What is the best SAT prep book? As one of the most challenging tests taken by U.S. students transitioning from high school to university/college, the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) assesses one’s reading, writing, and mathematics skills.
Preparing for the SAT requires strategy, discipline and determination. A major advantage you can give yourself during the process is to practice with the best SAT prep book.
But which prep book is the best? You’ve heard of the college board SAT prep book, the Kaplan SAT prep book and more, and you’re wondering which to use. Well, you’ll find out soon enough!
Today, we’ll be exploring the best SAT prep books 2025, and how you can get them!
Table of Contents
What is the Best SAT Prep Book for 2025?
The best SAT prep book is the official College Board SAT Study Guide. This guide was written by the SAT college board, making it the most authentic and reliable study material available.
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Imagine if you could peep into a real SAT exam to see what the questions look like. This is what the Official SAT Study Guide offers—real questions created by the actual College Board. It also includes detailed answers and an in-depth guide on key SAT strategies.
The Official SAT Study Guide is more of a practice workbook than a teaching material; thus, it is advisable to pair it with another material that provides further insight into each subject. Students often use it to practice what they’ve studied and give themselves an actual feel of the exam.
The College Board SAT prep book is available on Amazon for $21.83. You can also download the Official Digital SAT Study Guide on the College Board’s website for free.
Aside from the College Board SAT prep book, there are other learning materials that students have also considered useful and reliable in preparing for the SATs. So in the next section, we’ll explore some of the best SAT prep books in 2025.
The Best SAT Prep Books in 2025
From the Kaplan SAT prep book to the College board SAT prep book and more, there are quite a number of resources on the market for SAT candidates.
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But you don’t have to use them all, or else you might confuse yourself with too much information. So in this section, we’ll uncover the best of the best SAT prep books on the market, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses so you can select the one that better aligns with your reading style and SAT goals.
Best SAT Prep Books 2025: Princeton Review SAT Premium Prep
The Princeton Review SAT Premium Prep is a comprehensive study guide that offers a mix of strategic insights and practice tests. It includes 9 practice tests both in the book and online, along with detailed answer explanations.
Strengths
- Covers all sections of the SAT
- Includes mock tests, giving students an opportunity to practice and time themselves
- Explanations are easy to follow, making it beginner-friendly.
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Weaknesses
- Practice tests are slightly easier than the real SAT.
- Strategies provided are more beginner-friendly, which may not be effective for candidates aiming to score 1500+.
- Voluminous book, about 900 pages, which can feel intimidating to some students.
Best SAT Prep Books 2025: SAT Prep Black Book, Third Edition
Available on: Amazon
The SAT Prep Black Book is almost as good as the College Board SAT prep book. It stands out because it always explains the reasoning behind the SAT questions and teaches students how to approach them strategically.
Strengths
- Offers unique insights into how the SAT works
- Motivates students to think outside the box
- Highly practical, relying on effective strategies rather than tips and tricks.
Weaknesses
- Doesn’t include practice tests—you can pair it with another material that offers mock tests, preferably the official SAT study guide by the College board.
- Dense writing style, which some students may find hard to follow
- Not ideal for students who need to learn foundational topics before diving deeper with books like this.
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What is the Best SAT Prep Book—is the Kaplan SAT Prep Book Good?
The Kaplan SAT Prep Plus is one of the most widely known resources for the SAT, designed to gradually help students build skills in SAT subjects. It’s also one of the most affordable SAT prep books on the market. But the question is, is it worth the buy?
People often refer to the Kaplan SAT Prep Plus as a mid-level book, suitable for candidates who want to study lightly and aren’t aiming for high scores. The insights are basic and beginner-friendly, making it less useful for students aiming for a perfect SAT score.
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According to a user’s review, practice questions in the Kaplan SAT prep book are ill-phrased and do not reflect how the actual SAT questions are set.
You might also find a few erroneous answers in the Kaplan SAT prep book, but it provides strong insights in Math and grammar.
If you still wish to have Kaplan’s SAT Prep Plus, you can purchase it on Ubuy and Amazon for affordable rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Best Way to Prepare for the SAT?
The best way to prepare for the SAT is to study using solid materials such as the Princeton Review SAT Prep, and the SAT Prep black Book Third Edition. It’s also important to take mock tests, preferably using the official College Board SAT Prep Book.
Which SAT Practice Test is Most Accurate?
The most accurate SAT practice test is the official College Board SAT Prep Book.
What SAT Score is Required for Harvard?
To gain admission into Harvard University, you need an SAT score between 1550 and 1600. Learn more in our article, What is a Good SAT Score for the Ivy League?
The Conclusion—What is the Best SAT Prep Book?
We’ve seen it all. From the college board’s official SAT study guide to the Princeton Review SAT Premium Prep, Kaplan’s SAT Prep Plus and more, the practice materials for the SAT are numerous.
The answer to the question, “What is the best SAT prep book?” would now depend on your studying style, preferences, and goals for the SATs. We’ve outlined the pros and cons of each prep book—now it’s up to you to determine which ones you’d rather study with. Our advice is a minimum of two prep books and a maximum of three to avoid an overload of information.
We also advise candidates to use the College Board SAT prep, alongside one or two other materials. Because, as we earlier noted, the official SAT Study Guide by the College Board is a reflection of the actual SAT, thereby giving you foreknowledge of what the test will look like. If it strikes your interest, you can read our guide on how many times you can take the SAT. Good luck with the test! Stay connected to this blog for more updates and guides.
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References
- www.blog.prepscholar.com – Best SAT Prep Books 2025
- www.testprepinsight.com – Best SAT Prep Books
