<p>Hey guys! So I have been prepping for the ACT, but I'm trying to really focus on prepping now that it is summer and was wondering what prep books would be the best to use? I am shooting for 30+ and have a 28 at the moment. My local library, luckily, has almost all the major prep books and I have been indecisive on what books to get. Would it be better for me to get Barron's ACT or Barron's 36? I already have the red book for practice tests so right now I just want to get one for concept review and strategies. Is PR Cracking the ACT or Barrons ACT or 36 better for the concept review? Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>PR is OK, not great in my opinion. Barron’s 36 is good as it over prepares you to make the actual test easier. Honestly, I’d just take all except for Kaplan, McGraw-Hill’s, and do not take made up tests by the prep companies. Only take tests from the Red Book; others are junk.</p>
<p>Thanks man! I just reserved both Barron’s (ACT & 36) from my library, and I will probably be able to check them out sometime this week. I think I am going to leave PR behind, because I have PR 1296 ?s and I don’t really find it that helpful. I will be reviewing all the material and strategies and leaving the red book for like a month before the September ACT.</p>
<p>Same. I’m shooting for a 30 this time. Hopefully a 36 when I leave high school. Good luck; I wish you the best. :)</p>
<p>I say you take at least one full test from the red book since you have 5. That way, you’ll know where you are currently and how you’re improving by using the barron’s prep books. Im doing exactly that.</p>
<p>What more can different ACT books offer if we can rely on the tests therein? As far as strategies are concern, aren’t there only so many strategies which are probably discussed in red book? </p>
<p>In other words can you describe briefly how you use other books? May be we can learn from each other as there is only so much time left.</p>
<p>@TommyD36 - Thanks man, good luck to you as well!</p>
<p>Yeah, I think I will be doing a practice exams once a week, probably on the weekend, to check my progress, see where I am lacking, and review my mistakes.</p>
<p>^ I find that although the strategies in these books are almost identical, the practice tests are very different. For example, I consistently got a 27 when I took McGraw Hill’s ACT practice tests, but received 32s to 33s when I took the Red book’s practice tests. One of the main faults about McGraw Hill’s practice tests was that it contained a lot of obscure questions that often featured multiple right answers. I cannot vouch for other practice books, but I found that the most of the concepts that were featured in the McGraw Hill book was never included in any of the Red book’s practice tests. The Red book’s tests are actually taken from retired ACTs, so the questions are similar to the actual ACT. When I took the June ACT, the test looked exactly like came from the Red book. I guess what I’ve been trying to say is that other books are good for test taking strategies, but the Red book is definitely the one you should take your practice tests in!</p>
<p>What more can different ACT books offer if we can not rely on the tests therein? As far as strategies are concern, aren’t there only so many strategies which are probably discussed in red book? </p>
<p>In other words can you describe briefly how you use other books? May be we can learn from each other as there is only so much time left.</p>
<p>I used McGraw Hill and got 33-34s on the practice tests, but when test day came, time was of the essence, and I ran out of time completely on the reading section (also somewhat on math&science, but only a question or 2).
So although I had very high English math and science scores my reading brought my composite down to a 31. I guess the point I am making is, McGraw hill preps very well, EXCEPT for the timing aspect. I would practice with a different book for that( or just shorten the McGraw time). Good luck!</p>