Hi! I am going to be a senior next year and I have taken 3 ACTs, and I have gotten a 33 on every single one. Here are my detailed scores for each:
December:
English 35, Math 31, Reading 35, Science 32 (Composite 33, average 33.25)
April (state test):
English 34, Math 32, Reading 33, Science 32 (Composite 33, average 32.75)
June:
English 32, Math 33, Reading 34, Science 34 (Composite 33, average 33.25)
On the June ACT, I was very confident that I was going to bump up to a 34, yet what ended up hurting me was that my English score was a lot worse than it has ever been. I am wondering, especially since if I got a 33.5 average it would round me to a 34 composite score (which is only .25 of a point higher than what I have gotten), if I should take the upcoming September test. I feel like a 34 might open even more doors to me for schools/scholarships and I am wondering if I should make one final push.
My super score could also get to a 35, as it is a 34.25 right now.
Every school admits students with ACTs (or equivalent SAT scores…) at or below a 33.
Some schools put more weight on test scores than others, but I’d be willing to wager that a 33 clears the “test score hurdle” at each of them.
Now, a 34+ might give you slightly better odds and a slightly more impressive app… but i think once you meet the test score requirement at a given school, they move on to consider the next part of your app. That’s been the impression I’ve received from a lot of posters on this site who’ve shared their views on the matter. (of course, few to none of us are actually adcoms…)
As of right now I am planning on applying to Northwestern, Michigan, and other Big Ten schools, but that is not set in stone yet. I am also wondering if a 34 would give me more scholarship opportunities than a 33 would at schools. And does that mean common app schools care more about the individual sub scores more than the composites?
And thanks prezbucky, I was also wondering if it wouldn’t matter that much and if I would be better off spending time on other parts of my application anyway.
yeah, I do think this test’s English section did have some weird questions, so I relate to the score drop, mine will most likely drop as well. I mean sure a 34 does look better than a 33, but I don’t think it would be worth it to retake it another time. A 33 is STILL a very competitive score for the universities you mentioned. Additionally, at this point, since you already have a solid ACT score, I would just focus on other parts of your application (perhaps pick up an SAT subject test) that can boost your chances.
I think you sit with 33. The only schools looking for much higher scores want all testing reported – and you don’t want to reveal that you took it four times.
I’m sure you have better things to do with your time than endlessly prepping for the ACT. This is especially true for you because you already have a great score. Go enjoy your life.
I would say retest one more time because you’re at the top of the 33 range, so going up to a 34 is possible. If you prepare for this (for example, make sure you know those comma rules for the English section, since English was your Achilles heel on the last one you took), you should be able to do it with no issue. Reaching that 34 will increase your scholarship eligibility for some awards, and it will look better overall.
Don’t stress yourself out too much. Every college in the US admits some number of students who get a 33. Stanford, the most selective college in the US last year, admitted students with scores below your ACT (their middle IQR/middle 50% of ACT scores for accepted applicants was 31-35 composite).
Bottom line, I would take it again, but don’t freak out.
Don’t retake. A lot of students hurt their application by spending all their time tirelessly trying to improve their score when it’s already solid. Plus, retaking the test a fourth time is not advised by a lot of these schools.
To the people saying that excessive test taking looks bad, the OP could simply delete any unwanted scores and just send his/her best. Don’t see any harm in a 4th attempt, but imo OP would be fine without it.
Unless you have a specific school which requires a 34 for a guaranteed scholarship and you want to attend that school, it may not be worthwhile. I have seen 34 for full ride at one or two schools but i don’t know if any of the big 10 schools announce such a qualifying number.
@ambitionsquared, not if the school asks for all scores. Technically the ACT allows deletion of scores, but some schools ask for all scores Yale, for example: “You may choose to report either all of your SAT results or all of your ACT results.” All means all… sneaking around isn’t a good habit in the college admissions process or in life.
As @intparent points out, you probably might be able to get away with deleting the record and not sending the scores, but technically you would not be following either the spirit or the letter of the law with respect to schools that request to see ALL scores from either the ACT or the SAT. Can you get away with it? Maybe…Is it kosher? Not really.
It’s not unlike reneging on an ED acceptance because you got another offer (or the closer analogy, because you didn’t bother to withdraw your other applications after receiving your ED acceptance). It’s just not the right thing to do, and if you were to get caught, a school would have grounds for rescinding your acceptance.
(BTW, if you’ve sent any those scores to any schools with the free reports, it’s a non-issue as they are already out there. Also, all of the scores may well be on your transcript or in your HS record (I know for D17 it’s in her Naviance account). How are you going to explain to your GC how you want to game the system by deleting the record from the ACT and can s/he do likewise from you HS report?