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Book Recommendations

There are countless books available on any given topic, and many of them are excellent choices. Selecting just one book to guide you through a school credit or academic competition can be challenging. Each book offers its own unique approach and format. A good way to find quality resources is by consulting with teachers, peers, or reading online reviews. Ultimately, choosing the right book depends on your personal reading preferences and learning style.In this section,

 

 Under this section, I’ll share the books that were instrumental in my academic and competition journey. The books listed here helped me with Math & Science Competitions, earn AP Honors with Distinction and score 1540 on the SAT in one attempt—without the need for any tutoring! Feel free to explore the list below and choose what best suits your needs.

General Reading / Summer Prep

If you're new to academic competitions, I highly recommend starting with the Barron’s E-Z series of books. You don’t need to be a competitor to benefit from these books—they are well-written and great for overall academic success. These books provide a solid foundation in Math, Science and other areas, making them an excellent starting point. Once students have a good grasp of the basics, transitioning to more advanced materials becomes much easier. I particularly recommend this series for elementary & middle school students, as they are not only easy to understand but also give students plenty of time to progress to more challenging books. These books are also great to start off with Science Bowl Prep.

Math Books

Preparing for math contests is no easy task. Many students opt for private coaching to grasp advanced concepts. However, the following links / books listed below can provide a strong starting point.

For elementary school students, Competition Math for Middle School is an excellent choice. It offers a comprehensive overview of key topics commonly found in elementary and middle school math competitions. To dive deeper into these topics, the Art of Problem Solving (AOPS) Beginner and Intermediate books are highly recommended: AOPS Store.

Once you've studied the AOPS books, practicing with past contest papers becomes easier. Even if you don't immediately find a solution, you'll be able to identify the topic and focus on improving in that area by seeking additional resources online.​​

For Number Sense, this resource is particularly helpful: Middle School Number Sense Practice Tests.​

 

For Calculator contests in TMSCA or UIL, the best preparation method is to practice with past papers using an approved calculator. Some commonly accepted calculators include:​

 

  • Casio FX-260

  • Sharp EL-501XTI-30Xa (includes

  • TI-30Xa Solar School Edition)

  • TI-30XIIS​​
     

Other than the ones listed above, to get familiar with Academic Math topics in general, some good books I read during summer time are books written by Chris McMullen:

Science Books

I would recommend starting with EZ series book by Barron’s for any science topic. Once you have a foundational understating on the topic, look for a book specific to the area you are interested in. Here are some books I read to prepare for Science related activities: Note: The solution manuals for some textbooks are sold separately. The manual usually have detailed solutions to all exercise at the end of each chapter in the textbook. 

  • Physics 

    Giancoli's Physics: Principles with Applications
    by Douglas Giancoli (Author)
    Helpful Link: https://www.giancolianswers.com/giancoli-physics-7th-edition-chapters

    Classical Mechanics
    by John R. Taylor (Author)

    Physics, Volume 1 & 2
    by David Halliday (Author), Robert Resnick (Author), Kenneth S. Krane (Author)

    Introduction to Classical Mechanics: With Problems and Solutions
    by David Morin

  • Biology

    Biology - Miller & Levine
    by Kenneth R. Miller (Author), Joseph S. Levine (Author)

    Campbell Biology
    by Urry (Author)

  • Chemistry

    Atkins' Physical Chemistry
    by Peter Atkins (Author), Julio de Paula (Author), James Keeler (Author)

    Organic Chemistry
    by David R. Klein

AP Exam Prep:

 

It's important to note that preparing for AP exams differs from classroom preparation. For classroom credit, it's best to follow your teacher’s guidance and recommended resources.

 

For the End-of-Year AP Exam administered by the College Board, the most popular prep books at my school are Princeton Review and Barron’s. Personally, I used Princeton Review, but Barron’s provides a more in-depth and comprehensive breakdown of each topic. The choice depends on individual preference.

 

If you plan to pursue the subject in college, starting early and developing a strong understanding of the concepts can be beneficial. Princeton Review worked well for me and helped me earn the AP Honor with Distinction (a score of 4 or 5).

SAT Prep

There is no shortage of options when it comes to SAT prep books. The key to scoring above 1500 is to thoroughly review every type of Math and English question that commonly appears on the test. Mastering the approach to each question type and learning any new concepts you encounter along the way will make you proficient at tackling the exam.

If you're aiming for a top score, leaving any concept unlearned is simply not an option! Aside from the PSAT 8/9, which is designed for 8th and 9th graders and is less rigorous than the SAT, you can use SAT prep books for all other versions, including the PSAT 10 and NMSQT.

 

Here are the ones I used for my at-home preparation.​
 

  • Princeton Review PSAT 8/9 Prep

  • 1600.io SAT Math Orange Book Volume I & II
    by 1600.io (Author), J. Ernest Gotta (Author), Daniel Kirchheimer (Author), George Rimakis (Author)

  • The College Panda's SAT Math: Advanced Guide and Workbook
    by Nielson Phu (Author)

  • The Critical Reader, Fifth Edition: The Complete Guide to SAT Reading
    by Erica Lynn Meltzer (Author)

  • Sixth Edition, The Ultimate Guide to SAT® Grammar
    by Erica L. Meltzer (Author)

  • SAT® Vocabulary: A New Approach
    by Erica Meltzer (Author), Larry Krieger (Author)

After reading the above books thoroughly, try the College Boards SAT Practice tests on the Bluebook app. https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/practice/practice-tests/bluebook

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