<p>I’m a senior, and I’m taking the ACT again with writing in Dec. 10th. I did horrible the first time I took the ACT, because of the science and the reading sections. And plus, I didnt take the ACT w/ Writing, and I will need it. </p>
<p>So I got a few questions for you guys:</p>
<li><p>Whats the difference between the normal ACT and the one with the Writing? Can you tell me exactly what the Writing part adds? How much harder is it? Etc?</p></li>
<li><p>I never prepared for the ACT before, and now I want to. If I did so poorly (on the reading and science section) my first time, do you think I should bother buying a book? I only have around 18 days to study </p></li>
<li><p>What are the best ACT prep books? I was thinking of Kaplan, is that good?</p></li>
<li><p>Do colleges take the highest ACT scores like they do with the SAT?</p></li>
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<p>And just fyi, these are some of the colleges I want to apply to:</p>
<p>Boston University
University of California: Berkeley
Georgia Institute of Technology
Carnegie Mellon University
University of Washington
University of California: San Diego
University of Pennsylvania</p>
<li><p>If anyone knows right now, do you think taking it in Dec. 10th is too late? I hope I can still meet their deadlines.</p></li>
<li><p>Just making sure Berkeley, Boston, and a lot of other universities will accept ACT w/ Writing instead if you didnt take the SAT2, right?</p></li>
<li><p>Am I supposed to list all those colleges when I register for the ACT. Or can I send in the scores after I get my results back?</p></li>
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<p>I know these are basic questions, but I need them answered. Especially the first 4 questions.</p>
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<li><p>there isn't a reall big difference, just a 30min essay portion</p></li>
<li><p>Definitely buy a book and use it as much as you can to pull of your science and reading scores.</p></li>
<li><p>Kaplan, is what I've heard, but I've never used it.</p></li>
<li><p>I'm not sure, I would aim for the highest score in one sitting though.</p></li>
<li><p>No, taking the test isn't TOO late. I think late registration ends this friday.</p></li>
<li><p>I know that UPenn does, not sure about the others</p></li>
<li><p>Either -or-. I would put my top four on the paper for free the first time around. Then once I get my score report, have them sent to the other colleges.</p></li>
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<p>No. The December ACT is fine if you're applying regular decision to all the colleges you listed. </p>
<p>Use the "Real ACT Prep Guide" if you want the best practice that is currently avaliable. Barron's is too exhaustive (goes way more in depth then necessary). I really don't know too much about Kaplan's or PR's offerings.</p>
<p>Yeah, I guess Barron is like that. I used Barron's book for my SAT prep, and the math section on the real SAT was 10x easier than what I expected.</p>
<p>I've actually tried all three books. Barrons didn't help me that much. Kaplan was by far the most effective. It gave me really good strategies and brought up my science from a 28 to a 32. As far as the "real ACT" goes, it offers very little in terms of strategies and improvement, but it helps a lot with getting used to the test because it has actual practice tests in it. Just my two cents. I vote for Kaplan, it really brought all my scores up.</p>
<p>I did a little bit of both. I mainly focused on their guide, but I believe I did one or two tests from Kaplan and then two from the "real ACT." When I did the Kaplan tests, I tried to focus on strategies and use them more as a study tool. When I took the "real ACT" tests, I concentrated on practice and preparation for the test day. Not sure if that makes sense the way I worded it.</p>
<p>Thanks - I'm going to grab me a copy of THE REAL ACT book because I took an online kaplan test and got 11 wrong in math alone...but they won't tell me which #'s they were so its useless.</p>