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The Perfect Score Project: One Mom's Quest to Ace the SAT--So Your Kids Can Too
The Perfect Score Project is an indispensable guide to acing the SAT – as well as the affecting story of a single mom’s quest to light a fire under her teenage son.
It all began as an attempt by Debbie Stier to help her high-school age son, Ethan, who would shortly be studying for the SAT. Aware that Ethan was a typical teenager (i.e., completely uninterested in any test) and that a mind-boggling menu of test-prep options existed, she decided – on his behalf -- to sample as many as she could to create the perfect SAT test-prep recipe.
Debbie’s quest turned out to be an exercise in both hilarity and heartbreak as she took the SAT seven times in one year and in-between “went to school” on standardized testing. Here, she reveals why the SAT has become so important, the cottage industries it has spawned, what really works in preparing for the test and what is a waste of time.
Both a toolbox of fresh tips and an amusing snapshot of parental love and wisdom colliding with teenage apathy, The Perfect Score Project rivets. In the book Debbie does it all: wrestles with Kaplan and Princeton Review, enrolls in Kumon, navigates khanacademy.org, meets regularly with a premier grammar coach, takes a battery of intelligence tests, and even cadges free lessons from the world’s most prestigious (and expensive) test prep company.
Along the way she answers the questions that plague every test-prep rookie, including: “When do I start?”...”Do the brand-name test prep services really deliver?”...”Which should I go with: a tutor, an SAT class, or self study?”...”Does test location really matter?” … “How do I find the right tutor?”… “How do SAT scores affect merit aid?”... and “What’s the one thing I need to know?”
The Perfect Score Project’s combination of charm, authority, and unexpected poignancy makes it one of the most compulsively readable guides to SAT test prep ever – and a book that will make you think hard about what really matters.
It all began as an attempt by Debbie Stier to help her high-school age son, Ethan, who would shortly be studying for the SAT. Aware that Ethan was a typical teenager (i.e., completely uninterested in any test) and that a mind-boggling menu of test-prep options existed, she decided – on his behalf -- to sample as many as she could to create the perfect SAT test-prep recipe.
Debbie’s quest turned out to be an exercise in both hilarity and heartbreak as she took the SAT seven times in one year and in-between “went to school” on standardized testing. Here, she reveals why the SAT has become so important, the cottage industries it has spawned, what really works in preparing for the test and what is a waste of time.
Both a toolbox of fresh tips and an amusing snapshot of parental love and wisdom colliding with teenage apathy, The Perfect Score Project rivets. In the book Debbie does it all: wrestles with Kaplan and Princeton Review, enrolls in Kumon, navigates khanacademy.org, meets regularly with a premier grammar coach, takes a battery of intelligence tests, and even cadges free lessons from the world’s most prestigious (and expensive) test prep company.
Along the way she answers the questions that plague every test-prep rookie, including: “When do I start?”...”Do the brand-name test prep services really deliver?”...”Which should I go with: a tutor, an SAT class, or self study?”...”Does test location really matter?” … “How do I find the right tutor?”… “How do SAT scores affect merit aid?”... and “What’s the one thing I need to know?”
The Perfect Score Project’s combination of charm, authority, and unexpected poignancy makes it one of the most compulsively readable guides to SAT test prep ever – and a book that will make you think hard about what really matters.
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First published February 19, 2013
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About the author
Debbie Stier
2 books24 followersDebbie Stier is a single mother of two teenagers. Her book publishing career has spanned two decades, most of it spent in PR where she was responsible for publicizing dozens of iconic books ranging from The Notebook to Marley and Me. Frequently covered by the media, including MediaBistro, New York Observer and New York Magazine, Debbie regularly speaks on topic pertaining to social media and technology as well as, most recently, standardized testing. She has been a contributor to Time and Psychology Today. She lives with her son and daughter in New York City where she is home schooling her daughter, but you can find her at perfectscoreproject.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
January 23, 2014
My Thoughts On The Book: The Perfect Score Project by Debbie Stier is a wonderful book. It is only 281 pages that are broken down into 20 chapters filled with SAT prep information wrapped in the true story of a mom who tries to get her son to do his very best and not settle. As a high school teacher, who teaches students who take the SAT it was a story that grabbed me from the start. It is an imformative, yet easy to read book. I loved the boxes in each chapter that contained nuggets to enable the test takers, and their coaches to do their best. Any high school parent with students planning to go to college should read this book. I donated my copy to our school library. The advice given was very helpful and some of the things she offered up I had never really thought of. Our school uses classrooms for testing on a large scale, but using full-sized desks and chairs and not the desks we have was eye opening. In the state of Alabama proctors and test administrators go through training and can lose their teaching licenses if they do not adhere to the test rules. We take testing seriously here. I agree with Debbie in that good scores mean money for college. There was some offensive language in the book, but for the most part the subject matter of the book was a real eye opener. If you have a child in high school, or teach high school aged students who is going to be taking the SAT or ACT this book is a must. I think every high school library should have a copy in it.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah as part of their Blogging for Books program. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.* Thank you for allowing me to participate in this review.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah as part of their Blogging for Books program. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.* Thank you for allowing me to participate in this review.
December 31, 2013
The Perfect Score Project by Debbie Stier is a fascinating book (borne out of a fascinating plan!) - 281 pages, 20 chapters of SAT prep information wrapped in the true story of a mom who took the SAT seven times while working to encourage her son to do his best rather then settling for mediocrity. Is that novel, or what?!? You don't have the opportunity to read about this type of undertaking every day; needless to say, I was very interested in Debbie's story.
The Perfect Score Project is an informative, well-written book that makes the reader feel right at home as soon as you turn to page 1. Each chapter has "info boxes" that contain valuable tidbits to help your student get the most from their SAT preparation ~ so no worries that this book just tells Debbie Stier's tale of taking a difficult standardized test over and over again. Nope, the book doesn't just tell her tale, it gives loads of excellent information that moms of high-school students can use.
Here is an example of the type of advice you'll find in The Perfect Score:
Characteristics of a Great Test Location
~ classrooms, rather than gymnasiums or cafeterias ,are used for testing
~ full-size desks & chairs (versus chairs with attached tablet desks)
~ a visible clock in the testing room
~ proctors who abide by official test rules
As a homeschooling mom with two kids in college and three still at home, I can tell you that tips like these really do make a big difference in the score your student gets on the SAT. (And in case you're wondering, "How on earth do I find a great test location?" no worries; she tells you how in the book!) She was tackling this project in 2011, and there may be a few changes that have taken place since then. My oldest graduated in 2011, so I have experience with the SAT in the same frame of time that Debbie's book relates. My second oldest graduated in 2013, and there were some changes to the College Board website and the admission ticket (specifically it now requires a photo of the student on the ticket itself - so have a pic your teen likes saved to your desktop...because they WILL gripe if you use a picture they don't find flattering!)
As a mother who was asked to participate in a Q&A session/private interview with College Board representatives, and one who has perused the site fairly extensively, I feel somewhat qualified to say that this book is a good resource to have on hand if you have a child considering college. And why take a chance with a test score that could save tens of thousands of dollars in student loans? A good score = money for college. Resources that lead to a good score = a great investment.
I do, however, have to share a disclaimer. I'm a homeschooling mother, and the official name of my blog is "Encouraging Moms Who Homeschool". That is why I write - to encourage homeschooling mothers. And I'm not quiet about my faith in Jesus Christ on my blog. So it won't come as any surprise when I say that this book, as it is written to an audience that is much broader than the audience my blog is written for, is not what I'd call "clean". There is language that I do not approve of ~ curse words and misuse of God's name. Not on every page, and maybe it's mild as compared to other non-Christian books. But I cannot post a review of this book to my specific audience and leave out those details. It bothered me when reading the book, and I assume it would also bother others.
The book as a whole is really a gem, a treasure-trove of insight and an honest look at a mom's concern for her son's future. Overall I loved it. And overall I highly recommend it. (And I don't really ever recommend books that have any foul language in them - so my recommendation says a whole lot about the value of the subject matter covered in The Perfect Score Project.)
On my "Page Turner Scale" of 1 to 5, I gave this book a 5.
To learn more about the book, visit PerfectScoreProject.com or read more @ Random House online.
The Perfect Score Project is an informative, well-written book that makes the reader feel right at home as soon as you turn to page 1. Each chapter has "info boxes" that contain valuable tidbits to help your student get the most from their SAT preparation ~ so no worries that this book just tells Debbie Stier's tale of taking a difficult standardized test over and over again. Nope, the book doesn't just tell her tale, it gives loads of excellent information that moms of high-school students can use.
Here is an example of the type of advice you'll find in The Perfect Score:
Characteristics of a Great Test Location
~ classrooms, rather than gymnasiums or cafeterias ,are used for testing
~ full-size desks & chairs (versus chairs with attached tablet desks)
~ a visible clock in the testing room
~ proctors who abide by official test rules
As a homeschooling mom with two kids in college and three still at home, I can tell you that tips like these really do make a big difference in the score your student gets on the SAT. (And in case you're wondering, "How on earth do I find a great test location?" no worries; she tells you how in the book!) She was tackling this project in 2011, and there may be a few changes that have taken place since then. My oldest graduated in 2011, so I have experience with the SAT in the same frame of time that Debbie's book relates. My second oldest graduated in 2013, and there were some changes to the College Board website and the admission ticket (specifically it now requires a photo of the student on the ticket itself - so have a pic your teen likes saved to your desktop...because they WILL gripe if you use a picture they don't find flattering!)
As a mother who was asked to participate in a Q&A session/private interview with College Board representatives, and one who has perused the site fairly extensively, I feel somewhat qualified to say that this book is a good resource to have on hand if you have a child considering college. And why take a chance with a test score that could save tens of thousands of dollars in student loans? A good score = money for college. Resources that lead to a good score = a great investment.
I do, however, have to share a disclaimer. I'm a homeschooling mother, and the official name of my blog is "Encouraging Moms Who Homeschool". That is why I write - to encourage homeschooling mothers. And I'm not quiet about my faith in Jesus Christ on my blog. So it won't come as any surprise when I say that this book, as it is written to an audience that is much broader than the audience my blog is written for, is not what I'd call "clean". There is language that I do not approve of ~ curse words and misuse of God's name. Not on every page, and maybe it's mild as compared to other non-Christian books. But I cannot post a review of this book to my specific audience and leave out those details. It bothered me when reading the book, and I assume it would also bother others.
The book as a whole is really a gem, a treasure-trove of insight and an honest look at a mom's concern for her son's future. Overall I loved it. And overall I highly recommend it. (And I don't really ever recommend books that have any foul language in them - so my recommendation says a whole lot about the value of the subject matter covered in The Perfect Score Project.)
On my "Page Turner Scale" of 1 to 5, I gave this book a 5.
To learn more about the book, visit PerfectScoreProject.com or read more @ Random House online.
September 8, 2016
With my daughter about to start High School and wanting to prepare for the ACT and SAT’s I knew this was going to be the perfect book to read. There is so much material out there for kids to sort through when preparing to take these tests I have wished on several occasions if I only I knew someone that could simply the process and let me know what does and does not work in the real world of taking these tests-now I have that person. I was blown away that Debbie took so many tests (7) just to help her own child succeed. This book is packed full of useful advise that I never even would have thought of. There are tips of taking every style of SAT they can through at you including how to study and take the math sections, English, writing prompt and even tips on what days to take your test! I loved that she shared her failures and not just her successes. That she shared her thought process,fears and insecurities made this book very relatable. This book reads like a how to guide that is informative,helpful and inspiring. Full of wisdom, and laughter that both student and parent can enjoy.
December 26, 2013
Rating: 3.5/5 (Advance Copy)
Who knew preparing for the SAT could be so...interesting?
In an attempt to make up for her son's less-than-ideal grades and extracurriculars, Debbie Stier has made it her mission to find the best preparation methods for the SAT to maximize her son's score. Her discovery method? Taking the SAT herself. 7 times. In one year. Using a different test prep method each month. Fun!
To be honest, I wasn't particularly excited to start reading this book. As a high schooler who hadn't taken the official SATs yet, I had heard enough of the hype surrounding the high-stakes test and its importance in college admissions. (In Stier's words, "No one forgets an SAT score--ever.") Both standardized testing and test-prep are multi-million dollar industries, and I thought this was just the story of another helicopter parent trying way too hard to game the system.
As I started reading The Perfect Score Project though, I began having a greater appreciation for this personal project. Her motives for finding the perfect score formula are straightforward enough. Higher SAT score for her son= better college= more $ in scholarships = less student debt = chance at a better job. Although maybe, maybe, just a bit, she also wants a second chance after her own miserable high school SAT experience to see how much she can improve her own scores.
Over the course of a year, we experience Stier's journey, from the mental shutdown after SAT #1 to the pleasant surprises of the October SAT, to the outrage at that essay score that never seems to improve. Her victories and failures are easily quantified through her scores, and it's a year of ups and down, showing the volatility of the test.
This is not just a book of numbers though. In between each test, Stier intensely searches for new test prep methods. Apparently there's more to preparing for the SAT than expensive classes. Stier consults the Internet (Hello College Board website.), various connections she's made through blogging, memory training experts, anything that shows hope of improving her scores, and she reports back on what works, and what doesn't.
Aside from the SAT itself, Stier includes some of her personal struggles, including but not limited to: 1) convincing her kids to prepare for the test alongside her, 2) trying to relearn the math she never learned in school, and 3) avoiding errors on those darn answer sheets. (Why put 40 bubbles in each section when there's only going to be 35 questions maximum? That's just asking for trouble.)
The Perfect Score Project is not a manual on how to get a perfect score on the SAT. Neither Stier nor her son is expecting a perfect score on the SAT, and she set 2400 as an ideal, not the goal she must reach. However, the book provided a interesting adult perspective and more than thorough explanation on test prep that was actually readable. Not that I'm any more excited to start preparing for the SATs.
Cross-posted on afanofideas.
Who knew preparing for the SAT could be so...interesting?
In an attempt to make up for her son's less-than-ideal grades and extracurriculars, Debbie Stier has made it her mission to find the best preparation methods for the SAT to maximize her son's score. Her discovery method? Taking the SAT herself. 7 times. In one year. Using a different test prep method each month. Fun!
To be honest, I wasn't particularly excited to start reading this book. As a high schooler who hadn't taken the official SATs yet, I had heard enough of the hype surrounding the high-stakes test and its importance in college admissions. (In Stier's words, "No one forgets an SAT score--ever.") Both standardized testing and test-prep are multi-million dollar industries, and I thought this was just the story of another helicopter parent trying way too hard to game the system.
As I started reading The Perfect Score Project though, I began having a greater appreciation for this personal project. Her motives for finding the perfect score formula are straightforward enough. Higher SAT score for her son= better college= more $ in scholarships = less student debt = chance at a better job. Although maybe, maybe, just a bit, she also wants a second chance after her own miserable high school SAT experience to see how much she can improve her own scores.
Over the course of a year, we experience Stier's journey, from the mental shutdown after SAT #1 to the pleasant surprises of the October SAT, to the outrage at that essay score that never seems to improve. Her victories and failures are easily quantified through her scores, and it's a year of ups and down, showing the volatility of the test.
This is not just a book of numbers though. In between each test, Stier intensely searches for new test prep methods. Apparently there's more to preparing for the SAT than expensive classes. Stier consults the Internet (Hello College Board website.), various connections she's made through blogging, memory training experts, anything that shows hope of improving her scores, and she reports back on what works, and what doesn't.
Aside from the SAT itself, Stier includes some of her personal struggles, including but not limited to: 1) convincing her kids to prepare for the test alongside her, 2) trying to relearn the math she never learned in school, and 3) avoiding errors on those darn answer sheets. (Why put 40 bubbles in each section when there's only going to be 35 questions maximum? That's just asking for trouble.)
The Perfect Score Project is not a manual on how to get a perfect score on the SAT. Neither Stier nor her son is expecting a perfect score on the SAT, and she set 2400 as an ideal, not the goal she must reach. However, the book provided a interesting adult perspective and more than thorough explanation on test prep that was actually readable. Not that I'm any more excited to start preparing for the SATs.
Cross-posted on afanofideas.
December 25, 2013
Debbie Stier was not a student herself when she started to study for the SAT. She was a mom who cared to help her son prepare for this test. She was looking for the best SAT test prep techniques. She tried taking this test... 7! times before she succeeded. So now she is sharing her success with all of us. There are even secrets of snacking in this book, there are the snacks that the author found to be the most effective in warding off hunger and boosting energy. And of course you can find out how to set your game plan, how to avoid careless math errors and many more fantastic tips.
The book is a delight to read. It is fun and interesting. I will keep it around to give it to my kids when its their time to prepare for the SAT.
P.S. "I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review."
The book is a delight to read. It is fun and interesting. I will keep it around to give it to my kids when its their time to prepare for the SAT.
P.S. "I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review."
November 25, 2013
HOW WONDERFUL! I JUST WON A COPY OF THIS FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY, AND I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED TO READ IT!! I REALLY WOULD LOVE TO DISCOVER SOME NEW TECHNIQUES THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO ME AND HELP ME IN STUDYING/PRACTICING FOR THE SAT! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SUPERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR EXCITED! OMG! I CAN'T WAIT TO READ IT, AND I'M SURE THAT THIS BOOK WILL BE JUST AS GOOD AS I THINK IT WILL BE! I'M CONFIDENT, AND I BELIEVE IN THE (accuracy of) THIS BOOK AS WELL AS OF ITS AUTHOR! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! CAN'T WAIT TO READ IT! My review of this book will be updated...
January 12, 2014
Cassandra's Review- I know that from a teen's perspective SAT's are make it or break it. I only wish that there was a great book like this one out on the market when I was taking mine. I loved connecting with the author through the book and sharing in on the twists and turns that were included yo keep me interested. I would recommend to pick up a copy for you or a loved one.
I received a free copy of this book from blogging for books
I received a free copy of this book from blogging for books
September 21, 2014
Review first published on my blog: http://memoriesfrombooks.blogspot.com...
The Perfect Score Project is part memoir and part a guide for succeeding on the SATs. Debbie Stier is a mother of two who set out to help her teenager Ethan as he readied for the entire standardized testing and college application process.
In her initial research to help Ethan, Debbie Stier was overwhelmed by the testing options and the test preparation tools available. How do you decide? How do you figure out what is going to work for your child? How do you make sense of the myriad of advice out there?
So, she decided to undertake a year-long project of preparing for and taking the SAT herself - a quest for the elusive perfect score of 2400. Some of the elements she looked into include:
Can your testing center impact your score?
How reliable are the materials of the commercial test preparation services?
