My HS junior has taken both the ACT without writing, and the SAT with essay. Received a 36 on the ACT, but “only” a 1510 with a essay score of 16/24 on the SAT. Has taken each test one time. At this point, not sure if any applications will go to schools that require essay testing, but want to keep good options open.
Is taking the SAT again recommended, in an attempt to improve score IF any Ivies or equivalent elite schools end up on application list? If no more testing is undertaken, will schools that require essay even look at the 36 ACT?
Thanks!
Do not bother wasting time retaking either test. Scores are excellent on both exams (even though you THINK the 1510) is low. It is not. Scores of students apply and get into all the IVYs with lower scores. Please don’t waste your time studying for and retaking. Time will be better spent on the essays. Send both SAT and ACT scores and the colleges will only see that your student has superior test scores. All is well, good luck!
He has great scores but if he applies to schools that require the essay, they will not consider his current ACT score, only the SAT score. I would have him take the ACT with essay again and then decide which scores to send. His SAT is competitive so I would not retake.
1510 is about a 33 on the ACT. Any school that required the essay is going to require it regardless of which test. Both scores are good, and the essay score is fine. I would only submit the ACT, unless it’s a school requiring the essay, in which case, submit both. Yes, they will see his ACT score and drool. He is done.
Check with the schools you are going to apply. I remember some of them require essay score from the same sitting.
@jrtgsdrule @Gumbymom @Lindagaf @billcsho Thank you all for your responses. I guess I need to find out from specific schools whether they will see an ACT score without Writing, along with an SAT with Essay, if it is a school that requires a test essay. We’re hoping to avoid son taking the ACT again, with the risk of a lower score. Any schools that don’t require an essay will of course get just the ACT score.
For essay score requirement, you can find it in CDS. For whether the same sitting essay score is needed, you need to ask the admission office.
specific admissions offices will be very helpful in answering your question, but they will notice someone who got a 36 taking it again.
It’s probably a moot point by now, but he SHOULD take repeat the ACT with writing. The 1510 is a 33 on the ACT. For a college that needs the writing section, they will not take the 36 without writing. There’s no need to repeat the SAT because he’s a stronger ACT tester. But I highly recommend students in this situation to have an ACT with writing.
@DukeSharma - not necessarily a 33. ACT and CB will be releasing an official SAT/ACT conversion table this summer, is what other threads are reporting. Many who are looking at new SAT mid 50-ranges are finding that a 1500 or 1510 might be equivalent to a 34 or higher. We don’t know for sure, of course. CB’s original ACT-conversion from 2016 was done w/o the input of ACT. This upcoming one, assuming it’s genuine, will be much more accurate.
@DukeShama For my S, yes it is a moot point as his applications have been completed. He didn’t repeat any testing and only applied to schools that don’t require writing scores, so only the ACT 36 was submitted. He did score a 5 on the AP English Lang test, so he self-reported that too.