Best teen education & reference books according to redditors
We found 333 Reddit comments discussing the best teen education & reference books. We ranked the 176 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
5. The Official ACT Prep Guide 2019-2020, (Book + 5 Practice Tests + Bonus Online Content)
7 mentions
There is a book on this exact subject, by the great illustrator David Macaulay...
"Unbuilding" This fictional account of the dismantling and removal of the Empire State Building describes the structure of a skyscraper and explains how such an edifice would be demolished.
http://www.amazon.com/Unbuilding-Sandpiper-David-Macaulay/dp/0395454255
Here are some tips:
I hope this helps. I'm pretty okay at reading but absolute trash at math.
Yall should read the black book!
https://www.amazon.com/SAT-Prep-Black-Book-Strategies/dp/0692916164
The author is awesome. One of my favorite books as a kid was Motel of the Mysteries, an account of a future archeologist stumbling upon a preserved 1980s motel room and misinterpreting every thing inside.
Another favorite was Unbuilding, which was about dismantling the Empire State Building, shipping it to the Middle East and rebuilding it.
He also had a series about how various old, impressive structures (cathedrals, mosques, pyramids) were built.
In short, David Macaulay is a badass.
The big book of boy stuff, one of my favorite books as a child
You've gotten some good suggestions for fiction and biographies, but I'd actually recommend getting her a book aimed at kids about how to write. Try Spilling Ink by Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter, or one of Gail Carson Levine's books: Writing Magic or Writer to Writer.
Kids' writing books are great because they're empowering - they'll have specific writing advice, encouraging words, and activities to help kick-start her writing. I remember receiving a similar writing guide when I was that age, and it made me feel like a real professional.
(Also, I've read the Stephen King and Ursula Le Guin writing guides that other users suggested, and I wouldn't recommend those for a child at all - the advice is definitely more advanced, including complex grammar concepts, and Stephen King is brutally honest about his view that most writers will never make it. Much too discouraging for a kid.)
I teach APCS. There's no doubt that having a good, experienced teacher can make a difference. But I also believe that for a motivated student, there are plenty of resources available online that can prepare you well too. I really like the [Litvin prep book] (https://www.amazon.com/Prepared-Computer-Science-Exam-Java/dp/0982477538/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481588368&sr=8-1&keywords=be+prepared+for+the+ap+computer+science+exam+in+java). It tells you exactly what you need to know and its practice exams are just a little more rigorous than the ones on the AP exam. If you do well on those you will definitely do well on the exam. I also like [this] (http://interactivepython.org/runestone/static/JavaReview/index.html) online textbook, from Georgia Tech. Finally, [PracticeIt] (http://practiceit.cs.washington.edu/) and codingbat are indispensible. Just do lots of coding on your own and you will be in good shape.
I would check out most of Cal Newport's recent writings. He received his PhD in Computer Science from MIT, and is now teaching at Georgetown.
His main thesis is deliberate practice consists of lots of different facets, most of which aren't necessarily thought about. While his work focuses a lot on improving work in "knowledge fields" it is drawn mostly from creative pursuits. He argues that thinking about your habits for practicing and learning (meta-habits) are just as important as sitting down to practice or learn. For example, knowing how to build a clear path of improvement and success in learning the piano is as important as sitting down and working through the hard parts. Sometimes the hardest part is simply figuring out where it is wisest to invest your time.
His article "The Deliberate Creative" I found to be particularly enlightening, among others. He's also been published in the New York Times, The Economist, and has five bestselling books.
On a side note, I originally found him looking for ways to improve my study habits, which is what he originally wrote about as an undergraduate. Any current high school or college students would benefit GREATLY (IMO) from his blog and first three books. Seriously, the guy has some great stuff.
For Reading, Erica Meltzer is recommended, but I would suggest sticking to practice tests and doing deep analyses of your mistakes and all the answer choices (know WHY every wrong answer is incorrect). Reading is a lot less concept-heavy than Writing or Math, so you'll benefit more from exposure to the way the CollegeBoard asks questions. Train yourself from the beginning to look for an answer 100% supported by the text; you MUST NOT introduce outside assumptions EVEN when a question is asking about an "inference" or "suggestion." If you're afraid of running out of the tests in the long run, and given what you are currently aiming to prep for, maybe use released PSATs in the beginning.
For Writing, you've got Erica Meltzer (if you prefer a very dense writing style) or College Panda (if you prefer something more to the point). Meltzer also has a separate workbook of practice tests for after you're done drilling concepts. Know your grammar concepts cold but also realize that this section tests some reading too; you'll need to draw from context to determine the best place to put a sentence, identify the most relevant details, or even determine what word is most appropriate. As with Reading, analyze your errors thoroughly; take particular care in trying to tie back errors to concepts.
For Math, you've also got College Panda ... he also has a book of 10 practice tests. Like Writing, try to tie mistakes back to concepts.
For something general that covers all three sections, the SAT Prep Black book is thrown around every now and then as having good information on how to approach the test as a whole.
On the online resource front, you can use Khan Academy (free) for different types of reading passages and grammar and math concepts. Use UWorld (requires subscription) solely as a question bank. Feel free to also download the free official SAT Question of the Day App for daily questions from the test-maker.
Give yourself official test sections every few concepts to see how adept your are at handling the material when forced to deal with the concepts all together without the benefit of being told what you are working on.
You can obtain good explanations of practice tests with 1600.io (only the first 4 tests are free). Dr. Roger's Math Neighborhood has you covered on the math front (all free, but math only).
