The Official ACT Prep Guide 2025 - 2026 E-Book

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 806

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

THE OFFICIAL ACT® PREP GUIDE 2025–2026

The comprehensive guide to the 2025–2026 ACT test—including 4 genuine, full-length practice tests.

The Official ACT® Prep Guide 2025–2026 book includes four authentic ACT tests—all of which contain the optional writing test—so you get maximum practice before your test date.

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
• Four new practice tests that reflect the Enhanced ACT experience
• Expert advice on how to mentally and physically prepare for your test

This edition has been updated with four new practice tests, 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.

Leseprobe

Copyright © 2025 by ACT, Inc. All rights reserved.

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ACT PublicationsP.O. Box 168Iowa City, Iowa 52243-0168

ISBN 978-1-394-33588-6ePub 978-1-394-33589-3

Cover design: Wiley

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Preface

How This Book Is Arranged

Before You Begin

Part One: Getting Acquainted with the ACT Test

Chapter 1: About the ACT

Description of the Full ACT Test

English Test

Mathematics Test

Reading Test

Science Test

Writing Test (Optional)

Unscored Items

Using a Calculator

Taking the Test

Summary

Chapter 2: Preparation, Skills, and Strategies

Mental Preparation

Identify Strengths and Address Areas of Improvement

Develop a Positive Mental Attitude

Keep the Test in Perspective

General Test-Taking Strategies and Skills

Remain Calm

Pace Yourself

Know the Directions Ahead of Time

Read Carefully and Thoroughly

Choose Strategies for Answering Easier and More Difficult Questions

Use Logic on More Difficult Questions

Choose a Strategy for Guessing on Multiple-Choice Questions

Choose a Strategy for Changing Answers

Write Notes in Your Test Booklet

Mark Your Answers Carefully

Plan to Check Your Answers

Learn Strategies for Specific Tests

Summary

Part Two: Taking and Evaluating Your First Practice Test

Chapter 3: Taking and Scoring Your First ACT Practice Test

Simulating Testing Conditions

Scoring Your Practice Test

Scoring Your Multiple-Choice Practice Tests

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test Essay

Reviewing Explanatory Answers

Chapter 4: Identifying Areas for Improvement

Reviewing Your Overall Performance

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the English Test

Test-Taking Errors

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Mathematics Test

Math Subject Areas

Test-Taking Errors

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Reading Test

Types of Reading Passages

Reading Skills Tested

Test-Taking Errors

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Science Test

Science Subject Areas

Types of Science Passages

Test-Taking Errors

Highlighting Strengths and Areas for Improvement on the Writing Test

Writing Skills Tested

Writing Strategy or Process Errors

Part Three: Improving Your Score

Chapter 5: Improving Your English Score

Content of the ACT English Test

Types of Questions on the ACT English Test

Strategies for Taking the ACT English Test

Chapter 6: Improving Your Math Score

Content of the ACT Mathematics Test

Preparing for Higher Math

Integrating Essential Skills

Modeling

Types of Questions on the ACT Mathematics Test

Basic Math Problems

Basic Math Problems in Settings

Very Challenging Problems

Strategies for Taking the ACT Mathematics Test

Pace Yourself

Answer All Questions

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

Read Each Problem Carefully

Look for Information in the Answer Choices

Use Illustrations Wisely and Whenever You Can

Use Your Calculator Wisely

Think!

Show Your Work

Check Your Answers

Chapter 7: Improving Your Reading Score

Content of the ACT Reading Test

Key Ideas and Details

Craft and Structure

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Types of Questions on the ACT Reading Test

Representative ACT Reading Test Questions

Strategies for Taking the ACT Reading Test

Pace Yourself

Use the Time Allotted

Think of an Overall Strategy That Works for You

Keep the Passage as a Whole in Mind

Find a Strategy for Approaching Each Question

Reading Strategies Summary

Chapter 8: Improving Your Science Score

Content of the ACT Science Test

Format of the ACT Science Test

Data Representation Format

Discussion of Sample Passage I (Data Representation)

Research Summaries Format

Discussion of Sample Passage II (Research Summaries)

Conflicting Viewpoints Format

Discussion of Sample Passage III (Conflicting Viewpoints)

