SAT/ACT/PSAT Platinum Reviewer's Comments

Over achievers, underachievers and inbetweeners Kaplan SAT, ACT & PSAT 2008 Platinum Edition, our "TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award" program is for you. It offers everything, whether you are taking the SAT, ACT, PSAT, Advanced Placement Tests or if you just want to improve your skills, with Kaplan you will be prepared.

This software not only helps you review vocabulary and mathematics, but also includes biology, chemistry, US history and government. To expand your level of college preparedness it also offers a disc on college application and how to pay for college.

Kaplan's Gold program, like its Platinum version, is useful and efficient. It does lack the extra sub-subjects, college admissions and tuition information available in the Platinum version, but at $10 less these extras may not be needed.

SAT/ACT/PSAT Platinum Screenshots. Click for more
       


Ease of Use:  

To use Kaplan's SAT, ACT & PSAT 2008 Platinum Edition just put in the first disc-it's as simple as that. After a brief test, you will find out your strong and weak areas and you will know exactly where to start your studies.

The program has a verbal guide to prompt you through the program and buttons and menus to navigate through the tests, reviews and tutorials.

Feature Set:  

Kaplan's SAT, ACT & PSAT 2008 Platinum Edition includes every feature that we were looking for, including full-length tests, math-only tests, essay tests and extras like flashcards and games. This edition consists of six discs that cover the SAT, PSAT, ACT, sub-subject reviews, and admissions and tuition guides.

A complete performance analysis can evaluate your responses by question type, topic, technique, time spent on the question and whether you changed a correct answer to an incorrect answer.

To keep topic reviews interesting Kaplan added activities and games to help you decrease your response times. For extra vocabulary assistance, use the flash cards and printable lists.

Kaplan did not leave anything uncovered and with this software, you cannot help but increase your score and the quality of your essays.

Download Process:  

Since this program includes six discs it takes a little longer to download than a program that offers less information, but the short wait is will worth the time.

Help/Support:  

The software includes a useful and easily accessible help section, a verbal guide and a FAQ section. The program does not have a tutorial and reaching customer support by phone proved impossible. Despite the shortcomings in support, the program scores high overall because of the features and high level of effectiveness.

Content Rating:  

Kaplan's SAT, ACT & PSAT 2008 Platinum Edition includes study help for all three of the college entrance exams. Bonus material is available online and there are three discs on sub-subjects including writing, vocabulary, biology, chemistry, US history and government. The sixth disc contains excerpts from Kaplan's guidebooks on the subjects of paying for college, parents guide to college admission and a procrastinator's guide to the ACT.

Effectiveness:  

This is the most comprehensive and up-to-date study program we reviewed, and they offer a full refund if your test scores do not improve.

Summary:  

High school, unless you take a prep program in addition to your regular classes, does not prepare you for these tests. Kaplan's SAT, ACT & PSAT 2008 Platinum Edition provides all of the full-length sample tests, vocabulary and feedback you need in an easy to use, work-at-home package. Kaplan's SAT, ACT & PSAT 2008 Platinum Edition is the perfect program for test preparation-ultimately leading to the admissions office and on the way to a successful college experience.