Good luck!
hmm so you’re pretty evenly split there. 41 days may not seem like a lot, but it is plenty of time for a large improvement if you study well and consistently. i can’t truly predict any one number since i don’t know you or your work ethic/capabilities but i’ll try and give u some tips for each section to maximize ur time before the august test :)
math: if you haven’t already, purchase the college panda SAT math book ( The College Panda's SAT Math: Advanced Guide and Workbook for the New SAT https://www.amazon.com/dp/0989496422/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Ze.kDb1QDZA61 ). it’s truly a godsend. work through this entire book over the course of around two weeks, highlighting, taking notes in the margins, and doing EVERY PRACTICE PROBLEM. you’ll see significant results right away. use khan academy to practice individual problem types if you still have trouble after using this book (i swear this book & uworld — which is sadly no longer free but if you can afford it it’s a great resource — got me -0M)
Writing: you really need to get a strong foundation in “standard” american english grammar. i put standard in quotes cuz college board keeps its own grammar rules and likes them a distinct way. all of the rules you need to know (as well as helpful tips for the other section) i learned from the SAT black book ( SAT Prep Black Book: The Most Effective SAT Strategies Ever Published https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692916164/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.i.kDbWGRK8W2 ). again, highlight and take notes in the margins and read through a couple of the walkthroughs this book provides
Reading: this is the toughest to improve in, but not impossible. really work on math and writing before attempting to tackle this section. if you don’t know this already, the best advice any person on this sub can give you for this section is that THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS IN THE PASSAGE, AND IS 100% SUPPORTED BY THE PASSAGE AND CAN BE BACKED UP WITH EVIDENCE FROM THE PASSAGE. that being said, CB is a nasty bitch that excels at making tricky answers that readers with poor comprehension skills tend to choose. this is best remedied by reading a lot in your free time, specifically high level texts
There's also an Integrated Chinese series of textbooks. They're used in my college classes. I'm just a beginner too but they seem pretty solid. Link. There's also this. Not sure what the difference is in this version and the reviews aren't as good, but I found these books the best when I first started.
For Reading: https://www.amazon.com/Critical-Reader-3rd-Complete-Reading/dp/0997517875
For Writing: https://www.amazon.com/College-Pandas-SAT-Writing-Advanced/dp/098949649X/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=college+panda+sat+writing&qid=1563901164&s=gateway&sprefix=college+panda&sr=8-3 or https://www.amazon.com/4th-Ultimate-Guide-SAT-Grammar/dp/0997517867/ref=pd_aw_fbt_14_img_2/133-6279214-8476330?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0997517867&pd_rd_r=b1b3ba1b-4d03-4aef-8534-fb724df88793&pd_rd_w=tVeGd&pd_rd_wg=AG0DL&pf_rd_p=3ecc74bd-d08f-44bd-96f3-d0c2b89f563a&pf_rd_r=S0E4J8G00TRD6F0ZY1ZK&psc=1&refRID=S0E4J8G00TRD6F0ZY1ZK
For Math: https://www.amazon.com/College-Pandas-SAT-Math-Advanced/dp/0989496422/ref=pd_aw_fbt_14_img_2/133-6279214-8476330?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0989496422&pd_rd_r=6bc275dd-8dee-497b-aa49-17576266463e&pd_rd_w=YjIig&pd_rd_wg=Pc71l&pf_rd_p=3ecc74bd-d08f-44bd-96f3-d0c2b89f563a&pf_rd_r=P3X7H8SAQZT59M5F6FNV&psc=1&refRID=P3X7H8SAQZT59M5F6FNV or https://www.amazon.com/PWN-SAT-Guide-Mike-McClenathan/dp/1523963573/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?keywords=pwn+sat+math&qid=1563901232&s=gateway&sprefix=pwn+sa&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1
For Essay (if you’re taking it): https://www.amazon.com/College-Pandas-SAT-Essay-Battle-tested/dp/0989496465/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=college+panda+essay&qid=1563901277&s=gateway&sr=8-3
For General Strategy: https://www.amazon.com/SAT-Prep-Black-Book-Strategies/dp/0692916164/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?keywords=sat+black+book&qid=1563901330&s=gateway&sprefix=sat+bla&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1
For Practice Tests: https://www.amazon.com/Official-SAT-Study-Guide-2020/dp/1457312190/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=college+board+sat+2020&qid=1563901505&s=gateway&sprefix=college+board+&sr=8-3 (NOTE: These practice tests are available online but I prefer having them on paper, which is why I bought this book.) and https://amp.reddit.com/r/Sat/comments/9544rw/all_qas_tests_and_scoring_in_pdf_form/
Good online resources include Khan Academy, UWorld, and 1600.io. Also, I recommend taking a timed practice test often to follow along with your progress and see what you need to work on. Make sure to do the practice test all at once (don’t break it up into section) and try to do it in the morning like you would in the real SAT. Then, go over your mistakes very carefully (this is VERY IMPORTANT) until you truly understand the mistake so that you won’t make it again in the future. This is the most important step. If you skip this, it’s unlikely that you see any meaningful score improvement. Also, It’s up to you which resources you buy/use based on what sections you need help with. Good luck!
I think "Le Petit Nicolas" (Sempé-Goscini) is pretty cool to start reading French (I'm French BTW). Easy to read, quite fun too :)
http://franceinfo.us/03_books/books/sempe_petitnicolas.pdf
https://www.amazon.com/Petit-Nicolas-French-Folio/dp/2070364232/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1474155609&sr=1-1&keywords=le+petit+nicolas
My advice for practising is to read the kind of stories you like, even manga or comics (BD) if you prefer (many of them are well written in French). Let me know if I can help on a specific book category to avoid too difficult books. For example, I love Jules Verne stories but it's way too difficult to start reading in French :)
Release date on Amazon: May 7th. https://www.amazon.com/Official-SAT-Study-Guide-2020/dp/1457312190/ref=dp_ob_title_bk
You’re in 11th Grade. You can most def improve. Here is what you should do. First, go to Khan Academy and review the math concepts you don’t understand. Actually, before that, go through the practice test. Look at all the questions and think to yourself “did I make a dumb mistake or did I not understand a concept” write down the concept. For example If it was about triangles write down, “triangles questions” then go to YouTube and type in “introduction to triangles” then when you understand that expand it to “special triangles” and then last “triangle questions on the SAT” once you understand those videos practice on Khan Academy. That’s how you improve in Math.
