30 ACT but with near perfect SAT IIs?

Applying to College
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<p>So, a couple of weeks ago I took the special testing for the October ACT. I just found out my scores today and I received a 30 Composite (E: 34, M:26, R:34, S:27) . Safe to say I'm really frustrated with myself. I recognize this is a good score, but I don't understand why I did so mediocre on the math section when I'm making an A in AP Calculus AB-which is taught by one of the hardest teachers in the school. I don't understand how I can make an 800 on the US History SAT II and a 790 on the Literature SAT II and perform like I did on my ACT. My parents are telling me that I should be really happy and in a lot of ways I am. However, I'm also really hard on myself and I'm disappointed in myself somehow for not doing better. Why am I able to score so high on my SAT IIs, but not on my ACT? Is it timing? Brown, Georgetown, Cornell, Williams, and UPenn are on my list and I'm worried that once they see my ACT score they think I won't be able to handle the work despite my grades and my mid-term report ( I'm expecting all As for my 4 AP courses, which is the max we can take). It's just...ugh :(</p>

<p>*sorry in advance for this post, I just needed a place to vent my disappointment with myself I guess.</p>

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<p>So I’m not the only one out there acing Calculus but stumbling over SAT/ACT math? I don’t get it either. Like you, I’m going through a Calculus sequence (though I’m doing it at the community college) with a very hard teacher. A glance at my transcript will show you that I am advanced and strong in math, but what do I get on the SAT math? 640/650. A kid I know is barely squeaking through Calc but got a 2350 on the SAT. Must have gotten a high math score to do that, but in the real world, the person is not good at math. Go figure.</p>

<p>Your scores are terrific, especially your subject tests. Funny, like me, you seem to take well to the writing/reading potions of standardized tests but not the math. I can’t tell you what those colleges will think, but hopefully they will look past that one number and see all your accomplishments. Best wishes! </p>