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3rd Edition, The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar
The third edition of The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar provides comprehensive coverage of all the grammar and rhetoric tested on the redesigned SAT multiple choice Writing section. Dozens of exercises help students move from studying concepts individually to applying their skills in a passage-based context. Includes complete indices of College Board/Khan Academy questions, arranged both by category and by test.
This book is intended to be used in conjunction with the Official College Board Guide, 3rd Ed. and with the Ultimate Guide to SAT(R) Grammar Workbook, 3rd Ed. (http: //www.amazon.com/Edition-Ultimate-Gramm...).
Errata
p. 63, Last paragraph before the sample question should read, "As a result, incorrect answers to register questions will typically be either too casual and slangy or excessively formal, whereas correct answers will be somewhere in the middle."
p. 56, question 5.3: answers should read as follows:
A) NO CHANGE
B) unnaturally,
C) unnaturally and
D) DELETE the underlined portion.
p. 88, question 5.1: A
p. 119, question 3.2: A
p. 120, question 4.2, answers should read as follows:
A) NO CHANGE (himself, but the first manufacturers who inspected them, )
B) himself, but the first manufacturers, who inspected them,
C) himself, but the first manufacturers, who inspected them
D) himself; however, the first manufacturers who inspected them
p. 156, question 10.1, answers should read as follows:
A) NO CHANGE
B) groups' members
C) groups, members
D) groups members,
This book is intended to be used in conjunction with the Official College Board Guide, 3rd Ed. and with the Ultimate Guide to SAT(R) Grammar Workbook, 3rd Ed. (http: //www.amazon.com/Edition-Ultimate-Gramm...).
Errata
p. 63, Last paragraph before the sample question should read, "As a result, incorrect answers to register questions will typically be either too casual and slangy or excessively formal, whereas correct answers will be somewhere in the middle."
p. 56, question 5.3: answers should read as follows:
A) NO CHANGE
B) unnaturally,
C) unnaturally and
D) DELETE the underlined portion.
p. 88, question 5.1: A
p. 119, question 3.2: A
p. 120, question 4.2, answers should read as follows:
A) NO CHANGE (himself, but the first manufacturers who inspected them, )
B) himself, but the first manufacturers, who inspected them,
C) himself, but the first manufacturers, who inspected them
D) himself; however, the first manufacturers who inspected them
p. 156, question 10.1, answers should read as follows:
A) NO CHANGE
B) groups' members
C) groups, members
D) groups members,
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 2011
19 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 22, 2020
It’s an SAT book... What did I expect (don’t get me wrong it’s good, but I would rather have spend my time doing something that isn’t SAT related)
December 8, 2013
I recommend to look though this book, it provides good examples. However, it can't boost up your score much
November 2, 2017
The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar (4th Edition) by Erica L. Meltzer
This is a revised, updated, and expanded version of the popular study guide that was released last year for the new SAT. If you already have the 3rd edition, it probably isn't necessary to buy the 4th; however, if you are looking to buy a study guide to help you with the SAT, definitely pick up this version as it has the most up to date information on the SAT.
As I mentioned in my review of the 3rd edition of the book, the SAT's Writing & Language section leans heavily on Style. That is, you need to be able to differentiate between 2 (or more) grammatically correct choices to find the one that is better (or best) stylistically. This can be challenging for students who have only focused on grammar in their lessons.
Just like Meltzer's Critical Reader, this book is most beneficial if you have some time to work through it methodically. Take your time, read the explanations of the types of errors tested and do the practice questions after you feel you understand the specifics. The questions are very consistent with the College Board's questions and will help you identify the patterns to the types of errors tested.
This is a good book for most students to work through alone, but students whose first language is not English will find they need a tutor to explain some of the subtleties to usage and style.
Overall this is the best of the SAT prep books that focus on the Writing & Language section; however weaker students might want to start with College Panda's SAT Writing which is a little simple in its explanations.
One of the most effective aspects of the book is the breakdown of the 8 released SAT tests that list the question types, allowing students who have attempted these tests to identify any consistencies in their errors.
Just the Facts:
261 Pages
Targeted practice for the Writing & Language section only
No Complete Tests
Paper quality is excellent and will allow erasing mistakes and making notes
**There is a workbook to use with this guide, but I have not used it and am unable to comment on it
www.internationaltester.com
This is a revised, updated, and expanded version of the popular study guide that was released last year for the new SAT. If you already have the 3rd edition, it probably isn't necessary to buy the 4th; however, if you are looking to buy a study guide to help you with the SAT, definitely pick up this version as it has the most up to date information on the SAT.
As I mentioned in my review of the 3rd edition of the book, the SAT's Writing & Language section leans heavily on Style. That is, you need to be able to differentiate between 2 (or more) grammatically correct choices to find the one that is better (or best) stylistically. This can be challenging for students who have only focused on grammar in their lessons.
Just like Meltzer's Critical Reader, this book is most beneficial if you have some time to work through it methodically. Take your time, read the explanations of the types of errors tested and do the practice questions after you feel you understand the specifics. The questions are very consistent with the College Board's questions and will help you identify the patterns to the types of errors tested.
