Best Test Prep books: Ultimate A-Z Guide (2025)
Choosing the right study materials can make all the difference when you’re prepping for an important exam. Whether it’s the GRE, GMAT, SAT, or MCAT, reliable test prep books have become the go-to solution for thousands of students aiming to achieve higher scores and improve their chances of acceptance into competitive programs. Amazon makes this process even easier, offering quick access to a huge variety of up-to-date guides, ensuring you spend less time hunting down resources and more time actually studying.
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Table of contents
ACT Prep Books
Following our expert team’s review – the best and most helpful ACT prep books for students are:
- Kaplan’s ACT Prep Plus
Combines five full-length tests with proven strategies and online resources for comprehensive prep. - The Official ACT Prep Guide
The only guide with real ACT questions from the test makers, offering authentic practice. - ACT Prep Black Book
Focuses on unique strategies and insights to tackle the ACT effectively. - Barron’s ACT Study Guide
Offers six full-length exams and in-depth subject reviews for thorough preparation. - Princeton Review ACT Premium Prep
Features eight practice tests and detailed content reviews to build confidence and skills.
CPA Prep Books and study guides
We recommend the following books on Amazon to support your CPA study and revision:
- 2,000 Review Questions for the CPA Exam
- The CPA Exam Playbook: A Complete Guide to Passing The CPA Exam
- CPA Exam Secrets Study Guide: CPA Test Review for the Certified Public Accountant Exam
DAT Prep Books
Following our expert team’s review – the best and most helpful DAT prep books for students are:
- Kaplan DAT Prep Plus
A trusted guide with review content, practice questions, and full-length tests from Kaplan experts. - Mometrix Test Preparation DAT Prep Book
Covers key subjects with clear explanations and online tools to reinforce your understanding. - The Princeton Review Cracking the DAT
Offers targeted strategies and realistic drills to help you master each DAT section with confidence. - Sterling Test Prep DAT
Deep-dive science prep ideal for students who need extra practice in biology and chemistry topics. - The Gold Standard DAT Prep Book
Comprehensive visual guide that includes video access, full exams, and high-yield content.
GMAT Prep Books
Following our expert team’s review – the best and most helpful GMAT prep books for students are:
- The Princeton Review GMAT Premium Prep
Comprehensive all-in-one guide with six adaptive practice tests and expert video tutorials. - Manhattan Prep All the GMAT
Three-book set consolidating ten guides, offering online materials and six full-length adaptive tests. - GMAC GMAT Official Guide
Official resource with over 1,100 real exam questions, detailed explanations, and customizable practice sets. - Mometrix Test Preparation GMAT Prep Book
Budget-friendly option featuring comprehensive reviews, practice questions, and online video tutorials. - Kaplan GMAT 800
Advanced prep book focusing on high-difficulty questions with strategic approaches for top scorers.
GRE Prep Books
Full GRE course reviews here
Following our expert team’s review – the best and most useful GRE prep books are:
- Kaplan GRE Prep Plus
Comprehensive guide with 6 full-length practice tests and online resources for thorough GRE preparation. - TPB GRE Prep Review Book
Authentic GRE practice materials from the test makers, including real test questions and explanations. - The Princeton Review GRE Premium Prep
Offers 6 full-length practice tests and strategic content reviews to boost your GRE score. - GRE Prep Book By Magoosh
Straightforward strategies and practice questions, complemented by online video lessons. - Manhattan Prep 5 lb. Book of GRE Practice Problems
Extensive collection of over 1,800 practice questions to hone your GRE skills.
LSAT Prep Books
Full LSAT course reviews here
Following our expert team’s review – the best LSAT prep books you can buy are:
- Kaplan’s LSAT Premium Prep
Comprehensive guide with real LSAT questions, detailed explanations, and online resources for thorough preparation. - The Princeton Review LSAT Premium Prep
Offers extensive drills, cheat sheets, and strategic content reviews to enhance your LSAT performance. - The LSAT Trainer by Mike Kim
Accessible self-study guide focusing on core concepts and strategies to tackle each LSAT section effectively. - The PowerScore LSAT Bible Trilogy
In-depth exploration of Logical Reasoning, Logic Games, and Reading Comprehension with proven techniques. - Manhattan Prep’s 5 lb. Book of LSAT Practice Drills
Extensive collection of practice questions and drills to reinforce skills across all LSAT sections.
MCAT Prep Books
Full MCAT course reviews here
Following our expert team’s review – the most helpful MCAT books for students are:
- The Princeton Review MCAT Subject Review Complete Box
Comprehensive seven-book set with three full-length practice tests and detailed content coverage across all MCAT sections. - Kaplan Test Prep MCAT Complete 7-Book Subject Review
In-depth subject reviews with three online practice tests and full-colour visuals to aid understanding. - Examkrackers MCAT Study Package
Six-volume set offering dual-voice content explanations and 32 practice exams to enhance test-taking strategies. - Mometrix MCAT Prep Books
Organised study guide featuring step-by-step video tutorials and full-length practice tests for thorough preparation. - TPB MCAT Prep Books
Comprehensive review with detailed answer explanations and test-taking tips to identify and improve weak areas.
NCLEX Prep Books
Full NCLEX course reviews here
Following our expert team’s review – the most helpful NCLEX books for students are:
- Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination
A student favourite for its detailed content review and 5,700+ practice questions with rationales. - Kaplan NCLEX-RN Prep Plus
A strategic prep guide with expert test-taking tips, realistic practice tests, and online resources. - Lippincott Q&A Review for NCLEX-RN
Focused on building test confidence with over 6,000 questions covering every NCLEX topic. - NCLEX-RN Questions & Answers Made Incredibly Easy
User friendly and simplifies tough concepts with humour, charts, and plain-language explanations. - HESI Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination
Known for its predictive exam and clear summaries, ideal for final-stage prep and practice.
SAT Prep Books
Full SAT course reviews here
Following our expert team’s review – the most helpful SAT books for students are:
- Kaplan’s SAT Prep Plus
Comprehensive guide with over 1,500 practice questions and five full-length exams to build confidence. - SAT Prep Black Book Second Edition
Offers unique strategies and in-depth analysis to help you understand the test’s design and question patterns. - Barron’s SAT Study Guide
Has detailed content reviews and practice questions with thorough explanations to reinforce learning. - College Board’s Official SAT Study Guide
Provides authentic practice tests and questions directly from the test makers for realistic preparation. - Princeton Review SAT Premium Prep
Includes eight full-length practice tests and comprehensive content reviews to enhance your test-taking skills.
Summary
Hopefully we have given you some great suggestions to help you find the best books for big exams like the SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, NCLEX, DAT, MCAT, LSAT, and CPA. Our expert team handpicked the most useful study guides based on what’s really inside the pages – and you can just click the links to top-rated books you can easily buy on Amazon. These books include real test questions, practice exams, and tips to help you get a better score. If you want more detail, click through to our full reviews.