<p>Hi Guys,</p>
<p>I'm at 27 right now and would like to push my score upto 30-31. What suggestions, tips would you give me? Do I prepare from Red book and official booklets only or I review some other books? More practice?? Online course? Please share your experience.</p>
<p>I’m also in your range. As far as preparation, I would suggest you to buy the Red Book. Take those practice tests in very restricted conditions such as time limit per section, quiet, Saturday morning at 8, etc. There are plenty of prep books out there but not as much as the SATs. I would recommend, since you’re shooting for a higher score, the Barron’s 36. It doesn’t teach you any of the basics; it focuses on strategies on the harder questions. I personally do not like Princeton Review, McGrawHill, Kaplan- those are all for low scorers in my opinion. </p>
<p>Use Barron’s. They also have two books: Reading/Language/Writing and Math/Science. So if your weakness is on one of those sections, get it. Their curriculum is much harder than what the actual test is, but it over prepares you so the ACT will seem like a cake when you take it. Doesn’t work for everyone, though. Hope you reach your goals. Work hard. :)</p>
<p>Thanks Tommy for the very valuable suggestion. </p>
<p>I have been preparing for SAT for last one year and took real SAT twice and this was my first practice ACT as I’m thinking about taking ACT in Sep, I took ACT practice test from prep Guide booklet. I ordered the red book. Red book has 3 or 5 practice tests. That’s not a whole lot. What do you do after you finish those tests? Do you practice them again? retaking them won’t tell you where you stand exactly as you may remember answers from the previously taken test??</p>
<p>I wish you ton of luck and hope you reach and or exceed your goal!!!</p>
<p>What are the sections that you are not strong at. Could you post your score here? Then i could help! :D</p>
<p>I got a 27 also. The hardest thing about ACT prep is the lack of actual ACT tests. The Red Book only has five and I went through four tests already. Now I have to go to Princeton Review’s 1296 for extra practice. I’m not a big fan of using other sources for practice questions but I will take what I can get. Hopefully we both can reach our dream score.</p>
<p>@bella. You said you are prepping from the red book and that you are at a 27. How are your improvements from using the book?
I need some imsight to further help you.</p>
<p>@ketann</p>
<p>That was my first test, for last year I have been preparing for SAT, now decided to switch and wants to take ACT. Can’t tell you the improvements as I just started working on ACT.</p>
<p>If you are finished with the Red Book, take some time to review all the questions- correct or incorrect. You will be accustomed to the ACT’s format. The flipping back and forth is really annoying, so I’m planning to rip it up with a knife or some sort and staple the answer key and each test. Also, the real ACT may appear to be difficult than the Res Books which is okay because the ACT runs on a 2 year cycle. This means that the tests will contain particular material during a particular 2 years of testing. So, there may be more emphasis on certain topics on one test as compared to another. Because of this, the sections do seem more difficult than other times, depending on the material contained within it.</p>
<p>As far as PR 1296, I bought that as well. Never practiced from it though- I’m returning it next week. I believe it can only help you with math. Still, nothing is more beneficial than actual ACT tests. Wish you the best. :)</p>
<p>There are only a few practice tests in red book. what do you do after you finish all the tests? Are the two online course tests different? I have got past ACT preparing booklets, how are the tests in booklets? are they close to the real ones?</p>