This is a good book for most students to work through alone, but students whose first language is not English will find they need a tutor to explain some of the subtleties to usage and style.
Overall this is the best of the SAT prep books that focus on the Writing & Language section; however weaker students might want to start with College Panda's SAT Writing which is a little simple in its explanations.
One of the most effective aspects of the book is the breakdown of the 8 released SAT tests that list the question types, allowing students who have attempted these tests to identify any consistencies in their errors.
Just the Facts:
261 Pages
Targeted practice for the Writing & Language section only
No Complete Tests
Paper quality is excellent and will allow erasing mistakes and making notes
**There is a workbook to use with this guide, but I have not used it and am unable to comment on it
www.internationaltester.com
September 18, 2018
Boringly and blatantly basic. Would only recommend to those who barely know English Grammar. But I wouldn't be confident that they can hold up because the writing style and tone surely test one's patience and focus. There are a few errors too. And wow, a guide without explanation to the exercises.
It's quite a letdown to me because this author's guide to reading was really good.
It's quite a letdown to me because this author's guide to reading was really good.
November 22, 2016
The Writing & Language portion of the SAT is different from the Grammar section of the old SAT in one important way. The Writing & Language section leans heavily on STYLE. Style is a tricky animal because it often depends on unspoken rules and context. When an author is described as being a "good" writer or more commonly a "bad" writer, frequently what is being criticized is the author's style. Fortunately, because the SAT is a standardized test, so to must be the stylistic conventions tested. But students still need to be told what those stylistic conventions are.
The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar elevates itself from other grammar books in that it dissects the types of questions the newest incarnation of the SAT tests. Ms. Meltzer is methodical in her analysis of the first 4 released SATs and uses that data to produce 18 lessons on concepts necessary to score well on the Writing & Language section. Additionally, she indexes the question type for each of the W&L questions to enable a test taker to understand what types of questions he/she struggles with. This is a useful tool for the students who want to attain a perfect score on this test.
The chapters are focused and clearly written (good style) and provide the reader with exercises to practice the concepts described. Many students use their "guts" for this section and rely on what "sounds" right, but this is a mistake because the rules of written English are much more exacting than spoken English, and The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar gives a thorough explanation of the rules and how to apply those rules.
Just the Facts:
252 Pages
Targeted Practice for the Writing & Language section only
No full tests
Paper Quality is excellent--you can write and erase several times without breaking through
www.internationaltester.com
The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar elevates itself from other grammar books in that it dissects the types of questions the newest incarnation of the SAT tests. Ms. Meltzer is methodical in her analysis of the first 4 released SATs and uses that data to produce 18 lessons on concepts necessary to score well on the Writing & Language section. Additionally, she indexes the question type for each of the W&L questions to enable a test taker to understand what types of questions he/she struggles with. This is a useful tool for the students who want to attain a perfect score on this test.
The chapters are focused and clearly written (good style) and provide the reader with exercises to practice the concepts described. Many students use their "guts" for this section and rely on what "sounds" right, but this is a mistake because the rules of written English are much more exacting than spoken English, and The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar gives a thorough explanation of the rules and how to apply those rules.
Just the Facts:
252 Pages
Targeted Practice for the Writing & Language section only
No full tests
Paper Quality is excellent--you can write and erase several times without breaking through
www.internationaltester.com
August 19, 2024
Perfect for non-native speakers who are really lost in the Grammar section of SAT, thanks Erica!
August 6, 2014
In those pages, Erica's managed to pack advice (and a dizzying number of example sentences) to cover every single grammar rule that could conceivably appear in an SAT writing section. She provides insight into how often certain error types appear. At times, she even provides insight into roughly where in the test certain error types are most likely to appear -- did you know faulty comparison errors are most likely to appear in question #27? She writes with an authority that only someone who has spent as much time analyzing the test as she has could possibly muster. In short, she knows everything you need to know to get an 800 on the SAT writing section, and she tells it to you. All of it. I don't think charger could find a question, in the Blue Book or in any recent QAS, that tests a concept that she hasn't covered.
April 1, 2013
I use this book as a tutor, in order to help my students recognize errors that are common on the SAT Writing (the multiple choice "proofreading" portion). The lessons are clear, and the practices give students a thorough opportunity to recognize (and correct) these errors in context.
While the errors are a bit more simple to identify in this format, the practice gives my students the skills to name the error (or potential error) in each SAT question and double-check it for correctness based on the rule. This is ESPECIALLY helpful, since the test is constructed so that most test-takers can't rely on their "ear" for language to identify errors!
The Ultimate Guide is one of the best tools I have when working with students on SAT prep!
While the errors are a bit more simple to identify in this format, the practice gives my students the skills to name the error (or potential error) in each SAT question and double-check it for correctness based on the rule. This is ESPECIALLY helpful, since the test is constructed so that most test-takers can't rely on their "ear" for language to identify errors!
The Ultimate Guide is one of the best tools I have when working with students on SAT prep!
January 28, 2014
Excellent resource for studenst that want to have a high score on the SAT and/or ACT!
August 7, 2015
Awesome guide!!! Just love it!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews