Talk to an advisor (9 AM-9 PM EST): 866-442-6062

Talk to an advisor (9 AM-9 PM EST): 866-925-2803

"Stop studying so hard, Dum-Dum." This is how author Eliot Schrefer, of Hack the SAT: A Private Tutor Spills the Secret Strategies and Sneaky Shortcuts That Can Raise Your Score Hundreds of Points, decides to open up his new prep book. Talk about a way to grab someone's attention!

Hack the SAT is not your average SAT book. A typical  

SAT prep

  book causes a student to feel like there is so much more material to be learned, while really they've learned all they need. Hack the SAT does not instill the idea that there is so much left to cram.

Along with a short practice drill, the book covers strategies and shortcuts on how to do well and not stress over the test. Hack the SAT was written for those who cannot afford a private tutor, and who without this book would never learn the secret tips provided to wealthier students. As a former private tutor for Manhattan's most elite, Schrefer knows how costly a tutor can be.

If you perceive the SAT as more of a game than a test, then this book is definitely for you. To do extremely well, you'll need to "hack" your way into the SAT's system. One of Schrefer's main points is that the SAT should not be taken so seriously. These tests produce anxiety and frustration in almost all college-bound students, but with a little help from this unique SAT prep book, you no longer have to feel the extra amount of stress.

Hack the SAT is like having your own little bag of tricks. At the bottom corner of every page are vocabulary words found most frequently on the SAT. For additional verbal practice, the back of the book includes a glossary. The author claims that Vanity Fair is also a good choice of reading to increase vocabulary. Each chapter of the book includes sections with real SAT example questions. Grammar rules and tips are provided to assist with writing the essay portion of the SAT.

Eliot Schrefer includes several entertaining stories about situations he encountered as an SAT tutor. With witty comments and situation stories throughout the book, reading Hack the SAT becomes not only informative, but an enjoyable read. Eliot Schrefer also manages to make the SAT feel less overwhelming. Every part is broken down and explained thoroughly in each of the book's chapters.

Schrefer is able to ease students' minds by proving that with guidance, advice, and valuable study tips, the SAT can be beat. One of the most appealing parts of the book are the "Easy Tear-out Study Schedules," which serves as a guide for what you need to do depending on when you begin your SAT-prepping journey.

Hack the SAT will be released on July 17, 2008 through Gotham Books and will be available in both print and e-book form. Eliot Schrefer is the author of Glamorous Disasters and The New Kid. He is also a USA Today contributor.


Priscilla Rodriguez is an editorial intern at The CollegeBound Network.

Sound Off! Post Your Comments