<p>DS took the ACT (without writing) in June mostly to see how he would do. His dream school takes it w/o writing so we figured, if he did well, great, if not, then we would just ignore it as he was headed to SAT's this fall. On the few practice ones he did (the real ones), he got 33-34. On the actual test, he got a 34-35 on everything except a 29 on science (huh?) and ended up with a 33. So, now we're thinking he should take the ACT with writing in the fall so that we can use it for all the other schools that require the writing component. </p>
<p>So, for those who have taken it more than once, how often do people go down on repeat testing? I understand that the goal is to increase, but assuming he's not going to study much, same as last time, are we realistically looking at it potentially going down on repeat?</p>
<p>Sorry, just realized I posted this on the wrong forum. Maybe the moderator could move me to SAT/ACT forum?</p>
<p>According to a pamphlet that accompanied my daughter’s ACT results, scores decrease 23% of the time; increase 55% of the time; stay the same 22%.</p>
<p>The ‘science’ section should be renamed ‘science reasoning’. I suggest your son spend a bit of time doing some practice on that section, using a booklet with actual former tests.</p>
<p>Midmo, he actually did. And on the actual former tests, he was getting 33+ on the science section and then turned up with a 29. I guess that was a case of the “decrease 23%” of the time.</p>
<p>Honestly, you can’t always rely on practice tests. I was doing really really well on English practice tests (around 33), and struggling like crazy on the science practice tests (scoring 25-28s). When I finally took the actual test, I ended up getting a 29 on the English, and somehow, I got a 33 on the science. I think part of the reason I did well on the science test was that a lot of the topics were those I had recently studied in my school science classes, so I was familiar with the graphs and tables.</p>
<p>Science seems to fluctuate in difficulty. The second time I took the ACT i raised every score but science. The first time I took it I felt it was very easy and I got a 33. The second time I took it I got a 29 and was rushing to finish it on time. It was noticeably harder the second time.</p>
<p>^^^Then let’s all keep our fingers crossed that October’s version will feature an easier science section. It is the sole reason my daughter is retaking.</p>
<p>Science is the most inconsistent section wrt to scoring. While no science ability is required, knowledge of science terms is. Thus, knowing what a ‘capacitor’ is will help if you have an electricity/battery question. Or, as in a couple of years ago, a few kids were stumped on the term 'viscosity – an oil question, I think, but it also comes up in blood questions. If you knew the term, the answer was obvious, but many high scorers guessed and guessed wrong.</p>
<p>But with score choice, there is no reason not to retake. And, with score choice, you can take as many times as you want. Of course, several colleges are now asking for ALL test results (since the SAT is now score choice), but not sure how they can enforce that with the ACT which requires you to pay to send each and every test.</p>
<p>For others reading this thread, taking the ACT w/o writing is a waste of time & money, IMO, unless you absolutely, positively know that not one of your colleges requires it and the “list” won’t change. If your son would have aced the science section and taken W, he would be one and done. Now, it’s up another Saturday morning. I’ve read of 34+ on cc that had to retake bcos they skipped W. Gah!</p>
<p>Agree on the science fluctuating, my son’s final ACT in June his science score dropped by 2 points from one he took in the winter, so yes, there are minor fluctuations. Also in our district all the kids take an ACT prep class where they do practice ACTs. According to my kids, the vast majority of kids score “higher” by a point or two on the practice tests than they do on the actual test.</p>
<p>Bluebayou, agree 100% with <em>always</em> taking with the writing.</p>
<p>When we signed up, sort of last minute as a lark, we hadn’t done any research, obviously. Didn’t realize that writing score had no impact on the composite, and since writing is his weak point, we thought, great, get a good score without writing, and we’re done at least for his dream school. True, but now we’re retaking.</p>
<p>Just an interesting point for the SAT vs ACT discussion, of his HS with a class of 450, 300+ took the ACT and 100 took the SAT, here in the western midwestern flyover state.</p>
<p>My D was puzzled by her ACT Science score the first time she took the test. “But Dad, science is my best subject.” We re-prepped her for the ACT’s “Reasoning and Interpretation” perspective and her Science score went up five points. YMMV.</p>
<p>NewHope, five points would be very nice, indeed. Do you mind if I ask what sort of re-prepping you did? Was it anything more than spending some time reviewing the science sections on the practice tests?</p>
<p>Each ACT exam and each subject can be “curved” according to criteria ACT determines such as ease or difficulty of section…it can be hard to predict if your score will remain stable, increase or even decrease in various sections and in relation to the composite as well. It is prudent to practice daily with The Real Act, and get the timing down - these are the only two variables in your control. However, usually, you can increase your composite score by at least 1-2 if not 3-4 points with diligence.</p>
<p>Just to let all of you know, we have heard from a couple of admissions officers and guidance counselors that a number of schools are subtracting the science score and redoing the composite to compare apples to oranges to the SAT…think about it…If a kid takes the ACT w writing with a sci score, the school is comparing that to SAT scores without a science section…some have decided it doesn’t make logical sense…</p>
<p>just throwing it out there</p>
<p>yes, the science scores from test to test vary widely…</p>
<p>Apparently Georgia Tech throws out the ACT science score – and the reading score, too. What other colleges are going this route?</p>
<p>From the college’s website: “Georgia Tech accepts either SAT or ACT test scores with no preference to one over the other. We will consider your highest section scores across all SAT and ACT test dates that you submit. Only your highest section scores in Critical Reading, Math, and Writing (for SAT), and English, Math, and Writing (for ACT) will be considered as part of the final admissions decision. Each time you submit scores, Georgia Tech will update your record with your highest scores.”</p>
<p>If you take the ACT with writing, the ACT reports an English score (based entirely on the multiple-choice questions), a separate writing score (based on the essay), and a combined English/writing score. The writing score isn’t factored into the composite score, however.</p>
<p>The English score and the combined English/writing scores are reported on a scale of 1-36. The writing score is reported on a scale of 1-12.</p>