Most of the evidence I see suggests that working through a test book at your local library goes a long way towards erasing most of the disadvantage associated with going into the test cold. Yes, there's some time involved but I'm pretty sure declining returns set in fairly quickly. There are clearly advantages associated with recognizing the type of questions that will often be on the test. But a lot beyond that is actually knowing the vocabulary and the various geometry, etc. material.
Now, if you basically don't know or have trouble understanding the material? I wonder to what degree some tutoring and even a fair bit of time are going to make up for years of poor school outcomes (for whatever reason). Some specific strategies are 1.) pretty straightforward--if you can quickly narrow options down, maybe guess and move on--and 2.) won't move the needle a lot.
Now, if you basically don't know or have trouble understanding the material? I wonder to what degree some tutoring and even a fair bit of time are going to make up for years of poor school outcomes (for whatever reason). Some specific strategies are 1.) pretty straightforward--if you can quickly narrow options down, maybe guess and move on--and 2.) won't move the needle a lot.