What is the best material to use to re-solidify the basics?

[lilchew]

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Hey everyone! It has been sometime since I have studied any bio or physics and I have been reading the threads on study material and am wondering which physics, gen -chem and bio texts or study aids would be best for re-solidifying the basics in each of these subjects. Thanks!

 

[LostInStudy]

The Berkeley Review (TBR) for Physics, G. Chem and O. Chem. For Bio your best combination is probably EK Bio textbook + EK Bio 1001 questions. If you want more detail go with The Princeton Review Hyperlearning (TPR) Biological Sciences review book. Doing TBR for both chemistry sections will make you a master in each subject no matter how long it has been since you last chemistry class.

Sn2ed will probably be by sometime today to post the full list of the best books for each subject and ranked in order.

Hope this helped,

-LIS

 

[SN2ed]

Just go with the best books in each category. They'll get the rust off.

Biology: 1. EK Bio + EK 1001 Bio, non-detail oriented 1. BR/TPR Hyperlearning, detail oriented 3. Kaplan

Physics: 1. BR 2. Nova 3. TPR Hyperlearning 4. Kaplan

Verbal: 1. EK Verbal + EK 101 Verbal 2. TPR Hyperlearning 3. BR 4. Kaplan (Avoid if possible)

Organic Chemistry: 1. BR, by far 2. TPR Hyperlearning 3. EK/Kaplan

General Chemistry: 1. BR, by far 2. TPR Hyperlearning 3. EK/Kaplan

Extra Practice Material: 1. TPR Hyperlearning Verbal Workbook + TPR Hyperlearing Science Workbook, good source of practice passages 2. EK 1001 series, helps nail down basics



Edit: Beaten by a minute while I added the Extra Practice.

 

[lilchew]

Thanks so much guyes I really appreciate the help! keep the suggestions coming! 🙂

 

[SN2ed]

That list is the SDN consensus.

 

[LostInStudy]

I love the new list SN2ed.

-LIS

 

[lilchew]

ok thanks sn2ed! Is BR barron's or something else?

 

[SN2ed]

BR stands for Berkeley Review. Avoid Barron's at all cost.

 

[phillips101]

I used Berkeley Review for physics, and thought it was great. It was very good at explaining things conceptually, instead of just throwing equations around. However, I started using their chem- and although it is very good- they give you shortcuts and such...I can't say that it helped "re-solidify" my basics. I took chem I more than 3 years ago, and can't even remember the most basic thing. I got to the 3rd chapter, and literally had to go to a textbook to fill in the gaps. I heard that TPR chem is very very basic and long, so I'm going to try that next...see if it helps. While reading Berkeley review chem, one of the most annoying (and frequent) sentences was "you may remember" and I seriously do NOT remember A THING! Oh, and I got an A in chem I, so I didn't fail the class either. This is just my experience.

 

[LostInStudy]

Actually I agree to some extent with the guy above me. The TPR Hyperlearning textbooks are AMAZING but BR blows everyone away in its amount and quality of practice. If you need to start from scratch then I would advice getting the TPR books and then after doing those, doing the BR books.

However, it isn't really like the guy above me described. They do refer to SOME knowledge but this is about <1% total which can easily be looked up on wikipedia or google. I did the equilibrium chapter today also and I can say that it was the chapter I remembered least but I still did very well on it. I say just get the BR books for now and if you need more then go to textbooks/internet, that's probably the best way to go.

Hope this helped,

-LIS

 

[lilchew]

thanks for all the advice! Where would I find the TPR books at the best price? ebay mabye?

 

[LostInStudy]

Ebay or the free classifieds on sdn.

Hope this helped,

-LIS

 

[lilchew]

If the BR books are from 2003,will the information be significantly different than from the current books?

 

[lilchew]

thanks!

 

[BennieBlanco]

If the BR books are from 2003,will the information be significantly different than from the current books?

I think they would definitely be different, as they have surely updated in the last 6 years.

BUT the material will be pretty close to the same. I would say 80% or more is the same.

 

[LostInStudy]

EDIT: Okay, decided to just spend a few secs and find it for you right here.

Hope this helps,

-LIS