<p>If you have consistently had lower test scores relative to your class grades, it is time to sit down with your guidance counselor and discuss possible causes for this. Things that leap to mind (there are other possibilities as well) include:
- Poor test-taking strategies. A good test prep program will fix this. Start with Xiggi’s do-it-at-home program: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/68210-xiggis-sat-prep-advice.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/68210-xiggis-sat-prep-advice.html</a>
- Test-induced anxiety. Your counselor and/or the school psychologist can advise you on ways to reduce this.
- Dyslexia/dyscalculia-type processing issues. Your reading scores are fine, but I take it that your ACT math score is lousy. If you have a so-far unidentified dyscalculia issue going on, your counselor and/or the school psychologist can advise you on strategies that will help you work better with your own brain’s way of functioning.</p>
<p>I know a student who took the ACT multiple times, and never scored over 29. Like you, this student was near the top of her class at a tiny school, and graduated with something like a 3.99999. Because of this student’s commitment to community service, she was admitted to Guilford College as a Bonner Scholar. You may want to take a look at the institutions that participate in that program: [url=<a href=“http://www.bonner.org/]default[/url”>http://www.bonner.org/]default[/url</a>]</p>