Should I buy a textbook or take an online course ?
Your best bet is to buy a traditional study guide book. The advantages of study guide books are that they contain many practice tests and study tips. You also can write on the tests as you take the tests. This is important because two key test taking skills include marking up passages as you read them and crossing out incorrect answers as you eliminate them. In addition, you should prepare for the SAT in a quiet place with no distractions like Facebook or twitter or email. Your study guide book will not tempt you into wasting time surfing the net!
What book should I use?
All of the books reviewed below will prepare you for the critical reading, writing, and math portions of the SAT, though comments are limited to the verbal portions of the SAT.
McGraw-Hill’s SAT 2012
This is a great guide to begin your prep for the SAT This guide has vocabulary words and plenty of study tips. It contains lessons on critical reading and grammar skills. It also covers the most common essay topics.
11 Practice Tests for the SAT and the P.S.A.T, 2012 by the Princeton Review
This study guide has10 SAT tests and 1 PSAT. The tests closely match the College Board tests. The answer guides offer thorough explanations. However, in order to get useful study guide tips and common SAT vocabulary words, you also need to purchase Cracking the SAT Both works together offer a complete study guide package. Work though Cracking the SAT first, then move on to the tests in 11 Practice Tests.
Barron’s SAT, 25th edition
This comprehensive study guide includes vocabulary words, study tips for reading and grammar, as well as 5 practice tests.
The Official SAT Study Guide, 2nd Edition.
This guide is written by the College Board, the same people who produce the SAT exams. This guide has 10 practice tests as well as some study tips. Use this guide as your 2nd SAT guide book. The answers to the test questions are brief and not useful enough for a student new to the SAT
Kaplan SAT 2400, Advanced Prep for Advanced Students, 2008
Use this guide after you have achieved a 650 or higher on practice tests in other guides. This guide will not only help you understand the toughest questions, but it will push your analytic reading skills to a higher level.
Note: Study Guides are updated frequently. The 2012 version is not any better than the 2011 or 2014. Any guide written 2005 and after will prepare you for the current SAT.
If you would also like to study for the SAT online, visit the sites below for free and useful help:
the College Board
Spark Notes SAT