The Best ACT Prep Books and Guides for Acing ACT
There are a lot of students looking to get the best score they can on the ACT. There are many different things that you can do to prepare yourself better. The first one is to get the best ACT prep books.
It’s a good idea to get a few different books to study with. But always be sure to choose the best – as suggested by experts and fellow students.
ACT prep books are very different than general textbooks. They come not only with the course material but also with important questions, study guides and sample papers. So, whenever you choose an ACT prep book, be sure to check its Table of Contents, book reviews and above all – the quality of the book.
Your best bet is to get a study guide that will help you understand the concepts while teaching you the tips and tricks you need to know to get the best score possible.
Table of Contents
In this article, I have listed the best ACT prep books for students preparing for ACT exams. But before that, a little intro to the ACT exam.
About ACT Exam
The ACT is the national standardized test for college admissions in the United States, run by ACT, a nonprofit organization of the same name.
The ACT test covers four academic areas including English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science Reasoning. There is also an optional direct writing test.
The ACT exam is accepted by all four-year college and university courses in the United States, as well as many two- and three-year college courses.
The best ACT Prep Books
Let’s continue with the best ACT prep books now. Here are my picks of the best books for ACT preparation in 2023:
The Official ACT Prep & Subject Guides Complete Set
- ACT (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 05/10/2022 (Publication Date) – Wiley (Publisher)
This is the official ACT preparation guide published by ACT itself. This is a must-have for every student. It provides ACT aspirants with six full-length practice tests, available both online and offline (in the book). It comes with in-depth answer explanations and helpful pieces of advice. The Official ACT Prep & Subject Guides 2022–2023 Complete Set includes:
- The Official ACT® Prep Guide 2022–2023
- The Official ACT® English Guide, 2nd Edition
- Official ACT® Science Guide, 2nd Edition
- Official ACT® Mathematics Guide, 2nd Edition
- Official ACT® Reading Guide, 2nd Edition
Princeton Review ACT Prep
- The Princeton Review (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 896 Pages – 12/06/2022 (Publication Date) – Princeton Review (Publisher)
This is the next best-selling ACT prep book in the line. Loved by several students for its content, the Princeton Review ACT Prep book comes with 6 practice tests, content review and strategies to help you prepare better. The 6 practice tests (4 in the book and 2 online) are up to date and offer you an advantage of beating the ACT exam by understanding the traps ACT uses in their question papers.
View on AmazonACT Prep Black Book
- Barrett, Mike (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 580 Pages – 02/15/2018 (Publication Date) – ACT Prep Books (Publisher)
The ACT Prep Black Book by Barrett duo is a fresh take on the exam. This book gives you unique, effective ACT strategies to help you ace the exam. The focus of this book is to offer you extensive and effective training on every aspect of the ACT.
This book can be read alongside the official books as it complements the official book with detailed explanations and strategies.
View on AmazonKaplan’s ACT Prep Plus
- Kaplan Test Prep (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 876 Pages – 06/07/2022 (Publication Date) – Kaplan Test Prep (Publisher)
Kaplan is an official partner of ACT and its ACT Prep Plus 2023 includes 2000+ practice questions and 6 practice exams (two printed and four online). This guide covers official ACT practice tests by breaking down questions and scoring formulas.
When you purchase this, you also get access to some video lessons and 1-year access to kaptest.com
View on AmazonMcGraw-Hill Education: 10 ACT Practice Tests
- Dulan, Steven (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 864 Pages – 07/29/2020 (Publication Date) – McGraw Hill (Publisher)
This timeless book comes with, as the name suggests, 10 practice tests for the ACT. These tests will explain how the ACT is structured, what it measures, and how to budget your time for each section.
This book, written by renowned test prep experts, has been fully updated to match the latest tests. Finding out how you can improve your scores on each test and seeing how much improvement you can make is what makes these 10 practice tests so helpful. You’ll learn how to sharpen your skills, boost your confidence, reduce your stress―and prepare for test day.
But that’s not it, in addition to these 10 tests, you also get free access to additional practice ACT tests online. This book is a must-have for those who have their basics covered and are ready to jump in for the exam.
View on Amazon
Other useful books, guides and resources in this line are:
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
![ACT Prep Book 2023 with Practice Tests - 3 Full-Length Exams, ACT Secrets Study Guide for the English, Math, Reading, Science, and Writing Sections with Step-by-Step Video Tutorials: [7th Edition]](https://i0.wp.com/m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51cnU1Eg9HL.jpg?quality=85&ssl=1)
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ACT Prep Book 2023 with Practice Tests – 3 Full-Length Exams, ACT Secrets Study Guide for the… | 11 Reviews |
$23.99 |
View on Amazon |
|
The Official ACT Prep Guide 2022-2023, (Book + Online Course) | 1,297 Reviews |
$39.95
$34.99 |
View on Amazon |
|
ACT Premium Study Guide, 2022-2023: 6 Practice Tests + Comprehensive Review + Online Practice… | 68 Reviews | $36.99 $5.48 | View on Amazon |
|
ACT Prep 2023 For Dummies with Online Practice (ACT for Dummies) | 19 Reviews |
$29.99
$25.99 |
View on Amazon |
|
ACT Total Prep 2023: 2,000+ Practice Questions + 6 Practice Tests (Kaplan Test Prep) | 18 Reviews |
$46.99
$28.49 |
View on Amazon |
Additionally, you can join an online program like Magoosh to boost your ACT preparation. Magoosh offers online ACT classes and is trusted by thousands of students. You can get a 20% discount by using this link.
The best ACT Math Books
In addition to these 5 wholesome books, you may need some specific books to focus more on certain areas like mathematics.
Here are the best ACT Math books that I recommend:
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Princeton Review ACT Math Prep: 4 Practice Tests + Review + Strategy for the ACT Math Section… | 5 Reviews | $11.99 | View on Amazon |
|
Math on the Fly: America’s Best Guide to ACT Math (2022-2023 ACT Prep Book) | 4 Reviews | View on Amazon | |
|
ACT Math Workout: A Carefully Designed Curriculum for the ACT Math Section | 50 Reviews |
$21.33 |
View on Amazon |
|
The Official ACT Mathematics Guide | 139 Reviews |
$20.95
$18.89 |
View on Amazon |
Also see: The Best Calculus Textbooks
The best ACT English, Reading and Writing Books
Here are the best ACT English (plus reading and writing) books that I recommend:
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
The Official ACT English Guide | 75 Reviews |
$20.95
$15.69 |
View on Amazon |
|
Princeton Review ACT English Prep: 4 Practice Tests + Review + Strategy for the ACT English Section… | 6 Reviews |
$19.99
$17.59 |
View on Amazon |
|
The Complete Guide to ACT English, Fourth Edition | 232 Reviews |
$32.95
$29.01 |
View on Amazon |
The best ACT Science Books
Here are the best ACT Science books that I recommend:
- Cerro, Michael (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 144 Pages – 10/23/2015 (Publication Date) – Private Prep (Publisher)
- The Princeton Review (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 240 Pages – 11/08/2022 (Publication Date) – Princeton Review (Publisher)
- ACT (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 384 Pages – 06/29/2021 (Publication Date) – Wiley (Publisher)
Last update on 2023-06-07 using Amazon Product Advertising API.
