The writing section is stupid. I expect that, ten years from now, it will be gone. More colleges will let it go, and the A.C.T. & S.A.T. won’t find it worthwhile.
Yes, the math is getting more difficult. Also, I took the extra section in math (16 questions, 20 minutes), and most of them were difficult as well.
You will probably have to take the entire A.C.T. again, Kxailia. When the proctors say, “Pencils down”, then pencils down.
Sweetmint, if you send those A.C.T. scores, then the writings scores go, too.
Yesterday was my first time taking it. I definitely need a retake. English was easy. Math was hard, but math is not my strongest subject anyway. Reading was difficult for me because I had a panic attack and couldn’t focus. Science was a little better, but it was still difficult for me to focus.
Retaking in June.
I thought math was harder than usual
Overall, it was alright:
English: Really easy, I pacee myself really good and completed all 75 questions. Expecting a 27-32
Math: Tougher than usual, got to just 50 and guess on the rest. I got a 23 the last time, hopefully, I get around the same score, like a 23-24.
Reading: Honestly, it wasn’t that bad, but this is always my weakest section, but I did three passages and 2 questions on the last passage and then I guess on the rest. Probably expecting a 20-23.
Science: Super easy, probably the easist one that I did in a long time. Most of the passages were just graphs and tables. Expecting a 26-31 on this one.
Writing: Prompt was pretty straightfoward. I planned for 6 minutes and then I wrote 5 paragraphs. Hopefully I get an 8-9 on this one
Composite: Overall the test was alright, my overall score will probably be around a 24-27.
E: 33-35
M: 25/26
R: 19-21
S: :21-23
Based on the sample scoring for one test in my ACT guide book. I put a margin of error of roughly +/- 1 question to account for varying levels of test difficult and number of test takers.
what? science was really easy
My daughter took this test. She said the reading was particularly difficult for her. She placed the difficulty in this order (most difficult to least). Reading/Math/Science/English
She felt the writing topic was easy as well.
She is expecting 29 as a low composite and is hopeful for a 32.
She noted that science was particularly easy. Math was easier than she anticipated. English is always easy for her. Reading was the only subject that gave her cause for concern–she feels this is what could possibly pull her composite down to 29.
BondTutoring, did you feel reading was more difficult on this particular exam?
This is my daughter’s first go at the ACT. She’s 15-so she can retake in the fall. She can’t retake in June bc of scheduling conflicts. She did take the December test last week to practice on and made a 32, but had some lucky guesses on Reading so I hate to put too much stock in that. The chance on more lucky guesses in Reading are slim. She really is worried that the Reading will bring her composite down:( everything else seemed fairly easy to her.
Do you guys think the math curve is going to be good??
@lalander111
There are MANY schools that require the essay- half or more of the ivies. Both of the flagship universities in our state, Rice, Vanderbilt,Emory. Some schools will not look at a score that did not include writing. If you are applying places top 20 and state flagships- you are most likely going to need an essay score
From Vanderbilt admissions:
What is Vanderbilt‘s policy regarding the writing portions of the SAT and ACT?
The Writing section of the ACT and the Essay section of the New SAT are not required.
From Emory:
All first-year freshman applicants to Emory University are required to submit scores from either the SAT or the ACT. The essay/writing section of the redesigned SAT and the ACT are optional.
From Rice:
All freshman applicants must submit at least one of the following:
the old SAT (Reading, Math, and Writing) and two SAT Subject Tests in fields related to their proposed area of study
the new, redesigned SAT (Reading/Writing/Language and Math - SAT Essay is optional)
the ACT (Writing is optional)
Some do require it, but very very few (most UC’s for example)
No, Momto8, the reading seemed about the same. I do the reading section backwards–passages IV, III, II, & I. I stayed right on time (8:30 to 9:00 per passage). Passage I, “Literary Narrative” had a couple tricky questions. One was the chronology question (as I recall), which one must attack slowly & carefully.
I read half the passage, then attack every question that I can answer fully or even partially. Then, depending on the number of questions that remain, I read or skim the latter half of the passage–or read and stop when I spot something mentioned in a question.
It’s time for all colleges to scrap requiring the essay in A.C.T. or S.A.T.
Of course, it’s past time, way past time, for all colleges to ignore the A.C.T. & S.A.T. entirely.
Momto8, pay the extra $20 and order the Test Information Release service for the April A.C.T.
BondTutoring, I think I did pay the extra $20 for that. I paid extra for a copy of the test with answers–is that what you mean?
E: 30-32
M: 32-34 (few unknown problems)
R: 23-25 (very bad at reading section)
S: 35-36 (For some reason, Ap Chemistry helped a lot.)