What resources are available free of cost?
How do the big names in test preparation compare?
What would be her pick for a study strategy?
The book is an interesting mix of SAT tips and personal story. The setup of the book does a good job of distinguishing between the two. The personal story is presented as the main text. The section on SAT tips are set off by text boxes with bullets lists, bold headings, and titles. This makes it very easy to flip through the book and isolate the advice. I do wish the book had an index or list of some sort identifying the page on which a particular topic occurs. In other words, it is easy to flip through the tips, but it is challenging to find a specific one. [The galley I received does not have index; I have been told that the final print edition does have an index which will make the book much more usable.]
Having just gone through this process with my high school age child and getting set up for another go around in a year or two, I find myself nodding in agreement with the author's perspective - a mother's take on the SAT and about life with teenagers. I don't think I would ever undertake the project she did, but I did enjoy reading about hers.
*** Reviewed for the GoodReads First Reads Program ***
The Perfect Score Project is part memoir and part a guide for succeeding on the SATs. Debbie Stier is a mother of two who set out to help her teenager Ethan as he readied for the entire standardized testing and college application process.
In her initial research to help Ethan, Debbie Stier was overwhelmed by the testing options and the test preparation tools available. How do you decide? How do you figure out what is going to work for your child? How do you make sense of the myriad of advice out there?
So, she decided to undertake a year-long project of preparing for and taking the SAT herself - a quest for the elusive perfect score of 2400. Some of the elements she looked into include:
Can your testing center impact your score?
How reliable are the materials of the commercial test preparation services?
What resources are available free of cost?
How do the big names in test preparation compare?
What would be her pick for a study strategy?
The book is an interesting mix of SAT tips and personal story. The setup of the book does a good job of distinguishing between the two. The personal story is presented as the main text. The section on SAT tips are set off by text boxes with bullets lists, bold headings, and titles. This makes it very easy to flip through the book and isolate the advice. I do wish the book had an index or list of some sort identifying the page on which a particular topic occurs. In other words, it is easy to flip through the tips, but it is challenging to find a specific one. [The galley I received does not have index; I have been told that the final print edition does have an index which will make the book much more usable.]
Having just gone through this process with my high school age child and getting set up for another go around in a year or two, I find myself nodding in agreement with the author's perspective - a mother's take on the SAT and about life with teenagers. I don't think I would ever undertake the project she did, but I did enjoy reading about hers.
*** Reviewed for the GoodReads First Reads Program ***
March 21, 2014
When I started this book, I couldn't believe how similar the author's situation was to my own. She had a 10th grade son who was a classic underachiever. His grades were brought down by mishaps like a botched test or forgetting to turn in a homework assignment. Her son sounded a lot like my son Michael, who is a high school sophomore and is content with his grades, doesn't go for the extra credit on a test and who instead of turning in his homework will leave it wadded up in his pants pocket, which on good days I find before they go through the wash and on bad days, are all over the dryer.
But, by the end of this book, I kept thinking, 'please, let me not be like her.' During her son's sophomore year, Debbie Stier decided to try out several different methods of SAT prep and took the SAT SEVEN times in one year. For that year, the SAT became an obsession for her. The book is filled with many valuable tips about the SAT and the huge variety of test prep courses and resources available. There is definitely many gems that are useful for someone studying for the SAT. But, by the end of the book, her drastic behavior made me uncomfortable. It felt like watching someone self destruct.
For me the best take away from this book is her conclusion at the end - SAT prep is preparation for a test, not instruction on the test material. If you don't have a strong academic base, then SAT prep is not going to teach you new concepts. For my son and family, the best take away is that I am going to keep the SAT in perspective and not go crazy.
But, by the end of this book, I kept thinking, 'please, let me not be like her.' During her son's sophomore year, Debbie Stier decided to try out several different methods of SAT prep and took the SAT SEVEN times in one year. For that year, the SAT became an obsession for her. The book is filled with many valuable tips about the SAT and the huge variety of test prep courses and resources available. There is definitely many gems that are useful for someone studying for the SAT. But, by the end of the book, her drastic behavior made me uncomfortable. It felt like watching someone self destruct.
For me the best take away from this book is her conclusion at the end - SAT prep is preparation for a test, not instruction on the test material. If you don't have a strong academic base, then SAT prep is not going to teach you new concepts. For my son and family, the best take away is that I am going to keep the SAT in perspective and not go crazy.
January 26, 2014
I am long past ever taking the SAT, and I hope to never again. However, this story sounded fascinating, and it didn't disappoint. I loved the ending for the reality of it. I didn't expect it to be as much of a story of her family as a story of her personal experience and growth, and I think it was much stronger for including all those relationships.
December 10, 2013
Here's a non boring book for those who want help with their SAT scores. Very enjoyable. :)
February 5, 2014
This book was a complete and exceedingly entertaining surprise! My own experience with the SAT was scarring and traumatic. I definitely had reservations about reading a book that would take me back to that disappointing experience. But from the beginning I was easily swept up by the author’s determination to dispel the mysticism that adds to the test’s enormous intimidation. Debbie approached the goal of getting a perfect score with the belief that consistent and methodical hard work can make it happen. The over-achieving nerd in me, who always believed the same despite abysmal SAT scores, was hooked!
Debbie’s journey as a student was the most engaging aspect of her story. I hadn’t realized how many unresloved bad feelings I still had for the standardized testing process until I rediscovered them witnessing Debbie take test after test after test. It is a profoundly inhumane process. For myself, I found witnessing her varied tutoring/study approaches and testing experiences fascinating and emotionally healing. I know there are many other teenagers and adults who identify as smart, ambitious and nonplussed by the disparity between a shining high school track record and terrible SAT scores. The abundance of tips Debbie learns and SHARES in the book had me thinking, “Had I known that!” Those tips made me better understand where I had gone wrong and even had me thinking I might try a test just for myself again one day. The fact that I was feeling inspired to try the damnable SAT again was shocking and a testament to the book’s valuable information.
I actually wanted to try again, so as to reclaim my experience and do away with having felt S-T-U-P-I-D. Debbie’s book is an invaluable guide that every teenager, parent, guidance counselor and educator should read!!! Parents will be inspired by her willingness to go a step beyond the usual to help her typical teenage son (smart, but disinterested in the SAT) understand that with the correct and individualized strategy the SAT can become a less torturous undertaking with better-than-hoped for results. I applaud the author’s courage for honestly sharing the tension this project caused in the relationships with her children. It’s fair to say that they were not as inspired or excited by her enthusiasm (self-professed) for beating bad-test-score fears. It benefits everyone who reads to see how well-meaning parents can have difficulties trying to help their children do their best. There is no perfect parenting formula that will instantly create bonding families and loyal/gracious teenagers. As in life, this book has exciting moments as well as events that will have readers commiserating with a, “That sucks!”
The Perfect Score Project helped me to reconcile my shame about hiding behind the “I’m a bad test taker” label by realizing I was under-prepared and on my own. I can now be proud of what I was able to accomplish without any parental guidance (which I would say is CRITICAL) or preparation. I still managed to graduate from Smith College in 2003 with fond memories, both academic and social. But I can now look back with pride and no more shame about standardized testing. I dare say, I really might try again...at least play around with a few College Board questions.
Debbie’s journey as a student was the most engaging aspect of her story. I hadn’t realized how many unresloved bad feelings I still had for the standardized testing process until I rediscovered them witnessing Debbie take test after test after test. It is a profoundly inhumane process. For myself, I found witnessing her varied tutoring/study approaches and testing experiences fascinating and emotionally healing. I know there are many other teenagers and adults who identify as smart, ambitious and nonplussed by the disparity between a shining high school track record and terrible SAT scores. The abundance of tips Debbie learns and SHARES in the book had me thinking, “Had I known that!” Those tips made me better understand where I had gone wrong and even had me thinking I might try a test just for myself again one day. The fact that I was feeling inspired to try the damnable SAT again was shocking and a testament to the book’s valuable information.
I actually wanted to try again, so as to reclaim my experience and do away with having felt S-T-U-P-I-D. Debbie’s book is an invaluable guide that every teenager, parent, guidance counselor and educator should read!!! Parents will be inspired by her willingness to go a step beyond the usual to help her typical teenage son (smart, but disinterested in the SAT) understand that with the correct and individualized strategy the SAT can become a less torturous undertaking with better-than-hoped for results. I applaud the author’s courage for honestly sharing the tension this project caused in the relationships with her children. It’s fair to say that they were not as inspired or excited by her enthusiasm (self-professed) for beating bad-test-score fears. It benefits everyone who reads to see how well-meaning parents can have difficulties trying to help their children do their best. There is no perfect parenting formula that will instantly create bonding families and loyal/gracious teenagers. As in life, this book has exciting moments as well as events that will have readers commiserating with a, “That sucks!”
The Perfect Score Project helped me to reconcile my shame about hiding behind the “I’m a bad test taker” label by realizing I was under-prepared and on my own. I can now be proud of what I was able to accomplish without any parental guidance (which I would say is CRITICAL) or preparation. I still managed to graduate from Smith College in 2003 with fond memories, both academic and social. But I can now look back with pride and no more shame about standardized testing. I dare say, I really might try again...at least play around with a few College Board questions.