For the reading, buy Black Book this book will help your in reading and math. This book helps in math a lot. What you should do is buy this book and go to the chapter which talks about all the math concepts that’s tested on it. Go through it. Read the concept and in your head think “do I understand this concept” if yes move on. If no, write it down and do the YouTube thing I said above like for example “introduction to (topic)” and then more specific video on that topic and last “(topic) questions on the sat” then practice that topic on Khan Academy. For reading, read the chapter on reading in the black book. Once you do that and understand what he’s saying, practice it on a practice test you already took. Don’t take a practice test after reading the black book. Only do it after you’ve practiced a lot on practice test you’ve already took and understand the mistakes you’ve been making. Please message me if you have any more questions.
theres the official act prep guide which is probably your best bet because it comes from the act people, it costs about $20 but im sure that your local library would have it because mine does, i know that uworld has act problems and people on this reddit get the free trials, and you can find free act practice tests and can print them out. heres some question sets on the official act website.
as for the science section, its actually very simple. in my experience you dont actually need any extensive background knowledge in science. its more on the logical side, as most of these tests are. if you can read and interpret graphs and charts and come to logical conclusions, practice a little bit to figure out the whole idea of how to find the answer, you should be fine. science is actually the section where i get the least wrong.
you can definitely study for free. theres quite alot of free test pdfs and if you can find the act prep guide at a library that would be even more help. the guy from uworld gives free access so thats free too. the problems on the act website are also free. i hope thats enough to help you study and good luck!!!
Read Unbuilding by David Macaulay. It is a young adult "fiction" about a Saudi prince who has it dismantled and shipped to Saudi Arabia. This is now how it would be demolished but it gives a very good look on how the building is put together and gives you an idea of the scope of the job.
SAT Prep Black Book: The Most Effective SAT Strategies Ever Published https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692916164/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_bVjDDbJR0EVN4
Buy this book. It saved my life. It improved my score by 150 points, to 1490. (I have nothing to do with the book, so don’t accuse me of advertising lol). It has really great tricks on the English section.
You're starting early, which is best. I would recommend this book to you: How To Be A High School Superstar. It details what you should do to get into top colleges.
Overall, I'd say strive for straight A's, score well over 700 on each section of the SAT, and try to find ONE thing your son is passionate about and follow that to the highest level possible.
Don't be one of those boring "well rounded" students who has great grades, test scores, and is on a club. They're looking for people who make impact. As I was told from a former Duke admissions officer, "Every student body has to have a President, Every year book has to have an editor, but who are the movers and shakers? Who is making impact?"
Winning awards like Nextel Science competition is major, doing research in a field is impressive, etc.
Overall, make sure your son is "different." He's going to apply 4 years from now, and at the rate things are going, I would assume that there will be probably 45,000+ applicants by then. What is going to make him different from those other applications?
Make sure he loves learning for the sake of learning and is taking control of his own education. Make sure he follows his passions during the summer, because elite schools want to know what these kids are doing during the summers. Make sure he leaves an impact in his school and forms a strong bond with his teacher.
Make sure he's "high impact" in some type of field. The keyword being "impact."
Here's a link to a youtube video of a former Stanford admissions officer :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96XL8vBBB7o
http://www.amazon.com/How-High-School-Superstar-Revolutionary/dp/0767932587/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459262515&sr=8-1&keywords=high+school+superstar
I actually didn't start seeing results till like late February (Post- 1 month) because I switched up how I study. I focuses more on why I chose the answers to those certain questions this way I developed more of a thinking process.
Books I used:
The Official ACT Prep Guide 2018-2019
SAT Prep Black Book: “The Most Effective SAT Strategies Ever Published” Second Edition by Mike Barrett & Patrick Barrett. I’ve read a few chapters from the book and it has completely changed the way I look at the SAT. It’s especially great for the reading section because it basically debunks the mysteries and vagueness surrounding it.
SAT Prep Black Book
Buy this and read the whole thing:
https://www.amazon.com/Government-Politics-Course-Advanced-Placement/dp/0738608092/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492306952&sr=8-1&keywords=crash+course+ap+government
Did that the week before and got a 5.
David Macaulay wrote and drew a book about a Middle Eastern billionaire buying the Empire State Building and dismantling it piece by piece.
Go and buy the book of 20 on Amazon and take several (only an hour apiece) to determine your best 2. Then take those official tests. You can sit for the December 1 test date. The big ones are the Stem tests, particularly Math 2 and the sciences- physics, bio, chem. You could also do US History, Literature if that is your strength.
https://www.amazon.com/Official-Study-Guide-Subject-Tests/dp/0874479754/
I went from a 31 to a 34 in October. You can do it!
If you don't have a prep book already consider getting this just for the practice tests - it's what I used. I'm not sure on specifically geometry or if you were looking for online resources sorry
I think it depends on your goals. I always recommend people study with goals firmly fixed in mind. How do you want to use Chinese in the future? The way you answer that question will profoundly effect how you should approach your study.
There are loads of good free resources out there. Amazon has plenty of good textbooks too.
I took both and can tell you that they are two very different exams. The AP exam is more conceptual based--less factual regurgitation happening there. However, the SAT II is, in contrast, mostly factual based. You gotta get your memorization down.
