Top SAT Math Prep Books for 2025: Expert Reviews

There are many SAT prep books available, but they all share one thing: each claims to be the best. So, how can you decide which one will truly help you succeed on the digital SAT?

This guide offers my recommendations for the best prep books, specifically for the Math section of the digital SAT. Some of these books focus on strategies and problem-solving methods, while others emphasize practice questions. A few are designed for top scorers, whereas some help students improve their scores quickly from a lower starting point.

Before presenting the list, I want to mention an important disclaimer:

Disclaimer

Everyone learns differently and has unique levels of motivation. Therefore, I don’t believe there is a single prep book that works equally well for everyone. Although these suggestions will assist many students, they cannot address every individual’s specific needs.

That said, prep books are valuable tools for reviewing material and practicing hundreds of digital SAT questions. It’s great that you are already narrowing your test preparation by concentrating on the math section.

Since the most authentic SAT questions come directly from the test creators, I will begin with College Board’s The Official Digital SAT Study Guide. Like any resource, this book has both advantages and disadvantages. Perhaps the biggest drawback is that much of its content is freely accessible online. Continue reading to decide if this book suits your needs.

College Board’s Official Digital SAT Study Guide

Price: Approximately $23

Advantages

When it comes to the SAT, the best practice questions are those written by the test makers themselves. College Board’s The Official Digital SAT Study Guide contains four official practice tests along with answer explanations directly from the creators. Because the College Board administers the SAT, this book offers the most accurate reflection of the real exam.

However, it’s important to note that these four practice tests are also available for free on the digital platform Bluebook. Additionally, since you will be taking the digital SAT on a computer, practicing online can help you become comfortable with the software used during the test. The College Board also provides free resources through Khan Academy, promoting transparency and equal access to test preparation.

The primary strength of this book lies in its official SAT questions, regarded as the best material to practice with. Beyond the practice tests, the guide is useful in explaining the new digital SAT’s structure, format, and key math concepts.

Disadvantages

Again, the main downside is that all practice tests can be accessed free online—and taking them digitally is a better way to prepare for the digital-format SAT. There are other limitations too.

While College Board’s official questions serve as effective practice, their answer explanations lack depth. They describe the answer choices but don’t provide much insight on how to analyze and approach each problem.

Since the number of official practice tests included is limited, you may want to space them out during your study plan to track your progress and test your strategies. These tests are best used as benchmarks; compared to some other resources, College Board’s official materials offer less guidance on learning techniques and test-taking strategies.

Best SAT Math Prep Book for Instruction

Steve Warner’s SAT Math Series

Price: Around $65

Advantages

Steve Warner offers several SAT math books, but the best choice for the digital SAT is 1000 New SAT Math Problems. This book stands out as an excellent resource for content review and detailed instruction. It covers key topics emphasized on the digital SAT, including algebra, problem solving, geometry, and trigonometry.

The book organizes concepts and their associated practice problems by difficulty level, ranging from Level 1 to Level 5. This structure is helpful because it allows you to integrate various skills and ensures that no important topics are overlooked. Additionally, it enables students to focus on the difficulty level that best suits their goals: those scoring around 600 should concentrate on Levels 2 through 4, while students aiming for scores above 700 should focus on Levels 4 and 5.

Each lesson is thoughtfully designed and paired with practice questions to assess your understanding. The problems are realistic and include detailed explanations that often explore multiple solving methods, unlike College Board’s typically single-method answers. These explanations help you learn from your mistakes and prepare you to tackle similar questions confidently in the future.

Disadvantages

A significant limitation of this book is its relatively short length. Compared to Steve Warner’s extensive multi-volume series for earlier versions of the SAT, this digital SAT edition covers fewer topics and depth. It would be beneficial if future editions expanded to offer a more granular breakdown of concepts.

While this book is a good starting point—especially given the novelty of the digital SAT—students seeking comprehensive concept reviews might want to consult additional resources to fill any remaining gaps in knowledge.

Furthermore, at approximately $65, this book is somewhat expensive for a prep resource that covers only half of the SAT content.

Best SAT Math Books for Practice Questions

Dr. Ela Sharma’s Digital SAT Math Manual and Workbook

Price: About $37

Advantages

If your goal is to find abundant SAT math practice problems, this workbook offers over 800 questions. The content review and explanations are concise and straightforward. Many students, particularly those who find lengthy explanations overwhelming, appreciate the "Key Points" sections that clearly highlight the main topics to focus on.

The real strength of this book lies in its large number of practice questions. Problems are organized by topic and difficulty level, allowing you to customize your practice based on your individual needs. With 87 categories, you can narrow your study to specific math areas that require the most attention. Because timing yourself and reviewing your mistakes are crucial parts of effective preparation, this workbook is a useful tool.

The practice questions are also well-aligned with the digital SAT’s concepts, format, and rules. The book offers valuable guidance on the new Desmos calculator tool used in the digital SAT—an important feature, since students may initially find this technology intimidating or confusing. This manual explains how and when to use the calculator, helping you feel ready for test day.

Disadvantages

As noted, this book is strongest as a source of practice problems. It is less helpful for students seeking comprehensive content review. Moreover, it does not provide extensive test-taking strategies, such as time management tips. The answer explanations tend to be straightforward and do not explore multiple approaches to solving each question.

While this workbook benefits students at all skill levels, it is best used alongside a more detailed resource that offers deeper instruction, strategic advice, and varied explanations.

