<p>What is the best prep book other than The Real ACT (Peterson's) for procrastinating D? I read that Kaplan has a new prep book being released next month?</p>
<p>I like to know that too. DS has one year to get 2 or 3 points higher.</p>
<p>According to what students have been saying, Barrons and Princeton Review's books.</p>
<p>Thanks, NE Mom! Any other suggestions, either from students or parents?</p>
<p>Any other thoughts?</p>
<p>Think the ACT site has an online review program.</p>
<p>IMO, the key to the ACT is getting the timing down. With a motivated kid that's getting your hands on practice tests. I recommend checking out the reader reviews on Amazon.com. There you can get opinions on what's good and bad on each book.</p>
<p>Thanks SoCalGal09! I've heard many consistent statements that practice and timing with the ACT are key AND that the substance is not as difficult as one might expect!</p>
<p>I agree that time management can be key. S1 never took the ACT, but when he took the SAT the first time he panicked and ran out of time on the math. He was very frustrated, and signed up immediately to take it again. The next time around, with no additional preparation, his score went up 200 points simply because he knew better how to budget his time. I think the same would go for the ACT.</p>
<p>S2 is going to pass on the SAT and focus on the ACT instead. He received his first scores today and obviously has a lot of work to do on certain sections, especially math and science. He said he had run out of time on almost every section. I think the suggestion re: practice tests is a good one.</p>
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Any other thoughts?
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<p>My stock advice applies. Don't spend time in cram books, especially if you've already used the official cram book, that takes time away from general, avid reading about what your child likes to read about. Here's my FAQ on standardized test prep: </p>
<p>READ, READ </p>
<p>To learn how to score well on a standardized test reading section, the number one piece of advice is READ, READ, READ, and READ. Read about what you like to know more about. Read things that are fun for you. Find books and magazines about interesting topics and read them. Turn off the TV and read. Put away the video game controller and read. Read hard things, and read easy things. Read a lot. </p>
<p>For years, I wondered why it came so readily to mind to write "READ, READ, READ" in all capital letters like that when I give advice on this subject, as I have frequent occasion to do. Recently, I reread the section "Suggestions for Study" in the front matter of John DeFrancis's book Beginning Chinese Reader, Part I, which I first used to learn Chinese back in 1975. In that section of that book, I found this passage, "Fluency in reading can only be achieved by extensive practice on all the interrelated aspects of the reading process. To accomplish this we must READ, READ, READ" (capitalization as in original).</p>
<p>You have one of the three ingredients for success, #1 "The REAL ACT" book. Now you just need two more things...#2 you need a stopwatch since as mentioned before it is all about finishing within the time allotted and #3 you need a willing student who will agree to prepare for the test by doing the following in their limited available time:</p>
<p>Take every practice test in the book using the stopwatch. You don't have to do an entire test at one time (who would want to do that?), but do a sectiion or two at a time and simulate conditions with the stopwatch. Score test and then go over all wrong answers to learn from your mistakes. </p>
<p>Take every free online test from the ACT site and prorate the time allotted. Can do a section at a time as student's schedule permits, but do it under timed conditions. Score test and go over all wrong answers to learn from your mistakes.</p>
<p>There is probably no time to read other prep books and many chapters covering academic topics. Just start taking timed practice tests and learn from your mistakes. If you find you are weak in a particular area, spend more time practicing that section. This method gets results, but not everyone can find secret ingredient #3 in their house!</p>
<p>Thanks to both Mini Van and Token Adult. If I can get my d motivated to begin a review process, that will get the ball rolling. She has always been an avid reader and that will (hopefully!) help when she takes the test, if she can learn to conquer the time constraints and budget well her time!</p>
<p>What helped my D was to focus on the section that she felt that she had a fair chance to improve her skill and go over others to get familiar with format. She has spent one week about hour or less a day, got decent score and ended up taking ACT once. Her strategy has worked for her and she did not have to sacrifice other important activities for ACT preparation.</p>
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for procrastinating D
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<p>For a relatively high-scoring kid who does not like to read textbooks for fun, the best way to increase the score is to do practice tests (can be just one section at a time, but "timed" ).</p>
<p>For a low-scoring kid (<<30), it is worth while to review the concepts related to the questions on which they lose points.</p>
<p>nngmm</p>
<p>Thanks! I really appreciate all the hints and will let you know how d performs. Now we have to decide on the Feb or April test date.</p>