Modern college entrance exam study resources look far different than they did two generations ago, as apps and online programs have emerged for on-the-go access to reference material.
Despite these technological advancements, prep books are still popular tools for students who prefer a more hands-on, analog approach to learning. While these lack easy portability and up-to-the-minute updates, they boast a distraction-free interface and physical canvas for easy highlighting, note-taking, and bookmarking.
However, not all books offer the same depth and quality of information, making it challenging to ensure you’re investing in a book that won’t feel like a waste of time or money.
To help you make the most of your study schedule, we’ve hunted down five ACT and SAT prep books that are the cream of the crop, with a cornucopia of impressive features and a history of earning high praise.
What Types of Exam Prep Books Are Available?
There’s an enormous market for exam prep materials, and no two books are alike. Worst yet, online ordering opens the door to accidentally purchasing a book that promises results but lacks information on your highest areas of need.
One strategy for guiding your choice is to reflect honestly on your strengths and weaknesses, then invest in a book that will help you hone the areas you’re struggling with.
Most books fall into some combination of content-driven or strategy-driven and subject-specific or comprehensive. There’s no right or wrong answer for which you should choose, as it all depends on your learning style and study habits.
Before we dive into specific exam prep books, let’s start with a discussion on fundamental formats you’re likely to come across during your search.
Content-Driven
For students who need to brush up on academic concepts like algebra or grammar, choose content-driven SAT and ACT prep books. These focus more on content reviews, practice questions, and tests to familiarize yourself with the information you need to know before the big day.
Strategy-Driven
Test anxiety can be crippling, causing even the most intelligent student to shut down and underperform. One way to those mental blocks is to use strategy-driven resources to get more comfortable with the format and timing of the exams, as well as learn a variety of test-taking strategies.
Subject-Specific Books
Subject-specific books are an excellent option for maximizing your study time if you’re already aware of the sections you’ll struggle with or feel overwhelmed at the thought of reading through hundreds of pages. These prep resources focus on a single test section– like math or reading– rather than covering the entire exam.
Comprehensive Books
First-time testers often prefer comprehensive study books, as they review all test sections. Unfortunately, these resources can be very hit or miss, as the writers might choose to focus more heavily on particular topics or fail to go into enough depth overall due to the wide range of information they have to cover.
Another consideration before settling on your test prep materials is that standardized tests change over time based on updated research, previous years’ results, and stakeholder feedback. You should always choose the most recent editions of study books, as they are more likely to reflect the current reality of the test.
On the other hand, older editions may not review newly-added question types and often include outdated test-taking information like times or section order.
5 Best SAT and ACT Prep Books
Even after you’ve narrowed down your best options for exam prep, there are still a seemingly infinite number of choices available. We’ve rounded up five top-notch resources from publishers who offer both ACT and SAT prep books with similar formats, practice exams, and depth.
Best for Building a Full-Scale Study Plan: Barron’s ACT Premium Study Guide and SAT Premium Study Guide
Barron’s has been in the business of test prep since the 1930s, making it their mission to create comprehensive materials that empower students to take on the daunting task of studying with confidence.
That goal shines through in their ACT Premium Study Guide and SAT Premium Study Guide, both of which are hefty tomes packed to the gills with test-taking strategies, practice tests, section overviews, and answer explanations.
Both books break down the material into sections focused on a specific topic, starting with general information about the tests and helpful information for lowering anxiety. From there, it dovetails into subject-specific material reviews and practice questions before wrapping up with the practice tests.
To help you tackle the massive amount of information, one of the book’s first sections walks you through creating a personalized study schedule based on when you plan to take the test. They encourage you to use the included diagnostic for further customization, as it will highlight the topics you should dedicate the most time to.
While Barron’s ACT and SAT prep books are certainly one of the most well-rounded options available, there are two downsides to be aware of.
First, they often recycle questions from previous editions, which could be frustrating for those seeking new study material.
Secondly, the layout and sheer density of information can be overwhelming for first-timers looking for a more general overview. Still, those familiar with the test will find these books invaluable for increasing their score.
ACT Premium Study Guide Features
- 876 pages
- Six practice tests– Three in the book, including the diagnostic, and two online.
- Reading passages are organized into “Easy,” “Medium,” and “Hard” levels.
- ACT-specific subject reviews
- 1500 practice questions
SAT Premium Study Guide Features
- 1,056 pages.
- Eight practice tests– Five in the book, including the diagnostic, and three online.
- Includes a section dedicated to the upcoming digital SAT format.
- 1500 practice questions.
Best for Improving Your Score: Princeton Review ACT Premium Prep and SAT Premium Prep
Like Barron’s books, the Princeton Review ACT Premium Prep and SAT Premium Prep are all-inclusive exam references ideal for highly-motivated students who want to conquer their exam and obtain their dream score.
The content sections offer a range of difficulties, going above and beyond the actual test, which is an excellent tool for testing your mastery of a concept. Some students may feel discouraged by these higher-level, purposefully challenging items, even if they don’t expect to encounter them on exam day.
Students will appreciate the extensive answer explanations, which discuss why the correct answer is best and details why the other answers are incorrect. This attention to detail will teach you to identify the tricky tactics test writers might use to throw you off.
Testers will also want to take advantage of the additional online materials, where they can find test-taking tips, learn about choosing a dream school, and navigate the complicated financial aid process.
The online portal also provides highly-detailed score reports for the digital practice tests that break down your performance by question category to help you customize your studying process according to your specific needs.
