I just got my ACT results back today and was very surprised to find out that my science subscore dropped about 5 points from a 33 to a 28…which is very weird because I’ve never received a 28 before on any of the practices I did so that was surprising. Although I’m generally happy with my composite score due to superscoring, will the 28 hurt me for colleges that don’t superscore/require all test scores to be sent out?
Here are my scores:
April 2016- 33C 33E 34M 33R 33S
June 2016- 33C 35E 35M 34R 28S
That 28 pretty much ruined my changes of getting a 34 composite on the June test…will colleges look upon that very badly, especially for a prospective engineering major? I feel that math is more weighted and I’m happy to have improved from a 34 to a 35…
Furthermore, should I take the ACT again to possibly raise the score or maintain it? Not really sure if that is worth it, I was kind of hoping this would be my final ACT I would ever take…
Most colleges use a superscore system so you’re actually fine.
My D2’s science score also dropped by 5, although she knew it would go down because she rushed to finish on time. Her math went up and the composite stayed the same. For colleges that only take one test result, she’ll use the one with high math/lower science. She is also applying for engineering. Hope that helps!
@harsh98 Most colleges superscore the SAT only, not as many for the ACT- and some have special rules for superscoring such as not recalculating the composite score but looking at highest subsection scores.
I have the exact same problem. My Science score went from 31 - when I took it as a freshman - to a 27 now, as a sophomore. I received the same exact composite score as I did then only because I got a 36 in Reading and English and kept my 31 in Math.
I’m retaking it, but that’s partly due to the fact that I still have a lot of time (all of junior year and some of senior). I’m not sure what your time constraints are, but I would take it one more time. Your superscore is 34.25, which is very close to a 35. I think that with the right effort, you should be able to snag a 35 on your next test - you obviously have the potential.
Best of luck!
@NerdMom88 If you don’t mind, what was your daughter’s score(s)? Just want to see how it compares to mine
My daughter’s science score dropped 6 points. She has the score she needs for a scholarship consideration if the school superscores. Her math & English went up.
@cjstudent I’m a rising senior so I guess I’ll probably take it next September…welp more tests maybe?
@blue1artic My daughter’s scores in February were E=36, M=30, R=34, and S=36. She didn’t skip a math problem and failed to complete the section, which is why she re-tested. June results were E=36, M=35, R=36, and S=30. She said that Science definitely seemed harder, and she ran out of time and guessed on a few. It’s fine, though, because Math was more important and for schools that superscore she’ll have a 36, so she’s done.
Hope this helps!
Just adding that my daughter’s scores on the June ACT were exactly as her practice tests predicted (first time taking). Her Science score, however, was 6 points lower than expected. She’ll retake to qualify for a particular scholarship (with superscores)…need to raise composite by 1 point.
@NerdMom88 That is a startling drop for science! I wonder why this version was so much harder?
@NotForEveryone I don’t know, but it seems to have been a pretty common occurrence for this particular sitting. :-?
Its unlikely that most kids did dramatically worse on the science section of the June test since the test is - in simplistic terms - curved
My son dropped 5 points in science and his composite is also down 2 points! this June test curve must be very harsh.
My science score dropped by 7(35-28) and my composite dropped by two.
I dropped 5 points on Science as well (34 to 29) and thought that I was just an odd case; didn’t realize this happened to so many others as well