There is a lot of plant stuff on there which, IIRC, isn't stressed in AP Bio, and is sometimes skipped altogether. Dont confuse what I said with photosynthesis, I'm talking about like parts of the plant (ex: apical meristem, plant classifications).
The SAT II is also easier to study for since you pretty much know what's going to be on the exam. The exam is all multiple choice (like all subject tests) and the questions are a bit different than the AP multiple choice. The beginning of the test will usually provide you with an image, which you then have to label with the choices they give you. That's just blunt memorization right there. The rest of the questions really don't stress concepts.
I remember one that gave me a picture of the heart and asked me to label the major sections (vena cava, right/left atrium, ventricles, etc.) Another question gave me a choices of 4 animals and asked me which one was a reptile. No joke. (That doesnt mean the test is easy though...)
This exam is the only real SAT II Bio released by CollegeBoard. Take a look at it and you will see what I mean--it is very different from the AP. Time yourself, practice with it, and see what you get. If you want the book where its from, here you go.
I recommend taking the Molecular Biology test, since that's essentially the core of what you did in AP. Ecological is easier, but looked as less favorably in admissions.
For the ACT that would be this: https://www.amazon.com/Official-ACT-Prep-Guide-2018/dp/1119386896/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1510794029&sr=1-1&keywords=real+act+prep+book+2018
2)You can find all of the concepts tested on the respective web sites for the tests. ACT.org and collegeboard.com
3)That is a way more complex question. First and foremost, I would tell you to not rely on tricks. Tricks are what sell test prep companies, not improve scores.
Agreed. By the way, the new ACT book comes out at the end of the month. It can be pre-ordered here.
It's always best to go with the official study books. Here's the SAT and the ACT
Princeton Review is known for test-prep, but I've never used them, so I can't attest for quality... I just know that the official guides from the people who make the test are always your best bet for prep.
Definitely worth picking up the official study guide. Has one copy of each test in it, and it's only $10. The math 2 book also has two more tests in it (one may be a repeat from main study guide iirc).
I bought this Panda math book, read all of it, and worked 75% of it.
For the English, I just did a little online Khan Academy practice because my English score was already pretty high. I definitely concentrated a lot more on math.
I also used the normal SAT book, which is pretty helpful too.
If your practice or PSAT scores are really low (like below 1200), I'd suggest you get tutoring instead.
But I don't think the SAT is very difficult. It's very repetitive, so the more practice tests you take and questions you study, the more you'll be prepared for the actual test because it's just regurgitating concepts.
Do not take the actual SAT just to see how you do. Many colleges request the full testing history and will see your first score.
Instead, do one of these official practice tests from the College Board:
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/practice/full-length-practice-tests
My recommendation is to print it out and do it on paper. However, the most cost-efficient option is to purchase the Official SAT Study Guide, which includes the 8 practice tests (it's $19 with ~1000 pages, and you save a lot on printing costs). It can be found here:
https://www.amazon.com/Official-SAT-Study-Guide-2018/dp/1457309289/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524454802&sr=8-1&keywords=official+sat+study+guide+2018+edition
I highly suggest skipping the CollegeBoard's "study guide" (the first ~200 pages or so), as most of it is fluff that won't help you. Instead, take practice test 1 as a diagnostic.
Then, sign up for Khan Academy practice. Khan Academy will help you tremendously considering the position you're at now. They have skill levels from 1-4 for all math concepts. If you have the time and dedication, level up for the math as much as you can. However, KA math is best used as content review/practice and not as practice for the actual math questions. The questions tend to be phrased awkwardly and are not identical to those you will encounter on the SAT.
Instead, once you have a solid grasp and conceptual understanding of the Algebra II topics, sign up for UWorld (free code on the sidebar) and complete as many math problems as possible. Reading and writing are phenomenal on KA and much better than UWorld, though, so I recommend KA for that.
If you have the time and dedication, you can easily achieve your target score of 1450. You still have several months left, and you will be shocked on how quickly your score will go up. Don't waste your money on tutoring services; you'll be able to increase your score far more on your own.
Space out the official practice tests by about 2 weeks. They should be completed under real timed conditions and serve best as diagnostics for how your studying has been paying off. If you don't see an improvement on subsequent practice tests, then something is wrong with the way you're studying. Do not use the practice tests as merely practice questions, because there are a plethora of practice questions available to you on UWorld.
Once you feel confident with your score on the official practice tests, then take the real SAT.
Good luck!
I need any of these
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1523381531/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/Official-Study-Guide-Subject-Tests/dp/0874479754/ref=pd_sim_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0874479754&pd_rd_r=TV55SY40GF9T9KGMMKKP&pd_rd_w=eHmSr&pd_rd_wg=GQ78g&psc=1&refRID=TV55SY40GF9T9KGMMKKP
https://www.amazon.com/Official-Subject-Chemistry-Study-College/dp/145730919X/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1523927942&sr=1-4&keywords=sat+chemistry+subject+test+2018
https://www.amazon.com/Official-Subject-Mathematics-Level-Study/dp/1457309327/ref=pd_sim_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1457309327&pd_rd_r=Y2NY1QZJK7RGSWQYHDSS&pd_rd_w=zut0F&pd_rd_wg=xvkKB&psc=1&refRID=Y2NY1QZJK7RGSWQYHDSS&dpID=51BcC6Y2-XL&preST=_SX218_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=detail
For the 26 I didn’t study more than a week out for any of them, but for this last one I signed up for a prep class and started studying about a month and a half before the test. Every Saturday I’d take a practice test from the ACT prep book then go over what I’d missed the following Monday and Tuesday and try to figure out what I did wrong and I’d rework all the math problems. I also used the 5 lb. ACT practice book to get extra practice on the types of problems I was struggling with.
