SUBJECT: 4.5/5 RELEVANCE: 4/5 RESEARCH: 4/5 OVERALL: 4/5
My musing
I haven’t read an academic-oriented book in a long time. Thus, acclimatizing myself to pick this one up took me a while. For one, I didn’t know what to expect. Second, I wasn’t sure if I was qualified to talk about it. Popular American culture has always had me intrigued about SATs and their significance in the American college system. And since the book has been written for parents too, even if they don’t have that level of subject knowledge, I decided to go ahead and give it a read.
In the following paragraphs, I talk about my experience of reading the book.
What to expect?
Expect a book meant for teachers, parents, and students writing the SAT and ACT math tests. Expect a book that will help one understand the test better. Finally, expect a book that elaborates upon the strategies and tactics that work well in these tests.
Who can read?
The language of the book is simple, and the sections are concise. Anyone with a basic knowledge of math can give it a read.
Who is the book aimed at?
MATH GOLD TPE is a book meant for students, parents, and teachers in America. As the SAT and ACT are conducted in America, this book would be useful for students appearing for these tests and for parents and teachers of such candidates.
Spelled out objectives
When it comes to non-fiction, particularly non-fiction self-help, I like it when the author is very clear about the specific objectives that he wants to achieve and exactly how the book intends to help the reader. This is especially true in the case of MATH GOLD TPE, where the author lists out the many objectives that the book aims for. Some of these I have summarized below.
Who is the book meant for, how is it meant for them, and how will it be useful?
What topics/sections do the book cover, and where and how additional reading material can be found?
How to use the book to maximum advantage?
What makes the book stand out?
One thing that makes this book stand out is the way it appeals to parents. The author explains how every parent has a crucial role to play in their child’s success in the tests. It doesn’t matter if the parents are not very good at math themselves. As long as they take a keen interest in their children’s education, and can monitor their progress, they will be able to lend considerable support.
MATH GOLD TPE intends to provide parents with useful strategies and valuable tactics to guide their children through the tests. It also intends to enable teachers to guide their students in their high school math while also enabling them to maximize their SAT and ACT math scores.
The author speaks from personal experience
Almost everything covered in the book comes from experience. The in-depth subject knowledge and the helpful tactics and strategies are results of eleven years of actual teaching experience. In addition to that, the author also has another eight years of experience as an elite math private tutor, during which he had taught more than 700 students.
Thus, it is with the help of such experience that he can provide deep insights into the tests. These are insights that go much beyond what is provided in general guidebooks. This is because MATH GOLD TPE, in addition to talking about the key concepts, also talks about the structure of the tests, giving key insights about topics that appear frequently, topics that are not so essential, and strategies to maximize score in a limited frame of time.
What works and what doesn’t?
The author also debunks some commonly held notions and highlights the positives and negatives of using different shortcut tricks. There is also a separate section dedicated to time management skills that go a long way in assuring the success of the candidate.
Special emphasis on the changed pattern
The book points the major differences between the old and the new SAT format which was introduced in the year 2016. It highlights how the SAT has changed compared to its older version and where the new focus areas lie.
Topics briefly covered
The author covers most of the topics, in brief, stressing only the most important and key concepts. These include algebra, plane geometry, coordinate and solid geometry, arithmetic, precalculus, trigonometry, and many others. The author avoids giving detailed explanations and elaborate examples. Instead, he focuses on only the most crucial concepts.
A multi-purpose book
Another thing that I like about the book is that it serves both as an intro to the test as well as a recap. It is not a substitute for other course books and practice books, but it will complement other study material.
Some classic tips
The book also mentions the classic and evergreen exam tips that apply to other tests as well. These include reading the questions carefully, focusing on seeking simple solutions first, not overcomplicating solutions, always aiming to simplify, etc.
In the end
In the end, MATH GOLD PTE is a book that serves as a complementary guide to teachers, students, as well as students for their preparations for the SATs and ACTs. Written in a crisp, concise, and simple manner, the book includes both subject knowledge as well as practical tips, tactics, strategies, and suggestions.
Pick the book if
- If you are the parent or teacher of a student who is appearing for the SAT or ACT.
Skip the book if
- If you are neither a student nor the parent or teacher of a student who is appearing for the SAT or ACT.
Can’t wait to read it? Buy your copy of MATH GOLD TPE using the link below.
