The Official ACT Prep Guide 2026-2027: Book + Online
2.9 | 7 ratings
Price: 31.95
Last update: 05-16-2026
Product details
- Publisher : Wiley
- Publication date : May 11, 2026
- Edition : 10th
- Language : English
- Print length : 752 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1394405510
- ISBN-13 : 978-1394405510
- Item Weight : 2.9 pounds
- Dimensions : 8.4 x 1.9 x 10.8 inches
- Grade level : 10 - 12
- Best Sellers Rank:#1,009 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- ACT Test Guides
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- Customer Reviews:2.32.3 out of 5 stars(5)
Top reviews from the United States
- HannahNo New MaterialUnfortunately no new practice tests here. 3 of the full-length practice tests were included in the previous year's addition. The other is the same as the October 2025 test J08 that can be found online. ACT, please release more practice tests that reflect the new Enhanced ACT format.
- Richard CornOnly one test different from the 2025-2026 editionI have been an ACT tutor for more than 20 years, and author of math books for this test. You should know that this new 2026-2027 edition only differs from the previous 2025-2026 edition by including one new test. If you think that justifies an increase of $10.59 over the price of the 2025-2026 edition then this is the version for you.
This book also gives you access to four online ACT tests. At first glance, these look like the same tests that are contained in the book, but I have not had a chance to check them. If you intend to take the ACT online, you should look at how the English and Science sections appear on the screen. You may prefer to take the written test instead. - Brooke HansonThe best source of official enhanced ACT practice tests! But online resources have some flaws.As this is an updated version of a previously published book, if you already purchased the 2025-2026 edition or earlier, you likely have already seen 3/4 tests included. This is not a wholly new book! I have purchased both the Kindle (notes at very bottom of review) and hard copy paperback editions.
I’ve been tutoring the ACT for over two decades, have scored perfectly on it as an adult, and have coached students to perfect scores and superstores. I run a Youtube channel offering free ACT / SAT prep and college advice (SupertutorTV), have created an online prep course for the ACT, and have written two books on the math section of the ACT. In short, I know the ACT.
When it comes to ACT prep, the number one advice I have for my students is to USE AUTHENTIC MATERIALS from the test maker. That means if you’re taking the ACT, and can afford nothing but one book, this is the number one resource I would recommend. The ACT test got sizable reboot in 2025 when ACT introduced the “Enhanced ACT” system wide, made science optional, and reduced the number of questions per section.What that means is that many older ACT resources do not reflect the new test; this book is the golden amulet that does.
The book contains:
+Content to familiarize yourself with the test
+Tips and brief practice exercises for each section of the ACT
+Four practice tests in the book and online
+Answer keys and explanations
The best part of this book is the tests, not the tips. For test prep advice, I prefer not going to the people who made the tests— if it’s hackable are they going to show you all the hacks? Still, content tips in the English and Math could be somewhat useful for those with no other resources or limited budgets, and answer explanations may still be enough for those skilled at self assessment to make progress.
Most notably, this version includes a new, 1st test (awesome!) based on Oct 2025’s MAK, replacing the test 1 in the 2025 guide that was the same as the free online test. Here's a rundown of all four exams in the book, original source exams (if known), and overlap with previous ACT prep material:
Test 1:
26MC1 (NEW)
Overall this is a release of October 2025’s MAK (Form J08), but as experimental questions have been removed,
these have been replaced by other questions/passages.
English:
P1 Seeing Streams in a New Light (J08 Oct 2025 MAK) 2 exp questions
P2 Long Distance (J08 Oct 2025 MAK) - 2 exp questions
P3 Threading Connections (J08 Oct 2025 MAK)
P4 The Object of Love (74C June 2017 / 18MC4) - 2 exp. questions
P5 (Re)Defining Music (J08 Oct 2025 MAK)
P6 Southside Blooms (J08 Oct 2025 MAK)
Math: J08 Oct 2025 MAK
except a handful of questions:
(7,16, 30, 31, 38 likely there’s one more)
Reading
J08 Oct 2025 MAK
Passages I, II, IV
Passage III “Look up and See” - Source Unknown
Science
Other Exams:
Test 2: 25MC2 (Modified version of E23, Dec 2021, 23MC1)
Test 3: 25MC3 (Modified version of C03, Dec 2019, 22MC9)
Test 4: 25MC4 (Modified version of C01, July 2020, 21MC8)
This book includes access to an online portal where all four exams can be taken in an “online” computer format. This is critical practice if students plan to take the ACT on a computer— students should practice how they take the exam— but it’s got some issues. (The ACT can be electively taken on a computer at signup in the US; international students must take the exam on a computer). Note there are no additional practice questions or exams online; it’s just the four tests. This is not 100% the same as the format students take the exam on. Namely, it is in “practice” mode where it tells you if you’re right or wrong after each question. On a test where time matters, this makes it tough to practice to time when you have the right answer and wrong answer explanations pop up after every individual question. It’s also hard to do anything out of order. The forced review os distracting and takes up time. Likewise there is no on screen calculator as there is supposed to be on test day. There’s no way to practice with the official tools. You can’t highlight, mark questions for review, etc. Does the official platform on test day allow this? Yes— but not on this site. There are two free tests that do have a platform that more closely models test day— you can find those on ACT.org, or I list them as well as all other legally available published practice ACTs from the last 15 years in my blog (Google SupertutorTV Official Materials ACT).
Finally: this book STILL has outdated bubble sheets. Math should only have four blanks. You'd think they'd have fixed that by now.
Overall:
Get this for the tests (you can't beat real tests!). Go over your mistakes and learn from them!
Skip most of the chapter advice by topic (Math, Science, Reading, etc.) unless you can't afford more books or alternate options.
Online materials are ok but not perfect.
Note on the KINDLE EDITION: I've also purchased the Kindle version. Its tests are NOT printable FYI, so I only recommend this option if you’re taking from a screen or a tutor who wants the tests during session with your student! Also the scoring grid on the Kindle version is screwed up— the “gray” boxes for experimental questions are not printing on the correct blanks (the print version doesn’t have this issue). - lmhYucksMan, what a pathetic use of paper. No new material, if you got the October test. Thanks, ACT, for providing such *excellent* prep material -- NOT! Y'all suck.
- Amazon CustomerReading passage REPEATED across practice tests in 2026-2027 bookIn looking through the Reading section of the 4 practice tests in the new book (2026-2027), not only the 3 tests are exactly the same as last year (2025-2026), one of the passages titled Object of Love is REPEATED in Practice test 1 and Practice Test 3 in the new book, which would make one of these practice tests notvery helpful for someone using these tests to practice for time. Haven't looked through the other sections yet, but if any such repetition exists in any of the other sections, it will be difficult to use the book for proper practice.