The AP Gov Crash Course Book has been extremely helpful for me. It's a short read, with only 177 pages total, but contains everything you would need to know.
For math, I'd recommend College Panda's 10 practice tests. They are pretty accurate and a great way to prepare for math.
For a last-ditch effort, I'd look into Princeton Review's 6 Practice Tests. It got good reviews, (#1 best seller, too) and it overall features accurate content.
Make sure you first go over College Board's 7 (found on Khan Academy) practice tests, then Ivy Global's, and then check out TPR and College Panda for math.
Yes this book contains a third, different exam! https://www.amazon.com/Official-Study-Guide-Subject-Tests/dp/0874479754/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1538589792&sr=1-1&keywords=official+sat+subject+test+study+guide&dpID=516QUs3wKRL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch
Alright, since you're not going for any electronic resources, I'll list a couple of books. Your main problem seems to be English in general. While the books might help you, I recommend reading a lot. Try historical and scientific articles online or even in a book. Read a couple of classics by Charles Dickens or Victor Hugo.
1- Kaplan https://www.amazon.com/SAT-Prep-Plus-2018-Strategies/dp/1506221300
This book has exceptional EBRW practice and thorough explanation with multiple methods of approaches. The math section is alright, but I feel that it is a little easier than the actual test.
2- Dr. John Chung's SAT math book. https://www.amazon.com/Dr-John-Chungs-SAT-Math/dp/1481959794
A phenomenal book. It has challenging question in the math section that will over prepare you. If you can get a 700 on his tests, you're set up on getting an 800 for the math section.
3- Barron's New SAT 28th edition https://www.amazon.com/Barrons-NEW-SAT-28th-Sat/dp/1438006497
Great book for learning the entirety of standard English convention and reading strategies. The EBRW questions might be a little easier than the actual thing, but the information it provides is meritorious. The math section also has some challenging problems that will over prepare you.
The official SAT study guide (alias blue book.) https://www.amazon.com/Official-SAT-Study-Guide-2018/dp/1457309289
This is the best book to test all you've practiced for. After you complete all other books, take all 8 practice tests. This will prepare you well.
Now for some tips:
1- Focus on your writing section more at the begining. Getting 44/44 in this section while missing 10 on the reading puts your score at 740-760. It weighs more.
2-Write some essays and have someone check them. It'll help you spot mistakes easier.
3-Calm down, you can always take it again.
Good luck!
Get the crash course ap gov book
https://www.amazon.com/Government-Politics-Course-Advanced-Placement/dp/0738608092
And then all of these books:
#1
#2
#3
#4
Do not get overly stressed about your first SAT. You can retake it as many times as you want, and you can always improve. You are not on any sort of time limit, for the test or for your future. The best way to prepare for your next attempt is by working through the official SAT study guide produced by ETS, who also produces the SAT test (shocker). You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Official-SAT-Study-Guide-2018/dp/1457309289. If you work through the exercises in the study guide, I am very confident you will improve your SAT score for next time.
The subject tests are never released and so there are no past papers to be had. The College Board has 1 large book that contains 1 example of each type of SAT subject test.
SAT Subject Tests Book
Last year the College Board started publishing individual guides. The guides have 2-4 practice tests. There is not a guide for every type of test, but these are the most common ones.
SAT Chemistry
SAT Biology
SAT Math II
SAT Physics
SAT US History
SAT World History
So as far as hobby books go, I'd generally suggest the Forest Mims Engineering note books. They have a ton of useful circuits, and mini projects and stuff. Very useful for Tinkering and useful all around. Also pretty easy to read and follow.
I love that idea and I am stealing it! Will edit the post and change the flair. I have that book. And I live by it. I considered it as part of the prize, if the recipient is an older teen. I was debating this one should the SK one be age inappropriate!
As a side note, when we just moved cross country, I had several HUNDRED print books in my home library. The SK On Writing was the only one that made the trip.
Amazon has lot of French children's books:
Le Petit Prince (of course!)
Madeleine
Les Oeufs Verts au Jambon
Poisson Un Poisson Deux Poisson Rouge Poisson Bleu
Le Chat Au Chapeau (in English and French)
Horton Entend un Zou!
Je t'aimerai toujours
Le Petit Nicolas
Bonsoir Lune
La Chenille Qui Fait Des Trous
Max Et Le Maximonstres
L'Arbre Genereux
And Harry Potter A L'Ecole des Sorciers
It's this one.
I found it was super helpful to take practice tests because it helped me get faster (especially on the science section), and figure out what I needed to go over more (especially random topics on the math section, my weakest subject too). As I took each practice test, I noted which questions I wasn't sure about, then after the test I went back and made a spreadsheet containing all of those problems, the problems I got wrong, and what the topic of the question was. Then I looked for patterns (basically what I was consistently getting wrong), and studied those topics. Watching Khan Academy videos for math was helpful if you get bored with your textbooks. I used the official prep book, which I liked. I also tried to simulate testing conditions as much as possible. Good luck!!
Read How to be a High School Superstar.
Other than managing your grades and standardized test scores, the majority of the book is about building achievement in your extracurricular activities. It's certainly not too late as a rising junior, but you do have limited time, so get started on this endeavor immediately.
This is all assuming your grades are good (3.8+). Take a practice ACT and new SAT this summer. Figure out which test you prefer, which should usually be the one you find easier and score higher on. Find suitable resources (college confidential, as hated as it is, has a lot of test prep advice) to raise your score as much as possible. Sign up for the October administration of your chosen test and make sure to take practice tests in the weeks leading up to it. If your score meets the threshold of the universities you wanna attend (assuming 34+ and 1500+ for top tier schools), you're done with testing. If not, keep studying and try to get that done by the end of the semester. Take your subject tests in June.
