Our Recommendations

As test prep instructors, we’re often asked about the best prep books for the SAT, ACT, etc. In order to make our recommended list, each item must meet the following criteria:

  • be produced by the test writers themselves (ideal) or written by clear experts on the subject matter
  • be material we use with our students

Please note that we’ve compiled this list of the best test prep books based on our own experiences working with students. Our goal is to pass our research and knowledge onto you to help streamline your search. Items denoted with an asterisk (*) are affiliate links but do not incur additional charges for you. Thank you for your support!

SAT

Official Exams

  • The Official SAT Study Guide* (Required text for our SAT students) – Written by the College Board, which administers the PSAT and SAT exams, the tests included in this book are the best on the market when it comes to realistic exam questions. Although most of these exams are available for free on the College Board and Khan Academy websites, the book saves you the hassle of printing out hundreds of pages. While this book offers invaluable practice questions, it doesn’t provide much additional insights and the answer explanations are often underdeveloped. Specifically, they don’t often explain why the incorrect answer choices are, in fact, wrong. For that reason, we supplement this book with our own instructional materials and detailed explanations.

Reading

  • The Critical Reader* by Erica Meltzer – The reading comprehension portion of the SAT is notoriously difficult to improve upon, and Meltzer tackles students’ woes head on by writing one of the most thorough books on the topic. She breaks down the different skills students need to master in order to excel on the reading section. Meltzer’s expertise is evident and her lessons have influenced my own teaching over the years. One caveat – given the detailed nature of the book, it can feel quite dense at times and is best suited for highly motivated students willing to put in the extra effort.

Math

  • The College Panda’s SAT Math* by Nielson Phu – This book is highly touted in the test prep community, and for good reason. Each lesson is followed by a series of high quality practice questions that test and deepen your understanding of the concept. It is the perfect resource for students taking a long-term approach to improving their overall math skills and those who are serious about increasing their SAT math score.

Writing

  • The College Panda’s SAT Writing* by Nielson Phu – This book provides a good overview of the principles tested on the writing section of the SAT. It is especially suitable for students looking for a comprehensive grammar review. The lessons are clear and include practice problems that solidify your understanding of the concepts.

ACT

Official Exams

  • The Official ACT Prep Guide* by ACT (Required text for our ACT students) – This is equivalent to the College Board’s official prep guide for the SAT. The latest version of this book contains 5 full-length, previously administered practice exams. Once again, we use this guide to ensure that we’re teaching from the most authentic material for the ACT, but we supplement it with detailed explanations and additional practice to better prepare our students for the exam.

Reading

  • The Complete Guide to ACT Reading* by Erica Meltzer – This books offers a systematic approach to the ACT reading section. Meltzer breaks down the questions by type and drills students on the skills they need to tackle the passages.

English

  • The Complete Guide to the ACT English* by Erica Meltzer – To succeed on the ACT English section, you need to have mastery over grammar rules. This book reviews the relevant rules tested on the ACT and offers ample practice questions that closely mimic those on the exam.