What Are the Best ACT Review Resources?

There are tons of ACT prep resources out there, and sorting through them all can feel like a project in itself. This guide rounds up the most useful free and paid resources so you can spend less time searching and more time studying. If you need a refresher on the exam structure first, check out "What's on the ACT?" to get familiar with each section.

⭐️ Fiveable's Resources

Fiveable offers section-by-section overview guides written by students who scored well on the ACT. Each guide covers what to expect in that section and includes practice questions:

• English: Fiveable's ACT English Overview
• Math: Fiveable's ACT Math Overview
• Reading: Fiveable's ACT Reading Overview
• Science: Fiveable's ACT Science Overview
• Writing (Essay): Fiveable's ACT Writing Overview

Fiveable's ACT Hub pulls together resources for all five sections, plus blog posts answering common ACT questions. Since everything is curated by students, the tips tend to be practical and field-tested.

Fiveable also offers ACT Crams, which are live virtual review sessions hosted by students who've done well on the ACT. These run for 5 nights before each ACT test date and cover last-minute strategies for every section. They're also a good way to connect with other students prepping for the same test date.

🤓 ACT Resources for Review

The most effective ACT prep combines practice tests with targeted concept review. For practice tests, CrackAB is a strong starting point, offering free practice tests based on official ACT formats.

CrackAB also lets you practice by section, so you can work through passages and questions in English, math, reading, science, or the essay individually. This is useful for zeroing in on your weaker areas before taking a full-length test.

🎉 Free ACT Resources

Beyond CrackAB, these free resources are worth bookmarking:

• Varsity Tutors offers free unofficial diagnostic tests and practice tests with answer explanations. These aren't official ACT questions, so they won't perfectly match the real test's difficulty and style, but they're solid for extra practice reps.
• Princeton Review provides free practice tests you can take either virtually with a proctor or on your own. A good option if you want a more structured practice experience.
• Reddit's r/ACT Wiki is a community-maintained collection of advice, strategies, and FAQ answers from students who recently took the ACT. It's especially useful for hearing what the current test experience is actually like.
• Erica Meltzer's Complete SAT/ACT Grammar Rules is a thorough reference for every grammar rule tested on the ACT English section. Memorizing these rules genuinely pays off on test day. Once you've studied a rule, reinforce it with the rule-specific practice tests on CrackAB.
• ACT.org Math Practice comes straight from the test makers. The practice test is split into five parts on the site, but you should time yourself and work through all 60 questions in one sitting to simulate real test conditions. Check your answers only after you've finished.
• PrepScholar Blog has a large library of articles covering ACT content, section-specific strategies, and general test-taking advice. Good for when you want a detailed explanation of a particular topic or question type.

🎥 For Those Who Prefer Video Tutorials

• SupertutorTV covers tips and walkthroughs for the trickier problems in each ACT section. Their channel also has AP exam content if you're prepping for those too.
  • They have a practice proctor video you can play in the background while taking a full practice test to simulate real timing and breaks.
  • They also maintain a list of calculator programs you can load onto your calculator for the Math section. Double-check these against ACT's official calculator policy before test day.
• BestACTPrep has a wide range of free strategy videos covering all four required sections, including step-by-step walkthroughs of practice questions.

💸 Paid ACT Resources

Paying for prep materials isn't necessary, but these resources can be worth it depending on your needs:

• Official ACT Prep Guide for 2023-24 includes 6 full-length practice tests, a study guide, and online flashcards. Since the questions come from the actual test makers, they're the closest you'll get to real ACT questions. Pro tip: A used copy or an edition from the past 3-4 years will still give you excellent practice at a lower price.
• Erica Meltzer's The Critical Reader for Reading & English are targeted books for students who need focused help raising their scores in either section. They break down exactly how questions are constructed and how to approach them.
• The College Panda's ACT Math Guide & Workbook is a strong choice if the Math section is your main area for improvement. It covers concepts methodically and includes plenty of practice problems.
• For the Love of ACT Science breaks down how to read and interpret the graphs, tables, and data presentations that make the Science section feel overwhelming. Particularly helpful if you find yourself running out of time on Science passages.

🎉 Wrap-Up

The single most important habit for ACT prep is reviewing your mistakes after every practice test. Don't just check your score and move on. For each question you missed, figure out why you got it wrong.

A simple spreadsheet works well for this. Set up columns for:

1. The question number and section
2. Why you got it wrong (misread the question, didn't know the concept, ran out of time, etc.)
3. The correct answer and why it's correct
4. What you'll do differently next time

After a few practice tests, look for patterns in your errors. Maybe you're consistently missing comma rules in English, or you're losing points on data interpretation in Science. Those patterns tell you exactly where to focus your study time before the next practice round.