Top 7 Books to Prepare for ACT

Purchasing a prep book can be a daunting task when it comes to examinations like the ACT since there are too many options available and one does not want to miss out on any information that can be deemed relevant. The whole point of purchasing a prep book then relies completely on the prep method the candidate opts for, their current proficiency level in the subjects, and the score they aspire to achieve.

While some students will need a step-by-step book that deals with the examination and content information, others might only require practice questions and strategies that can help them score higher. In other cases, candidates might already be part of ACT prep programs or they could be aiming for self-study both of which will require different kinds of prep books. A few of the best prep books that one can choose from based on these factors are as follows-

List of Best ACT Prep Books

Books	Price	Parameters
Barron’s ACT 36- 4th Edition	$16.30	Exam Strategies Content Review Practice Tests
The Official ACT Prep Guide-2022-2023	$29.74	Practice Tests Essay Prompts Content Review Test Information
ACT Prep Plus 2022-Kaplan	$29.49	Practice Test Online Tests Quizzes Video Lessons Exam Strategies
Barron’s 6 ACT Practice Tests-3rd Edition	$37.72	Practice Tests Detailed Answer Analysis Diagnostic Test
ACT Prep Black Book-2nd Edition	$28.48	Exam Strategies Walkthroughs
Princeton Review-Cracking the ACT-2019 Edition	$32.27	Content Review Practice Tests Exam Strategies
Manhattan Prep-5 lb. Book of Act Practice Problems	$49.15	Progress Tracker Practice Questions Topical Grading Sheets Online Resources

1

Barron's ACT 36: Aiming for the Perfect Score

Cost- $16.30
This book is for candidates who are looking for a guide that focuses less on practice questions and more on strategy and content. The book pairs well with practice paper guides that can be used to further enhance one’s skills. The book is great for both English and Mathematics but is generally considered to be a little behind the times for the Sciences. This text put out by the test-prep giant, Barron's, aims to get students a 36 on the exam, a perfect score but claims that this lofty goal is something all students should aspire to achieve.

Pros-

• Barron's ACT 36 has exemplary reviews for its English section which reviewers claim to provide just the right challenge to help them score high on the exam.
• It goes into detail about the grammatical aspects of English and further into the basics of Mathematics which will come as a great help if the candidate is attempting ACT after taking a break in academics.
• This innovative book comes complete with advice for dealing with some of the difficult questions, extra-challenging practice tests for each of the test areas, and instructions on how to read efficiently and with high retention rates.

Cons-

• The book does not include basic test-taking strategies that focus on eliminating common errors that can be made during the test.
• The Science section of the book is considered to be of lesser use when compared to sections for English and Mathematics.
• The practice questions provided in the Reading section have been reviewed to be too easy when compared to the original exam.

2

The Official ACT Prep Guide(2019-2020)

Cost- $29.74
Candidates who are looking for authentic materials from the creators of the ACT will find this book to be the best option they can find. Unlike the previous test guides offered by ACT, this book offers essays that provide essay prompts demanding at least one perspective, The earlier practice for the same was to demand the integration of multiple perspectives from the same essay prompt.

The book's downside would be that the question bank can only be accessed online unlike the printable pdf versions of the bonus questions that came with older editions. It borrows heavily from previous editions(only Mathematics) and is not a recommended purchase if one owns the previous versions of the book(especially The Real ACT 3rd Edition).

Pros-

• The guide has seven ACTs, essay prompts, and chapters dealing with the basic contents of each section along with example questions.
• It includes general information regarding the test including information on the registration, planning and even packing for the test day.
• The tests provided are taken from previously conducted ACT exams and are a good resource to purchase if one is looking for a single investment and do not wish to purchase book after book for the same purpose.
• The book contains 400+ flashcards for language learning and an online test bank that is customizable.
• It also contains practice tips and strategies for all subjects.

Cons-

• Since the book has previous versions, it would not be ideal for candidates to invest in this version if they have any of the previous versions. The only noticeable change would be the 7th practice test that has been added to this version.
• Reviewers claim that the book may be a little overwhelming for candidates who are self-prepping for the examination.

3

ACT Prep Plus 2021(Kaplan Test Prep)

Cost- $29.49
Kaplan, being an official teaching partner of ACT, updates itself regularly providing students with fresh content. Purchasing this book avails one printed full-length practice test along with four online tests which will be accessible for a year along with additional quizzes and videos to enable better performance.

The book has a lot of organized information divided into plenty of sections which helps one choose the sections without skimming through the entire book to find a particular section. This helps students skip entire portions they do not want to go through and also helps them understand the categorical difference between sections that can aid in individually focusing on the section after section than all of them in bulk.

