Why is it that some schools only report individual math and english scores? Are these more important than the other two? Will it be a boost that my English and Math average is a 36 (35.5) while my composite is a 34 (34.25)? Will I be looked on more favorably because of my higher E and M scores?
Thanks
If you’re majoring in science, they’ll pay attention to science. If you’re majoring in english, they’ll pay attention to your english.
It depends
@UnhealthyAdmissionAddiction - Given that the ACT Science section doesn’t test science knowledge AT ALL, I highly doubt that any college would consider it a strong indicator of an applicant’s readiness to study science.
There are only four sections for a reason. They are all important and weighed evenly. Yes, science does not test science knowledge, but it tests your data analysis skills, which is important in any profession. Math is important to any profession as well, it’s a way of thinking, not necessarily “do you know math?” Reading comprehension is important to everything. That is why test scores are so important. I do not believe that admissions officers pick out any of the ACT subject scores. I am fairly certain that they view all sections of the entire test to be important. You will simply be looked on favorably because of your high ACT in general, and probably not any more for your high E and M scores.
Most schools only report the math and English sections for a reason: those section are weighted more heavily. A study conducted by Stanford in 2011 (I believe) showed that there was a strong correlation between scores on the math and English sections and college success while there was none between the reading and science sections and college success.
If the 4 sections were weighted evenly, colleges would report all 4.
The science and reading section scores come in when colleges look at your composite (which is arguably the most important number of all). I’ve asked about this to college admissions officers before, and they say they report only those two because they are more important. I’m sure it’s case-by-case, though.
It’s interesting that for the ACT, Cal Poly Slo only considers the English and Math subscores. First school I have seen do that but sure there may be others.