CHAPTER 1 Conquering the SAT with the College Hill™ Method 1
How to Improve Your SAT Scores Dramatically / 2
The College Hill™ Method for Conquering the SAT / 2
What Does the SAT Really Test? / 6
FAQs About the SAT / 9
The College Hill Coaching SAT Power Reading List / 12

CHAPTER 2 Diagnostic SAT 14
A Complete Diagnostic SAT to Assess Your Strengths and Weaknesses

CHAPTER 3 Building an Impressive Vocabulary 79
The College Hill Method for SAT Word Power / 80
The 2,000 Key SAT Words and 200 Key SAT Roots: Vocabulary Units 1–7

CHAPTER 4 Critical Reading Skills 167
Mapping What the SAT Critical Reading Is All About / 168
Analyzing the Purpose and Central Idea / 173
Finding Patterns in the Structure of the Passage / 178
Simplifying the Passage / 183
Connecting the Questions to the Passage / 188
Finding Alternatives in Attacking the Questions / 193
Thinking Logically About the Questions / 198
Checking That You’ve Nailed the Answer / 204

CHAPTER 5 Sentence Completion Skills 209
Verbal Inference / 210
The Four Logical Relationships / 214
Structural Keys / 218
Simplifying the Sentence / 222
Using Context Intelligently / 227
The Toughest Sentences / 231

CHAPTER 6 What the SAT Math Is Really Testing 235
Mapping Problems / 236
Analyzing Problems / 240
Finding Patterns / 244
Simplifying Problems / 248
Connecting to Knowledge / 252
Finding Alternatives / 256
Thinking Logically / 260
Checking Your Work / 264

CHAPTER 7 Essential Pre-Algebra Skills 269
Numbers and Operations / 270
Laws of Arithmetic / 274
Fractions / 278
Ratios and Proportions / 283
Percents / 287
Negatives / 291
Divisibility / 295

CHAPTER 8 Essential Algebra 1 Skills 299
Solving Equations / 300
Systems / 304
Working with Exponentials / 309
Working with Roots / 313
Factoring / 317
Inequalities, Absolute Values, and Plugging In / 322
Word Problems / 327

CHAPTER 9 Special Math Problems 332
New Symbol or Term Problems / 333
Mean/Median/Mode Problems / 337
Numerical Reasoning Problems / 342
Rate Problems / 346
Counting Problems / 350
Probability Problems / 354

CHAPTER 10 Essential Geometry Skills 358
Lines and Angles / 359
Triangles / 365
The Pythagorean Theorem / 371
Coordinate Geometry / 378
Areas and Perimeters / 382
Similar Figures / 389
Volumes and 3-D Geometry / 394
Circles / 400

CHAPTER 11 Essential Algebra 2 Skills 405
Sequences / 406
Functions / 412
Transformations / 416
Variation / 422
Data Analysis / 428
Negative and Fractional Exponents / 433

CHAPTER 12 Writing a Great Essay 437
Map the SAT Essay Assignment / 438
Analyze the Assignment Closely / 440
Brainstorm Your Alternatives Creatively / 442
Connect to Your Knowledge with “Source Summaries” / 444
Write a Strong and Creative Thesis / 446
Organize Your Thoughts / 448
Write Logically / 450
Write Clearly / 452
Write Concisely / 454
Write Forcefully / 456
Write Masterfully / 458
Finish with a Bang / 460

CHAPTER 13 Essay Writing Practice 464
20 Practice SAT Essay Assignments

CHAPTER 14 How to Attack SAT Writing Questions 497
Mapping: What Do the Writing Questions Want from You? / 498
Attacking “Improving Sentences” Questions / 499
Attacking “Error ID” Questions / 504
Attacking “Improving Paragraphs” Questions / 508

CHAPTER 15 Essential Grammar Skills 511
Subject-Verb Disagreement / 512
Trimming Sentences / 516
Parallelism / 520
Comparison Problems / 524
Pronoun-Antecedent Disagreement / 528
Pronoun Case / 532
Dangling and Misplaced Participles / 536
Other Misplaced Modifiers / 540
Tricky Tenses / 544
Idiom Errors / 548
Diction Errors / 552
Other Modifier Problems / 556
Irregular Verbs / 560
The Subjunctive Mood / 564
Coordinating Ideas / 568

CHAPTER 16 Practice Tests with Detailed Answer Keys 573