#1 | preparation of kaplan’s act plus
if you are looking for the most comprehensive guide, kaplan act prep plus strives to achieve this goal. is one of the longest prep books on the market and provides exceptionally detailed explanations for each answer. offers both in-book and online practice exams with access to video tutorials and expert strategies to help you tackle all aspects of the exam. kaplan is an official partner for live online event preparation, which means they have current and up-to-date information.
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The “Smart Points” feature helps you identify which questions are most frequently asked and which topics are generally considered most important. In terms of online test preparation resources, this may be the best book on the market. this was a useful feature for me as I could study on the go without lugging around a large book. The online materials are taught by Kaplan’s expert tutors and instructors, discussing the questions and skills required with an in-depth approach that few other books can offer.
There’s a ton of information here, and if there’s a downside, it can take a long time to parse it all. Also, some people have found the questions easier than the exam questions, which can lead to a bit of culture shock when you take the exam.
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#2 | the official act preparation guide
Practice questions are essential when it comes to preparing for the act, and the official guide to preparing for the act provides some of the best. it is informally known as the “red book” because of its bright red cover. offers a whopping five different comprehensive practice exams that provide a wide level of practice and preparation for almost any student. It takes about four hours to take and review each of these practice tests, meaning the book offers up to a full 20 hours of preparation.
Each practice test question in the book includes not only the answers, but also explanations of the answers so you can find out why you missed the ones you did. for me, the explanations were clear and detailed so that I could easily understand what I did wrong. In addition to the five tests in the book, it also provides access to online resources that offer an additional 400 practice questions.
Although I personally didn’t see this as a drawback, some students may not find the five included tests sufficient. What some may see as a downside of this book is that it laser-focuses on full practice exams, so it doesn’t break down additional individual exam areas in detail. also, it’s a bit routine and may not be the best for developing a real exam strategy.
It’s worth noting that ACT offers subject guides for each individual section of the exam so you can start studying your weaknesses. if you’re looking for the resource that offers the closest examples to the proof itself, it’s hard to beat the official source.
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#3 | black book of preparation to act
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If you’re looking for test taking strategies, you’ve found the book for you in the Black Book of Act Prep. if the official guide laser-focuses on practice tests, this book is just as focused on the strategies you need to crack the questions.
helps you address any time issues or pain points you may have in your test-taking strategies and focuses on the process of answering questions. it also discusses strategies for handling multiple-choice math problems and provides very detailed explanations of the answers, while also addressing the fact that each student learns differently.
The downsides of this book are that the explanations are based heavily on a previous edition of the red book and it doesn’t provide detailed breakdowns of each individual area. while strong on test-taking strategies, it lacks core content. It can be an excellent complementary book to the official guide.
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#4 | the act of barron
Currently in its fifth edition, Barron’s Act can offer the best value for your money as a budget act preparation book that still delivers a very high quality act preparation experience. Of all the books on our list, this one and the red book may have the most questions that are actually similar to what you’ll find on the spot.
That means that when you encounter the hardest questions on the exam, chances are you’ve already seen them in your preparation when you use this book. it’s a great way to boost your confidence when entering. The book gives you an overview and introduction to the test itself, followed by a study plan and strategy. after that, it offers a quiz to measure your current level of knowledge. This practice test is around 50 pages per section and covers all the main topic areas.
Each section provides not only practice test questions, but also concept questions, test-taking strategies, and skills reviews. It goes on to clearly and concisely explain all the main concepts you will need to know to do well on the exam. provides data analysis and research summaries for the science section, and illustrates various math concepts from algebra to geometry and more, which was very helpful to me.
many of the suggestions here are exclusive to barron’s, and this book is an excellent and affordable initial review source, especially for those on a budget. the downside for some might be that some of the questions can be very difficult. however, I don’t necessarily see it as a negative, because if you’re looking to prepare, it can also be a positive. finally, the writing section may be a bit outdated.
➡ buy the act of barron on amazon
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related: barron’s vs princeton review act prep book comparison
#5 | act premium preparation
princeton review premium event prep is your solution to having all your event prep in one place. is a very traditional act preparation book that includes eight practice tests plus a complete review of concepts, techniques, and practice questions. It starts with the basics and breaks it all down into simple concepts to allow you to learn each topic in an instant.
For example, it reviews the main math and grammar concepts required to answer questions, while also helping you learn test-taking strategies through the process of elimination and the order in which you should answer the questions. some of the sample exams are available online.
If there are drawbacks to this book, it is that while the math and science sections are exceptionally comprehensive, the English and reading sections are less so. there are good strategies, but could be better in concepts. Also, the practice tests found in this book tend to be a bit easier than what you’ll find on the actual test. Since the questions are unofficial, you won’t find them on the exam.
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summary: best preparation books for acts
In the end, while these are some of the best books on the market, you may find the best results if you search multiple sources. Together, several books can often overcome each other’s weaknesses and prepare you to take the test. If books are not your preferred method of study, you may want to consider a preparatory course. You can check out our list of the best acting preparation courses.
As an honorable mention, there are also free practice tests available online from the act that can provide additional help and preparation, though they won’t have the depth and strategies offered in these books. If you would like more information on how to take action and prepare for your college experience, explore our website and check out the many educational and preparatory resources we have available.
what to expect from the act
The basic idea of the act is to measure a student’s educational development and skills, as well as their readiness to compete at the college level. studies have indicated that performing an act does translate into college performance. the act is , so it should be easy to find a time that fits your schedule.
This standardized test measures your skills and readiness for college, and covers five main areas. these are:
- English (75 multiple choice)
- Math (60 multiple choice)
- Science (40 multiple choice)
- Reading (40 multiple choice ) )
- writing (rehearsal prompt, optional)
It should be noted that while the writing part is optional, it is highly recommended. You will have a total of 3 hours and 35 minutes to complete the exam if you take the writing section. without the writing section, the test is timed at 2 hours and 55 minutes.
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