ACT Preparation Overview

Almost everyone agrees that thorough preparation is what produces strong ACT scores, yet the sheer number of options can be daunting. Between on-site and online prep courses, private tutoring, practice tests, official guides, and prep books, the choices pile up fast, and it's easy to feel lost among them. This page is a good place to start sorting out which ACT study materials and methods are right for you. Get a feel for what's available by looking through the pages below:

• ACT Prep Online
  This page covers the main methods of preparing for the ACT online. Learn about the pros and cons of online ACT study and find out how you can become a more informed test-taker with a strong knowledge of issues such as score data, scholarship opportunities, and important websites. Let us help you decide if online ACT preparation is your best option.
• ACT Free Practice Test
  Learn how to receive a free Manhattan Review ACT practice test by visiting this page. We also discuss a number of important issues in practice testing, such as the difference between official and unofficial assessments, how to most effectively use practice tests, why practice testing is important for ACT study, and why practice testing consistently improves performance.
• ACT Official Guides
  See this page for a discussion of the Official ACT Prep Guide, an essential resource for rigorous ACT preparation. We summarize the contents of the Official Guide, discuss the volume's coverage of all ACT sections, offer an overview of the included official practice tests, and give advice on how to most effectively use this book as an important part of your ACT preparation program.
• ACT Prep Books
  This page includes a summary of unofficial ACT prep books. We begin by noting the distinction between official and unofficial materials, and we then proceed to list and discuss the various types of unofficial prep books currently available as well as titles on ancillary issues in ACT preparation. We also include tips on how to use unofficial ACT prep books as part of an organized plan of ACT study.
• ACT Free Downloads
  On this page, test-takers can learn about free ACT downloads. Available materials include ACT practice guides, practice tests, published research on the ACT, relevant forms for students, and previews of ACT books. These resources are by no means comprehensive, but they can be a useful supplement for anyone preparing for the ACT.