33 ACT, 2200 SAT, or Retake Time?

Test Preparation
1

<p>I was discussing my college applications with my mom last night when she asked me what standardized test scores I was going to send to my regular decision schools. Unfortunately, I didn't really have an answer for her!</p>

<p>My recent ACT score was:
33 Composite
34 English (10 Essay)
34 Math
34 Reading
29 Science (egh.)</p>

<p>My SAT scores were:
2200 Total
760 Reading
680 Math
760 Writing (10 Essay)</p>

<p>Both of these were one sitting, and, due to my laziness, taken cold without any prepping.</p>

<p>I was especially disappointed with my ACT Science score, as I wasn't even able to finish that section of the test. What's worse: one more point in that section would have put me at a 34 composite, which I would have been more than happy with! I wasn't able to prep beforehand, so I was thinking about retaking the ACT and practicing my timing on the Science section. Unfortunately, it's now passed the late registration deadline for the ACT, so I would have to go in as a standby tester. Is it worth it?</p>

<p>If not, which one of these scores should I send to colleges, given that I'm applying Dartmouth, Brown, Cornell, Colombia, and some top-tier non-Ivies? </p>

<p>The ACT Math section seems to demonstrate my math ability, but I am afraid to send in an ACT Science score of 29 as a prospective science major. Would a low ACT Science score hurt me if the other sections are pretty good?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

<p><em>edit</em> To put these score in context, I'm in the top 5% of my class, go to a competitive private school in MD, have taken all available APs, received 5s on all AP exams taken, and have had a 4.0 unweighted since sophomore year. Science and math are my favorite and best classes, so the low math and science scores are a little unnerving...</p>

2

<p>Opinions, anyone??</p>

3

<p>Really?? No one has any advice? My brand-new guidance councilor told me to “do what I think is best,” so I’m kinda relying on the boards here…</p>

4

<p>My son got a 2300 SAT and a 34 ACT.</p>

<p>I would say that your good score on the math part of the ACT would indicate that if you do serious prep work for the math part of the SAT, that you can get it over the magic 700 mark. That would be good.</p>

<p>As for retaking the ACT, my son did surprisingly well on the Science part, because he is much more of a liberal arts type person, and he told me that it is more a logic test than a science test. So I am not sure if prep work would help that much, like it would with math. But even so, I would retake the ACT, because a 34 is indeed possible for you.</p>

<p>All that being said, isn’t it too late to take these tests for Fall admission?</p>

<p>When you are applyint to the tip top schools, every little bit counts.</p>

<p>If you don’t intend to apply to the tip top schools, then retaking these exams is probably not necessary.</p>

5

<p>Hey I had a similar situation as you. I didn’t prep for the ACT and got a ridiculous 24 on the science portion. I actually pride myself in science knowledge and I’m also looking into a science major.</p>

<p>I took it a second time a month later and got a 36 on science. The science section is all about timing and interpreting data. I was trying to draw on my own knowledge the first time and failed miserably. </p>

<p>Definitely take it again.</p>

6

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</p>

<p>According to [ACT-SAT</a> Concordance](<a href=“http://www.act.org/aap/concordance/index.html]ACT-SAT”>http://www.act.org/aap/concordance/index.html) , your ACT score is equal to your 2200 SAT (because your E/W score is a 33).</p>

<p>Chances are, you will improve with at least a little studying. </p>

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<p>According to my calculations, a 34/34/34/29 ACT score yields a 32.75 composite (rounds to 33), so even one more point on the science would be a 33.0 composite, not a 34.</p>

<p>I believe you can improve, however.</p>