Most Juniors have taken the ACT already, a somewhat intimidating test. What one might like to know is how to get over that fear.

A key solution is preparation.

Preparation is an old notion, similar to one of those adages a grandfather or awkward uncle might tell their kid to go to bed.

However, preparation is key to success in the ACT, which brings a high score, which brings colleges running to accept those applications.

The ACT website, otherwise known as act.org, offers multiple options in ACT preparation:

• ACT online prep
• The Real ACT Prep Guide

Ordering the ACT online prep, according to advertising, offers personalized learning and practice tests with questions from some of the ACTs themselves, and, being online, has unlimited 24-hour access. The online catalog prices it at $39.95, which is a hefty price, but the makers of the ACT itself did design it.

The Real ACT Prep Guide is a book containing five practice quizzes, also with questions from actual previous ACTs, explanations for the right and wrong answers, scoring explanations, test-taking strategies, a review guide, and a how-to on preparing for the test day. The catalog charges $34.95, excluding shipping.

Both are still very expensive, but the money may be worth acceptance into a desirable college.

Of course, a less expensive method is far more preferable.

What about a booklet that contains strategies, practice tests, and advice and is free?

Believe it or not, there is such a book. Preparing for the ACT, provided free of charge, gives information about other preparation materials available to the public, gives general test-taking strategies, advises on preparation for the test day, and provides specific information on each subject and segment of the ACT.

In addition to all of that, Preparing for the ACT comes with practice quizzes in each subject, and even an answer document, if necessary.

The quality of either is debatable, but the cheapest tool available to students, to prepare for the ACT, is Preparing for the ACT, a free and helpful guide to the ACT.