The score 1470 is below average correct? I am worried because I have a GPA of 4.6, but low ACT/SAT scores. For the SAT, I got a 580 on the Reading, 420 on math (Math is my weakness), and 470 on the writing section (a 7 on the essay). I am not good at standardized tests, but I know I must retake them. This was my first SAT. Meanwhile, I received a 20 on my first ACT. Reading: 22 Writing: 20 Essay: 8 Math:17 Science: 21. I am scared I won’t make it into college. I am a dual enrollment student that will graduate with my AA, participate in lots of extracurricular activities, and I volunteer.
Slightly below average, yes. Did you study for either the SAT or the ACT?
I studied a little, but not very much because I did not know how to study for them and I was so concentrated on my college courses at the time.
I would either take a SAT/ACT prep class or hire a tutor over the summer (if costs are not an issue). If not, there are many good books to help you study.
Barrons or Princeton Review books will help.
My older son was also a horrible standardized test taker but with the help of a tutor, he was able to get his ACT score up from a 23 to 26. 26 was not great, but due to his high GPA and excellent essays, he got accepted into 5 UC schools.
Good Luck.
Luckily for you most schools place higher emphasis on GPA over SAT. I think anyone who has any sort of ambition can raise an SAT score pretty well, however. I started off with a 168 on my 10th grade PSAT, and my first SAT I received a 2220. Grab yourself some good, comprehensive books (I recommend the PWNTHESAT math guide for math). Good luck with your future endeavors!
I suggest that you also look at fairtest.org for a list of test-optional colleges, because your scores will disqualify you from most selective colleges that require test reports.