January 30, 2016
I received an advance copy of this book from the author:
Wow! This book kept me up at night! I know that is strange to say about a book like this, but I found it to be inspirational, informative and easy to relate to. I am the mother of a sophomore in college, and a sophomore in high school. When my older child took the SAT, I really didn't have much to do with it. She went to a preparation course offered by the school district, but that was pretty much the extent of her test prep. Now, as my second child is approaching her first SAT, I hope to give her some support. This is an outstanding resource that has pointed me in the right direction. The book kept me up at night because long after I closed it, I lay awake thinking of all the things I could do to give her the best possible shot at getting the scores we are hoping for.
The book is chock full of tips about what did and did not work for Ms. Stier. Many suggestions are tips that are easy to put into practice and don't have a great time requirement. For example, in the case of the essay. The book suggests having two historical and two literary examples that you can work into the essay. It also says that the length of the essay makes a difference and to use big words. Essays using personal examples tend to get lower scores than those using literary and historical examples. If you are going all out and want to use a private tutor or a tutoring service, there are helpful suggestions for that as well? That is the kind of information I am looking for. It makes me feel as though I am sitting down with a friend who is giving me advice based on her parenting experience, rather than getting it from an instruction manual. In a sense I am!
The book doesn't hand everything to you on a platter. It points you in the right direction. She cites other books, methods and websites that were useful (or not) to her in her quest for the perfect SAT score. It was the perfect blend of personal story and "how to" for me. I can't wait to put her findings into action. Based on my experience with my older child, I see a lot of potential. An earlier review mentioned the lack of an index. The current edition does have an index, so you won't have any trouble finding the information you are looking for . My copy has sticky notes and stars directing me back to all my favorite ideas and tips.
I highly recommend this book. Thank you Debbie!
Wow! This book kept me up at night! I know that is strange to say about a book like this, but I found it to be inspirational, informative and easy to relate to. I am the mother of a sophomore in college, and a sophomore in high school. When my older child took the SAT, I really didn't have much to do with it. She went to a preparation course offered by the school district, but that was pretty much the extent of her test prep. Now, as my second child is approaching her first SAT, I hope to give her some support. This is an outstanding resource that has pointed me in the right direction. The book kept me up at night because long after I closed it, I lay awake thinking of all the things I could do to give her the best possible shot at getting the scores we are hoping for.
The book is chock full of tips about what did and did not work for Ms. Stier. Many suggestions are tips that are easy to put into practice and don't have a great time requirement. For example, in the case of the essay. The book suggests having two historical and two literary examples that you can work into the essay. It also says that the length of the essay makes a difference and to use big words. Essays using personal examples tend to get lower scores than those using literary and historical examples. If you are going all out and want to use a private tutor or a tutoring service, there are helpful suggestions for that as well? That is the kind of information I am looking for. It makes me feel as though I am sitting down with a friend who is giving me advice based on her parenting experience, rather than getting it from an instruction manual. In a sense I am!
The book doesn't hand everything to you on a platter. It points you in the right direction. She cites other books, methods and websites that were useful (or not) to her in her quest for the perfect SAT score. It was the perfect blend of personal story and "how to" for me. I can't wait to put her findings into action. Based on my experience with my older child, I see a lot of potential. An earlier review mentioned the lack of an index. The current edition does have an index, so you won't have any trouble finding the information you are looking for . My copy has sticky notes and stars directing me back to all my favorite ideas and tips.
I highly recommend this book. Thank you Debbie!
February 2, 2014
Debbie Stier took the dreaded SAT as an adult. Not once, not twice -- but seven times! Debbie's teens were hurtling toward their date with this fearsome test when she embarked on a quest to uncover the most effective ways to study for the test and to improve your score over time. What better way than to be your own guinea pig!
Debbie's a cheerful test taker and a creative student. At one point, she makes her kitchen into a "wall sheet" of SAT scribbles, actually writing in a rainbow of brightly colored markers on her cabinet doors. One of her chapters is titled, "An Absolutely Fabulous Month of Math." I've never seen anyone put the words "fabulous" and "math" together without a snicker.
The author makes a great guide for those of us in her shoes. She dives into the SAT test prep industry, sampling everything from homemade flash cards to an elite (and expensive) Advantage Testing tutor. She tells us which books and methods to ditch, and which to sink our money into.
How does all of Debbie's hard work pay off? You'll have to read the book to find out. Regardless of the outcome in SAT scores, Debbie was delighted to discover that studying together with her children brought them closer together as a family. "In the end, what the project brought to my life was... happy bonding with my children," she says. (Although, lest you think her endeavor was continually blessed with big, yellow smiley faces all the way, she admits her children weren't always as enthused as she was.) After reading her book, you'll be pulling for Debbie and her kids!
Debbie's a cheerful test taker and a creative student. At one point, she makes her kitchen into a "wall sheet" of SAT scribbles, actually writing in a rainbow of brightly colored markers on her cabinet doors. One of her chapters is titled, "An Absolutely Fabulous Month of Math." I've never seen anyone put the words "fabulous" and "math" together without a snicker.
The author makes a great guide for those of us in her shoes. She dives into the SAT test prep industry, sampling everything from homemade flash cards to an elite (and expensive) Advantage Testing tutor. She tells us which books and methods to ditch, and which to sink our money into.
How does all of Debbie's hard work pay off? You'll have to read the book to find out. Regardless of the outcome in SAT scores, Debbie was delighted to discover that studying together with her children brought them closer together as a family. "In the end, what the project brought to my life was... happy bonding with my children," she says. (Although, lest you think her endeavor was continually blessed with big, yellow smiley faces all the way, she admits her children weren't always as enthused as she was.) After reading her book, you'll be pulling for Debbie and her kids!
March 7, 2014
As a guidance counselor in a school that regularly produces over 20 National Merit Finalist (kids testing in the top 99.5%) I can say that author's advice parrots everything I've heard from these kids about preparing for the SAT. As a parent this is a must read because it gives you a frame of reference for understanding how to approach this test. The author took it 7 times for research purposes. She tells you exactly what needs to be done to get a perfect score. One thing you need is a "long runway" or many years of prep. The sooner you read this the better you will be able to help you kids. Your kids should also read it.
SAT scores are a underplayed in college tours when schools are trying to sell themselves. They matter. A lot. In fact, many schools will overlook a plethora of poor grades if the SAT scores are high enough. SAT scores are used to rank colleges so they want to attract students with the highest scores. I've had many off-the-record conversations with admissions staff about what really happens behind closed doors. Here is a link to my interviews with Ivy League Admissions folks in case you want to hear what they have to say http://chapelboro.com/category/wchl/l...
This book gives a ton of resources which I, for one, really appreciate.
SAT scores are a underplayed in college tours when schools are trying to sell themselves. They matter. A lot. In fact, many schools will overlook a plethora of poor grades if the SAT scores are high enough. SAT scores are used to rank colleges so they want to attract students with the highest scores. I've had many off-the-record conversations with admissions staff about what really happens behind closed doors. Here is a link to my interviews with Ivy League Admissions folks in case you want to hear what they have to say http://chapelboro.com/category/wchl/l...
This book gives a ton of resources which I, for one, really appreciate.
September 1, 2016
I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway.
I loved this book. The author started the project as a way to learn the best SAT test prep techniques so she could help her son. In the process she tried a variety of methods and even took the SATs seven times. The book provides many useful tips for students who will be taking (or retaking) the tests. The book is a well-written, interesting read.
I loved this book. The author started the project as a way to learn the best SAT test prep techniques so she could help her son. In the process she tried a variety of methods and even took the SATs seven times. The book provides many useful tips for students who will be taking (or retaking) the tests. The book is a well-written, interesting read.
September 15, 2018
Holy shit this lady is fucking nuts. This was apparent about 2 chapters in, and I decided to keep reading for pure entertainment value. But towards the end it started to shade into pure rage.
After the 300 excuses about why her kid isn't an A student, dismissing his own claim that he doesn't mind getting B's, criticizing the public school because it should have the motto "Your kid: not the little genius you thought he was" (no shit that's the school motto because it's FUCKING TRUE), she decides that the best way to "help" her son prepare for the SAT "without nagging" (her words) was to take it SEVEN TIMES before he did, try every single SAT prep program, presumably talk about it incessantly at home, and hope that he just follows her example. (This apparently does not count as "nagging.") Her entire reason for doing this is because she read "an article" (as in one) that suggested that merit scholarships are determined solely based on SAT scores and no other criteria, so her kid needs a high one because despite being a total fucking maniac who has somehow not managed to suffocate her 16 year old yet, she has completely neglected to save any money for college, so it's going to be up to him to handle her incessant pressure and score well on the SAT to get a scholarship so she doesn't have to feel the Mommy Guilt of not being able to pay for her precious child to go to college.
Chapter 3: Debbie has decided not to prepare for the first test in order to use it as a baseline. She subsequently has a nervous breakdown from not studying but luckily becomes the last upper middle class white suburban woman on the continent to discover yoga.
Chapter 5-6: After fininshing the SAT, she realizes it is the single most grueling thing she has ever done in her life, and she "was in no condition to drive" home. She literally claims she was incapable fo standing for the rest of the day.
Chapter 7: She is really, really worried about what everyone else on the planet thinks of her and her adult SAT scores. Great life lesson there.
Chapter 8: Debbie makes colored charts demonstrating to her son how much his score would improve if he would just study vocabulary. Apparently this does not count as "nagging."
Chapter 10: Debbie is confused when, the second time she takes the SAT as a grown woman, her son's friends don't make eye contact with her or acknowledge her presence. Maybe they're embarassed for your son and the huge public spectacle you're making of how under motivated you think he is.
