Are you looking to apply to a graduate program and need to know how to pass the MAT test? Are you struggling to find the best material to get prepared? If this is so, you have come to the right place. In this post, we’ll go over the best MAT study guides.
The MAT exam is used to test your thinking as well as prove that you can do more than simply regurgitate information. It is most comparable to the GRE exam as both are for individuals looking to get into graduate school.
However, the most notable difference between the MAT test and the GRE is that all of the questions are analogies. Though the MAT test can be difficult, and it may be hard to determine how to figure out analogies, it is not impossible. The right resources can take you very far. Don’t waste your time looking for resources when you could be studying. We have done all the work for you. The books on this list come heavily recommended from previous test takers and people who were once in your shoes. The only thing you have to do is keep reading to find out some of our favorite prep resources.
If you want to just get back to studying, get our top pick for MAT study guides here.
Last update: 2024-05-04
Our Favorites for the Best MAT Study Guides
MAT Strategies, Practice & Review (Kaplan Test Prep) By Kaplan Test Prep
Kaplan Test Prep provides another thorough and useful review with this MAT Review guide. Not only do you get copious amounts of information about the test, but readers also get an ample supply of review material. This combination of information ensures that you are adequately prepared. This comprehensive guide is a great way to jump start your test prep and an excellent guide to add to your MAT study material arsenal.
What Makes It Unique:
- MAT Strategies, Practice & Review comes with seven tests to get you prepared for what to expect on the real MAT exam. Do yourself a favor and start with the diagnostic test. This test will aid you in understanding what you should be reviewing. The diagnostic test is meant to provide targeted areas for improving your score. All of the exams in the text come with detailed explanations. These explanations ensure that you understand the reasoning behind the answer.
- MAT Strategies, Practice & Review also provides information for the general portion of the exam. This information is within the four major subject areas. These areas include language, humanities, social science, and mathematics.
- Each chapter within the text is also equipped with an end of chapter quiz. These chapter quizzes ensure that the reader is retaining the information they are reading and alerts them to go back through the chapter if needed.
Why Choose this MAT Book:
- No matter how much time you have to review, MAT Strategies, Practice & Review is an excellent option. Many users agree that the practice tests are invaluable and made the actual exam a breeze to get through.
- Many test takers attribute this book to their success since it was the only resource they used. The practice exams were the most useful items for many users.
- Some users found it fun to go through the book. The writer used their sense of humor to ensure that the material was not only informative but enjoyable as well. The book also provides tools and strategies for how to get through the exam.
- Kaplan Test Prep (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 372 Pages - 10/04/2016 (Publication Date) - Kaplan Grad Test Prep (Publisher)
Last update: 2024-05-04
MAT For Dummies by Edwin Kotchian, Vince Kotchian
The For Dummies brand always brings books that are surprisingly accurate and highly informative. They have done it again with the MAT for Dummies‘ book. This book is highly recommended and extremely helpful in preparing for the Miller Analogies Test. However, not only does it provide useful content, it offers several practice exams as well.
What Makes It Unique:
- MAT for Dummies doesn’t just focus on teaching you how to prepare for the information on the test. It also provides several strategies and test-taking tips to keep you focused.
- The text also provides six full-length practice exams. These exams come with answers and detailed explanations.
- Within the text, you will also encounter 600 vocabulary terms that are important for doing well on the MAT exam.
- The book starts by introducing readers to the exam and informing them of what to expect. Part 1 of the text goes into detail about how to register for the exam; it’s content & structure as well as several methods that can be used to solve analogies. Part 1 is all about the content of the test and ensuring that you recognize and understand the core concepts to be found on the exam.
Why Choose this MAT Book:
- This is another text which comes highly recommended by students like you. Some suggest giving yourself at least a month to prepare and practice with the text. This extra time allows you the time you need to digest the information it offers. Some students even saw similar questions on the exam to the ones they practiced.
- The book is structured in a way that doesn’t force you to read the whole thing. Users can study the areas which they need to improve and nothing else.
