<p>i just looked it up in the red book and there is a chart that shows the number of correct answers adn the subscore that will earn you. so if you have a redbook, check there. it is in the back.</p>
<p>@big</p>
<p>I’m just wondering if that is the correct answer or not - do u remember getting two other answers wrong?</p>
<p>no, I don’t know which questions I got wrong.</p>
<p>I put years and got a 36 in reading with perfect sub scores, so I’m pretty sure that’s the answer.</p>
<p>people who got a 36 in Reading- what did you put for the final act question?</p>
<p>Which one was the last? I don’t remember at all.</p>
<p>The question was something along the lines of was the second act the final act? It was either yes, or no not on Sundays</p>
<p>mikewozowsky, the chart you were looking at was specific to the particular test in the book. every test has its own curve chart based on peoples’ performances.</p>
<p>Ah. It was the second act was the final act.</p>
<p>^ok good</p>
<p>but I missed the “years” question</p>
<p>Science was generous. I guessed on the whole last column and got a 31.</p>
<p>The Reading curve must be pretty harsh though. I got 17 and 17 on the subsets and I still got a 33.</p>
<p>English and Math were normal.</p>
<p>I’m still debating a retake…</p>
<p>34 composite certainly isn’t bad, and I’d say it’s a fairly competitive score…so I probably shouldn’t be worried. On the other hand, I was .25 off a 35, and I definitely feel I could hit that or even a 36 with a bit of studying. Not sure how much better that’d look though.</p>
<p>Thoughts?</p>
<p>josmur, my thoughts are that anything raising from 34 and up is a lot of luck. if it is really important for you to get higher than a 34, then by all means keep trying. but if most colleges see that you’re in that range, they’ll know you’re a smart student and will start looking at the other parts of your application. i would doubt that even places like harvard would consider someone with a 36 to be a better applicant than someone with a 34. once you’re in that solid “range,” then it becomes other factors that help your admission.</p>
<p>do not retake it. Getting a 36 would not improve your chances because the score differences are minuscule. You are set with a 34.</p>
<p>The difference between 34 and 36 isn’t exactly miniscule; it’s 1510 vs. 1600 when the colleges convert the ACT to SAT M+CR scores. But I’m not sure I would retake the exam simply because it’s so difficult to improve once you’re up in the upper reaches of the score range. A 34 is at the top of the mid-50% range for the most selective colleges, such as Yale, Pomona, Stanford, Dartmouth. Pretty great score, I’d say!</p>
<p>Okay, I know this is gonna sound controversial to a lot of people, but I have a little different take on Josmur’s situation. I was in a similar place after the February ACT - I had a flat 34. My breakdown was 36 E/35 M/35 R/30 S… I got stuck early then totally ran out of time on the science. I consulted with my guidance counselor, who said that since it was my first time taking it I might be served well to retake it. I took one practice test the day before, reviewed a few concepts in math and english, and made sure to read more quickly in science and got a 36 the second time around with a 36/35/36/35 breakdown. I think that there is some luck involved in getting a higher score, especially a 36, however you’re certainly capable. If you think that you can maintain your reading and math, and you’re not concerned about the $46 and wasting of a Saturday morning, then I’d say that you should retake it. English is arguably the easiest subject to improve in because so much of it is grammar rules and simple stylistic points. Focus on that, then refresh the others in your mind and take a full practice test before, and you should have a good shot at improving your score. If you do retake, I’d suggest doing it in June so that it’s still somewhat fresh in your mind.
On the point about a 35 or 36 vs. a 34, it may not make a huge difference in terms of admissions since you are in the ballpark. However, a lot of the people in the lower ranges are legacies or athletes or have insane EC’s. However, every little bit helps, and if academic merit is one of your main qualifications, then the more competent you look, the better. Additionally, the point that really sold me from my guidance counselor was that there are scholarship and awards opportunities available that only higher scorers have access too.
I wouldn’t suggest that you obsess over a higher score, but taking it a second time could be worthwhile for you. Good luck!!!</p>
<p>i agree with 10scholar because my situation is also similar. in february, i had a composite 31 with 32/36/31/25. my parents said i should stick with the 31, but i knew i could do better especially in the science. in april i got a 35 with 35/36/32/35. most of the score increase, just like the person who posted before me, was because of the science. definitely retake it- you’ll regret it if you don’t. i agree with others that once your score is up in the thirties, the scores look similar, but you can’t argue that colleges wont be much more impressed with a 35 or a 36. whatever you choose though, a 34 is great so congrats!</p>
<p>whoa, how did u get your science up by so much?^
i have a composite of 30 but my reading & science really brought me down, so idek if i should re-take it :/</p>
<p>Those are some impressive score hikes! I’d agree that it’s worth retaking if you have imbalanced scores across the sections. Much easier to raise a 30 in a specific section than a 34 in that section. So, I think it depends: if you have 34 across the board, maybe not, but a mix of higher and lower, then a retake makes sense.</p>
<p>FauxNom is right - if you have higher scores in two or especially three of the sections than your composite, then you should consider a retake (provided you don’t think the other sections were a fluke and you work hard on the lower ones)</p>