Strategies for Taking the ACT Science Test

Develop a Problem-Solving Method

Take Notes

Pace Yourself

Practice Interpreting Graphs, Tables, and Diagrams

Make the Most of the Information in Graphs

Make the Most of the Information in Tables

Develop an Understanding of Scientific Investigations

Carefully Analyze Conflicting Viewpoints

Chapter 9: Improving Your Score on the Optional Writing Test

Content of the ACT Writing Test

How Your Essay Will Be Scored

Sample Prompt and Essays

Sample ACT Writing Test Prompt

Planning Your Essay

Sample Essay Responses

Strategies for Taking the ACT Writing Test

Prewrite

Write

Review Your Essay

Practice

Part Four: Taking Additional Practice Tests

Chapter 10: Taking Additional Practice Tests

Practice Test 2

Explanatory Answers

Practice Test 3

Explanatory Answers

Practice Test 4

Explanatory Answers

Chapter 11: Scoring the Additional Practice Tests

Scoring Your Practice Tests

Scoring Practice Test 2

Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 2 Essay

Scoring Practice Test 3

Scoring the Multiple-Choice Tests

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 3 Essay

Scoring Practice Test 4

Scoring Your Multiple-Choice Practice Tests

Scoring Your Practice Writing Test 4 Essay

Chapter 12: Interpreting Your ACT Test Scores and Ranks

Understanding Your ACT Test Results

How ACT Scores Your Multiple-Choice Tests

How ACT Scores Your Writing Test

Recognizing That Test Scores Are Estimates of Educational Achievement

Using Ranks to Interpret Your Scores

Comparing Your Test Scores to Each Other

Comparing Your Scores and Ranks to Your High School Grades

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

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

Planning Your Education and Career

Seeking Additional Information and Guidance

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—English

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—Mathematics

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—Reading

Text Complexity Rubric—Reading

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—Science

ACT College and Career Readiness Standards—Writing

Part Five: Moving Forward to Test Day

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

National Testing Program Versus State and District Testing

Registering for the ACT

Selecting a National Testing Date and Location

Selecting a Test Option

Registering

Registering under Special Circumstances

Planning and Packing for Test Day

Getting to the Test Center

Dressing for Test Day

Packing for Test Day: What to Bring

Obtaining Additional Test Details

At the Test Center

Checking In

Following the Rules

Communicating with the Testing Staff

Maintaining Your Composure and Energy

Voiding Your Answer Documents on Test Day

Testing More Than Once

End User License Agreement

Guide

Cover

Table of Contents

Begin Reading

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E-1

Preface

You want to do your best on the ACT® test, and this book can help. It supplements our free booklet, Preparing for the ACT, and our ACT Online Prep™ (a web-based preparation program for the ACT). This book features four actual ACT tests—all of which include the optional science and writing tests—which you can use for practice, and it gives detailed explanatory answers to every question to help you review.

Using this book will help you become familiar with the following:

The content of the ACT

The procedures you’ll follow when you’re actually taking the ACT

The types of questions you can expect to find on the ACT

Suggestions on how to approach the questions

General test-taking strategies

This book is intended to help you know what to expect when you take the ACT so you can relax and concentrate on doing your best. The more you know about what to expect on any test you take, the more likely it is that your performance on that test will accurately reflect your overall preparation and achievement in the areas it measures. Knowing what to expect can help reduce any nervousness you may feel as you approach the test.

The ACT measures your understanding of what you’ve been taught in core high school courses that you should have completed by the time you finish high school. Because it has taken you years to learn all this material, it might take you some time to review for the ACT. You can’t expect to cram for the ACT in a night or two. However, any review should be helpful to you, even if it just makes you more comfortable when you actually sit down to take the ACT. We hope this book helps you to gauge how much reviewing you feel you need to do and identify subject areas on which to focus your efforts.

Your purchase of The Official ACT®Prep Guide includes access to four full-length, digital practice tests via the Wiley Online Platform. Use these assets to simulate the test day experience. Detailed rationales and official explanations are provided for every question from the makers of the ACT® test.

Terms of Use: Purchase of this book offers access to the companion online course for 12 months from the date of activation for the original purchaser only. ACT and Wiley are not responsible for providing access to customers who borrow or purchase used copies of this study guide. Purchase of this study guide grants access only to the companion online course and not to other Wiley or ACT-owned password protected websites.

Online course access is subject to limitations and may not be available indefinitely. Continuity of service may be affected by various factors such as maintenance, upgrades, technical difficulties, or a change in market demand. To maximize use of all online prep materials included with your book, it is recommended that you access your practice tests on the online platform as soon as you begin your prep journey for your upcoming ACT test.

How This Book Is Arranged

This book is divided into five parts:

Part One:

Getting Acquainted with the ACT. Chapters in this part introduce the ACT, explain how to prepare, and present general test-taking techniques and strategies for you to consider.

Part Two:

Taking and Evaluating Your First Practice Test. This part includes a practice test along with guidance on how to use the test to identify areas where you may need to invest more time and effort.

Part Three:

Improving Your Score. Chapters in this part present test-taking strategies tailored for each subject test—English, math, and reading—along with suggestions for taking the optional science and writing tests.

Part Four:

Taking Additional Practice Tests. In this part, you have the opportunity to take three additional practice tests, see the results, and interpret your scores to determine how well prepared you are to take the ACT.

Part Five:

Moving Forward to Test Day. This part prepares you for test day by explaining how to register for the ACT and describing what to expect on the day of the test, so you show up on time with everything you need.

The parts are identified by bars on the edge of their right-hand pages.

Before You Begin

There is no standardized way to prepare for the ACT. Everyone learns and prepares differently. Some people prepare best when they are by themselves. Others need to work with fellow students to do their best. Still others function best in a structured class with a teacher leading them through their work. Use whatever method works best for you. Keep in mind, though, that when you actually take the ACT, it will be just you and the test.

As you use this book to prepare for the ACT, consider working in 1-hour segments (except when you’re taking the timed practice tests, of course). If you want to invest more than 1 hour a day, that’s fine, but take breaks to stretch and give your mind a chance to absorb the material. Toiling to the point of burnout is counterproductive.

Part One:Getting Acquainted with the ACT Test

In This Part

This part introduces you to the ACT, the five tests that it is composed of (English, mathematics, reading, and optional science and writing tests), and testing procedures. It also features test-taking strategies and skills that apply to all of the component tests. Specifically, you will do the following:

Find out what is covered on the tests.

Determine when you can use a calculator and the types of calculators you are permitted to use and prohibited from using.

Get a preview of what you can expect on test day.

Obtain guidance on how to prepare for test day.

Learn test-taking strategies that may improve your scores on all of the tests.