I’m taking the Oct 24th ACT and my math sucks. I get 30-32 on the practice tests for Reading, English, and Science, but my math scores are always so bad that it wrecks my composite score. I have been working on my math and it has improved, but there is still room for improvement. I know that a calculator won’t solve my problem, but it will help. What’s the BEST calculator to get for the ACT?
Any calculator, preferably a scientific or graphing calculator, that you are most familiar with. Remember that CAS calculators are not allowed.
I’d recommend the TI Nspire CX
TI 89. But beware that it’s not allowed on the SAT.
@gearsstudio TI-89 is not allowed on the ACT.
I like the TI84 Silver Plus Edition. It’s very advanced (TI 89 is not allowed) and very quick to use.
I definitely agree with @golfcashoahu- the TI84 Silver Edition Plus is definitely my model of choice. Easy to use, fast, with comprehensive graphing ability, it is sure to optimize any student’s math section performance. I know that sounded like it was straight out of an ad, but it’s my honest opinion haha 
The TI-Nspire CX has a better operating system and is more functional than is the TI 84. I would definitely go with the TI-Nspire CX unless your school makes you get the TI 84. The one thing better about the TI 84 is that the buttons are bigger, but most students I know are so fast they get their calculators smoking, so key size is not a big issue.
Here is a review that compares the two:
http://www.tech***poweredmath.com/ti-nspire-cx-vs-ti-84-plus-c/
If you do get the TI 84, make sure you get the TI 84 Plus Silver C edition, not the old model, the TI 84 Plus Silver edition. The new one has a color screen with much better resolution. The old one has really old-fashioned black-and white graphics with bad resolution.
For the SAT, get the TI-Nspire CX CAS. Algebra calculators are allowed on the SAT, but not on the ACT: Don’t leave home without it.