Princeton Review ACT Premium Prep
- 896 pages.
- Eight practice tests– Four in the book and four online.
- It covers the optional Writing section in-depth, including an essay checklist for self-grading your practice pieces.
Princeton Review SAT Premium Prep
- 832 pages.
- Nine practice tests– Four in the book and five online.
- Each content section breaks down the types of questions and details the best methods for answering them.
Best for Students Who Need Content Review: Kaplan ACT Prep Plus and SAT Prep Plus
Kaplan has long held the unofficial title of “Best in Show” amongst studious high schoolers due to their multi-pronged, pedagogically-sound approach. It’s rigorous, well-structured, and encourages personal reflection so that you have a well-rounded understanding of your preparedness.
Each content chapter in the Kaplan ACT Prep Plus and SAT Prep Plus structure includes a pre-test to gauge what you already know, a wrap-up quiz to assess what you learned, and reflection pages where you can map out a continuing study plan.
Between these interactive “bookends” are an abundance of tips, examples, explanations, and material to sharpen your skills. You’ll also find “Drills,” or highly specific practice items that focus on a singular topic you’re struggling with.
While their Drills lack the ACT and SAT formatting, they work to synthesize the content across a broader range of contexts and practical applications.
One of the most helpful facets of the Kaplan books is the abundance of tables, which many readers will find easier to digest than large blocks of text. These are handy for branching out your study strategies to making flashcards or creating abbreviated study guides.
Finally, Kaplan’s Prep Plus books have free online account access, so you can grapple with additional practice items and supplement your study schedule with video content.
Kaplan ACT Prep Plus Features
- 876 pages.
- Five practice tests– One in the book and four online.
- Includes one-year access to the Kaplan online center’s set of quizzes and video lessons.
- 1300+ practice questions.
Kaplan SAT Prep Plus Features
- 972 pages.
- Five practice tests– Two in the book and three online.
- Online “QBank” with 250 customizable questions and answer explanations.
- 1500+ practice questions.
Best for Conquering Test Anxiety: ACT Prep Black Book and SAT Prep Black Book
The Black Book test prep series is an unlikely hero for high-performing students who struggle with test anxiety. Despite its lack of review questions and practice tests, it consistently receives testimonials lauding it as the best book for SAT and ACT testing strategy.
The secret behind its success is the author’s firm stance that high scores require cultivating a strategy-driven mindset rather than glancing over yet another review of academic materials.
The writers take a unique approach by giving an insider look into the thought process of creating the ACT and SAT, a strategy that empowers students to take a more logical approach to the questions they might encounter.
As such, the bulk of the book consists of many strategies that students with different learning styles can adopt to quickly dissect and evaluate questions rather than getting hung up on whether or not they are masters of the concept.
To get the most bang for your buck, you’ll need access to the College Board’s official practice tests for the SAT version or The Official ACT Prep Guide practice tests for the ACT version, both of which are available online. The book uses the items from these exams to exemplify their strategies.
ACT Prep Black Book Features
- 580 pages.
- Details on answering every practice test question in the 2018 edition of The Official ACT Prep Guide.
- Recommendations for progressing your studies based on your specific struggles, mistakes, and a general understanding of the content.
SAT Prep Black Book Features
- 576 pages.
- More than 600 detailed question walkthroughs based on the actual College Board practice tests.
- Formulaic thinking tools that help you assess questions from an SAT writer’s perspective.
Best for Students Taking Both Tests: Princeton Review Reading and Writing Prep for the SAT & ACT, 2nd Edition
If you’re planning on taking both tests, Princeton Review’s Reading and Writing Prep for the SAT & ACT is an excellent resource for improving your language skills.
While it won’t be everyone’s go-to guide, students who prefer subject-based study materials or already feel confident in math will benefit the most from this resource. It solely focuses on test-taking strategies, drills, and practice items from the verbal sections of the exam, including Reading and Writing from the SAT and English and Reading from the ACT.
The book is divided into SAT and ACT chapters, including a general overview of the test section, practice tests, answer explanations, and tips for mastering the essay.
However, the ACT portion includes seven mock exams, compared to only two based on the SAT. What the SAT chapter lacks in tests, it makes up for in quizzes and drills scattered throughout the material.
You can also use the book’s ISBN on the Kaplan website for additional practice and bonus content.
This 2-in-1 SAT and ACT prep book may not be the comprehensive compendium that the brand’s Premium Prep is, but it does its job superbly and is well worth your time if you’re concerned about a low English score.
Reading and Writing Prep for the SAT & ACT, 2nd Edition Features
- 480 pages.
- More than 600 questions over nine full-length practice sections.
- Includes a full grammar review covering language fundamentals, including sentence structure, punctuation, usage, and verb tenses.
Final Thoughts
For many high schoolers, studying for the SAT and ACT is an overwhelming, anxiety-inducing experience that feels more like a barrier to success than an opportunity to demonstrate your readiness for university.
The first step any scholar should take is building a structured study plan centered on high-quality exam resources. Doing so will make the preparation process more manageable and help you handle the scope of materials you’re accountable for.
It’s tempting to dive in with the first test prep book you come across, but we encourage you to research various options and formats until you find the one that appeals most to your learning style, academic needs, and score goals. Each book on the market brings different features to the table, and it’s worth finding your perfect match if it means you’re more likely to use it.
We hope our list of ACT and SAT prep books are a helpful jumping-off point for taking charge of your studying success. Best of luck, and study hard!
