The Real ACT Prep Guide [with CD]

by ACT

The Real ACT Prep Guide with CD is the only book with insider test-taking tips and strategy, practice, and insight from the makers of the ACT. This is the only guide that includes 5 previously administered, full-length ACT tests written by the actual test maker (including 2 NEW practice tests). Also included is ACT content and procedures you'll follow when actually taking the test, along with in-depth review of the optional Writing Test and how it is scored; examples of all the question types; and suggestions on how you might approach the questions. The supplemental CD features a complete electronic copy of Peterson's Cool Colleges 101 and additional online college planning resources from Peterson's.
The only guide that includes 5 previously administered, full-length ACT tests written by the actual test maker (including 2 NEW practice tests)


ACT content and procedures you'll follow when actually taking the test


Valuable information about tuition payment plans


All the question types you can expect to find on the ACT


Suggestions on how you might approach the questions and Peterson's tried-and-true test-taking strategies and tips

Genres: Nonfiction, School, Reference

929 pages, Paperback

First published August 7, 2004

About the author

ACT (Iowa City, IA) is a not-for-profit organization providing assessment, research, information, and program management services to support education and workforce development. Known most widely as the makers of the ACT exam--the college readiness and placement assessment taken by some 1.8 million high school students each year--ACT produces a number of assessments and services reaching more than 10 million people along the kindergarten through career continuum. ACT's rigorous research informs policy decisions and helps develop programs that boost lifelong learning potential in schools and workplaces around the world. To learn more, visit www.act.org.

Reviews

[Beanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to use when studying for the ACT. The included practice tests are perfect to get some experience with the real test before you take it (something that helped me greatly). I'm positive that this book helped me to get a higher score than I would have had without it.

[Book · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to start my review with the most important information – unfortunately, this is not the new version of “The Real ACT Prep Guide” but “The Real ACT Prep Guide, 3rd Edition” published by Peterson. The only new things this book brought are access to new online bonus content and redesigned cover.

Therefore, if you expect new edition that would include the fresh updates, because somehow book description implies such information can be found within the covers, you would not find it inside. In other words, if you already have the previous “The Real ACT Prep Guide” version, this one is simply not worth purchasing only because of online content.

On the other hand, if you are preparing or prepare someone else, this book would definitely serve as good source of information and preparation guide because it contains the older format of official practice tests.

I hope that my review would help you to understand what you could and could not find inside, because it seems someone made mistake writing the book description.

[Benjamin Tran · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent grab for any individuals who are interested in pushing themselves to become more experienced at the ACT. Unfortunately, there are only 5 tests as opposed to its counterpart the SAT prep guide which has 10 full tests (5 FULL TESTS MORE!!!). The book is written by the same people who create the ACT so the questions are exactly the same. I would advise anyone who is interested in improving their score to time themselves during practice run and afterwards recording the mistakes in a notebook. After a few days, you can go back and review your mistakes and understand why you made them. Good luck with your standardized test!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished taking my test hopefully I did well. This book was very helpful. I took one of the practice test inside and I think it really helped when I got to the test. The practice test is similar to the real test, so I felt comfortable that I knew what I was doing or what was going on during the real test. I would highly recommend this book if you are planning to take your ACT. Now must go take a nap. It's a very long, mentally draining four hour test. Good luck to you if your planning to take the ACT. :)

[Jessica]

I will see how much it helps anyways when I get my scores back-- The format is a bit off because it explains the questions either before the sample questions so you have to keep flipping back a few pages, or right after each question so you have to cover up the answers. It's very annoying. I also didnt like the practice test set up so that it took forever and lots of flipped pages to score them.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a staple for ACT preparation. The introductory chapters are quite good, and unlike the SAT book, this one has explanations for the practice tests. The SAT Big Blue Book has its advantages, though: unlike this ACT book, it has topical reviews for math. I haven't checked out the ACT CD included with this. I find that 5 tests are usually sufficient for students.

[Sabrina Vosler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not done yet, I'm just going to finish it at a later time. I feel like I'll just be rushing through the rest of the tests since the ACT is this Saturday. So far, I feel mostly confident about getting a good score. This book has really helped me to be prepared. I hope it has prepared me enough to get a good score on my ACT!

[Scott Manning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very solid book that is almost required in order to score well. After finishing the practice tests, even though they were not official, made you feel as if you were prepared and understood why the right answers were right and the wrong answers were wrong. If you are considering taking the act this is a great book to start on.

[Noura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a MUST-HAVE if you're taking the ACT. Because it the only book that contains 3 official ACT tests. And by that it helps you to practice. However, you can't study from the book material. You have to buy another study guides from that teaches you about the ACT from A to Z.

[Rebecca Rash · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would say this was pretty helpful. The practice tests were great, and a lot more like the real thing then the online practice tests. Good tips, good introduction. Now we'll just wait and see my scores. ;)

[Kristopher Teague]

It's a little bit dry, but the plot is okay. Hopefully this book of over 600 pages will help to increase my ACT score.

[Veronica · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an ok resource. Frankly sometimes the explanations and attempted humor were a little much for me. Glad to have read it, but I hope I'll never have to again.

[Cheryl White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I use this resource in my classroom. Would like to get reviews from other teachers using it.

[Lea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I used this book for ACTs, but it wasn't as good as the SAT prep books. Still, it helped me to get used to the formatting.

[Haley Baker · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has five ACT tests in it - each test including all four subjects on the test PLUS the writing test. You can't get much more prepared than that.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good for practice tests, but actual test content is very basic.

[Ham · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's helpful