The SAT is not a perfect test. And to compound the pain, SAT test prep companies charge huge amounts of money to teach you “secret tricks” of test taking that are really not much more than critical-thinking skills. But if you want to prepare for the SAT, what else can you do but take a course?

SparkNotes Test Prep gives you another alternative. Unlike the books produced by test prep companies that are designed to hook you into their expensive courses, we want to teach you the skills that will enable you to avoid the courses. This guide will teach you the critical-thinking techniques you need to help you figure out how to attack and beat the test. At the same time, it will also providing in-depth discussion of all the different sorts of skills and knowledge that the SAT tests. We’ve also included three full-length diagnostic SAT tests and explains the study methods that will let you use those tests to pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses as well as any course could do.