ACT Red Book accuracy... what do you think?

Test Preparation ACT Preparation
1

The Red Book by section:

  1. English: pretty accurate, but not 100% because the test keeps evolving gradually.

  2. Math: much too easy compared to recent tests.

  3. Reading: Single Passages pretty accurate. But…
    Double Passages not accurate at all. The Red Book doesn’t have any Double Passages. So if you’re not aware that one DP will be on the test, you will be blindsided on test day. You’ll waste time trying to figure out what the heck is going on, where did this come from, you didn’t know there were Double Passages, is this a cruel joke, blah, blah, blah. Before you know it, time is up, and you just got killed in Reading. And that negativity and frustration will linger into the next section, Science, affecting your score.

Science: too easy.

Essay: pretty accurate… for now. The Essay format is changing dramatically (translation: harder because more work will be involved) in the Fall. Look on the ACT website for a sample. But no specific date is given yet when the new Essay format goes live. Check the ACT website for updates.

It would be nice to have a new edition of the Red Book, one that reflects the recent changes and upcoming changes. But don’t expect one until 2016, per Peterson’s, the publisher.

2

I agree with you on the reading and math sections. The math is way too easy in the red book, I was averaging 30-31 on the math portion in that book and ended up receiving a 26 on the actual test. English and science, I felt were somewhat accurate though.

3

I think the Red Book works best for English practice. The reading is okay too.

4

I found the same to be true with recent SATs. I’m actually taking the April ACT so are there any books you guys recommend to make up for this disparity in difficulty?

5

I agree with you on mostly everything. I didn’t find Math too different, however. Science is way too easy in the red book.