Wish me good luck as a rising senior!
Not the SAT 1600. I mean the "New SAT" book by Barron's. Looks like this : https://www.amazon.com/Barrons-NEW-28th-Book-Only/dp/1438006497. I'd suggest just going to a bookstore and just taking pictures of the charts for the essay section. Those charts are really all you need. I've never used IvyGlobal or Kallils, so IDK how those are. Sorry. For me, Khan Academy was my only source from which I studied, and I studied a bit from Barron's new SAT (link above). Good luck on your tests!!!
https://www.amazon.com/SAT-Prep-Black-Book-Strategies/dp/0692916164
The Official ACT Prep Guide 2019-2020, (Book + 5 Practice Tests + Bonus Online Content) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1119580501/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_UJWvDb2TC6083
Also, if out of sources, order the the new red book.
This will have 3 additional recently administered exams. So make the best use of them!
We plan to use some of the strategies in this book to help our kids get into the colleges if their choice. It might be helpful to you. This book says it’s not so much about the GPA and test scores, but how you market yourself and the activities you do. Good luck! How to Be a High School Superstar: A Revolutionary Plan to Get into College by Standing Out (Without Burning Out) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0767932587/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_-OXwDbBD4B293
There is one inside the big blue book released by Collegeboard of 20 subject tests, one for each subject.
collegeboard subject test book!
Purchase and read through this book, thoroughly. Then do the practice tests in it:
https://www.amazon.com/Official-ACT-Prep-Guide-2016/dp/1119225418/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475214343&sr=8-1&keywords=red+book+act
Approach questions with confidence after you read the book.
E: Learn the English grammar rules: http://blog.prepscholar.com/act-grammar-rules
M: Brush up on math with Khan Academy SAT Math Practice.
R: Practice tests!
S: Practice tests!
You'll do great!
Things to do with your imagination (either alone or with friends) and don't be afraid to use whatever is around you as props to help out (Sticks, balls, foam noodles, these all work well as super awesome things) - explore and take on the world; rescue the princesses; defeat dragons; Win a race car race; Stop bad guys; Ride Dinosaurs; Be a sneaky ninja stealing the plans to save the day; (You know... Easy stuff.)
In the 'real' world try to fix something WITHOUT looking up ANYTHING on it. If you don't understand it, take it apart and explore it so you can see how it works. Leave it for a day or two and see if you can put it back together, working; Go camping and learn that you can ONLY count on yourself, as everybody seems to forget 'stuff' and to make due, use the things in nature to get by.
It's all a learn by doing. If you MUST study for this then I'll suggest (2) books as starter reference materials - This one and then this other one.
Better you learn in it in your last year of high school than your first year of college. I highly recommend reading these books b4 stepping foot in college:
Book 1
Book 2
I think there's a high school version which might help you out with grade 12.
ACT Redbook
Previous post:
>They don't really have that great if a midfield and apart from pjanic and maybe Can none of them really fit Sarris playing style
Then in my reply:
>Khedira I doubt will get minutes. Matuidi def doesn't fit sarris system. Dybala doesn't play midfield. I forgot about Ramsey tho
So from my fucking post, pjanic, MAYBE Can and Ramsey are great midfielders that also fit Sarris style. At that moment they didnt sign Rabiot. The fucking Graphic is literally Ramsey, Rabiot and Pjanic. Two fucking mids i already mentioned were quality.
Then in my post that you replied to:
>Having quantity in midfielders don't mean they have quality. The current lineup of midfielders are quality. Apart from 1 other in the bench they aren't worth anything compared to other top 5 clubs
Their current lineup, which i ALREADY said was good and fit sarris style, was never up for debate.
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Here is a link on Amazon for Reading comprehension. Its for 6th graders which i think is adequate for your level. Buy it, make use of it. Study the absolute shit out of it. https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Comprehension-Grade-Skill-Builders/dp/1936023342/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3V7MV5BD2QPPJ&keywords=reading+comprehension+grade+6&qid=1564096714&s=gateway&sprefix=reading+compr%2Caps%2C210&sr=8-3
I would assume you would have a solid shot at Cornell. Cornell is actually the most transfer-friendly of the Ivies. I just applied to Cornell as a transfer student with a 34 and am waiting on my decision. However, most of the other Ivy League schools take a more limited number of transfers. Not to say that it would be impossible to transfer somewhere like Yale, for example, but your shot would be significantly lower than that of a first year applicant's. I think you should check out Cal Newport's "How to Become a High School Superstar." The title may sound corny, but the author details the stories of many successful gap year students. Here's the Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/How-High-School-Superstar-Revolutionary/dp/0767932587. Also, as a prospective transfer student I've read a lot of material on the tips and tricks of transfer admission so feel free to PM me if you'd like to ask me anything! Hope this helps!!
