SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips

Cracking the ACT Review: Is This ACT Prep Book Right for You?

Many high schoolers have heard of the Princeton Review ACT prep books, including Cracking the ACT. But is Cracking the ACT the right ACT prep book for you? To help you figure that out, we’ve put together a comprehensive review of Cracking the ACT. 

To help you get a sense of what’s covered in Cracking the ACT and how it can improve your ACT score, we will: 

  • Explain what Cracking the ACT covers, and where to find copies of the book
  • Summarize each section of the book, focusing on the ACT topics and test taking strategies they discuss 
  • Assess the book’s strengths and weaknesses 
  • Explain how to decide if Cracking the ACT is right for you.

Now, let’s take a closer look!

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Barron's ACT 36 Review: Should You Buy This Book?

Barron’s is a well-known provider of test preparation resources, and their ACT prep book, Barron’s ACT 36 4th Edition, is a go-to resource for students taking the ACT.  

But just because a study guide is popular doesn’t mean it’s the best one for you! If you want to get the most out of your ACT study time, then you need to make sure you’re selecting the right ACT guidebook for the job. 

That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive review of Barron’s ACT 36. This article will provide a full rundown of the book, including explaining: 

  • What Barron’s ACT 36 is
  • What content is covered in the book, chapter by chapter 
  • The Seven pros and cons of the book
  • How to decide if you would benefit from using Barron’s ACT 36 for test prep

Let’s get started!

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ACT Book Review: Kaplan ACT Prep Plus

Kaplan is a well-known name in the test prep industry, but does that mean its ACT materials are good? The ACT prep book you choose can mean the difference between reaching your goal score or not, so you want to use a book that's right for you. Kaplan's materials are known for helping students (particularly lower-scoring students) learn the content they need to do well on the ACT, as well as preparing them for the exam's format and question types. However, there are other areas where they're not as strong.

This Kaplan ACT book review explains what Kaplan's ACT book, ACT Prep Plus 2021, includes, what its strengths and weaknesses are, and who the book is right for (and who will be wasting their time reading it).

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Should You Buy the ACT Black Book? Expert Review

The ACT Black Book is a popular ACT prep guide, but because it lacks the name recognition of large test prep companies like Princeton Review and Barron's, many people aren't sure if it's worth purchasing. The ACT Black Book is great for clever strategies to answer questions, but it's not as strong in other areas. So is it right for you, and what should you use the ACT Black Book for? In this in-depth ACT Black Book review, we explain what the book includes, its pros and cons, and who should buy it. Let's dive in!

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The Best ACT Score Predictor

Taking the ACT is stressful—some test you've never seen before will affect where you go to college. As a high school student, I felt anxious taking the ACT because I hadn't done any practice and had no idea whether I'd reach my target score.

One way to mitigate nerves surrounding the ACT is to try to predict your ACT score. If you find out your estimate is close to your target score, you'll feel relieved. If it's low, at least you'll know you need to do more preparation before taking the test.

What is the best ACT score predictor? What should you do with your estimated ACT score? In this guide, I'll walk you through the different ways to predict your ACT score and explain the pros and cons of each. I'll also let you know how to use your estimated score to your advantage.

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How to Prepare for the ACT: Ultimate 10-Step Guide

So you need to take the ACT, but you don't anything about it. What now? How do you go about preparing for the test?

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Is ACT Word of the Day a Good Way to Study Vocab?

Are you building up your vocabulary to get ready for the ACT? While memorizing obscure words won't get you too far, learning medium-level words in multiple contexts will help you out a great deal on ACT Reading and English. Besides "multiple-meaning" words, you also want to review scientific terms to be prepared for the ACT Science section.

This guide tackles the "one word a day" strategy and how you can use it effectively to prepare for the ACT. First, how useful is studying just one word a day?

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When Should I Take the ACT for the First Time?

Are you starting to ask yourself, When should I take the ACT for the first time? The answer to this is a little more complex than the question. There are several factors to consider here, so let's review them so you can make an informed decision.

First, when do most students take the ACT for the first time?

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The Complete Guide to ACT Grammar Rules

Even though the English language is complex, ACT English tests a specific set of grammar rules. Furthermore, it tests these rules the same way, over and over again.

In this complete guide, we've compiled the comprehensive list of ACT English grammar rules you need to know to ace the ACT English section. If you master all these rules and practice them with realistic ACT questions, you'll have a huge advantage on the English section.

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ACT Writing Tips: 15 Strategies to Raise Your Essay Score

Whether you've never thought about ACT Writing strategies or have worked hard on the ACT essay, you can benefit from knowing more: about the essay itself, and what really matters when the graders are reading your essay.

In this article, we offer a number of ACT Writing tips as well as a foolproof template for putting them into practice.

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How to Get a Perfect 12 on the ACT Writing Essay

There is no part of the ACT more mysterious to students than the essay, and very few people seem to know what exactly the ACT is looking for in a "perfect" essay (particularly since September 2015 was the new ACT Writing test's debut). Luckily, we've got the expertise to give you some insight into how the essay works and what you can do to push your score those extra few points up the scale.

Whether you're trying to impress your dream school or just want to boost your ACT score, the essay is a great thing to work on. Some of the tips below stand alone, while others are part of larger categories that have been assembled based our ACT expertise.

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How to Get a Perfect ACT Score, by a 36 Full Scorer

The maximum score on the ACT is a 36. Out of the 1.9 million students who take the test every year, only about 3,700 get the highest possible ACT score. This elusive perfect score places you at the top of millions of high school students and can be a big boost to your college applications.

I scored a perfect score on the ACT.

Most of the advice out there about how to get a perfect score comes from people who didn't get perfect scores. In this exclusive article, I'll be breaking down exactly what it takes, and the techniques I used to get a perfect score.

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Choose Your SAT / ACT Test Dates: When's a Good Time for You?

"I have no idea what to expect" is not a sentence you want running through your mind on your way to take the SAT or ACT. If you take control of your test prep and schedule, then you shouldn't have any surprises on test day.

Besides studying, part of your preparation should be strategically planning out your SAT/ACT test dates. Instead of closing your eyes and pointing randomly at a calendar, you can ask yourself some key questions to figure out when the best SAT/ACT test dates are for you.

The first question that every student should ask herself, of course, is, When are my college deadlines?

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How to Write an ACT Essay: Step-by-Step Example

Sometimes writing—especially writing for standardized tests—can feel like something you "get" or "don't get." That's primarily because it's very difficult to explain and teach writing in a mechanical way, especially when you're up against time limits.

In this article, we've broken how to write the ACT essay into eight steps that work for every essay, every time. Then, we show you exactly how to do it with an actual ACT essay example.

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The 5 Best ACT Prep Courses: Which One Is Right for You?

Studying for the ACT on your own can be intimidating, especially if you’ve never taken a test like it before. Fortunately, there’s always the option of enrolling in an ACT prep class.

We go over the five best ACT prep courses and explain their biggest pros and cons. Then, we give you four tips for ensuring you get the most out of the ACT prep class you decide to take.

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