@Navy09mom if only it were as simple as that. My son took the test in December, 2015 after 18 months watching me battle breast cancer - 3 surgeries and 6 months of chemo. He was at an extremely low point in his young life and refused to study or even open a review book (as a junior). He was being heavily recruited for soccer and when he (and I) went to the December showcase in Florida, the coaches all started encouraging him to work harder and study more for the upcoming tests. He worked 3 days per week with 2 ACT tutors from January through the May exam - one for math, one for English - and his practice exams were all in the 26-27 range so when he scored a 26 in the May ACT we were thrilled, but not surprised. After committing to college in April of his junior year (2016), we were extremely shocked to get a phone call from the coach in July after he graduated (2017), more than a year after the second exam, to hear that the ACT was questioning his scores. We spent the next 6 weeks preparing our response and had his two ACT tutors, the Director of Guidance and his teachers prepare and submit a letter confirming his abilities. In October, 2017 we received notification that his scores were being cancelled unless he either took the exam again or arbitrated. He was now a College Freshman, playing soccer and traveling with his D1 team. We opted to cancel his scores because he couldn’t even take the time to retake the exam and didn’t need to based on his first test score (NCAA compliance is a sliding scale between GPA and Test Scores. That’s the kicker - he didn’t even NEED to take the second exam because his first score kept him compliant. His first score was a 20 and his second score after studying diligently, was a 26. His GPA is a 3.2 - all consistent with the score. And still, they accused him of cheating. The seating information and the statistical garbage they threw at us was so ridiculous and impossible to comprehend. To make matters worse, ACT said it would replace his score filed with the NCAA and never did. This caused him to lose eligibility for 4 weeks - watching his scholarship get taken away (which was reinstated) but not be able to practice, study, get PT, and lots of other things he needed to do. This entire process is a sham - a true disgrace to the educational format we have in place right now. Faxing in reports and statements along with transcripts and personal letters in support of a student only to receive rejection letters (by Registered and Regular US mail) is simply the most insulting, slap in the face a student could ever receive. So for those of you who think you have it figured out - be prepared. When you need it the most your score may be questioned. And there’s not a d*mn thing you can do about it.
Are the tests getting flagged only when there is a big jump in the composite score or do they also flag big increases in the individual sections?
@cdsjmom i do not believe that is considered a test to be flagged. There used to be pre-act (I think it was called the PLAN). same thing. a test to practice ACT given by the high school. No, you do not have to worry about that. I would however plan appropriately when your child gets to the real ACT. I have read alot of the above posts, and have to agree that I would never take one unprepared or just because or because I want to try it out. The best course of action seems to be, in general, to study (however one wants to study) and take a test when most prepared. There are lots of ways to take a practice one - preACT, testing companies under similar conditions, and at home. That can give a baseline. I have read that colleges don’t want to see more than 3 times at a test. So there you go.
@janiemiranda I don’t think they flag individual test scores because my daughter took the official ACT test twice and went from a science score in the low 20s on her first ACT to a 31 on her second ACT (after intense studying focusing on the science section) and we didn’t hear anything from the ACT about the jump in score.
@Emsmom1 Thank you, that is good to know! Not knowing what we know now (from reading this thread) my daughter took the test as a freshman. She got a 31C but her math score was relatively low because she had not taken Algebra 2 yet. We expect she should have a fairly big jump in that section score when she takes it again. We were planning on her taking the ACT test again this June (end of her sophomore year) because she will be fresh out of taking Algebra II class and we had heard that it is best to take the ACT test when that class is still fresh. Now I am very worried about her taking it multiple times. Should she take it again this June since she is coming out of Algebra 2?
@janiemiranda I would have her study over the summer on all sections and then sit in the Fall of 2018 (upcoming) - her Junior year - maybe the September, October or December 2018 test. The study/test prep this summer will help with 2 things: 1) getting ready for the fall ACT and being the most prepared she can and 2) helping her prepare for the PSAT which is the junior test for possible national merit qualifing. I did that with both my kids and it worked perfectly. They were done with Algebra 2 the end of sophomore year. Oh, and editing to say that in junior year, some kids take pre-calc and that will help in the beginning of the year with the ACT.
I have gone to the media where I live and to Reuters. Steve Stecklow has been reporting ACT for years. Needs a lot of testimonies not just 1 or 2 every now and then. Make sense?
*TO ALL Please try to remember - we are fighting for our students rights. Not to have everyone agree or even understand what we have all gone through. Try not to lose sight of the purpose of this communication. We want everyone who views it to understand all perspectives. We all have valid points! Let’s keep working together 
@hcmom65 thanks for the feedback. I appreciate everyone sharing their stories. Unfathomable that this takes place. I was concerned that my son’s PreACT he took sophomore year (C20) would now raise a red flag since he got a C28 on the first real ACT he took junior year (after lots of tutoring). He is happy with that score and wants to be done. After reading the stories I tend to agree with him.
I’m really sorry that you experienced this with your son. Hard enough to battle cancer while dealing with all of this. I am so happy things worked out well for him, but it is always at a cost to us moms. I am a cancer survivor so cheers to you! I would sign any petition on doing something to challenge the monopoly mentality of these testing companies. Good luck to him and you in the future.
I just got a mail from ACT today saying that they decided to close the case and decided to continue to treat my score as valid! I was so stressed out for the last two months and now I feel so released.
Hope everybody else gets a good news!!
Congrats, @kathy00, you are one of the lucky ones. I would be interested to know what you submitted in support of the validity of your second test score. I know we had everything but a note from the Pope but nothing helped my son’s case.
@CollegeSoccerMom I submitted my high school transcript, personal statement explaining how my score changed so dramatically, and letters from my counselor and English teacher!
@kathy00 was this during an appeal with ACT and what was the increase in your scores? Did you take the ACT again or just get this information as a result of your appeal?
I would love to know what you did too. Can you please share more of your story. This could be very helpful to others.
My score increased from C28(19 31 34 27) to C33(31 35 33 31) and they were questioning my English score.
I explained that my skill is not a level of 19 which is proven by other three sections in the same test. I did not retake the test.
@kathy00 was this part of the appeal process or just an explanation you gave to them once your English score was questioned?
@LvMyKids2 It was part of the appeal process. In my personal statement.
I have been really horrified by what I have read in this thread. Its a travesty! I’m really surprised that high schools require these tests when the students may not be fully prepared. Is there any way to opt out? It seems like a huge intrusion for the high school to require a specific test, especially since some colleges require all test scores to be sent. My D1 was much more comfortable with SAT than ACT. This would have been a real burden for her.
@gallentjill No student is required to take the ACT/SAT. My D stayed home on the required SAT day simply because she was happy with her score and didn’t want to retake it. I know many others who stayed home as well. Of course, parents who don’t know better may insist on the student taking it. But no school can force a student to take either test.
I want to encourage you to continue in your protest of College Board’s treatment of your daughter. They have become a bureaucracy that is unanswerable to parents and students. I dealt with them in 2010 trying to get testing accommodations for a brilliant but handicapped child. After jumping through all the hoops they still would not cooperate. It is frustrating always pushing up against a wall and so often we have to move on. Whatever you decide is best for you as to how hard you pursue this, I hope you will be comforted to know you are right and College Board’s behavior is outrageous and wrong.