I used some of both... I think A&L is better than pre-test (which, as far as I could tell, had nothing to do with the shelf), but there are a lot of questions on minutiae, and even entire chapters that suck. (also entire chapters, like trauma, that are great) So, if you don't mind sorting through a TON of questions to get good ones, it's a good book. I eventually got sick of trying to, even though I thought I was a "question person".
I thought Case Files and the NMS small book were better preparation actually, if you stopped, and thought about what was the next step, or whatever the question was. it worked out really well for me.
