link:
Amazon

One of the most important books for SAT preparation is generally agreed to be the College Board's Official SAT Study Guide. It gives students a thorough rundown of the structure, subject matter, and kinds of questions on the test. Students can acquaint themselves with the format and scheduling of the test by using the eight official SAT practice tests included in the guide. One can understand better why the answers are correct and how to approach questions that seem similar and benefit from thorough answer explanations for every practice exam. The handbook also provides helpful test-taking techniques and advice on how to perform at your best on exam day. For students hoping to score as high as possible on the test, the Official SAT Study Guide is still the go-to resource because of its real practice exams and comprehensive explanations.

3. Princeton Review SAT Premium Prep

Key Features: Targeted content review, advanced strategies, practice questions, and access to the online portal
Best For:
Students who want a comprehensive SAT study book focusing on test techniques 
Author:
A team of Princeton Review experts 
Publication:
Princeton Review
Ratings: 4.4/5 
Cost:
$24.52
Link:
Amazon 

The Princeton Review SAT Premium Prep is a study book that widely focuses on strategies and explanations. Along with professional advice and techniques, it provides a thorough treatment of the sections on critical reading, writing and language, and mathematics. Students can evaluate their strengths and shortcomings with ease as six extended practice exams and comprehensive explanations of the answers provided. Premium Prep also offers online resources, such as extra practice questions and video lessons that can help students adapt and focus on individualised study strategies. As it’s one of the best SAT books, one can benefit from the structured approach and find out strengths & weaknesses.

4. SAT Prep Black Book Second Edition

Key Features: Emphasis on the exam strategies and step-by-step walkthroughs for over 600 real questions 
Best For:
Students who focus on a non-traditional approach and strategic thinking 
Author:
Mike Barrett 
Publication:
Testing Is Easy LLC 
Ratings:
4.5/5 
Cost:
$14.99 
Link:
Amazon

The SAT Prep Black Book Second Edition is an important SAT preparation book for students aiming to enhance their SAT performance. This book offers strategies and insider tips to tackle SAT questions effectively. It provides comprehensive coverage of all the topics, such as critical reading, writing language, and mathematics sections, empowering students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel on test day. The SAT Prep Black Book equips students with the confidence and competence to achieve their desired scores. This is the best SAT study book for anyone who wants a clear and concise roadmap to understanding the questions. 

5. Kaplan's SAT Prep Plus

Key Features: Review chapters for all SAT sections and hundreds of practice questions 
Best For:
Students who look for a structured approach with clear explanations 
Author:
A team of Kaplan SAT experts
Publication:
Kaplan Publishing 
Ratings:
4.5/5 
Cost:
$14.99 
Link:
Amazon

Kaplan's SAT Prep Plus is a highly recommended book for the SAT, offering full guidance and practice material. This is the best SAT prep book, offering not only a money-back guarantee but also access to a customisable question bank. It gives access to a number of full-length practice tests and personalised study plans. This way, students can assess their progress and focus on areas that need improvement. Additionally, Kaplan's SAT Prep Plus offers interactive online resources, including additional practice questions and video tutorials, to enhance learning flexibility and convenience. By utilising this SAT test prep book, students can confidently approach the test and strive for their desired scores without financial constraints.

6. McGraw-Hill Education SAT Elite 2023

Key Features: In-depth explanations and expanded lessons and skill-building exercises 
Best For:
Students who seek a well-rounded preparation in print and online materials 
Author:
Christopher Black and Mark Anestis 
Publication:
McGraw-Hill Edition 
Ratings:
4.5/5
Cost:
$25
Link:
Amazon

It is a highly recommended SAT preparation book, as professionals create it to help students ace the exam. The book covers the exam structure and provides the students with skill-building techniques. It also includes maths and reading comprehension tips to give a holistic view to the students so that they do not lack in any area. This SAT study book offers access to 8 full- length practice tests as well as bonus sections for high-scoring students. It is an excellent source for improving subject areas and familiarity with the SAT's question format. 

7. The Critical Reader: The Complete Guide to SAT Reading

Key Features: A focus on reading comprehension skills and a chapter-by-chapter breakdown of question types 
Best For:
Students who want to enhance their reading comprehension techniques and improve critical thinking skills 
Author:
Erica L. Meltzer 
Ratings:
4.6/5 
Cost:
$27.47
Link:
Amazon

This book outlines the necessary skills to quickly understand complex writing and obtain relevant information for answering questions related to it. It is one of the best-selling SAT exam books, covering evidence questions, chart-based data analysis concepts, and the use of context clues. It is one of the best books for the SAT for students who are committed to improving their SAT reading scores and want to enhance their comprehension skills. This SAT study book primarily focuses on different practice exercises with answer explanations to add clarity to one’s understanding. 

