I’ve been using the 3rd edition ACT book to study for the September ACT. I am not taking the essay which I know drastically changed. Since I’m not taking the essay, would the 3rd edition ACT book practice tests be useful to study for the upcoming ACT?
You will be fine. If I’m correct, they only released a new version this summer? If that’s the case everyone before that was also using the outdated book. (Myself included for the state ACT in April, and I was satisfied.)
Really, the style of questions is super similar.
New Red Book has 2 updated tests using an amalgam of material from the old book and the April/June 2015 tests. Old book is good for practice problems, but IMHO the tests are so old that they’re significantly easier than the current tests.
@midntutor Do you mean real tests are harder now because the actual questions are harder or is the curve tougher? Am I doing myself a disservice by using the red book practice tests?
You aren’t doing a disservice by taking the old tests, but the 2016 test is much harder than a 2006 test. In English there are now more style questions and fewer straightforward grammar questions (and those style questions are more in depth). In math, an old easy-to-hard trend from #1-60 has now given way to a greater mix of problem levels. In reading, the prose fiction passages are now stacked with nothing but “Suggest/Imply” questions that take longer to answer. Science may be a touch easier just because there are now 6 passages instead of 7, and since that change my students are generally having more luck finishing the test. However, the conflicting viewpoints passage is significantly harder than those given in bygone days.
I have tests from the 2008-09 era that used to be some of my main tests I would give to students. I now only give certain parts of those now as drills because they no longer reflect what a current score would be.
The tests are tougher now. The ACT had to make them tougher because too many people were putting up 36’s, and like any good competitor, the ACT has cranked up their game as well.
@midtntutor Is the 3rd edition really that old? I thought it was only 4-5 years old, not like 10 years old.
The book’s only 4-5 years old… but a couple of the tests were holdovers from edition 2 (which I have for archival purposes). I believe the newest test in 3rd ed. was from 2006 or 2007, and I have read on here (and Amazon reviews) for years about how outdated those tests were even just after 3rd edition was released.
@midtntutor Wow I didn’t know they were that old. My current strategy was to do one practice test before studying anything, then go through the black book+any specific topics I wanted to look over, then do the other practice tests and go through the wrong answers. So far I did the blind practice test and am a good chunk of the way done with the black book. Is this enough prep? I started pretty high(blind practice test was a 33) so I don’t think I need too much prep.
This close to the test, don’t overwork yourself. Your best bet these last 3 days before the test is to review what you have done, then get lots of sleep Weds. and Thursday nights, then don’t do any studying after school on Friday. Go to a game or a movie… just don’t stay home and get nervous.