These three books are AWESOME reference materials for beginners:
Electronic Formulas, Symbols & Circuits https://www.amazon.com/dp/0945053304/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_jH83AbPDS160A
Timer, Op Amp, and Optoelectronic Circuits & Projects https://www.amazon.com/dp/0945053290/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_mI83Ab16XQRSG
Electronic Sensor Circuits & Projects, Volume III (Engineer's Mini Notebook) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0945053312/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_II83Ab8BXSKS1
I agree N17 was a bitch. I'd also recommend you skip right to Tsokos'. I strongly suggest you get the latest 2016 study guide (https://www.amazon.com/Physics-Diploma-Exam-Preparation-Guide/dp/110749575X/ref=dp_ob_title_bk) Of all the study guides, this one is the most up-to-date and is best catered for current exams - you can't waste time filtering or vetting your content with another textbook (only do this if you need to understand something on a conceptual level, more words/authors do help). The guide alone covers just the amount you need and not more. I learned this by looking through the contentious nuclear/quantum physics portion of the latest exam papers and realised they will not ask you anything that's not explained in that study guide. You can't find this online or in PDF format, so buy it if you must - be careful not to get the previous edition (check the cover). I attribute my 7 to this study guide and this study guide alone lol all the best to you!
https://www.amazon.com/Official-SAT-Study-Guide-2020/dp/1457312190
On YouTube: CGP Grey is awesome, also look into AP test prep books. The Crash Course one on US government is awesome. All the info condensed and easy to read. Link: AP® U.S. Government & Politics Crash Course Book + Online (Advanced Placement (AP) Crash Course) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0738608092/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Z32.ybMGJFRVM
Voici des liens sur Amazon : ceci et cela.
You are definitely not "fucked". You can easily turn things around. Even if you go to a "mediocre" college, you can still do incredible things.
I'd recommend getting this book: https://www.amazon.com/How-High-School-Superstar-Revolutionary/dp/0767932587/ref=pd_sbs_14_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=JJZN9DVPA6KDVKY71SFS
Great guide about how to get into the college you want. In your situation, I'd recommend you get it ASAP. Follow it and results will happen.
It's this book.
https://www.amazon.com/Practice-Tests-2017-College-Preparation/dp/1101919795
And do you mean this book? The Official ACT Prep Guide 2019-2020, (Book + 5 Practice Tests + Bonus Online Content) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1119580501/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_iO04CbTNEGN6W
Yep. Although look into also getting a separate book for FRQs. I used this book for FRQ practice to great effect (took it in May 2018, got a 5). Although YMMV, since I had years of prior experience.
https://www.amazon.com/SAT-Prep-Black-Book-Strategies/dp/0692916164/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=black+book+sat&qid=1558270107&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spell-spons&psc=1 I used this book and I got 3 wrong on a practice test I took 3 weeks before the May test and then I got 3 wrong on the actual May test. Before I used the book I got 6-9 wrong on all my practice tests/SATs that I've taken through November to March. The author breaks down every question in the first 4 official CB practice tests (for all sections but I find reading to be the most helpful). I highly recommend getting it if you're set on improving your reading score. What I did when using it was reread the passage, reanswer the question and then read his explanations. After doing that I answered all the level 4 questions on khan academy and used the strategies he explains in the book and found one that works for me.
I would recommend this one. Amazon ships to Europe, right?
Unpaid internships are essentially slave labor, or at least indentured servitude. That's a terrible idea.
I'm not sure what you would describe as your dreams, so I'll give you a possible alternative track for a possible set of goals that may or may not coincide with yours.
Let's say your goal is to get a well paying job and have a reasonably deep understanding of physics. Perhaps you'd also like that job to be intellectually stimulating. Here's a rough outline of what you could do to accomplish that:
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Before college
You're in 7th grade. First step, use this collection of links on efficient study habits to destroy and master your school work (check out Anki, too). At minimum, treat school like a day job. (Hopefully you'll have great teachers that teach you a love of learning and a value for a well-rounded educational base that includes the sciences, arts, and humanities.) Do all the exercises from Khan Academy from the beginning to fill any gaps in your knowledge and use sites like PatrickJMT, Paul's Online Math Notes, BetterExplained, and MIT OCW Scholar to supplement school and KA. Also, read these two books.
Once you've got school under control and are getting the most of what's available to you through that avenue, use the Art of Problem Solving Books to get a vastly deeper understanding of precollege mathematics. I'd say it should be a higher priority than learning calculus early in terms of ROI, but you can learn it if you want to.
See if you can find a group near you to train for a Math Olympiad or similar competition (like the ones listed on AoPS). Aim for the gold, but realize that it's unlikely and the real prize is how the training will bring up your mathematical maturity so you can tackle evermore challenging problems, concepts, and subjects.
Also, use sites like Coursera, edx, and Udacity to teach yourself programming. Once you've got a reasonable handle on programming, check out a site like Topcoder and maybe try to compete in the Coding Olympiad. Also, mess around with a Raspberry Pi.
You could also check out any big research universities or even decent state schools in your area. They often have youth outreach like summer camps for kids who love math to come and learn things not usually taught in schools. You could also see if there are any researchers willing to take on a hard working and science-loving high school student for a research project (this is how most of the winners of Intel science competitions get their start).
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College (Undergrad)
If you've done the first paragraph of the previous section alone, you should be able to get into any top 20 program in the country without any trouble. Chances are you'll be competitive for most Ivies and top 10 programs. Do any of the stuff beyond the first paragraph, and you'll be a shoe-in with a huge advantage over the overwhelming majority of college applicants in the country. The link about scholarships in my earlier comment will guarantee that you get a free ride. Also, read this book.
So now you want job security and financial security. Any sort of engineering would do, but I think you'd be more interested in computer science so let's say you do that and double major in physics.
Every summer you do paid internships for CS at various software firms for work experience. This will be the best way to make sure you are extremely hireable after graduation for lucrative positions with interesting work as a software engineer. That's Plan B.
For physics, you find a lab that does interesting work and start doing undergraduate research. You might change labs a few times to find a better fit. You might stick with the first one until graduation. Doesn't really matter as long as you gain real research experience.
You also study your ass of for the Physics GRE from your first semester. A few hours per week you do problems from old tests from subjects as you learn them. As in, do mechanics problems your first semester, do mechanics and E&M problems your second semester, do mechanics and E&M and thermo and optics problems your third semester, etc. (This may be different depending on how your school organizes its physics curriculum.)
