The Real ACT (CD) 3rd Edition (Real Act Prep Guide)

First off, if you could only buy one test prep book for the ACT, I would wholeheartedly recommend The Real ACT prep guide. This is saying a lot coming from none other than an author of another ACT prep/analysis guide! The main advantage of this book is that it has tests which contain REAL questions made by the ACT organization. While other books may tout having "(Insert High Number Here) ACT practice Tests", the one serious shortcoming of all these books is that the questions in these tests are not real ACT questions made scientifically and validated statistically by the ACT corporation, which has adequate funds to employ such methods. Another huge advantage of this book is that it gives detailed explanations for every question in the five tests that it offers. While many other unofficial test prep books give explanations for their answers, the questions themselves are not scientifically validated like the questions from the test makers. The explanations to the questions explain the...Read more

I am a private math tutor and author of Math Study Guide for the SAT, ACT and SAT Subject Tests: 2012 Edition.

I gave this book five stars because it has the best practice tests. However the content is identical to previous editions, even the page numbers have not changed! The only difference is that there are two additional practice tests included here (one I recognize as the test from December 2008). The bottom line is that you get a better value by spending $21.50 for five practice tests in this third edition versus spending $20 for the first three practice tests in the earlier editions (Amazon prices as of 8/25/11).

An even better deal is to scroll up this page to the box called "Formats" in orange letters. Click on the Paperback link and get the book without the CD. The material on the CD is not very helpful and getting just the paperback will save you a few dollars.

Five official tests instead of just 3! I have been waiting for this book's release with bated breath. (Yes, this is the exciting life of an ACT prep instructor). However, I wish I could write separate reviews for the book with CD and without the CD. Once again, I paid the extra money for the CD, which promises to include "supplemental test preparation and skills based exercises." And once again, there are no test prep resources on this CD. It is a college planning CD from Peterson's with college planning advice, lists of undergraduate majors, etc. (The back inside cover of the book lets you know the CD is for college 'planing' -- a typo that does not inspire confidence!) I am really disappointed in what I feel is incorrect advertising here.

However, I do want to note that The Real ACT Prep Guide itself is absolutely essential for prep. This is my tenth year of test prep tutoring and I always find that students who prepare with real ACTs have more confidence and get...Read more