Chapter 14: Debbie tries to get her kid to go Kumon math with her over the summer. They've had about enough of her SAT crap, so they moved out and went to live with their father, "who was generally of the opinion that I pusshed too hard and expected too much." Oh, is Debbie about to have an epiphany about the negative effects her attitude is having on her children? Spoiler: no. Instead she lies awake at night stressing out about the math worksheets she hasn't done yet. She gets up at 2 AM to work on them. Yeah, that's healthy behavior.
Chapter 18: Debbie takes another SAT (I've lost count) at the same time and location as an SAT tutor she's gotten to know over the course of this project. Some of his students wave to him at the test center. "They gave us friendly hellos in plain sight of their friends, not the 'We don't say hi to grownups' snub I'd encountered in Westchester. Maybe they didn't realize Akil was a grownup." Holy cow this woman is so clueless.
Chapter 19: After complaining about a bad proctor she had on test #6 and admitting that she doesn't know how to use a watch (I am not making this up), Debbie emails the proctor of her son's upcoming SAT to request that he get a larger desk. This book was funny until now. This is outrageous behavior. I am angry on behalf of that poor proctor.
Chapter 20: In this chapter, Debbie expresses unease about the idea of elite tutors preparing elite children for the SAT. She demands of the head of an elite tutoring organization, "What about the middle class? What are we supposed to do?" Bitch, you send your kid to private school in New York City and spent the last year buying every SAT service known to man SEVEN FUCKING TIMES and you're going to whine about high priced tutors?
Debbie also claims that she threw her back out taking her last SAT. Don't ask me.
After her kid took the SAT and beat his own goal by 30 points, she continued to pressure him to retake it. She was convinced that a bunch of outside factors had hindered her precious baby's performance. LAY OFF LADY. Jesus. Why did your kids move back in again?
She ends the book by saying that she learned so much over the past year, and then proceeds to tick off a bunch of test prep tips that have nothing to do with being a better freaking mom to your poor beleaguered kids. The whole episode where her kids mutinied and moved out because they couldn't stand her meddling? Learned nothing from that. But boy does she know which prep books to buy! In fact, not 10 pages earlier she recounts how her daughter told her out of the blue one day, "I hate your SAT project." Debbie does not react to this at all, because screw her kids' emotional needs, she's writing a book that's going to get her on Good Morning America!
Like I said, what started out funny ended in pure rage. I feel so bad for this woman's kids. (And the kids' teachers.) Nothing she does over the course of this book represents healthy behavior. The whole message is that the SAT is enormously important and that you should stress about it constantly and have multiple anxiety attacks about it. What a surefire way to make sure kids get high scores and grow into well-adjusted, functioning adults. *eyeroll*
After the 300 excuses about why her kid isn't an A student, dismissing his own claim that he doesn't mind getting B's, criticizing the public school because it should have the motto "Your kid: not the little genius you thought he was" (no shit that's the school motto because it's FUCKING TRUE), she decides that the best way to "help" her son prepare for the SAT "without nagging" (her words) was to take it SEVEN TIMES before he did, try every single SAT prep program, presumably talk about it incessantly at home, and hope that he just follows her example. (This apparently does not count as "nagging.") Her entire reason for doing this is because she read "an article" (as in one) that suggested that merit scholarships are determined solely based on SAT scores and no other criteria, so her kid needs a high one because despite being a total fucking maniac who has somehow not managed to suffocate her 16 year old yet, she has completely neglected to save any money for college, so it's going to be up to him to handle her incessant pressure and score well on the SAT to get a scholarship so she doesn't have to feel the Mommy Guilt of not being able to pay for her precious child to go to college.
Chapter 3: Debbie has decided not to prepare for the first test in order to use it as a baseline. She subsequently has a nervous breakdown from not studying but luckily becomes the last upper middle class white suburban woman on the continent to discover yoga.
Chapter 5-6: After fininshing the SAT, she realizes it is the single most grueling thing she has ever done in her life, and she "was in no condition to drive" home. She literally claims she was incapable fo standing for the rest of the day.
Chapter 7: She is really, really worried about what everyone else on the planet thinks of her and her adult SAT scores. Great life lesson there.
Chapter 8: Debbie makes colored charts demonstrating to her son how much his score would improve if he would just study vocabulary. Apparently this does not count as "nagging."
Chapter 10: Debbie is confused when, the second time she takes the SAT as a grown woman, her son's friends don't make eye contact with her or acknowledge her presence. Maybe they're embarassed for your son and the huge public spectacle you're making of how under motivated you think he is.
Chapter 14: Debbie tries to get her kid to go Kumon math with her over the summer. They've had about enough of her SAT crap, so they moved out and went to live with their father, "who was generally of the opinion that I pusshed too hard and expected too much." Oh, is Debbie about to have an epiphany about the negative effects her attitude is having on her children? Spoiler: no. Instead she lies awake at night stressing out about the math worksheets she hasn't done yet. She gets up at 2 AM to work on them. Yeah, that's healthy behavior.
Chapter 18: Debbie takes another SAT (I've lost count) at the same time and location as an SAT tutor she's gotten to know over the course of this project. Some of his students wave to him at the test center. "They gave us friendly hellos in plain sight of their friends, not the 'We don't say hi to grownups' snub I'd encountered in Westchester. Maybe they didn't realize Akil was a grownup." Holy cow this woman is so clueless.
Chapter 19: After complaining about a bad proctor she had on test #6 and admitting that she doesn't know how to use a watch (I am not making this up), Debbie emails the proctor of her son's upcoming SAT to request that he get a larger desk. This book was funny until now. This is outrageous behavior. I am angry on behalf of that poor proctor.
Chapter 20: In this chapter, Debbie expresses unease about the idea of elite tutors preparing elite children for the SAT. She demands of the head of an elite tutoring organization, "What about the middle class? What are we supposed to do?" Bitch, you send your kid to private school in New York City and spent the last year buying every SAT service known to man SEVEN FUCKING TIMES and you're going to whine about high priced tutors?
Debbie also claims that she threw her back out taking her last SAT. Don't ask me.
After her kid took the SAT and beat his own goal by 30 points, she continued to pressure him to retake it. She was convinced that a bunch of outside factors had hindered her precious baby's performance. LAY OFF LADY. Jesus. Why did your kids move back in again?
She ends the book by saying that she learned so much over the past year, and then proceeds to tick off a bunch of test prep tips that have nothing to do with being a better freaking mom to your poor beleaguered kids. The whole episode where her kids mutinied and moved out because they couldn't stand her meddling? Learned nothing from that. But boy does she know which prep books to buy! In fact, not 10 pages earlier she recounts how her daughter told her out of the blue one day, "I hate your SAT project." Debbie does not react to this at all, because screw her kids' emotional needs, she's writing a book that's going to get her on Good Morning America!
Like I said, what started out funny ended in pure rage. I feel so bad for this woman's kids. (And the kids' teachers.) Nothing she does over the course of this book represents healthy behavior. The whole message is that the SAT is enormously important and that you should stress about it constantly and have multiple anxiety attacks about it. What a surefire way to make sure kids get high scores and grow into well-adjusted, functioning adults. *eyeroll*
March 4, 2014
I'm a mom who, like Debbie Stier, is in the midst of helping prepare her child to take the SAT. I thought I was a tiger mom, but relative to Ms. Stier, I'm a pussycat.
Ms. Stier took the SAT seven different times over the course of the year, using different test-preparation methods, in an attempt to determine the best preparation for her son. She judged the methods by how her scores changed over time.
Ah, there's the rub. While this book is full of helpful tips, presented in a much more engaging format than the usual test-prep book, its premise is faulty. Stier never takes into account that each method she tried either helped or hurt her performance, given the methods she had already used. There is no clean slate beyond the first test. For example, her fourth tests reflects on the studying done between tests three and four, but by then she had already worked and practiced for earlier tests. Thus, the various methods cannot be judged in isolation (at least without a more complicated regression analysis!) and do not serve as a good basis for deciding what would work best for her child. Her project also doesn't account for the fact that not all students thrive under the same teaching methods, and what would be the best way to approach SAT-preparation for one student is not necessarily the best for another, even if they are equally knowledgeable.
Even with its faulty premise, this is a valuable book. I was able to glean some helpful tips without personally experiencing all the agony the author put herself through. In addition, it is a fast, fairly enjoyable read. I'd give it three and a half stars if that were an option.
Ms. Stier took the SAT seven different times over the course of the year, using different test-preparation methods, in an attempt to determine the best preparation for her son. She judged the methods by how her scores changed over time.
Ah, there's the rub. While this book is full of helpful tips, presented in a much more engaging format than the usual test-prep book, its premise is faulty. Stier never takes into account that each method she tried either helped or hurt her performance, given the methods she had already used. There is no clean slate beyond the first test. For example, her fourth tests reflects on the studying done between tests three and four, but by then she had already worked and practiced for earlier tests. Thus, the various methods cannot be judged in isolation (at least without a more complicated regression analysis!) and do not serve as a good basis for deciding what would work best for her child. Her project also doesn't account for the fact that not all students thrive under the same teaching methods, and what would be the best way to approach SAT-preparation for one student is not necessarily the best for another, even if they are equally knowledgeable.
Even with its faulty premise, this is a valuable book. I was able to glean some helpful tips without personally experiencing all the agony the author put herself through. In addition, it is a fast, fairly enjoyable read. I'd give it three and a half stars if that were an option.
