ACT Prep 2026/2027 For Dummies

The trusted study guide, updated for the latest changes to the ACT exam

ACT Prep 2026/2027 For Dummies is your go-to resource for conquering the ACT and embarking on your post-high school journey with confidence. A high score on this nationally recognized college entrance exam can boost your chances of admission to preferred schools and even secure scholarships. This book helps you brush up on your content knowledge and provides strategies to power through each section of the test. Plus, you'll get easy-to-understand explanations, more than 100 math and science flashcards, and 4 practice tests online, equipping you with all the tools you need to succeed.

• Learn about the latest updates to the ACT exam
• Review each section, including the optional science and writing tests
• Get expert advice for test day to calm your nerves and boost your confidence
• Access FOUR full-length practice tests online

Whatever your post-high school goals, ACT Prep 2026/2027 For Dummies will help you get there.

Introduction 1

Part 1: Coming to Terms with Reality: An Overview of the ACT 7

Chapter 1: Getting Your ACT Together: ACT 101 9

Chapter 2: Succeeding on the ACT 17

Chapter 3: Forming an ACT Study Plan 21

Part 2: Serving Your “Sentence”: The English Test 27

Chapter 4: Mastering the English Test 29

Chapter 5: Getting a Grip on Grammar and Usage 35

Chapter 6: Spotting Usage Errors and Ripping through Rhetorical Questions 45

Chapter 7: It’s Not What You Say but How You Say It: English Practice Questions 61

Part 3: Don’t Count Yourself Out: The Math Test 69

Chapter 8: Numbers Nuts and Bolts 71

Chapter 9: Getting into Shapes: Geometry and Trig Review 95

Chapter 10: Algebra and Other Sleeping Aids 123

Chapter 11: Numb and Number: Acing the Mathematics Test 149

Chapter 12: More Fun than a Root Canal: Mathematics Practice Questions 159

Part 4: Time to Read the Riot ACT: The Reading Test 167

Chapter 13: This, Too, Shall Pass(age): Sailing through the Reading Test 169

Chapter 14: Where Are SparkNotes When You Need Them? Reading Practice Questions 179

Part 5: Studying Brain Defects in Laboratory Rats: The (Optional) Science Test 185

Chapter 15: From Frankenstein to Einstein: Excelling on the Optional Science Test 187

Chapter 16: Faking Atomic Ache Won’t Get You out of This: Science Practice Questions 209

Part 6: Writing Rightly: The Optional Writing Test 219

Chapter 17: Excelling on Your Essay: The Writing Test Review 221

Chapter 18: Practicing Promptly with Practice Prompts: Essay Practice Questions 239

Part 7: Putting It All Together with a Full-Length Practice ACT 243

Chapter 19: Practice Exam 245

Chapter 20: Practice Exam: Answers and Explanations 287

Part 8: The Part of Tens 321

Chapter 21: Ten Wrong Rumors about the ACT 323

Chapter 22: Ten (or So) Ways You Can Help Your Child Succeed on the ACT 327

Index 329

Lisa Zimmer Hatch, MA, is an independent college counselor and test prep expert who has been assisting students with standardized tests and the college admissions process since 1987.

She and her late husband, Scott A. Hatch, JD, are also the coauthors of LSAT Prep For Dummies.

Take ACTion for your future

High school is almost over. Now it’s time for college! Get a running start with ACT^® Prep 2026/2027 For Dummies. Fully updated for the new exam format, this guide includes overviews of the English, Math, and Reading tests—plus the optional Science and Writing tests. You’ll also find expertly crafted prep materials, including four online practice tests and practical test-taking advice as well as study plans to keep you on track, from the day you start studying to the day of the test.

Inside…

• Comprehensive study plans that prepare you for the test
• Extensive math and grammar reviews
• Complete coverage on each test subject
• Access to full-length practice tests and more than 100 flashcards online