PWN the SAT: Math Guide Paperback – March 12, 2014

Mike McClenathan's PWN the SAT is the best investment you can make towards improving your SAT mathematics score. I took a Princeton Review Ultimate Course back in the summer of 2012 and, while the class helped me tremendously, the course ultimately (all pun intended) was a waste of money. I earned a 1770 the first time I took the SAT (CR:620 M:550 W:600) and was completely heart broken. It was devastating to me as an AP and honor student that I could achieve such a low score. I quickly realized, however, I am not immune to doing mediocrely on the SAT, and if I really wanted to get the results I desired, I was going to have to focus all my efforts on bettering my score. Taking another class was not an option, my mother didn't have another $1200 lying around to pay for a second class, so I had to self-study.I searched and searched many forums and came across Mike's PWN the SAT. At first, I was skeptical about studying on my own for the SAT. I didn't think it was impossible to improve my score, but I knew that I would have to put in a lot of work to bring my score up. I waited until school was over to start studying intensely. I have put in about 4 hours a day for the past 5 weeks and couldn't be happier with my current scores. Upon completion of PWN THE SAT, my projected math score is currently 700. (I've taken 3 previously administered tests from the Blue Book, the PSAT, and another two tests that were a motley of questions compiled from previous years' tests). I could not be happier! PWN the SAT (as well as other studying sources) helped me bring my SAT score all the way up from a 1770 to a (drum roll please) projected 2100!If you're looking for a great book with thorough, concise, and lucid explanations, BUY THIS BOOK! This is a self-studier's MUST HAVE! This is best $30 (I think? The price for a new copy looks to have gone up tremendously) I have ever spent. Mike takes a conversational approach and really tries to connect with the reader on a personal level. From cover to cover, I laughed, cried, squealed, and cried some more. At the end of it all I couldn't believe how easy the math was. I have never struggled with math, it is by far one of my best subjects in school. But through Mike and all his infinite, goofy wisdom, I learned the SAT is not a math test and treating it like so is like bringing a knife to a gun fight -- unless you're a ninja, you'll always lose.If you are looking for the "it" book, this book is IT. Mike mixes in many words commonly found on the SAT, makes you feel like a champ, and includes a section in the back of the book that categorizes the questions in the Blue Book according to each chapter in his book. Buying the Blue Book to do practice problems in will definitely aid you in your journey to doing better.  The Official SAT Study Guide, 2nd edition Just a side note: I had no clue a second edition came out.  PWN the SAT: Math Guide by McClenathan, Mike 2nd (second) Edition (1/4/2013)  I may or may not buy it depending on whether or not the content varies greatly from this edition. I'm confident that version is just as good as this version. So please, if you really want to do well on the SAT, buy this book. I'm not promoting PWN the SAT for any other reason other than that is awesome (I'm a verified buyer). I'm looking forward to the October 2013 SAT and am confident I can knock the math section out of the park. I implore you, even if you did not as well as you would have liked on the SAT the first time, this book will definitely help you pwn the SAT the second time. (See what I did there?)

I am a tutor in Central NJ and an adjunct math instructor at a local college. I have reviewed most of the study guides out there and this one wins -- although Philip Keller's The New Math SAT Game Plan is a close second. Both of these books really get into the mindset of what is required to do well on SAT math, but Mike's book is a little meatier. If I had a student who contacted me late for prep, I'd go with Keller's book since it is more streamlined, but otherwise for the student who is allowing adequate prep time I'd go with Mike's book.I was skeptical to purchase and inspect Mike's book with "Pwn" in the title, but with all of the glowing recommendations I decided to give it a try. I'm in my 50s and had to google the meaning of "pwn." Apparently, it means to own or dominate used predominantly in the vernacular of video gamers; it seems Mike is a gamer himself, but brings a lot more to the table. Notwithstanding the colloquialism used in the title, this is a serious book that is written to and for a teen looking to optimize his or her performance on SAT Math.Mike is an extremely intelligent individual whose book reflects his 2400 score. He knows his stuff inside and out and understands the roadblocks that prevent students from doing their best. Not everyone is a 700+ scorer, but everyone can and should get the score that accurately reflects his or her best test taking on the big day. More importantly, he writes in a casual,lively, entertaining tone. It is easy to see that he genuinely cares for his audience. It makes more sense to use an SAT book written by someone with the personal credentials to write it rather than the "written by committee" textbooks of the national prep companies. It really is a hidden gem. Amazon gets two thumbs up for selling these types of specialty books that most likely would not be given shelf space at Barnes and Noble to compete against McGraw Hill, Barron's, Kaplan, Princeton Review, and all of the other publishers that have the publishing clout to get shelf space. Sometimes the most popular isn't the best. McDonald's overall revenues exceeds that of Peter Luger steak house, the best steakhouse in NYC, but it doesn't mean you get a better meal there. Mike's book is the Peter Luger of SAT math texts.Great job Mike!