Which ACT Prep Book Do I Trust?

<p>I was using the Kaplan and I was getting like a 24-26 composite score everytime.. Then I got PR today and I looked at their conversion charts. If I had missed the same amount in Kaplan, but used their conversion chart, I would of been at 27-30. What the..? Which book has a reliable scoring system so I can see where I stand for the ACT next week Friday. Kaplan was totally depressing me for a week when I saw how low my score was with it..</p>

<p>And if anyone has a link to a really good score conversion chart, I would definitely appreciate it.</p>

<p>1) Princeton review and Kaplan tests don’t necessarily reflect performance on the real test
2) conversion score charts are different on every test. Easier sections have harder curves, for example
3) The conversion charts in neither of the books are reflective of the real ACT.
4) Take a red book test to get an approximation for your score…</p>

<p>I agree with cjgone. However, if those materials are not available for your disposal, I’d say PR is a more accurate source since it reflected my scores somewhat. (I averaged 32’s on PR, but got a 33 on the real test)</p>

<p>I forgot the word “necessarily” on the 3rd statement. So necessarily reflective, aka, it might or might not.</p>

<p>I know the score chart is different on each test, but do they really differ by that much? Like getting 15 wrong on a Math Section on one ACT try would get you a 27, but next time you might end up with a 30? I kind of assumed it didn’t vary that much and one of the books could give me a better estimate over the other. That’s all I’m asking for. An estimation. 1 or 2 numbers off is fine.</p>

<p>The general consensus is that the PR 1297 and the Official Book are the best.</p>

<p>The Official ACT book (known in CC as the “Red Book”) is likely the best ACT book you could use. It has previously administered exams; its the closest thing to the real thing you’ll ever experience.</p>

<p>^Keep in mind that they haven’t released an updated version of the Red Book, so although it being made by the makers of the ACT gives it credibility, the Red Book is, in many ways, outdated.</p>

<p>On the real ACT missing 2 questions on the reading could get you anything from a 32 to a 36 for example. Similar on the science and other sections but not as variable.</p>

<p>I’m taking the ACT for the first time on the 11th, I only have the Kaplan book for review is it any good? It has 3 practice tests are they any close to the real ones?</p>

<p>I’ve been using a Princeton Review book. It’s extremely helpful so far. I’ve been going over the math section, because math and science were my two lowest scores. Haven’t looked at science yet, but it’s definitely covered problems that I didn’t understand before. I recommend it!</p>

<p>The Kaplan is freakin’ crap. I been looking through the PR, and it’s 1000 times better. The practice test and strategies in Kaplan are horrible.</p>

<p>it depends on you; people praise that the PR helps, but for me, that book dropped my score down by 1 point. i will NEVER trust that book again. i am using Barron’s 36. (the older version) and indeed it is har.d i am trying Mcgraw HIll now. hopefully i will make the grade.</p>

<p>goodluc.</p>

<p>How are each of the books difficulty wise? I know Barron is incredibly hard, but how about Kaplan and PR? I had both Kaplan and PR so far, and Kaplan seemed like a joke. I didn’t really learn anything and the test seemed super easy (but they graded super hard). PR seems pretty tough, but I score better then Kaplan.</p>

<p>You pretty much just summed it up yourself. Barron’s is incredibly difficult, I normally score 5-8 points lower per test than I did on the actual one with Barron’s. Kaplan’s is fairly easy (which is why the grading is more strict). Obviously the Red Book is the closest to the actual ACT, since it’s made be the makers of the ACT and has three previously administered tests. Princeton Review is, in my opinion, the closest thing to the ACT that you’ll get (out of practice books) that’s not the Red Book. My standard deviation with PR is about 2, which is about the deviation that’s expected between different administered ACTs.</p>