- If you are looking for a text which will help you prepare in a short amount of time, this is your best bet. Users who had minimal time to prepare raved that finishing the book was easy to do. They also felt more than confident that they would receive an excellent score after completing the book.
- The book provides more than enough information for you to do well on the exam. Some readers even think it is better than the official study resources offered for the exam.
- Kotchian, Edwin (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 360 Pages - 04/12/2013 (Publication Date) - For Dummies (Publisher)
Last update: 2024-05-04
The Runner-Ups for the Best MAT Study Guides
Barron's MAT: Miller Analogies Test by Karin Sternberg Ph.D., Robert J. Sternberg, Andrew H. Body
With Barron’s MAT: Miller Analogies Test, Barron’s Test Prep brings us another successful standardized test review book. This text comes with an enormous amount of practice material and even online content. Aside from providing expert information on what users can expect on the exam, Barron's also includes advice and guidance on how to prepare to sit for the MAT exam.
What Makes It Unique:
- Barron’s MAT: Miller Analogies Test book is unique as it provides fourteen analogies practice tests for users to utilize. These exams are a mix of two online exams, one diagnostic exam, and the rest all being MAT physical practice exams from the text. After each exam, self-scoring answer keys are provided for users to gauge their scores and understand where their knowledge falls at that given time.
- In addition to the online exams and the exams within the text, readers are also provided with over 1500 questions to practice with. Answers are provided for these questions, as well.
- Barron’s also provides checklists regarding several topics you should be familiar with. These lists include things like graduate-level vocabulary with definitions, influential people in history, science, and many more. These lists provide helpful information to ensure you are aware of the core topics which are fair game for the exam.
Why Choose this MAT Book:
- Many users love this text and rave about how much of a help it was in passing the test. The ample number of practice materials alone is an excellent reason to purchase Baron’s prep book.
- The Barron’s MAT: Miller Analogies Test book can be used alone or with the aid of another study resource. Using it in conjunction with a set of flash cards is ideal for many users and a big help when looking to retain the most information.
- The strategies alone are a great reason to purchase this text. It not only enforces the material, but it also puts users in the mind frame for success.
- Sternberg Ph.D., Karin (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 352 Pages - 09/01/2017 (Publication Date) - Barrons Educational Services (Publisher)
Last update: 2024-05-04
McGraw-Hill Education 500 MAT Questions to Know by Test Day by Kathy A. Zahler
If you are looking for a book that will provide you with ample practice material you need, look no further. This McGraw-Hill text is precisely what its name entails. It is a book of questions you should know and feel confident answering by the time you take the MAT exam.
What Makes it Unique:
- This book is filled with questions that could be seen on the actual MAT exam. All of the questions are answered and fully explained within the answer key.
- The questions are split into different chapters based on the type of analogy they are. These include things like conversion analogies, degree analogies, antonym analogies, and more.
- This is a text that should be used in conjunction with another book. It is unique because it does not offer any other information outside of the exam questions.
Why Choose this MAT Book:
- If you have been studying for a while and you feel as if you have retained all of the information you can, it’s now time to put it in practice. This book will do just that.
- This text will aid you in building your confidence to do well on the exam. Many users attest to the fact that they were able to raise their score by a few points after utilizing this book.
- Many users found this book to be beneficial, especially when they were under a time crunch. Some users even saw a few of the exact questions from the text on the actual exam. Don’t cheat yourself by not getting your hands on this book.
- This book should not be used alone. Though it offers excellent practice questions, it does not cover the full format of the test or presents you with information to review. Many test-takers utilize a separate text to ensure they are prepared before diving into the practice questions. MAT for Dummies is one that is commonly used in conjunction with the book.
- Zahler, Kathy A. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 160 Pages - 08/26/2014 (Publication Date) - McGraw Hill (Publisher)
Last update: 2024-05-04
The Value Picks for the Best MAT Study Guides
MAT Study Guide 2020-2021: MAT Exam Prep Review and Practice Test Questions for the Miller Analogies Test by Trivium Analogies Exam Prep Team
Trivium Test Prep is a newcomer to the test prep realm. They are an independent study guide company that produces and prints books within the United States. They create content with a set of strategies in mind that are guaranteed to raise your score. Their materials are tailored for the needs of the user, with the actual exam always in mind.
