<p>So in February, I took the ACT for the first time, and I got a 34 on it (Reading:31, Science:34, Math:35, English:35) and a 35 on the English + Writing Composite score or whatever that thing is called (I got a 12 on my essay).</p>
<p>I was extremely pleased with my score, but my mother felt uneasy that I got a really good score on my first try that she wants me to take it one more time in June. But honestly, I don't want to study for ACT, I don't think I'm gonna get a 12 on the essay again, and I probably won't get higher than 34 either.</p>
<p>But I already paid for the ACT. What should I do now? Do you think I should still retake it? and if not, how do I cancel/refund the ACT test?</p>
<p>It’s one and done for you. A 34 is a great score and will not hold you bake. Congrats</p>
<p>34 with 35 in Eng/Writing is are great score. Particularly, you have no section score below 30 and both Eng and Math are 35. You really don’t need to retake it. Most schools would look at the composite score, the eng/writing score, and the math/eng section scores. You are fine with all.</p>
<p>Students with strong standardized test-taking skills who intend to apply to top-tier colleges should target 2300+ on the SAT and 35 or 36 on the ACT.
This gives the student the best shot at securing acceptances and merit-based aid.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you’re sick of taking the test (which is a little unusual if you’ve only taken the test once), then why take it again? I really don’t like it when a parent forces a son/daughter to take a standardized test by registering for the test. It usually creates tension between the parent and teenager. It’s stressful for the student. When placed in a situation like this, students will either choose to not take the test…or “tank” it on purpose. No one wins.</p>
<p>FYI, basic registration fees and certain additional service fees (e.g., late registration, test center change) for the ACT are nonrefundable. Optional service fees (e.g., 5th/6th college codes, test information release, ACT writing test) are refundable if you go through the proper process. [See</a> the ACT website for details.](<a href=“http://www.actstudent.org/faq/cxl.html]See”>http://www.actstudent.org/faq/cxl.html)</p>
<p>A 34 won’t keep you out of any school, including the top-tier colleges (a 34 is just under the 75 %ile at Yale). As my DD2 stated when I asked if she would retake the ACT (same score) “why would I give up a Saturday morning when I have a perfectly good score already?”</p>
<p>Sleep in, enjoy.</p>
<p>^ I agree. Particularly most school don’t superscore ACT. There is a high chance that you do not gain anything in retake since you are already at a very high score already.</p>
<p>I love you guys.
And just the clear up some stuff, my parents weren’t forcing me to do anything… they just felt uneasy cause I got way too high of a score on my first try so they wanted me to take another one just so it can look like I put effort into ACT. I hope that makes sense. My mom’s not like a tiger mom or anything lol</p>
<p>from Erin’s Dad’s previous post (#6 in this thread):
</p>
<p>I agree that a “34” on the ACT certainly won’t be the sole reason that an applicant is rejected from a top-tier college. And yet, with the admissions process at top-tier colleges being rather opaque (and super-competitive), it may make sense for a student who is naturally good at standardized test-taking to “max” out that part of his/her application. It’s up to the student to determine whether the benefits of potential score improvement outweigh the opportunity costs of taking the test one more time.</p>
<p>Not that it necessarily should, but if this sort of decision-making can be extended to other aspects of a student’s life…
It’s been my experience that students who have an attitude of “that’s good enough” tend not to get into the top-tier schools. Those that secure acceptances are industrious and ambitious. They show initiative and have lots of raw ability. They go above and beyond what they need to do to get a great grade on a test, write an insightful paper, or excel at an extracurricular activity. To clarify, choosing not to retake the ACT after scoring a “34” does not imply that a student has a “that’s good enough” attitude.</p>
<p>from Datkidontheblock’s previous post (#8 in this thread):
@Datkidontheblock: I really don’t get your parents’ logic. Admissions committees typically don’t care if you’ve taken the ACT once or twice. Based on the test-prep landscape and the widespread availability of practice tests, it would be unreasonable to draw any conclusions about “effort” from the number of times that a student chooses to take a standardized test. For better or worse, “effort” is usually deduced from a student’s strength of curriculum, GPA, and available resources in his/her locale.</p>
<p>bartleby07 tell that to my mom please</p>