April 7, 2014
As an English tutor for high school students and as a parent with a daughter who will take the SAT in the next year, I’ve had some experience slogging through various SAT prep resources. I live in an area where parents are willing to pay hundreds—sometimes more than a thousand—dollars to intensive SAT-Prep companies, and I worry that I’m not giving my daughter the best possible advantage by not shelling out some serious cash to prepare her for THE TEST. Debbie Stier’s book has helped me get perspective, as well as some solid direction, in working with both my daughter and my students.
Stier’s journey started with her son, and her book shares both the humor and the struggle of raising a successful kid (one who ALSO does well on the SAT!). That aspect of the book is fun and makes it “real,” but the book provides common-sense tips and recommendations for excellent resources, information that only someone intimately familiar with both the test AND the breadth of available test-prep materials could offer. (I knew I was on the right track when I got to the part about being Stier being tutored by Erica Meltzer! Meltzer’s Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar has been so valuable to me in my tutoring. My daughter and I are using several of the math books Stier recommends, and they are most definitely useful! )
Ms. Stier’s quest to help her son—and to achieve a “perfect” score herself—makes the book worth the read; the valuable information and suggested resources are worth WAY more than the cost of admission!
Stier’s journey started with her son, and her book shares both the humor and the struggle of raising a successful kid (one who ALSO does well on the SAT!). That aspect of the book is fun and makes it “real,” but the book provides common-sense tips and recommendations for excellent resources, information that only someone intimately familiar with both the test AND the breadth of available test-prep materials could offer. (I knew I was on the right track when I got to the part about being Stier being tutored by Erica Meltzer! Meltzer’s Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar has been so valuable to me in my tutoring. My daughter and I are using several of the math books Stier recommends, and they are most definitely useful! )
Ms. Stier’s quest to help her son—and to achieve a “perfect” score herself—makes the book worth the read; the valuable information and suggested resources are worth WAY more than the cost of admission!
September 19, 2019
"The Perfect Score Project" is an excellent book on prepping for the SAT. Not so much for the specific details of whether you should bubble in choice A or C, or reminding you how to find X given that its square root is twice Y, but rather the book shows you the way you should, in general, go about preparing for the hybrid achievement/aptitude tests characterized by the SAT. The book is structured as half memoir and half knowledge transfer. Steier, in order to motivate her son, spent a year trying out different SAT prep programs and taking and re-taking the SAT with the goal of getting full marks. I like my how-tos with a healthy dose of narrative to provide the emotional hook.
The SAT is a familiar subject to me, and I still learned an enormous amount. Further, Steier correctly explained the things I already knew, so I have confidence in the new knowledge she's provided. Definitely worth a read if your child has reached tenth grade, or if you're overly interested in academia. (Yo!)
The SAT is a familiar subject to me, and I still learned an enormous amount. Further, Steier correctly explained the things I already knew, so I have confidence in the new knowledge she's provided. Definitely worth a read if your child has reached tenth grade, or if you're overly interested in academia. (Yo!)
April 13, 2014
Another in the alarming new genre of obsessive helicopter parenting. Somebody needs to write a book about a mom or dad who is fine with their normal kid getting Bs and Cs, who doesn't obsess about whether the kid takes a test on a small desk or a big desk or gets into an Ivy, and who doesn't view their kids' scholastic achievements as reflections on themselves. I will buy nine copies.
February 11, 2023
Just wasn't what I was looking for. It missed the mark for me as a memoir, but also missed the mark as informational about the SAT's role in education.
February 14, 2014
Here is the description of the book from the editor:
I think you’ll find this book hard to put down
even if you haven’t reflected much lately on standardized
tests or worried how they may affect the students in your life.
In The Perfect Score Project: Uncovering the Secrets of the SAT,
Debbie Stier has skillfully embedded invaluable information and advice within a compelling personal narrative of a devoted and loving mother striving to relate to her teenage kids.
The book probes deep into a ritual of adolescence in this case, taking the SAT. Debbie’s son was approaching the age when he’d begin grappling with the test, and to help him through the ordeal, she decided to research every test prep method imaginable.
As it turned out, the quest played out like a fun Hollywood
movie-not what she expected.
It began with the College Board’s Question of the Day, which activated Debbie’s anxiety from her own high school SAT experience.Her efforts led her to retake the SAT seven times, shuttling from the Gothic halls of private boarding schools, to the cinder-block gyms of suburban public schools, to an urban high school in the Bronx, where, after passing through a metal detector,testers were greeted by posters advising them to “SAY NO 2 KNIVES.”
In reading the story of Debbie’s “whatever it takes” effort to rescue her son from underachievement, you may experience a shock of recognition and feel yourself propelled by the same fears and concerns about how your child is going to get into a decent college and realize his or her potential.Debbie’s relationship with her son will resonate with parents everywhere.
You’ll come away from this book having learned a ton and feeling good about the kind of love that makes a mother like Debbie Stier go the extra mile. The book is surprising, hilarious, and, at times, poignant. There are some antic “Perils of Pauline” moments, some wacky characters, and even a parent/teenager war that breaks out. There’s reconciliation and, ultimately, a happy ending.
She took the test 7 times! Can you say "helicopter mom?" or maybe "tiger mom?" Either way, when you read this book you can see how much the author loves her son and wants him to succeed. I took the test once and that was because I had to. I would never willingly take it again. I understand the sacrifice that this mother made.
Most teenage boys and some teenage girls are not fans of studying for the SAT. Most of them despise the SAT but know it is necessary evil if they want to attend college. Where should your child start? What classes should they take? What prep books should they read? What are the best test taking rituals? The author answers all of these questions. She knows because she tried it herself. She not only took the test seven times but she studied for it seven times!
I don't see teenagers reading this book but I do think that every parent should. She does all the work for you. It is the best "how to" guide to the SAT. Even if you took the SAT, it was probably 25 years ago and boy have times changed. She tells it to you straight and gives you advice about where to invest your time and money when it come to prepping for the SAT.
My only disappointment was that I thought the book would be written from a Christian perspective since it was from a Christian publishing company. There were no references to faith or the Christian life in the book. I think that praying for your child as they enter this exciting time of their life is the most important thing that you can do!
Disclaimer: I received this advanced copy of the book for free from Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review.
I think you’ll find this book hard to put down
even if you haven’t reflected much lately on standardized
tests or worried how they may affect the students in your life.
In The Perfect Score Project: Uncovering the Secrets of the SAT,
Debbie Stier has skillfully embedded invaluable information and advice within a compelling personal narrative of a devoted and loving mother striving to relate to her teenage kids.
The book probes deep into a ritual of adolescence in this case, taking the SAT. Debbie’s son was approaching the age when he’d begin grappling with the test, and to help him through the ordeal, she decided to research every test prep method imaginable.
As it turned out, the quest played out like a fun Hollywood
movie-not what she expected.
It began with the College Board’s Question of the Day, which activated Debbie’s anxiety from her own high school SAT experience.Her efforts led her to retake the SAT seven times, shuttling from the Gothic halls of private boarding schools, to the cinder-block gyms of suburban public schools, to an urban high school in the Bronx, where, after passing through a metal detector,testers were greeted by posters advising them to “SAY NO 2 KNIVES.”
In reading the story of Debbie’s “whatever it takes” effort to rescue her son from underachievement, you may experience a shock of recognition and feel yourself propelled by the same fears and concerns about how your child is going to get into a decent college and realize his or her potential.Debbie’s relationship with her son will resonate with parents everywhere.
You’ll come away from this book having learned a ton and feeling good about the kind of love that makes a mother like Debbie Stier go the extra mile. The book is surprising, hilarious, and, at times, poignant. There are some antic “Perils of Pauline” moments, some wacky characters, and even a parent/teenager war that breaks out. There’s reconciliation and, ultimately, a happy ending.
She took the test 7 times! Can you say "helicopter mom?" or maybe "tiger mom?" Either way, when you read this book you can see how much the author loves her son and wants him to succeed. I took the test once and that was because I had to. I would never willingly take it again. I understand the sacrifice that this mother made.
Most teenage boys and some teenage girls are not fans of studying for the SAT. Most of them despise the SAT but know it is necessary evil if they want to attend college. Where should your child start? What classes should they take? What prep books should they read? What are the best test taking rituals? The author answers all of these questions. She knows because she tried it herself. She not only took the test seven times but she studied for it seven times!
I don't see teenagers reading this book but I do think that every parent should. She does all the work for you. It is the best "how to" guide to the SAT. Even if you took the SAT, it was probably 25 years ago and boy have times changed. She tells it to you straight and gives you advice about where to invest your time and money when it come to prepping for the SAT.
My only disappointment was that I thought the book would be written from a Christian perspective since it was from a Christian publishing company. There were no references to faith or the Christian life in the book. I think that praying for your child as they enter this exciting time of their life is the most important thing that you can do!
Disclaimer: I received this advanced copy of the book for free from Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review.
April 1, 2014
Full review at http://everydayiwritethebookblog.com/...
I am a fiction girl who hasn’t taken a standardized test since the LSAT in 1991. My kids are too young for me to be worried about the SAT yet, which they won’t take for another 7 years. But when Debbie Stier’s The Perfect Score Project: Uncovering The Secrets of the SAT arrived in the mail, I knew I wanted to read it, right away. I had met Debbie at a conference a few years ago and learned about the project and its accompanying blog, and was eager to read the book. I was not disappointed.
