@amarylandmom - D is another data point for a child improving on her ACT score on the third try to a 31. Like your son, she scored 27 twice on the ACT. I think your son can raise his score. @singermom4 is right - sometimes it’s more strategy than knowledge. When we did take the entire ACT exam, I ran out of steam a couple of times, so I made sure D went to the exam with plenty of water and snack food. She said that definitely helped on the sections after the break. Practice was the other key thing - just taking a section or two a week helped D tremendously getting familiar and comfortable with the test questions. Taking pre-calculus her junior year also helped with the trig and unit circle questions.
I wish D took the ACT one more time to try for the 32 - that seems to be where the big merit scholarships begin - but she was ecstatic with the 31.