Forget the textbooks. Skip the third-party platforms.

When it comes to studying for the ACT, only one resource matters: official ACT exams. These exams—released by ACT Inc. itself—are real tests, administered in previous years. They go back decades and with nearly 90 of them floating around, they offer more than enough material to master every question type the ACT will throw your way.

Here’s why using anything else is a waste of time:

1. The ACT rewards repetition, not reinvention.

The ACT is remarkably predictable. Its structure hasn’t changed meaningfully in years, and the same question types come up again and again. What separates high scorers from the rest isn’t talent or intellect: it’s pattern recognition. The more official tests you see, the more likely you’ll recognize a trap, anticipate a question, and execute the right strategy.

Textbooks and online platforms often attempt to simulate ACT questions. Unfortunately, mimicry isn’t mastery. These questions can misrepresent difficulty, structure, or pacing, leaving students confused or overprepared for the wrong material.

2. Review is where real score growth happens.

Taking practice exams is only half the battle. What truly generates score growth is what you do afterward:

• Digging deep to identify the precise root causes of your mistakes

• Categorizing them by precise question types

• Developing strategies to avoid them next time

• Logging your notes and reviewing them regularly (Seriously—look up spaced repetition. It works.)

Anyone who preps for the ACT will tell you strong ACT students aren’t just test-takers. They’re meticulous about their process. And don’t believe anyone when they tell you tutoring is necessary for this: you can absolutely do this process on your own if you’re disciplined, organized and strategic.

Sound like a lot? That’s okay. Everyone starts somewhere. Give yourself some grace and start building these habits. It only gets easier with time.

3. The ACT doesn’t reward deep learning, just targeted exposure.

This isn’t the SAT. The ACT is faster, more surface-level, and less problem-solving heavy. Once you’ve seen how a grammar rule, math concept, or science graph appears, it’s likely to show up again in a nearly identical way.

That’s why expensive prep programs, apps, or “customized” curriculums often add complexity without real value. Your time is better spent working through real exams, documenting what you missed, and repeating until every gap is closed.

So where do you find these real exams?

Unfortunately, ACT Inc. no longer publicly releases past tests, just a handful in its official prep books. But thousands of students and tutors have compiled nearly 90 past exams. These tests circulate among prep circles, students, and tutors.

Want a shortcut?

At Educo, it’s our job to compile the most accurate, highest-yield prep material. We’ve collected every exam known to man, and we’re happy to share them. Send us an email or, better yet, sign up for a free, 60-minute consultation, and we’ll send you a personalized plan, plus every resource you’ll need to hit your score. 

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