The Perfect Score Project is about one year (2011) during which Stier, the mother of a then-high school sophomore, decided that in order to help her son prepare for the SAT, she would take the test all 7 times that it was offered and try every variety of test prep/study method/resource/tutor available to her, whether in person or online. She did it all: Princeton Review, Stanley Kaplan, Kumon, the College Board’s own materials, private tutors, message boards, Skype calls with other SAT-obsessed people across the country, study books, and online courses. Stier, who hadn’t taken the SAT seriously when she herself was in high school, dedicated herself completely to the effort. Each month, she tried a different study method, throwing herself into each new discipline or process with enthusiasm and unflagging energy.
There is a lot to like about The Perfect Score Project. Stier makes a huge amount of information manageable to follow and digest. She’s very organized: each chapter deals with a different component of the SAT (scoring methods, testing locations, etc.) or a study method. There are sections interjected throughout the text with bullets of important information and takeaways, like Essay Advice, SAT Grammar, Guessing, and Five Questions to Ask a Potential Tutor.
Stier is also a good storyteller. This topic could be dry or confusing, but Stier makes it clear, compelling, and even funny. As I mentioned, I am a reader of fiction. I rarely read nonfiction, and when I do, I often have trouble sticking with it. But with The Perfect Score Project, I was eager to get back to it. Stier manages to create suspense – will her scores improve over the course of the year? Does test prep actually work? Will her son get on board? – that kept me very interested.
I respect Stier as well for revealing so much about herself – her SAT scores (which are for many people a closely held secret), as well as her struggles with parenting her teenage children and the spectacularly bad summer that brought their issues to a head. She is unflinchingly honest in The Perfect Score Project, whether she’s talking about her poor math skills or her myopia when it came to getting her son motivated to study.
Finally, I learned a lot. I will definitely return to The Perfect Score Project when my daughters are ready to start studying. There is a lot of good information about how the test prep companies differ and the various tutoring styles available. Stier even spends a chapter on how to choose a testing location. (Hint: fancy private schools aren’t necessarily the way to go.)
The Perfect Score Project was a really fun, informative read.
I am a fiction girl who hasn’t taken a standardized test since the LSAT in 1991. My kids are too young for me to be worried about the SAT yet, which they won’t take for another 7 years. But when Debbie Stier’s The Perfect Score Project: Uncovering The Secrets of the SAT arrived in the mail, I knew I wanted to read it, right away. I had met Debbie at a conference a few years ago and learned about the project and its accompanying blog, and was eager to read the book. I was not disappointed.
The Perfect Score Project is about one year (2011) during which Stier, the mother of a then-high school sophomore, decided that in order to help her son prepare for the SAT, she would take the test all 7 times that it was offered and try every variety of test prep/study method/resource/tutor available to her, whether in person or online. She did it all: Princeton Review, Stanley Kaplan, Kumon, the College Board’s own materials, private tutors, message boards, Skype calls with other SAT-obsessed people across the country, study books, and online courses. Stier, who hadn’t taken the SAT seriously when she herself was in high school, dedicated herself completely to the effort. Each month, she tried a different study method, throwing herself into each new discipline or process with enthusiasm and unflagging energy.
There is a lot to like about The Perfect Score Project. Stier makes a huge amount of information manageable to follow and digest. She’s very organized: each chapter deals with a different component of the SAT (scoring methods, testing locations, etc.) or a study method. There are sections interjected throughout the text with bullets of important information and takeaways, like Essay Advice, SAT Grammar, Guessing, and Five Questions to Ask a Potential Tutor.
Stier is also a good storyteller. This topic could be dry or confusing, but Stier makes it clear, compelling, and even funny. As I mentioned, I am a reader of fiction. I rarely read nonfiction, and when I do, I often have trouble sticking with it. But with The Perfect Score Project, I was eager to get back to it. Stier manages to create suspense – will her scores improve over the course of the year? Does test prep actually work? Will her son get on board? – that kept me very interested.
I respect Stier as well for revealing so much about herself – her SAT scores (which are for many people a closely held secret), as well as her struggles with parenting her teenage children and the spectacularly bad summer that brought their issues to a head. She is unflinchingly honest in The Perfect Score Project, whether she’s talking about her poor math skills or her myopia when it came to getting her son motivated to study.
Finally, I learned a lot. I will definitely return to The Perfect Score Project when my daughters are ready to start studying. There is a lot of good information about how the test prep companies differ and the various tutoring styles available. Stier even spends a chapter on how to choose a testing location. (Hint: fancy private schools aren’t necessarily the way to go.)
The Perfect Score Project was a really fun, informative read.
May 12, 2017
"The Perfect Score Project: One Mother's Journey to Uncover the Secrets of the SAT" was written by Debbie Stier, and I think she and I could be friends in real life. We're the same age, and we are both overachievers who jump into things with gusto. Inspired by wanting to help her ADHD son with the SAT, Debbie began a project in which she took the well-known college entrance test seven times in a single year, in addition to testing out several test-prep methods.
I found this book fascinating -- it's full of all kinds of tidbits about what kind of info the SAT tests, and what it doesn't. Lots of facts about the history of the test. A few things I marked -- analogies are no longer part of the SAT. I remember answering so many analogies on standardized tests when I was a teen (one test to enter grad school was exclusively analogies). I really enjoyed those, and am wondering why they were dropped. Also, originally the SAT stood for Scholastic Aptitude Test, and was thought to be more of an IQ test than a test of what one had learned. The A no longer stands for Aptitude though, and that's a reason why prep for the test has grown so much. Indeed, when I took the test in '82, I don't remember anyone taking the test multiple times or studying for it. Ya know, why study for something that tests your intelligence?
And interestingly enough, even after all Debbie's test prep, her scores overall improved very little on the test. When my oldest took the SAT, she took it just once without any test prep, and reading this book makes me feel better about that decision. It seems, in fact, that taking the test twice seems to produce as much score improvement as does buying some type of test prep.
I have to say that Debbie's son (and daughter too) seem like the perfect teens. They both overall seem to embrace their mom's commitment to the SAT, and her son willingly does the hours of test prep she lines up for him. At one point, he looks up from studying and says to her, "You're the best SAT mom in the whole world." He seemingly eagerly discussed various SAT questions with his mom, etc. I think my kids would have killed me if I'd tried all that she did!
Very interesting book overall, for anyone with teens or for anyone who has taught, or for anyone who enjoys the minutiae of standardized tests.
I found this book fascinating -- it's full of all kinds of tidbits about what kind of info the SAT tests, and what it doesn't. Lots of facts about the history of the test. A few things I marked -- analogies are no longer part of the SAT. I remember answering so many analogies on standardized tests when I was a teen (one test to enter grad school was exclusively analogies). I really enjoyed those, and am wondering why they were dropped. Also, originally the SAT stood for Scholastic Aptitude Test, and was thought to be more of an IQ test than a test of what one had learned. The A no longer stands for Aptitude though, and that's a reason why prep for the test has grown so much. Indeed, when I took the test in '82, I don't remember anyone taking the test multiple times or studying for it. Ya know, why study for something that tests your intelligence?
And interestingly enough, even after all Debbie's test prep, her scores overall improved very little on the test. When my oldest took the SAT, she took it just once without any test prep, and reading this book makes me feel better about that decision. It seems, in fact, that taking the test twice seems to produce as much score improvement as does buying some type of test prep.
I have to say that Debbie's son (and daughter too) seem like the perfect teens. They both overall seem to embrace their mom's commitment to the SAT, and her son willingly does the hours of test prep she lines up for him. At one point, he looks up from studying and says to her, "You're the best SAT mom in the whole world." He seemingly eagerly discussed various SAT questions with his mom, etc. I think my kids would have killed me if I'd tried all that she did!
Very interesting book overall, for anyone with teens or for anyone who has taught, or for anyone who enjoys the minutiae of standardized tests.
March 3, 2014
Obviously this book will be of greatest interest to parents and students with the SAT in their future. For them, it is indispensable.
Hoping to inspire her underachieving son to take preparing for the SAT seriously, a mother faced the challenge seven times over the course of a year. In the process she experimented with several prep programs, books, and tutors. She generously sprinkles the book with suggestions with what works and what doesn't in the high-stakes scramble for achieving the highest scores, important in the hyper-competitive race for entrance to decent colleges and, more importantly, increasing access to financial aid. Her aim was a perfect score of 2400. She didn't come close in spite of obsessive efforts, but she did improve her total by an amazing 330 points, impressive by any measurement.
Some quick take aways: If the kid starts preparing for the test in her junior year, it's already too late--the best time to start is after your precious bundle is born, or at least no later than the beginning of her sophomore year; most of the test preparation schools are a waste of money; take the test numerous times, not just a couple, and analyze the mistakes each time so as to avoid them the next test; use a calculator on every math problem to decrease the chance of calculation errors, and make sure it's a calculator that the student is completely familiar with; managing time during the test is one of the most important skills a student must learn; the best of the preparation books is the one from the College Board; practice the test, practice the test, practice the test, and review each mistake carefully; there are about 1500 vocabulary words that frequently appear on the test: memorize them.
These hints don't come close to illustrating the broad scope of advice Stier offers.
How did her son do? Once he finally started taking school seriously--almost too late to affect his GPA positively--and preparing for the SAT, he ended up doing well enough to be offered thousands of dollars in merit aid to attend the University of Vermont. Not bad, and worth the extra effort.
As for the rest of us, good luck.
