I took the tests in the Red book and scored between 34-35 on all of them. However I took the practice tests that are released by the ACT and scored much lower. (31-32) I have been scoring lower on the barrons book also. So I am wondering if the Red book tests are easier than the real one. This will be my first and only ACT. I was not planning on taking it but my counselor suggested that I take it due to my low reading score on the SAT: My SAT score is 800M, 760 W, 650R .
The red book is accurate, they are just older tests. ACT has been making the tests harder as more and more are taking them and getting better and better scores. Also Barrons has a reputation for making harder practice tests than the actual ones, so your results are in line. Unfortunately you are looking at a 32 on the real tests. One suggestion I have is counter-intuitive. Don’t worry about your weak scores as much as really practicing on your strengths. It only takes a couple of more correct questions to go from a 30 to a 36 subscore than it does to go from a 25 to even a 30.