Daria Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 DS is taking the ACT with special testing for the first time in June and July. Before he takes the test, I'd like him to know what to expect. I'd like him to have seen a sample test, to know how many sections and whether or not he should guess on the multiple choice. I'm thinking that he can spend a couple hours on this. I don't, however, want to stress him out, or take a lot of time because of other things we have going on. I think he'd find a big thick book intimidating, even if I didn't tell him to do all of it. Does anyone have any resources? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 the red RealACT prep book has several practice tests 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daria Posted April 24, 2016 Author Share Posted April 24, 2016 the red RealACT prep book has several practice tests That looks like a great book. I think the length would completely freak my son out at this point. Is there a book with 1 practice test? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 You can print a free practice test at the ACT site here: http://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/Preparing-for-the-ACT.pdf It takes 3 hours, just like the real test. Testive.com offers free online prep. The clock counting down the seconds freaked my dd out, though. I haven't looked again to see if you can turn it off. Aleks.com is good for math prep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucy the Valiant Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 Also, most schools in our area have a single free practice test available at the high school guidance department; here, you just walk in and ask for one. Much less intimidating (and it does have answers, so the student can self-check). Another idea is to order the red book and just rip out one of the tests to give to him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 For English/Reading "Fun ACT Prep" on TeachersPayTeachers have .PDF files where you can just print the pages you need. They have passages designed to be more entertaining to teens, so maybe not the best test prep, but may be confidence buildings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daria Posted April 25, 2016 Author Share Posted April 25, 2016 For English/Reading "Fun ACT Prep" on TeachersPayTeachers have .PDF files where you can just print the pages you need. They have passages designed to be more entertaining to teens, so maybe not the best test prep, but may be confidence buildings. Thanks, I'm not really looking to "prep" to raise his score. That's not going to happen in a few hours, which is all we have to devote to this. However, I'd like to avoid things like what happened on the PSAT, when he lost points by not knowing that he should have guessed. It sounds like that's what we want, quick light, confidence building, so that he knows what to expect when he walks in. If he doesn't get the score he needs, we can do real prep before the next test date. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 Thanks, I'm not really looking to "prep" to raise his score. That's not going to happen in a few hours, which is all we have to devote to this. However, I'd like to avoid things like what happened on the PSAT, when he lost points by not knowing that he should have guessed. It sounds like that's what we want, quick light, confidence building, so that he knows what to expect when he walks in. If he doesn't get the score he needs, we can do real prep before the next test date. I have a very nervous teen student who is in a similar situation. So far, this seems to be a good fit. There is also a bundle which includes a bunch of power points and other visuals. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/ACT-English-Reading-Skill-by-Skill-2nd-Edition-by-Fun-ACT-Prep-764696 https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fun-ACT-Prep-English-Reading-Practice-Tests-Workbook-2nd-ed-764663 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted April 26, 2016 Share Posted April 26, 2016 (edited) Crash Course for the ACT might work. It does not have a full length test but it is test prep in a thin book. http://www.amazon.com/Crash-Course-College-Test-Preparation/dp/1101881690 Edited for title error Edited April 26, 2016 by Arcadia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
***** Posted April 26, 2016 Share Posted April 26, 2016 I agree with Crash Course for the ACT by Princeton Review. It is a small book, so not overwhelming. Besides having a full length test, it points out general strategies in taking the test, with reminders that it is ok to guess on answers, especially when time is running out and the student has several unanswered questions. I am going through the strategies right now and highlighting them for my daughter so she will have the major points in front of her. As much as we want our kids to read all of this kind of material, in reality, it is the last thing they want to do. So getting at least some of the guidelines is better than none! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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