Hoping to inspire her underachieving son to take preparing for the SAT seriously, a mother faced the challenge seven times over the course of a year. In the process she experimented with several prep programs, books, and tutors. She generously sprinkles the book with suggestions with what works and what doesn't in the high-stakes scramble for achieving the highest scores, important in the hyper-competitive race for entrance to decent colleges and, more importantly, increasing access to financial aid. Her aim was a perfect score of 2400. She didn't come close in spite of obsessive efforts, but she did improve her total by an amazing 330 points, impressive by any measurement.
Some quick take aways: If the kid starts preparing for the test in her junior year, it's already too late--the best time to start is after your precious bundle is born, or at least no later than the beginning of her sophomore year; most of the test preparation schools are a waste of money; take the test numerous times, not just a couple, and analyze the mistakes each time so as to avoid them the next test; use a calculator on every math problem to decrease the chance of calculation errors, and make sure it's a calculator that the student is completely familiar with; managing time during the test is one of the most important skills a student must learn; the best of the preparation books is the one from the College Board; practice the test, practice the test, practice the test, and review each mistake carefully; there are about 1500 vocabulary words that frequently appear on the test: memorize them.
These hints don't come close to illustrating the broad scope of advice Stier offers.
How did her son do? Once he finally started taking school seriously--almost too late to affect his GPA positively--and preparing for the SAT, he ended up doing well enough to be offered thousands of dollars in merit aid to attend the University of Vermont. Not bad, and worth the extra effort.
As for the rest of us, good luck.
August 4, 2016
What a fun book! No, seriously. I read this book for the sheer enjoyment of it after seeing an article the author had written in The Atlantic, titled I Took the SAT 7 Times to Help My Son Get Into College. When I saw the article, I knew I had to read the book. A quick search at my library and I was shocked to discover there didn't seem to be all that much reader interest. That's a shame as the book is less about how to score high at the SAT than it is about going on a quest. I also think the book is less about her trying to help her son than it was just a passionate pursuit on her part (though she clearly was motivated to help her son).
The reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because I thought she dwelt on the early part of her quest and discussed the later portion of her year long journey substantially less. Additionally, the side story about the relationship with her kids seemed like a languid effort, almost pedestrian. Had she nailed that portion of the story, I would have given it five stars.
As you might expect, the book contains a lot of suggestions and tips to improve at the SAT. If the subtitle doesn't expose the publisher's aim, my guess is they believe people interested in higher scores are the main demographic. I personally think that's a shallow view to take, which is not to say they ought not to include those tips, only that the tips do distract from the main story. Perhaps the book would have been stronger if the tips were more clustered into a special appendix.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in education, improving grades or test scores, and the pursuit of excellence.
The reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because I thought she dwelt on the early part of her quest and discussed the later portion of her year long journey substantially less. Additionally, the side story about the relationship with her kids seemed like a languid effort, almost pedestrian. Had she nailed that portion of the story, I would have given it five stars.
As you might expect, the book contains a lot of suggestions and tips to improve at the SAT. If the subtitle doesn't expose the publisher's aim, my guess is they believe people interested in higher scores are the main demographic. I personally think that's a shallow view to take, which is not to say they ought not to include those tips, only that the tips do distract from the main story. Perhaps the book would have been stronger if the tips were more clustered into a special appendix.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in education, improving grades or test scores, and the pursuit of excellence.
March 17, 2014
Wow. This book was a lot of fun, made me feel less crazy, and gave me really interesting tips I wish I'd known before my two oldest took the SAT! (My third won't need the most important tips--the essay ones--as the SAT essay will be dead before he takes the test.) Debbie Stier got a little bit obsessed in her quest to motivate her son to study for the SAT, taking the test SEVEN times herself and researching and trying out various preparation methods over the course of a year. At one time, her two kids got so frustrated they moved out. :-) But eventually order was restored, the author improved her test scores, her son studied and did well--and now, interestingly, the book jacket says she is homeschooling her second child. This has a lot of info on the ins and outs of the test, and indepth experiences with Kaplan courses, Kumon, other prep methods. Very interesting. One of the most interesting tidbits is that a friend of the author, who has published books, and whose BOOKS have been used as reading material for the SAT critical reading portions of the test, herself got only a 10 on the essay. AS it turns out, you really can nail the essay--you just have to make it LONG, full of difficult words, and historical and literary examples. You don't have to have your facts RIGHT, use the words correctly, or make sense. Just long, full of big words and examples. Ta-da, big score. Yeesh, I'm glad the essay is a dead duck. I had a feeling it couldn't possibly measure any kind of writing quality that really counts in college or in life, but I had no idea it was so--arbitrary. Anyway. Fascinating read. Makes me wonder what I'd get on the test today. No, I'm not taking it 7 times. But I just may reread this when it's time for third son to test.
February 9, 2014
Actual Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
I was intrigued by this book, being a teen myself. After much consideration, I decided not to take the ACT or SAT myself, and instead decided to go the Home School-College USA route to plot my degree path(I'm planning on a BA in Early Childhood Education). I did, however, use some online SAT study courses to supplement some of my classes and did my research on the test itself when still considering my options. So I know exactly where Debbie is coming from in being so overwhelmed. She just wants what's best for son and knows that a good score on the SAT can really open some doors. So, in that state of mind, Debbie set out to find which resources are truly the best(I feel it depends on the person) in terms of preparing for the SAT. Along the way, she herself took the test multiple times at multiple different locations all while testing every study material she could get her hands on.
Overall, I found this book to be a pretty good read. The thing I liked best, I think, was how honest it read. If I was preparing to take the SAT, this would be a book that I'd be happy to have in my arsenal. So, in that aspect I recommend The Perfect Score Project. I also recommend to those who love a good memoir-type book in general as this read really well and had a nice flow. I think the journey Debbie went on was very admirable and I found it amazing the lengths she went to help her child have the best future possible, despite the naysayers of her project. If Debbie were to release another book, I believe I would be happy to read it!
*I received this book for review via the Blogging For Books program, but this in no way affected my review or opinion.*
I was intrigued by this book, being a teen myself. After much consideration, I decided not to take the ACT or SAT myself, and instead decided to go the Home School-College USA route to plot my degree path(I'm planning on a BA in Early Childhood Education). I did, however, use some online SAT study courses to supplement some of my classes and did my research on the test itself when still considering my options. So I know exactly where Debbie is coming from in being so overwhelmed. She just wants what's best for son and knows that a good score on the SAT can really open some doors. So, in that state of mind, Debbie set out to find which resources are truly the best(I feel it depends on the person) in terms of preparing for the SAT. Along the way, she herself took the test multiple times at multiple different locations all while testing every study material she could get her hands on.
Overall, I found this book to be a pretty good read. The thing I liked best, I think, was how honest it read. If I was preparing to take the SAT, this would be a book that I'd be happy to have in my arsenal. So, in that aspect I recommend The Perfect Score Project. I also recommend to those who love a good memoir-type book in general as this read really well and had a nice flow. I think the journey Debbie went on was very admirable and I found it amazing the lengths she went to help her child have the best future possible, despite the naysayers of her project. If Debbie were to release another book, I believe I would be happy to read it!
*I received this book for review via the Blogging For Books program, but this in no way affected my review or opinion.*
October 22, 2014
I had hoped to delay reviewing this title till my own high school senior had taken the SAT, but we just realized that it will be a really long time before she gets tested & the scores are back, so I am forced into a straight-forward review.
I really appreciated both the nuggets of information contained here and the readable, personal manner in which it was all presented. Stier has a knack for writing. I hope she continues to publish more work.
Since I taught teenagers language arts and history till my recent retirement and supervised 3 of my own (older) kids' entry into college, along with assisting other family members, I am considered my family's go-to person for college prep. I look over essays before they get sent in and make suggestions. So I wasn't really a novice at any of this.
However, I had never scrutinized the SAT carefully before. My own kids were kind of cut and dried; I had two drop-dead geniuses who were going to score really high without my help, which they did, and one more that was so ambition-free that it was clear he'd be starting at a community college, no matter what I did. My last chickie out of of the nest is the first borderline kid I have had, a bright young lady who sometimes needs a hint before she sees a question the same way an examiner is likely to see it.
This is where Stier's book comes in handy. She has repeatedly taken this test herself and done an A+ job of researching it from every conceivable angle possible without actually breaking the law.
If anyone in your family is likely to take this test within the coming year or so, consider buying this book. It would also make an awesome Christmas gift!
I really appreciated both the nuggets of information contained here and the readable, personal manner in which it was all presented. Stier has a knack for writing. I hope she continues to publish more work.
Since I taught teenagers language arts and history till my recent retirement and supervised 3 of my own (older) kids' entry into college, along with assisting other family members, I am considered my family's go-to person for college prep. I look over essays before they get sent in and make suggestions. So I wasn't really a novice at any of this.
However, I had never scrutinized the SAT carefully before. My own kids were kind of cut and dried; I had two drop-dead geniuses who were going to score really high without my help, which they did, and one more that was so ambition-free that it was clear he'd be starting at a community college, no matter what I did. My last chickie out of of the nest is the first borderline kid I have had, a bright young lady who sometimes needs a hint before she sees a question the same way an examiner is likely to see it.
This is where Stier's book comes in handy. She has repeatedly taken this test herself and done an A+ job of researching it from every conceivable angle possible without actually breaking the law.
If anyone in your family is likely to take this test within the coming year or so, consider buying this book. It would also make an awesome Christmas gift!
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