<p>Hi everyone, I need some advice. My son wants to be a chemical engineer. He took the ACT in Feb 2013 and scored a composite of 34. He took the ACT again in March 2013 (required state exam) and scored a composite of 32.</p>
<p>He did great on the Feb 2013 exam except his math was a bit low for top engineering schools, in math he scored a 31 (96th %tile). On the ACT in March he scored 33 in math (98%) which would help him a great deal to get into engineering schools.</p>
<p>The problem is that I'm worried about submitting both sets of scores because some of his other subscores were quite a bit lower on the March ACT. I know that schools that superscore say that they'll ignore your lower scores, but I don't know if we should trust that. </p>
<p>Here are his complete set of scores:
Feb 2013
Composite 34
English 33
Math 31
Reading 35
Science 35
Essay 08</p>
<p>March 2013
Composite 32
English 34
Math 33
Reading 31
Science 30
Essay 08</p>
<p>That 5 point drop in science and the 4 point drop in reading worry me in terms of what college admissions will think. My son was sick when he took the ACT in March which may account for the lower science and reading scores. I want him to take it again in June, but what he really wanted from the March exam was a higher math score and now that he has it he doesn't want to retake the exam. He just wants to submit both sets of scores and let colleges superscore (those that do). Do you guys think this is a good idea? Or should he retake?</p>
<p>This depends on which schools he is considering. Schools that superscore the ACT are few and far between, so check your facts. Those that superscore and don’t want all tests to be submitted honestly won’t consider lower subsection scores. You can trust them on that. In many cases the transcript is summarized by an administrative assistant before the file is reviewed. The deciding personnel never even see lower subsection scores.</p>
<p>On the other hand, some schools require or strongly suggest that the applicant send all test sittings. Even if those schools say they superscore, they want all scores because they want to be able to consider other factors such as how many sittings the applicant took to get those scores.</p>
<p>Unlike SAT, there are not as many schools that do ACT superscore. The Feb 2013 score looks good. If he does not want to retake ACT, I would suggest to take SAT2 Math2 instead to show his math skills. If he is taking AP Chemistry this year, take the subject test as well.</p>
<p>He’s taking SAT Math I and II in May. He’s in AP Physics now and is taking the Physics subject test in June. He took SAT Subject Test in Biology-M as a sophomore and got a 770. But most of the engineering schools he’s applying to won’t accept SAT biology, they want chem or physics. He’s in a small rural High School that does not have AP Chemistry, nor calculus. He’s taking calculus at a community college next year. Thanks for the advice. I think I’ll wait and see how he does on the math subject tests. Great idea.</p>
<p>There is little point to take both Math1 and Math2 subject tests. For science and engineering, go for Math2 only.</p>
<p>I am 7th grader taking the ACT test soon. Does anyone have any suggestions/tips for me? This is my first time and I’m trying to get into the duke tip program. Thanks :)</p>
<p>My second son got a letter from a Duke program based on some test scores. We didn’t enroll in it. My older son didn’t get a letter because we moved here from another state and so he missed that exam. We have friends whose kids are in the Duke program (they’re on my second son’s competitive soccer team). I didn’t see the benefit to the program because I thought that my kids’ time was better spent on their own interests, e.g., taekwondo, flute, competitive soccer, thrift store & food pantry community service. About your question, I think you’re too young to be worrying about taking the ACT. I also think that you haven’t had the material you need, particularly for the math section, to do well. Leave it to Duke to pressure kids into taking the ACT in 7th grade, when they’re not ready for it. I like Duke, I’ve visited the campus twice. Both my sons want to be engineers, one chemical and the other aerospace. Duke’s Pratt school of engineering doesn’t offer either degree so we won’t be applying. Too bad too, because Duke has a beautiful campus and I like the school. Anyway, the best way to study for the act is to take the most challenging courses you can, honors and AP, and then buy a prep book, my sons prefer princeton review but there are other good ones too, and then practice under timed conditions. Good luck.</p>
<p>Thank you neon pink lime, I really appreciate it:)</p>