8. KALLIS' Redesigned SAT Pattern Strategy

Key Features: Common SAT Reading question types with a focus on an active learning approach 
Best For:
Students who struggle with finding question patterns and look for targeted strategies 
Author:
Kallis Educational Services 
Ratings:
4.3/5
Cost:
$31.78
Link:
Amazon

Among many available in the market, this is one of the best SAT books for many reasons. The book covers over 100 question topics, and it also provides detailed explanations for all. It focuses on exam structure, topics, and formats. At the same time, there are also 6 practice tests provided for the students to test their knowledge. This is one of the best SAT exam books with a focus on an active learning approach. In addition, this book also offers clear explanations of answer choices to enhance one’s understanding. 

9. Dr. Jang's SAT 800 Math Workbook

Key Features: A maths workbook with a focus on a vast amount of practice problems
Best For:
Students who want to identify strengths and weaknesses 
Author:
Dr. Simon Jang 
Ratings:
4.1/5
Cost:
$34.49 
Link:
Amazon

One of the best SAT preparation books is DR. Jang's SAT 800 as it is exceptional for SAT maths problems as it makes a student prepared for all kinds of maths problems as well as it has ample maths problems. It also offers a number of question papers. It also has diagnostic tests and over 1500 practice questions to focus on. It focuses on all the mathematical topics equally and gives a good insight into what students should be prepared for while preparing for the SAT examination. This SAT practice book for math aims to improve problem-solving skills and provides strategies. 

10. Dr Steve Warner's 500 New SAT Math Problems

Key Features: 500 new maths problems categorised by difficulty level 
Best For:
Students who seek multiple approaches to tackle maths problems 
Author:
Dr. Steve Warner 
Ratings:
4.5/5 
Cost:
$41.92
Link:
Amazon

This book is an updated book for SAT maths preparation. In this book, the author discusses each area of the test very minutely, such as algebra, advanced maths, problem-solving, data analysis and geometry. This SAT study book provides clear and comprehensive reviews and instructions. The best part about this book is that it arranges SAT maths concepts by difficulty, where the easiest is level 1, and the most difficult part is level 5. Students already scoring in the 700s will be greatly benefited by it. It is one of the best SAT preparation books, with detailed explanations for every problem and a focus on a deeper understanding of concepts. 

How to Choose the Best SAT Test Prep Book?

Choosing between the SAT preparation books depends on your needs and learning styles. It is important to assess your strengths and weaknesses before investing in any of these SAT exam books. You should further consider your learning preferences when making this choice. The following are a few factors to consider when finding the best SAT practice book. 

1. Topic Coverage

Look for books that focus on the SAT syllabus and exam pattern (including Reading, Writing and Language, and Math) thoroughly, ensuring you get well-rounded practice.

2. Style of Explanations 

Choose SAT books that provide clear and comprehensive explanations for each practice question, helping you understand your mistakes and reinforce concepts.

3. Subject-Specific Focus

If you struggle with a particular section, consider supplementing with a book that focuses specifically on that subject (e.g., critical reading, grammar, or maths).

4. Strategies 

Choose SAT exam preparation books that offer valuable strategies for time management, guessing techniques, and overall test-taking approaches, as these can significantly improve your performance.

Comparison of the Best SAT Books

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Books  Price Pros Cons
Barron's SAT Study Guide
$26.96 Multiple full-length practice tests, detailed explanations and a vast vocabulary list.  Lack of interactive features and learning plans found on the online courses. 
College Board's Official SAT Study Guide $22.31 Quality 8-10 full-length practice tests curated by College Board.  Lack of in-depth explanations. 
Princeton Review SAT Premium Prep

$24.52

Live classes with experienced instructors and well-structured learning modules.  Premium courses with score guarantees are expensive. 
SAT Prep Black Book Second Edition

$14.99 

Different learning styles and practical strategies that go beyond memorisation.  Doesn't include many new practice questions, relying heavily on explanations. 
McGraw-Hill Education SAT Elite 2023 $25 Breakdowns of difficult concepts and strategies and has access to online practice tests.  More expensive than other SAT prep books.
The Critical Reader: The Complete Guide to SAT Reading

$27.47

Clear instructions and examples for approaching different question types.  Volume of material can take a significant amount of time to work through.
KALLIS' Redesigned SAT Pattern Strategy

$31.78

Six full-length practice tests, which are important for building stamina and familiarity with the SAT format. Only identifies patterns in questions, which may not be sufficient for the redesigned SAT.
Dr. Jang's SAT 800 Math Workbook $34.49 With over 1500 practice problems, the workbook is designed specifically for the new SAT.  Explanations for solutions might be lacking, making it difficult for students to understand 
Dr Steve Warner's 500 New SAT Math Problems $41.92 500 practice problems with explanations while covering all the main SAT Math topics.  Lack of full-length practice tests to simulate the actual SAT Math section.

The ideal SAT study book is ultimately the one that fits your learning preferences and gives you the tools you need to ace the test. Before selecting a book, it could be useful to read reviews and evaluate others to make sure it's the correct fit. It is your time now to choose the best SAT prep book and start preparing. While choosing the best SAT prep book, you should also keep an eye on the required SAT scores and results. Knowing your goal will further boost you to gain confidence and ace the test like a pro.

Frequently Asked Questions

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