The Top 5 ACT Apps

Everyone has his or her own method of preparing for the ACT after they've bitten the bullet and registered. Some people prefer books – they buy them so they can study in the library or at their kitchen table at a set time. Others will register for ACT classes or take free practice ACT tests online. But there is a growing number of people who prefer to prepare for standardized tests like the ACT on their iPhones, iPads and iPods with ACT apps. If this is you, then take a look at these ACT apps which have been reviewed for your preparation pleasure. Enjoy!

4 ACT Apps Worth More Than You'll Pay

ACTStudent

Maker: ACT, Inc.

Use With: iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch

User Ranking: 4/5 stars

Price: Free. There aren't any sneaky in-app purchases, either.

Key Features:

  • From the maker of the ACT. Chances are good the content is solid.
  • Complete practice questions exactly like the test questions on the real ACT.
  • From the "Account" tab, you can access your registration and scores online, although you do have to have Internet access on your phone in order to do this.

Why Buy? Some of the reviews specify that the app has too few practice questions, but if you want reliable test prep on the go, then you can't beat studying with the makers of the test. Plus, it's free, so it's a no-risk download.

AllenACT

Maker: Allen Resources, Inc.

Use With: iPad and iPhone

User Ranking: 3/5 stars

Price: The original download is free, but that only comes with a handful of questions. To get the real prep, you'll need to do some in-app purchasing. The full version of their ACT test bank, with over 1000 questions, is $4.99.

Key Features:

  • Tracks your strengths and weaknesses so you can focus your studying
  • Adapts questions based on your performance
  • Gives you the ability to mark questions for future use or retake only questions you've flagged
  • Offers the ability to choose questions from all multiple-choice subject areas (English, Math, Reading, Science Reasoning) or a combination of a couple or just one.
  • Gives you test tips and strategies while you go, so if you keep missing questions that test a particular skill, for example, you'll get a tip that tells you how to improve.
  • Compares your skills with others' statistics, so you get a feel for the percentile in which you're testing.

Why Buy? You want comprehensive ACT test prep with tons of questions and detailed rationales for each wrong answer. You're planning to seriously study, and need all the bells and whistles that go along with an app.

ACT McGraw Hill

Maker: Watermelon Express now owned by BenchPrep

Use With: iPad or iPhone

User Ranking: 4/5 stars

Price: $19.99 with optional in-app purchases of $1.99 for additional practice tests

Key Features:

  • Content provided by McGraw Hill, a long-standing publisher of all things educational.
  • More than 1000 questions you won't find elsewhere
  • 10 diagnostic tests, which is a TON for an app!
  • Tips for the test day itself
  • A tool to help you formulate an ACT study plan
  • Score and social analytics. See how your score rates amongst your peers and also from one of your practice tests to the next.
  • Form study dates with other users right from the app
  • Works without an internet connection, although you'll need one at first to set up your account.

Why Buy? This ACT app is right for you if you want reliable, thorough test prep from people who tend to know the business. You also want buckets full of practice tests, so you're fully prepared on test day. Sure, it's a little pricier than some of the other apps, but if you're fully devoted to a higher score, than $20 isn't going to set you back that much.

ACT for Dummies

Maker: gWhiz, LLC.

Use With: iPad or iPhone

User Ranking: 3.5/5 stars

Price: $9.99

Key Features:

  • 150 practice questions
  • 2 full practice tests
  • Ability to mark questions for review later
  • "X Days Until Test" countdown clock so you're not surprised to find out the test is next Saturday
  • User-friendly interface
  • Timed testing, just like on test day!
  • Special tips about topics like registering for the ACT, learning test day conditions, deciding to take the ACT again, and taking the test with learning disabilities

Why Buy? Purchase this ACT app if you're interested in a friendly design with loads of test-taking tips.

Shmoop ACT Test Prep

Maker: Shmoop University, Inc.

Use With: iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch

User Ranking: Not yet rated

Price: $4.99

Key Features:

  • Focuses on the skills you'll need to master on the test, rather than replicating ACT test prep questions exactly.
  • It uses popular television shows like C.S.I. and So You Think You Can Dance? as the basis for its questions
  • Covers all five of the ACT topics, including ACT Writing
  • Offers tips, strategies, and explanations for each question

Why Buy? You're bored with all the ACT test prep you've been doing, and let's face it, your skills aren't up to par, so it's tough to study with some of the real questions, because you have no idea what they're talking about. Here, you'll get questions that won't bore you to death, plus you'll get some skills work, too, so when you encounter realistic ACT test prep questions, you'll be ready to go.

Format
mla apa chicago
Your Citation
Roell, Kelly. "The Top 5 ACT Apps." ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/the-top-act-apps-3211152. Roell, Kelly. (2021, February 16). The Top 5 ACT Apps. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/the-top-act-apps-3211152 Roell, Kelly. "The Top 5 ACT Apps." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/the-top-act-apps-3211152 (accessed March 19, 2024).