The Official ACT Prep Guide 2024-2025 Book + 9 Practice Tests + 400 Digital Flashcards + Online Course

The comprehensive guide to the 2024?2025 ACT test?including 9 genuine, full-length practice tests.

The Official ACT^® Prep Guide 2024?2025 book includes six authentic ACT tests?all of which contain the optional writing test?so you get maximum practice before your test date.

These full-length practice tests are also available on the Wiley Online Platform and mobile app alongside three additional bonus tests via the PIN code inside, so you can study your official materials anytime, anywhere.

This guide provides clear explanations for every answer straight from the makers of the ACT to help you improve your understanding of each subject. You?ll also get:

• Practical tips and strategies for boosting your score on the English, math, reading, science, and (optional) writing tests
• Nine total practice tests?all six in the book are also online with THREE digital bonus tests
• 400+ online flashcards to ensure you?re mastering key concepts
• A customizable online test bank
• Expert advice on how to mentally and physically prepare for your test

This edition has been updated with a new practice test, new writing samples and prompts, so you can be sure your materials will set you up for success on your ACT test.

Through the Official Guide, you?ll learn what to expect on test day, understand the types of questions you will encounter when taking the ACT, and adopt test-taking strategies that are right for you.

Preface xi

How This Book Is Arranged xii

Before You Begin xii

Part One: Getting Acquainted with the ACT Test 1

Chapter 1: About the ACT 3

Description of the Full ACT Test 4

English Test 4

Mathematics Test 6

Reading Test 14

Science Test 17

Writing Test (Optional) 19

The Fifth Test 21

Using a Calculator 22

Taking the Test 23

Summary 24

Chapter 2: Preparation, Skills, and Strategies 25

Mental Preparation 26

Identify Strengths and Address Areas of Improvement 26

Develop a Positive Mental Attitude 27

Keep the Test in Perspective 27

General Test-Taking Strategies and Skills 27

Remain Calm 27

Pace Yourself 28

Know the Directions Ahead of Time 29

Read Carefully and Thoroughly 29

Choose Strategies for Answering Easier and More Difficult Questions 30

Use Logic on More Difficult Questions 30

Choose a Strategy for Guessing on Multiple-Choice Questions 30

Choose a Strategy for Changing Answers 31

Write Notes in Your Test Booklet 31

Mark Your Answers Carefully 31

Plan to Check Your Answers 32

Learn Strategies for Specific Tests 32

Summary 32

Part Two: Taking and Evaluating Your First Practice Test 35

Chapter 3: Taking and Scoring Your First ACT Practice Test 37

Simulating Testing Conditions 37

Scoring Your Practice Test 101

Scoring Your Multiple-Choice Practice Tests 102

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test Essay 108

Reviewing Explanatory Answers 113

Chapter 4: Identifying Areas for Improvement 188

Reviewing Your Overall Performance 189

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the English Test 190

Test-Taking Errors 190

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Mathematics Test 192

Math Subject Areas 192

Test-Taking Errors 192

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Reading Test 193

Types of Reading Passages 194

Reading Skills Tested 194

Test-Taking Errors 195

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Science Test 196

Science Subject Areas 196

Types of Science Passages 197

Test-Taking Errors 197

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Writing Test 198

Writing Skills Tested 198

Writing Strategy or Process Errors 200

Part Three: Improving Your Score 201

Chapter 5: Improving Your English Score 203

Content of the ACT English Test 203

Types of Questions on the ACT English Test 204

Strategies for Taking the ACT English Test 213

Chapter 6: Improving Your Math Score 229

Content of the ACT Mathematics Test 230

Preparing for Higher Math 230

Integrating Essential Skills 230

Modeling 231

Types of Questions on the ACT Mathematics Test 231

Basic Math Problems 231

Basic Math Problems in Settings 235

Very Challenging Problems 239

Question Sets 246

Strategies for Taking the ACT Mathematics Test 251

Pace Yourself 251

Answer All Questions 251

Answer All the Easy Questions First, Then Go Back to Answer the Hard Ones 252

Read Each Problem Carefully 252

Look for Information in the Answer Choices 252

Use Illustrations Wisely and Whenever You Can 253

Use Your Calculator Wisely 253

Think! 253

Show Your Work 254

Check Your Answers 254

Chapter 7: Improving Your Reading Score 255

Content of the ACT Reading Test 255

Key Ideas and Details 256

Craft and Structure 256

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 256

Types of Questions on the ACT Reading Test 257

Representative ACT Reading Test Questions 257

Strategies for Taking the ACT Reading Test 266