What Makes It Unique:
- MAT Study Guide offers users an in-depth overview of what to expect in regards to format and what will be on the exam. The material in the text covers all of the topics to be found on the exam.
- The text also contains a number of helpful tips and strategies to keep you focused on the exam and ready for whatever question they throw at you. These tips will help you when you are stuck on the exam and alter the way you think about analogies.
- There are only three main sections within this text. This includes an introduction of the exam, a review of the analogies found on the exam, and your analogies practice test.
- The book goes into detail about the types of analogies and what to look for to identify them on the exam. It also gives users the categories which determine how to solve an analogy. These include things like definitions, word parts, word connotations, and even grammar. However, these are only a few of the categories.
- Trivium also provides users with the option to acquire a free DVD for more exam practice. This is available after your purchase of the book.
Why Choose this MAT Book:
- Many users explained that the book was not what they originally expected but was a great help in preparing for the MAT exam. The format is exceptionally concise and different from any manual you have probably ever seen.
- Though the practice material is not extensive, it does an excellent job of providing information on the types of questions that will be asked. Users loved the way the text broke down the various categories and presented the sample material.
- Though the book is concise, it provides significant benefits to the individuals using it.
- Trivium Analogies Exam Prep Team (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 60 Pages - 11/18/2019 (Publication Date) - Trivium Test Prep (Publisher)
Last update: 2024-05-04
Cracking the MAT, 3rd Edition (Graduate School Test Preparation) by Marcia Lerner
The Princeton Review is another leader in producing test materials for a multitude of standardized exams. Their content is not only highly ranked but proven to aid users in excelling in a number of exams.
What Makes It Unique:
- The makers of Cracking the MAT aim to not only help you to retain information and vocabulary, but their primary goal is also to get you to think like the makers of the exam.
- The Princeton Review focuses on strategies that will help you not only pass but flourish on the exam. The book uses two particular strategies, the process of elimination and Princeton’s three-pass system to aid test-takers in answering the questions.
- This text also holds no shortage of information and practice materials. The book comes equipped with seven full-length practice exams that mirror the look and feel of the actual MAT test.
Why Choose this MAT Book:
- This book is the reason that many users have passed the MAT. They describe it as hilarious, witty, and ultimately helpful. The exams all have 100 questions each and are extremely helpful for pinpointing competencies.
- Choosing this book will allow you to look at analogies differently. It will aid you in seeing them from the eyes of the test maker. The text teaches you the tricks and tips that you need to do well. It also shows users’ strategies for solving various types of analogies.
- Though this is an older guide, the information still holds true. If you are looking for a book to aid you in understanding the text in a way that is not exhausting, this is it. The text is not overwhelming. It was entertaining to read and would be a great help to any MAT Test Taker.
- Lerner, Marcia (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 224 Pages - 09/10/2002 (Publication Date) - Princeton Review (Publisher)
Last update: 2024-05-04
Summary of the Best MAT Study Guides
To sum up, here are the study guides we looked at today:
Last update: 2024-05-04
Regardless of where you are on your journey to the MAT test, there is something on this list for you. The Miller Analogies test is one that you are capable of passing and doing well on if you are prepared. This list contains some of the best MAT study materials to give you the push you need. You can never go wrong with two of our favorites: MAT Strategies, Practice & Review from Kaplan Test Prep, or a crowd favorite, MAT For Dummies. Both of these books will not only provide you with an adequate review of the areas covered on the exam, but they will also allow you to gain ample practice.
If a review is not something that you are looking for and practice is all you need, we have got you covered there too. Though many of these books offer several practice exams, if all you need are questions, the McGraw-Hill Education 500 MAT Questions to Know by Test Day is a winner. Use it months or even days before your big day to ensure that you are confident and ready.
No matter which book you choose, the most important thing to remember is to study early and don’t procrastinate. Good luck and happy testing.
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