You talk to your advisors and grad students and fellow students and professors about applying to grants and graduate school. They'll be able to give you actual advice tailored to your situation.
Either in the spring of your junior year or the fall of your senior year, you take the GREs and apply to graduate programs in areas that interest you and apply to grants to fund you and wait for the offers to return. Assuming you've followed my advice, at least some of them will contain acceptance letters with details of stipends. More than likely all the acceptance letters will include stipends you can live off of.
If you just get rejected, you'll at least have a BS-worth of physics knowledge and have experienced real research and can go off and enjoy your well-paid life solving interesting problems as a software engineer.
Or you can try and get a job at a national lab somewhere putting your physics background and programming chops to work and just apply again another year while saving up more money.
And all of this was debt free because you had the forsight in high school to apply to hundreds of scholarships.
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Also, read this thread on what it takes to kick ass at MIT. The post and the ensuing discussion should drive home what you could train yourself to become. (I think the reply by the twin is particularly enlightening.)
You can either shoot for the stars and hit the moon, or you can read magazine articles about gravity on the moon.
The Sat is definitely doable without taking an SAT prep class. I took mine this October and I'm pretty sure I did fine (I hope). You should definitely grind khan prep class or not. If you're struggling in reading or writing I recommend purchasing the SAT Black Book. It really changes how you see the test and after reading this gem I started getting consistent high 1500's on my practice tests. Remember it's not just reading this book that gets you that dream score, you have to actually apply it and practice the techniques they give you. It ultimately comes down to how much effort you put in. No SAT prep class is gonna be a substitute for actual practice.
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https://www.amazon.com/SAT-Prep-Black-Book-Strategies/dp/0692916164/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=3UBDRMFO3VBQY&keywords=sat+black+book+2019&qid=1571189264&sprefix=sat+blac%2Caps%2C160&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzQTlVUEtEU0RENDM1JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODkxMjAzMlMyQk80SVhRTVRKVSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwODI2Nzk3M082T1RQNkczN0FZNiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=
The OP also never stated they were going to Amoeba. Seriously, the post was only three sentences, read it again.
Sorry if I could not find this resource on vinyl: https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Comprehension-Grade-Skill-Builders/dp/1936023342/
Yep. How about this book by the same author? It's an illustrated speculative fiction (for kids) about how one might go about dismantling the Empire State Building and moving it to the middle east.
first i used khan academy (got 8 tests from there)
next, i used two different barron's books (https://www.amazon.com/Barrons-NEW-SAT-28th-Sat/dp/1438006497 and https://www.amazon.com/Barrons-SAT-Practice-Tests-3rd/dp/1438009968/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=VM8TX5EF1ECWW29M9PTA i think) for 11 tests across both books
and finally, my school's guidance dept has an SAT practice test thing (kind of like the one we all got for the PSAT when we registered)
https://www.amazon.com/SAT-Prep-Black-Book-Strategies/dp/0692916164/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1506670925&sr=8-1&keywords=sat+black+book+2018
new edition of official guide -
https://www.amazon.com/Official-Guide-Bonus-Online-Content/dp/1119386896
Practice won't help you at this point, you're not scoring well due to a lack of understanding rather than a lack of knowledge. I suggest reading the first ~80 pages of the black book (https://www.amazon.com/SAT-Prep-Black-Book-Strategies/dp/0692916164/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=black+book&qid=1572112910&sr=8-1) (or try finding a PDF online).
I'm taking AP US Government this year and I used a similar book last year for AP US History and it helped a lot, I got a 4 on my AP. The used ones are under $10. Thanks for the contest.
http://www.amazon.com/Government-Politics-Course-Advanced-Placement/dp/0738608092/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=HSOLCB4EZVKI&coliid=I19SN8MSER5DW5
Sorry for the sort of late reply. I'd take it one more time -- something that I think really helped me improve my score was taking official SAT practice tests. You can purchase a booklet of these online (and maybe even find them for free on the College Board website?)
Of course, first go over the concepts that you need to review and make sure you thoroughly understand them (for math especially). Are you struggling more with the math or reading/writing sections?
Then, take practice tests -- the more the better -- under "test-taking" conditions (i.e. timing yourself, no extra resources, no breaks or distractions, etc.). After you take each test, review your answers and try to work through and understand why you got each wrong answer wrong.
Good luck!
Yeah it was very hard for me, I only took one which was in the official SAT Subject Test guidebook, https://www.amazon.com/Official-Study-Guide-Subject-Tests/dp/0874479754
I could probably dig for more by asking r/Sat if anyone has any google drives of either Latin tests. Another possibility is simply buying older versions of the Subject Test guidebook in the hopes of a different Latin practice test offered.
My Physics HL teacher recommended buying the exam prep guide from the same guide who writes the tests. Might help as he knows what will be on the test ;)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/110749575X/ref=dp_ob_neva_mobile
Collegeboard sells the Subject Test Study Guide , that supposedly contain real exams.
The class starts assuming you have no knowledge of Java or programming at all for that matter. It's what you make of it. It's an application based course that requires you to build off of topics learned earlier for creating more and more complex programs. So, by the time the test comes around you should have a good knowledge of all the topics that could be covered(sans maybe ASCII). Don't sweat it I got a 4 without too much studying. I don't reccomend Barons for free response only multiple choice and
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0982477538?cache=b6bdf3aee60a715915ae39f5d8504b08&pi=SY200_QL40&qid=1414546535&sr=8-2#ref=mp_s_a_1_2 for free response.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1457312190/ref=dp_ob_neva_mobile
here
Who are you? I asked her to show vegena, why are you acting like one brother? I think you need help; buy this, this and thisbrother.