Resources for Reading, Math, and Writing for CBEST Exam Study Guide (page 2)

If any or all of the three subjects covered in the minicourse are especially tough for you, you may want to consider doing some further reading. Following is a list of particularly useful books for preparing for the skills tested on the CBEST.

Reading

• 501 Reading Comprehension Questions, 3rd edition (LearningExpress)
  Fast, focused practice to help you improve your skills.
• Read Better, Remember More, 2nd edition by Elizabeth Chesla (LearningExpress)
  A self-study book that helps you learn at your own pace, with varied exercises that make learning easy.
• Reading Comprehension Success in 20 Minutes a Day, 3rd edition (LearningExpress)
  A 20-step book that covers all the basics of reading well; especially useful for those preparing for exams like the CBEST.
• Visual Communication by Ned Racine (LearningExpress)
  Visual literacy is a growing area of assessment on standardized tests—find out here how to read maps, charts, diagrams, and schematics. Learn how to use and make use of visual communication!

Book List

The best way to improve your reading skills is to read as often as you can. Here is a list of well-known books that may interest you:

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt (Autobiography)

Black Boy by Richard Wright (Autobiography)

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (Coming of Age)

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (Horror)

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (Science Fiction)

Hiroshima by John Hershey (War)

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (Fantasy)

Jurassic Park; The Lost World by Michael Crichton (Science Fiction)

The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper (Historical)

The Lives of a Cell by Lewis Thomas (Science/Medicine)

Moonlight Becomes You and other novels by Mary Higgins Clark (Suspense)

Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally (Historical)

A Separate Peace by John Knowles (Coming of Age)

The Stand and other novels by Stephen King (Horror)

A Time to Kill; The Client by John Grisham (Thriller)

Writing

• 1001 Pitfalls in English Grammar (Barron's)
  Problem-solving approach to writing and grammar; very useful for nonnative speakers of English
• Thirty Days to Better English by Norman Lewis (Dell)
  Useful for general information; suited to both native and nonnative speakers of English.
• Better Writing Right Now! by Francine Galko (LearningExpress)
  Know the benchmarks that professionals use—learn how to make words work for you!
• Grammar Essentials, 3rd edition (LearningExpress)
  Gives a thorough review of all the rules of basic grammar; lots of exercises and examples make for a painless, and even fun, learning experience.
• English Made Simple by Arthur Waldhorn and Arthur Zieger (Made Simple Books)
  Designed for nonnative speakers of English; also good for native speakers with little training in grammar.
• Errors in English and Ways to Correct Them by Harry Shaw (HarperCollins)
  Addresses specific problems in both writing and grammar; useful for nonnative speakers of English
• 501 Grammar and Writing Questions, 3rd edition (LearningExpress)
  Learn how to spot common grammar mistakes; compose correct sentences; organize clear, concise paragraphs; and much more!
• Grammar: A Student's Guide by James R. Hurford (Cambridge University Press)
  Thorough coverage of parts of speech, sentence structure, usage, punctuation, and mechanics; especially good for nonnative speakers of English.
• The Handbook of Good English by Edward D. Johnson (Washington Square Press)
  Well-organized, comprehensive handbook for both grammar and writing.
• Smart English by Annette Francis (Signet)
  Thorough general-purpose handbook for both writing and grammar; good for nonnative speakers of English.
• Write Better Essays in Just 20 Minutes a Day, 2nd edition (LearningExpress)
  Your guide to top test scores, this book teaches the mechanics of good essay writing. It's like having a personal tutor!
• Writing Skills Success in 20 Minutes a Day, 3rd edition (LearningExpress)
  Covers all the basics of writing through step-by-step instruction and exercises; especially useful for those preparing for exams such as the CBEST.
• Writing Smart by Marcia Lerner (Princeton Review)
  Good for general writing skills; well organized so information is easy to find.