Pace Yourself 266

Use the Time Allotted 266

Think of an Overall Strategy That Works for You 267

Keep the Passage as a Whole in Mind 267

Find a Strategy for Approaching Each Question 267

Reading Strategies Summary 268

Chapter 8: Improving Your Science Score 276

Content of the ACT Science Test 276

Format of the ACT Science Test 277

Data Representation Format 278

Discussion of Sample Passage I (Data Representation) 280

Research Summaries Format 283

Discussion of Sample Passage II (Research Summaries) 285

Conflicting Viewpoints Format 287

Discussion of Sample Passage III (Conflicting Viewpoints) 289

Strategies for Taking the ACT Science Test 292

Develop a Problem-Solving Method 292

Take Notes 293

Pace Yourself 293

Practice Interpreting Graphs, Tables, and Diagrams 293

Make the Most of the Information in Graphs 294

Make the Most of the Information in Tables 296

Develop an Understanding of Scientific Investigations 297

Carefully Analyze Conflicting Viewpoints 297

Chapter 9: Improving Your Score on the Optional Writing Test 298

Content of the ACT Writing Test 299

How Your Essay Will Be Scored 299

Sample Prompt and Essays 299

Sample ACT Writing Test Prompt 300

Planning Your Essay 302

Sample Essay Responses 303

Strategies for Taking the ACT Writing Test 326

Prewrite 326

Write 326

Review Your Essay 327

Practice 327

Part Four: Taking Additional Practice Tests 329

Chapter 10: Taking Additional Practice Tests 331

Practice Test 2 337

Explanatory Answers 395

Practice Test 3 469

Explanatory Answers 527

Practice Test 4 617

Explanatory Answers 675

Practice Test 5 745

Explanatory Answers 803

Practice Test 6 877

Explanatory Answers 935

Chapter 11: Scoring the Additional Practice Tests 1005

Scoring Your Practice Tests 1006

Scoring Practice Test 2 1007

Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 1007

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 2 Essay 1013

Scoring Practice Test 3 1015

Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 1015

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 3 Essay 1021

Scoring Practice Test 4 1023

Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests 1023

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 4 Essay 1029

Scoring Practice Test 5 1031

Scoring Your Multiple-Choice Practice Tests 1031

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 5 Essay 1037

Scoring Practice Test 6 1039

Scoring Your Multiple-Choice Practice Tests 1039

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 6 Essay 1045

Chapter 12: Interpreting Your ACT Test Scores and Ranks 1047

Understanding Your ACT Test Results 1049

How ACT Scores Your Multiple-Choice Tests 1049

How ACT Scores Your Writing Test 1049

Recognizing That Test Scores Are Estimates of Educational Achievement 1049

Using Ranks to Interpret Your Scores 1050

Comparing Your Test Scores to Each Other 1050

Comparing Your Scores and Ranks to Your High School Grades 1050

Comparing Your Scores to Those of Enrolled First-Year College Students 1050

Using ACT College and Career Readiness Standards to Help You Understand Your ACT Scores 1051

Planning Your Education and Career 1052

Seeking Additional Information and Guidance 1052

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—English 1053

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—Mathematics 1060

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—Reading 1069

Text Complexity Rubric—Reading 1076

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—Science 1083

Part Five: Moving Forward to Test Day 1091

Chapter 13: Registering, Planning, and Packing for Test Day 1093

National Testing Program Versus State and District Testing 1094

Registering for the ACT 1094

Selecting a National Testing Date and Location 1094

Selecting a Test Option 1096

Registering 1096

Registering under Special Circumstances 1097

Planning and Packing for Test Day 1097

Getting to the Test Center 1097

Dressing for Test Day 1098

Packing for Test Day: What to Bring 1098

Obtaining Additional Test Details 1099

At the Test Center 1099

Checking In 1099

Following the Rules 1100

Communicating with the Testing Staff 1101

Maintaining Your Composure and Energy 1102

Voiding Your Answer Documents on Test Day 1103

Testing More Than Once 1103

ACT (Iowa City, IA) is a not-for-profit organization providing assessment, research, information, and program management services to support education and workforce development. Known most widely as the makers of the ACT exam--the college readiness and placement assessment taken by some 1.8 million high school students each year--ACT produces a number of assessments and services reaching more than 10 million people along the kindergarten through career continuum. ACT's rigorous research informs policy decisions and helps develop programs that boost lifelong learning potential in schools and workplaces around the world. To learn more, visit www.act.org.