<p>My D has very uneven scores on her ACT. In practice testing, her Reading and English scores are 34 and 35 respectively, but her math and science scores range from 26 in math (sometimes higher but not by a lot) to 28-29 in science. This puts her composite score around 31 but obviously her verbal scores are way higher than her other scores.</p>
<p>I know that the SAT is sometimes superscored an the ACT is rarely if ever superscored. But - will her individual ACT scores be looked at by colleges? </p>
<p>(Or course, she is working on bringing her math score up and is not taking the test until December, but we are assuming it can't go up that much in three months. She may have more luck with the science score.)</p>
<p>Most schools do not superscore the ACT from what I know. But really, a 31 ACT score is fine for many colleges. Does she need a 32 for merit consideration? Or are you hoping for a more reachy acceptance than a 31 composite would guarantee?</p>
<p>Thanks for your input. She did try the SAT - she scored similarly overall (with same discrepancy between verbal/writing and math) but liked the format of the ACT better so decided to concentrate on preparing for it. Also, taking the ACT may (not always, but often) mean that she doesn’t have to worry about SAT2s. She should probably take the SAT as well, but I feel like once you’re preparing for one test, it’s hard to switch gears, don’t you think?</p>
<p>Yes, you are right on the money - she is hoping for a more reachy acceptance than a 31 composite would guarantee.</p>
<p>I’m not necessarily hoping for a superscore (as it’s unclear how much better she would get in math and science anyway) but what I <em>am</em> wondering is if admissions folks might look at individual scores and tie them with the student’s desired major in some way, thus (in my D’s case) possibly rendering the math score just a touch less important. I know that many engineering programs seem to focus on the math SAT score (although I guess a similar question would be - do they also focus on the math ACT score?).</p>
<p>Many schools ARE looking for a consistent application. A kid with lower math scores and grades that aren’t so great in math that wants to pursue a math or engineering major might be noticed.</p>
<p>^ @nyfh89 I think that list is misleading. If you log onto Bowdoin’s website or Colorado College’s website you will see that they specifically say they do not superscore the ACT. They take the highest composite score from one sitting. Those are just two colleges from the list- have not checked all the other colleges on the list. I recommend checking with each college/university just in case.</p>
<p>If I’m wrong, I hope the OP will correct me.</p>
<p>I believe the OP is hoping that a college will look at the high subtest scores on her kiddo’s ACT and accept the kiddo based on the high subtest score…ignoring the lower score.</p>
<p>I will stick my neck out…for a more competitive school, why would they do this? They have plenty of applicants who have excellent scores across the board. Perhaps a less competitive school would consider the individual sections of the SCT, but a less competitive school would likely be happy with that 31 composite, and the OP should hope they don’t look at the breakdown which will just highlight this student’s less strong area. </p>
<p>So…what I’m saying is…for a school where the ACT scores need to be tippy top…say. 33 or above, no. I don’t think they will ignore the lower sections and look at only the higher ones. But really if 31 is a good ACT score for a school, then Tada…this kiddo is all set.</p>
<p>I hear what you area saying thumper - but here’s a scenario that I’m wondering about.</p>
<p>School says that their mid 50% ACT composite score is, say, a 32 - so there are some kids scoring lower who get accepted (and of course some kids scoring higher).</p>
<p>An applicant who wants to major in something non-math and non-science related has 34 and 35 in the verbal parts of the ACT but a composite of 31. Wondering if the high verbal scores would increase consideration of said applicant and make applicant more likely to be in the 25% who score lower than the 32 composite versus, say, a kid who has 31s across the board. Just dreaming and maybe no one knows the answer.</p>
<p>If the mid ACT is 32, then there are students who score above that mean, and students who score below. You can look at their common data set to see the ACT score ranges for accepted students.</p>
<p>Will one section balance out another? I honestly don’t know. But if the mid is 32, there are 31 composite students who get accepted. Will your kiddo be one of them? Maybe…maybe not.</p>
<p>Let me pose the converse of your scenario. If they look at your kid’s subtest scores, might they set her application aside due to that lower math score? They could do that too, you know! </p>
<p>Motmotsam…if the school is test optional…why send the scores at all?</p>
<p>To ReadytoRoll. My son had a 760 CR…that is right up,there with competitive applicants. But his math score was 580. We did not expect schools to ignore his 580 math SAT score and accept him based on his CR score. We looked for schools that would be happy to have a CR/Math kiddo with a CR/Math total of 1340. And there were plenty of them to choose from.</p>
<p>Sure, have your daughter apply to some more selective schools. You never know what an adcoms will see I. Her application. But at the same time, target schools where her 31 ACT score will be fine. There are plenty of wonderful colleges out there who will welcome a student with a 31 ACT score.</p>