Learn about the best self-study resources for the ACT test, along with tips on how to successfully complete the test.
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Beth cofounded and formerly served as an educator and executive director for Opus in Louisville, Kentucky, a nonprofit organization aimed at preparing high school students for a successful college career through a comprehensive ACT course. She has more than five years of experience in education, teaching and developing curriculum for public schools and nonprofits in subjects ranging from college test prep to art history to animation to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).
Students who are considering going to college soon spend plenty of time thinking (or stressing!) about the ACT. Many colleges and universities require this test for admission, and it can be quite a bit different and more difficult than the tests most people encounter in high school.
Preparing for the ACT can help you learn what the test looks like, develop skills, and ultimately get a higher score. Though tutors, teachers, courses, and prep centers can be very helpful, there’s lots you can do on your own to improve your ACT score.
This article lists the twenty best self-guided ACT prep resources, and offers information to help you decide which ones to add to your bookshelf, phone, or bookmarks tab. Below is everything you need to start prepping for the ACT, from ultimate guides, to books for bad test takers, to mobile games, to study times, to meditations. But first, a little bit of information about the ACT.
Alongside transcripts, essays, extracurricular activities, and other aspects of your application, college admissions officers look at ACT scores to decide whether or not to accept you for admission at their school. Scores on the ACT range from 0–36, and the test is made up of English, Math, Reading, Science sections, as well as an optional Writing section.
Many colleges will accept scores from ACT and SAT college admissions tests. Whether or not to take both is up to the individual student. Though similar, the tests vary in a few notable ways. The ACT has four sections — English, Math, Reading, and Science — while the SAT has three sections — Reading, Writing, and Math. The ACT gives you less time per question than the SAT, and tests you on analyzing experiments and data in the Science section, while not testing you explicitly on vocabulary like the SAT does. Ultimately, what test you should take comes down to personal preference and goals. Every student should take some time to research the tests, to browse sample questions, and consider personal skills and needs.
Many colleges and universities specify a minimum ACT score for admissions. Depending on the schools you want to attend, you likely need to take the ACT to get into college. ACT scores can also affect your specific course load. Students with low ACT scores may need to take remedial courses. Conversely, high scores can earn you credit for certain core college classes, without having to take the class! ACT scores can also play a crucial role in determining who receives merit based scholarships, as well as scholarships from schools and other organizations. There are plenty of benefits to landing a high ACT score, and working toward a higher score now, no matter where you are, can be a great choice in the long run.
There are tons of options for ACT prep — from books to online courses to in-person tutors — and so, tons of answers to this question. Getting familiar with the ACT, learning skills and strategies relevant to the test, and then applying all of that by practicing are the main ways you can prepare for the ACT. Self-guided ACT prep is a great way to start studying for the test; it’s the most flexible and least expensive type of ACT preparation. Even if you do take a class or hire a tutor, you’ll have knowledge and skills from your self-study that will make guided ACT prep easier and more productive. The books, apps, and other resources on this list are an excellent way to start preparing for the ACT.
The Official ACT Prep Guide is, well, official. This book is the only guide put out by the makers of the exam, and it includes official practice tests from past years, actual ACT test forms, information on registering for the exam, proven test-taking strategies, and more. ACT puts out a new edition each year, and while the current year’s version is the most up-to-date, you may benefit from using older editions as well, as they contain practice tests that aren’t in the newest edition. So, if you work through this year’s copy of The Official ACT Prep Guide and are hungry for more, pick up an older edition.
This book is a good starting place for your self-guided study. You can learn from the test makers themselves what to look for, what to know, and what to do, and then put all that knowledge to the test on some official practice exams. It’s also worth reading what The Official ACT Prep Guide has to say about scoring your exams and making sense of your score report after you take the ACT. Additionally, you can spend time with the book’s online bonus content to further improve your knowledge and skills.
Recap: Learning what the test makers have to say about their exam is a great starting place. If you’re looking to get familiar with the test and practice with official tests, grab a copy of ACT’s Official ACT Prep Guide. This book is mentioned in other resources on this list, so it’s a great one to start with.
Many general ACT prep books are made up of lessons and study guides, in addition to practice questions and tests. That’s great, but when you’ve learned lots of skills and strategies and are just looking to test your chops, Barron’s 6 ACT Practice Tests probably needs a spot on your bookshelf (and it’ll take up a lot less space than books like Cracking the ACT and The Official ACT Prep Guide ). This book includes six practice tests with answer explanations for each question.
This is a great book to practice from. Whether you take a section at a time, or an entire test, 6 ACT Practice Tests gives you plenty of exam to work with. Although the book doesn’t include guides or lessons for each section of the test, the answer explanations let you check yourself and learn as you go. As tempting as it is to just see if you got the question right or wrong, taking the time to read the explanation will help you get it right next time, too. Barron’s is known to create material that is harder than the official ACT, so keep that in mind as you use this book. Don’t get discouraged when you miss questions, and when you practice with official ACT materials, they might even begin to seem easier.
Recap: If you’ve learned the basics of the ACT and have some skills and strategies under your belt, use Barron’s 6 ACT Practice Tests to continually practice and improve.
If your goal is a perfect ACT score, ACT 36: Aiming for the Perfect Score contains advice, strategies, and extra-challenging practice tests to help you rack up every point on the exam. Since you need a good memory to get a perfect ACT score, the book includes instruction on reading efficiently and retentively. It also includes special tips for boosting your Science score, as well as advice on how to write a “perfect” (at least, in the eyes of the ACT) essay. There’s a version of the book that comes with a CD-ROM with extra practice questions and tests that might be worth getting if you want extra extra-difficult practice.
If you’re scoring in the high twenties or low thirties, ACT 36: Aiming for the Perfect Score might be just what you need to get to the next level. Of course, anyone can use this book, but it does contain more challenging content than other books on this list, so if you’re struggling with the ACT, building your confidence with other resources would probably best before picking up this book. You can use this book both for learning winning tips and strategies, as well as practicing difficult ACT questions.
Recap: If you think you might be able to get a perfect score (or if you’re aiming to score in the thirties at all), ACT 36: Aiming for the Perfect Score has content and practice that can help you reach your goal.
The Complete Guide to ACT English is a comprehensive review of ALL of the grammar and rhetoric topics tested on the English section of the ACT written by Erica Meltzer, an experienced ACT tutor. The book includes explanations of errors you might make on the test, including both simple and complex mistakes. It also includes exercises and reviews so that you can continually test and apply what you’re learning. The Complete Guide to ACT English pairs perfectly with The Official ACT Prep Guide , since Meltzer’s book includes an index of English questions in The Official ACT Prep Guide , organized by both topic and test.
The Complete Guide to ACT English can be a helpful tool in your ACT prep, no matter what your English skills are. The book is ideal for ACT English study, whether you’re a student with little previous grammar study, or someone who’s focusing extra attention on the most difficult grammar and rhetoric concepts. You can work straight through the book, or use sections of it to improve particular English skills.
Recap: If you want to work specifically on the English section of the ACT, The Complete Guide to ACT English has what you need.
