Hi, recently ACT sent me a letter accusing me of cheating, although they never used the word “cheating”.They gave me 3 options of cancelling my test score, retaking, or appealing the notice. I have already sent in everything for my appeal in hopes of not taking the re test. Their reasoning was do to my inconsistent scoring from the first test and the unusual amount of similar answers to another test taker near me.
Some information:
In April 2015 I took my first ACT exam ever and being quite dumb I took it without knowing the layout, sections, or time restrictions of the test. I went in completely blind and scored a 25. I had no time to study given I had taken SAT month before (never studied for that either) and had 4 AP tests the next month. I was overwelmed and tired from my junior and basically gave up.
Then I decided to take the test in September and scored a 31!(math:29 English:26 science:33 reading:34). I never got a tutor but I studied much of my summer and first month of senior year because I was so much more relaxed. My friends also gave me a few pointers such as reading questions before passages and do easy questions first and go back to hard ones. Which helped both science and reading as you can tell by the high scores and I think just knowing the timing and section until the time before helped tremendously as well. But they are skeptical which I understand. That is a high increase.
About me:
I am a majority A student with a few Bs here and there. (weighted GPA: 4.24, unweighted:3.76). I go to the number 1 high school in my state and take only honors and AP classes because those are the only ones offered and Ive been in student government for my high school for the past 3 and a half years. I have never been accused of cheating and personally I see no point in it. Why make yourself seem smarter to get into a better school because once you get there you’ll fail. Cheaters never win, am I right? I’m also in multiple honor societies and have been accepted into 2/3 top colleges (waiting for my third).
Most things that I have read about this matter includes the student not having matching grades so the appeal is never accepted so I’m not sure about my case.)
As requested, I sent in a letter explaining the situation, including everything to support the validity of my test; this includes my transcript, evidence of study and, a letter from my parents, counselor, and a close teacher of mine who constantly saw me studying. I even included information on how dumb it would be to cheat as a 25 is still 76 percentile. Making it unlikely for me to sit next to someone to score higher than that. I included what it studied and what I did while taking the test as well. I can’t explain why the answers are the same but I’m assuming the other person cheated since I worked my ass off to get that score. The only person next to me talked to himself and was highly annoying the whole test so why on earth would I take that risky chance? Basically I should hear in a few weeks whether the appeal was accepted but do any of you think my appeal will work and I will not have to retake? If I do I must score a 28 or higher which I’m confident I can do. If I can’t get a 28 then thats that, I never deserved that 31.I know I can though. It’s just such a hassle since I have senior projects and sports I’m particpating in, plus homework! Please help!! Thanks for reading.
LOL, top school in your state and only a 31 ACT? You should be ashamed of yourself, buddy. Try to aim for something that fits the tryhard standard more, like maybe a 35 :))
@soccerplayer85, I wish you the best of luck in handling this situation. I can certainly understand your reluctance to re-take the test during your busy school year. If ACT is covering the cost of the re-take, I would want to just schedule it and get it done with. It is unlikely to affect the outcome of the third application, and I would have additional evidence that I did not cheat. (that’s my opinion, though)
I assume this was an ACT without the writing section, so hopefully the time commitment would not be as demanding. Good luck with the appeal! Sounds like you have a strong case for winning.
@ILfather than you so much! You are correct the first exam with 25 I got a 9 on the writing and decided that was fine so I took without writing. I’ll have additional evidence ready. thank you for the advice on this.
If you didn’t cheat why do you say you never deserved that 31?
@Proudpatriot i think I misworded, I’m basically saying I did deserve that 31 so it would be pretty bad if I couldn’t get a 28. I’m not worried about the retake I’m simply saying for people who have cheated and ended up getting a score lower than 3 points says a lot. 3 points is a huge amount.