Pros-

• This book offers five practice tests, proven strategies, and online content with subject reviews and even video lessons.
• It contains diagnostics pre-quizzes that candidates can take at the beginning of their study session and other practice quizzes after every chapter.
• The book has sample questions provided at the beginning of every chapter along with practice questions at the end of every lesson.
• There are strategic notes written in every math chapter which can be used exclusively while preparing for the ACT.

Cons-

• Reviewers claim that most of the content in the book is similar to the 2019 edition of the book.

4

6 ACT Practice Tests(Barron's Test Prep)3rd Edition

Cost- $37.72
If the candidate in question has been going through book after book reading and studying the strategies required but need to finally use these strategies in detail, this book is for them. It is a book that caters to people with a low budget though that doesn't imply a lack of quality. Whether one tries to practice one section at a time or an entire paper at a time, it helps to manage time and understand where they are falling back since it is in the structure of a question paper than a guide. The answers and explanations come after the full question paper which can give candidates a tendency of going back after every question to check their responses. Even in this scenario, the book helps them understand where exactly was there a flaw in judgment and to rectify the same.

Pros-

• This relatively lightweight book contains six practice tests that are similar to the original test in structure, length, and difficulty.
• There are detailed analyses after question papers stating why the answers marked correct are right.
• The questions lean from moderate to difficult and hence can make the original exam appear simpler comparatively which is good practice.
• It includes a full-length diagnostic test, over 1600 practice questions, and all three difficulty-level reading passages that one can customize to their learning program.

Cons-

• Reviewers claim that except for the Mathematics section, the difficulty level of the questions provided in this book is way higher than that of the original test.
• The format provided for the English section of the book is not the same as the original test and hence can be more confusing than beneficial for candidates

5

ACT Prep Black Book: The Most Effective ACT Strategies Ever Published. 2nd Edition

Cost- $28.48
This book is offered by Mike Barrett who is an ACT tutor with an international clientele. The book claims to be a detailed walkthrough of the Official ACT Prep Guide and aims to aid above-average students in entering the Ivy League or to score a 10 per section to claim sports scholarships.

Even when certain aspects mentioned may seem commonsensical, the way the information has been articulated makes one wonder about the simplicity and complexity of the approach simultaneously. The book aids in making the student understand their mistakes and repeat their steps correctly thereby eliminating the necessity for a tutor.

Pros-

• The book is full of strategies and tricks about approaching ACT, especially in the introduction section along with the first chapter. To be able to understand the approach makes this book a worthy investment in itself.
• The book contains over 600 walkthroughs for all questions in the 3 practice tests provided.

Cons-

• Candidates purchasing the Black book will have to get the Red book as well since the questions being explained in detail here are provided in the Red book. Alternatively, candidates can purchase this book if they otherwise have access to those official tests.

6

Princeton Review Cracking the ACT Premium Edition 2019

Cost- $32.27
Princeton Review is one of the leading prep tool providers for most examinations. This ACT prep book focuses on lower test scorers and so provides questions on the easier side but covers the basics in such a manner that candidates will understand the test and the strategies required to clear the test. For a beginner, this book may be the best place to start as for a high-end score earner this book may not be recommended given its simplicity.

Pros-

• The strength of this prep guide lies in its ability to simplify the basics and in avoiding confusion that can arise while writing about topics.
• It comes with six practice tests, content review, and strategies that aid one in figuring out the basics easily.

Cons-

• Reviewers claim the Mathematics section to be difficult compared to other sections of the book that may seem relatively easy leaving them a little underprepared for the exam.
• The content in the book is targeted at those who are beginners to the test and hence is not of much use to those who are already actively preparing for the test.

7

Manhattan Prep-5 lb. Book of Act Practice Problems

Cost- $49.15
Despite being a 2015 edition, most tutors and students seem to be after this guide due to the difficulty level and form that is both easily understandable and perceivable than other strategy-focusing texts. This guide also includes one-year access to additional online resources along with supplemental practice questions in the Science section.

Pros-

• This book contains over 1800 practice questions and all the sections are organized together and separately for an enhanced learning experience.
• It includes progress trackers and topical grading sheets which help candidates stay motivated and go one test after the other to perfection.
• Reviews claim it to be a realistic ACT practice in sync with the original test pattern though one may not be able to utilize the entirety of the book given its size.

Cons-

• The book is too big for candidates to cover a few months before the examination. It cannot be relied on by last-minute preparers.
• Reviewers claim that while the book may have all the necessary information, it is not organized well enough and hence navigating through the book can be difficult.

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For Prep Books on Mathematics follow link.