The above books cater to a broad range of students, but the two following recommendations are especially suited for strong math learners aiming for top scores.

Barron’s Math Workbook

Price: Approximately $21

Advantages

Barron’s Math Workbook contains hundreds of SAT math practice questions covering every math topic on the exam. Each question includes detailed answer explanations. The problems are grouped by content area and concept, so you can study a particular skill and then practice relevant questions to reinforce your learning.

In addition to the numerous practice problems, the workbook offers a full-length practice test at the end. While it provides some test-taking tips, its greatest benefit lies in the abundance of practical material.

Disadvantages

Some students have reported typos and spelling mistakes in Barron’s workbook, suggesting that it may have been published without thorough proofreading. Although these errors are minor and don’t impact the content significantly, they can be distracting during the careful work of SAT preparation.

As a traditional SAT prep resource, the writing style is straightforward but can feel dry or dull. If you prefer a more engaging, personable, or humorous tone, you might not find it here. Moreover, since this is primarily a practice workbook, you should look elsewhere for comprehensive lessons and detailed content review.

Best SAT Math Books for High Scorers

PWN the SAT Math Guide

Price: About $32

Advantages

PWN the SAT is aimed at highly motivated students seeking top scores in SAT Math. Its engaging and sometimes irreverent style helps maintain student interest throughout the material.

This fully updated 6th edition is tailored for the new digital SAT format. It breaks down each math category into its fundamental components. The practice problems are realistic and closely mirror the types of questions you will encounter on test day. Each chapter also contains a list of official questions by type to help you focus your practice on specific skills.

Additionally, purchasing the book grants you access to the PWN SAT website, where you can find bonus materials and video answer explanations that guide you step by step through practice problems.

Disadvantages

The primary limitation of PWN the SAT Math Guide is its focus on high-achieving students. While it is excellent for those with strong math skills aiming to reach top percentiles, it is less suitable for learners who struggle with math fundamentals.

If you need to build basic knowledge or improve low math scores, this book is not the ideal resource. Instead, it’s best for refining already solid math abilities and pushing scores higher.

Dr. John Chung’s Digital SAT Math

Price: About $27

Advantages

Despite its somewhat dated cover design, Dr. Chung’s Digital SAT Math is one of the most comprehensive prep books available in terms of depth and variety of practice questions.

This book is best suited for strong math students and those targeting top scores. It assumes readers already have a solid grasp of math concepts and does not cover foundational topics in detail. Marketed as a resource designed to help students achieve a perfect score, it offers useful examples and numerous practice questions aimed at this goal.

The book includes explanations of concepts such as linear functions, exponents, transformations, and average speeds, each accompanied by examples and practice problems to strengthen understanding.

Disadvantages

Dr. Chung’s book provides limited review or instructional support. It largely presumes a strong math background and primarily consists of practice problems without much in the way of lesson-style content or narrative. For this reason, it is not ideal as a standalone prep resource or for beginners.

Some students have also pointed out the presence of typos and errors in various editions, suggesting the book may have been rushed to publication without thorough editing. While it offers a substantial number of practice questions, these careless mistakes can detract from the overall quality.

Best SAT Math Book for Low Scorers

If you only plan to spend a few hours preparing for the math section of the SAT, your prep book should provide a general overview and introduction to the essential concepts.

Princeton Review’s SAT Level Up! Math

Price: Approximately $17

Advantages

Princeton Review’s SAT Level Up! Math is a traditional prep book that reviews key concepts and pairs them with corresponding practice sets. It introduces new topics such as trigonometry and includes 16 practice sets totaling over 300 problems. The questions are organized by difficulty level, so you can begin at the stage that suits your current skill level.

This book also explains the new format and structure of the digital SAT Math section. It contains 36 drills to help you strengthen areas where your content knowledge is weaker.

Disadvantages

The practice questions in Princeton Review’s book are not always the best crafted. They may lack realism and are sometimes phrased differently from actual SAT questions. Many students find them somewhat easier than real SAT Math problems. As mentioned earlier, taking official practice tests is crucial since they best represent the type of questions you will face on test day.

Success on the SAT Math section requires more than understanding concepts; it requires familiarity with the SAT’s unique wording and problem style. Without practicing with official-style questions, you may find yourself less prepared for the test’s particular phrasing and tricks.

Additionally, doing well on the SAT involves solid test-taking strategies. While Princeton Review offers some strategies, they are not highly effective for students aiming to rise above a score around 600. This book provides a basic overview but is less helpful for those seeking major score improvements or deep material comprehension.

Is Studying from Books the Best Option for You?

Books were once the primary method for SAT preparation, but today there are many other options available. This variety allows you to choose a test prep approach that aligns with your math level, study style, goals, and budget.

Although books can be cost-effective, as shown by the pros and cons listed above, you will likely need more than one book to prepare thoroughly. This can add up to a significant expense.

Since many test prep companies now focus on online resources, you may need to access additional answers, explanations, and supplemental materials online. This is particularly important because the SAT is now fully digital, and practicing on a computer is the best way to simulate test day conditions.

Books can be comprehensive and informative, but gaining the most benefit requires self-discipline to dedicate time to study and to learn from your mistakes.

Just as you should evaluate your strengths and weaknesses to prepare effectively for the SAT, it’s wise to consider your learning style. Decide what kind of prep—whether books, online resources, or a mix of both—will best suit you and help you excel across all SAT sections.