<p>Hi guys!</p>
<p>I have been studying/practicing for the SAT for months and I would like to improve my score this summer. I have been thinking about giving the ACT a chance. However, I am a senior in high school, and I have never taken any ACT practice tests but I do have the PR ACT book. I was wondering that after I take the practice test to see where I stand, are there any books you guys would recommend? Now, is the ACT similar to SAT in the sense of buying different books for each section, for example, to improve math on the SAT you could use PWN's math guide, or Direct Hits for vocab. But please help me on what I should do. </p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>I’m currently studying for the ACT. Instead of taking the PR practice test, take an actual practice test released from the ACT: <a href=“http://media.act.org/documents/preparing.pdf[/url]”>http://media.act.org/documents/preparing.pdf</a>
That will give you a more accurate score than PR, although PR is pretty close to the actual exam.</p>
<p>Most people recommend The Real ACT prep guide. It includes 5 real ACT exams from the past.
Another book I recommend is the Barron’s 36 book and the PR 1296 (if you need extra practice problems).</p>
<p>Although there are books for separate subject for the ACT, such as Barron’s math and science workbook, generally most people just buy one book for all the subjects. </p>
<p>My friend got a 34 on the ACT but a 2100 on the SAT. You might be better at the ACT than the SAT like my friend.</p>
<p>What have you used? If you used the The Real ACT Prep Guide, what was your experience with it?</p>
<p>I am currently using The Real ACT and Barron’s 36.</p>
<p>I feel they are the perfect combination! :)</p>
<p>Thank you for the review! I’ll look into them, I am currently in a predicament with the SAT though. I have been studying for the SAT for months and I’ve bought multiple resources. I just feel that I’ve done so much that I don’t want to stop studying for it. However, I feel that I may do twice as better on the ACT than the SAT who knows. I’m just on a low budget atm on which books to buy for both the SAT and ACT…</p>
<p>I started off at a 23 the first time I took it. Four tests later I scored 33. It was incredibly difficult but through tons of practice tests and study books I raised my score 10 Points. Let my story he an inspiration to you. Some colleges may see how you improved so much (even if you get a 28 when you started at 23)and be so impressed they overlook the fact that your scores are subpar</p>
<p>Okay, I’ll take a practice test at home timed, should I do the essay too or no? I’ll do the essay for sure on the real thing. Also, is the essay style different than the SAT?</p>
<p>bump please need help</p>
<p>I am not sure how you can practice essay at home. Who will score it for you? Since ACT essay won’t affect the composite score , probably best to concentrate on the 4 subjects.</p>
<p>I can post it on here and have people read it, not sure to be honest. Okay, thank you. Do you recomend The Real ACT or Barrons? I don’t know which one to get first. I have cracking the ACT at the moment.</p>
<p>Also, do you recommend for me to read the book from front to back? Or just do the practice tests because currently, I am only doing the practice tests.</p>
<p>I can tell you what my son has been doing this summer. He uses Barron’s ACT (not ACT 36) for reviewing all subjects. It is a very comprehensive study guide, takes a lot time to go through it. Since you have been studying SAT for a while, I suspect science is the section you need to be familiar with. Look at other posts about science prep from CC, lots of good tips. I think everyone here has mostly the same books, PR 1296, Real ACT, Barron, and Kaplan. They are all good.</p>
<p>Thank you for the tips! Does he also use The Real ACT?</p>
<p>Yes. Good luck on your study. My son also has PSAT to worry about but hasn’t done much prep on that. I say the vocab is hopeless :)</p>
<p>The Vocab for the SAT?</p>
<p>Yes. PSAT is only 3 months away. I don’t know how much vocab he can memorize.</p>
<p>I have another question, do you recommend for me to read The Real ACT or Barrons from cover to cover? Or just practice sections even though it’s my first time with the ACT? I only have until September.</p>
<p>My son read both cover to cover, but hasn’t done any practice exams in Barron and only 2 exams in Real ACT so far. He likes Barron. At this point I think more practice exams is what he needs.</p>
<p>Is he doing a whole practice exam every day? Or just sections?</p>
<p>No, 2 or 3 full length exams/week. Everyday he works on one section that he is weak at. Once a week he takes a full length exam at 8am. He is not a morning person, so getting used to the morning test is important.</p>