Most books that have ACT practice tests have several. You can use them in a couple of different ways.
Use the first ACT practice test to carefully put into play the strategies that you have learned for taking the ACT. Don't worry about time. Go back and review the strategy for each type of question if you need to. Make sure you understand each type of question and the best strategy for answering it. There are specific types of questions in each section of the ACT. Learn to recognize what type of question is being asked, because it will help you identify the strategy to be used. With no time pressures, you should be able to do very well on this practice test.
This approach is similar to a basketball or football practice where you walk through specific defensive or offensive sets and practice how to perform them and react to them. When I played baseball, I was taught that before each pitch I should think through scenarios. What should I do if the ball is hit on the ground to me? What if it is hit in the air? What if it is hit to the second baseman? And so on. Thinking about these before the actual pitch helped me be ready when I didn't have a lot of time to think.
After you have scored your untimed ACT practice test, evaluate where you need some review or polishing. Find strategies for those areas where you are weak. After you have completed that, do the rest of the ACT practice tests while being timed. This will help you practice the strategies you used on the first test in a timed environment, which is what you'll being doing when take the real ACT.
This second approach is like a full-speed scrimmage. Once you have learned what you should do, then you have to practice it at full speed. If you get it wrong, you do it again, until you get it right. Hopefully, if you do that enough times, you will be ready for whatever comes your way in the real game.
One thing that you are trying to do with practice tests is to build up your speed. Time is your enemy on the ACT. The only way you can do that is by finding and taking as many practice tests as possible to practice your skills and strategies. If you use ACT practice tests in this way, you'll greatly improve your chance of getting a high ACT test score.
The absolute best source of ACT tips that you can use while taking ACT practice tests is ACT Exam Secrets. This guide is packed full of tips and tricks to help you get the very best score on the ACT.
