The Golden State Exams are optional, but the number of students taking them has risen dramatically over the past five years, jumping 76 percent from 1995 to 1998 alone. Only about a third of all test-takers pass them. Since students can only take each exam once, advance preparation and practice are crucial.
The Princeton Review, known for courses and books that help students score their best on the SAT and other standardized tests, has published a guidebook for the California Golden State Exams. The series, Cracking the Golden State Exams,includes guides to the six most popular of the 13 Golden State Exams now given: biology, chemistry, economics, first-year algebra, geometry and U.S. history. These exams are all given each May. A seventh guide will be made available in October for the GSE written composition exam, given each January.
Each exam guide in the series features four full-length sample practice tests with detailed answer explanations, a complete review of all the curriculum areas on the exam, test-taking strategies and techniques for getting the best possible score, and useful study aids such as illustrations, timelines, sample essays, practice exercises and more.
The books, which cost $16 each, are available from Random House/Princeton Review Books, 201 E. 50th St., New York, NY 10022. For more information, visit the publisher's Web site [www.randomhouse.com/princetonreview] or call (212) 539-1350.
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