Do some sections on the ACT count more than others when it comes to admissions?

<p>I looked at the US News book and they report ACT scores as Math, English, and Composite. What happens to the rest of the scores? I mean reading and science don't count? What's the deal with that? Can someone from ACT land (I'm from SAT land myself) help me out.</p>

<p>In the US News Book they typically just look at Math, English, Comp. just to illustrate national averages. In reality, almost all colleges WILL look at your composite score if you send it. Also, depending on what you plan to major in, they will look at certain scores and may stress certain minimum levels (i.e. if your major is med tech your science score will matter)! Hope that helps to clarify</p>

<p>Interesting thread…some CDS (common data sets) break out ACT sections as in the US news…include only math/english…</p>

<p>there have been earlier threads about this anomaly since the english is most akin to the writing section of the SAT while the reading seems to be more in line with CR of the ACT but the CDS don’t lie…</p>

<p>for example, look at Vanderbilt’s CDS…math/english ACT listed…</p>

<p>They are trying mirroring SAT divisions, while limiting the number of data elements. </p>

<p>Human being can assimilate a limited number of data points. And we crave objective across-the-board standards.</p>

<p>I was kinda hoping nobody cared about the science score. Since D took the test without ever even looking at a practice, the science really threw her and she bombed (I mean really bombed, not CC bombed). However she did more than respectably on all the other sections.</p>

<p>i think colleges care about the composite on the ACT. i have rarely (if ever) seen mention of requirements for any of the section scores.</p>

<p>For the ACT, the composite score is what is most important. For the SAT, the individual sections carry more weight (so for the ACT, a 30 composite score consisting of 33 E, 30 M, 27 R, and 30 S would be viewed similarly to a 30 E, 30 M, 30 R, and 30 S). For the SAT, a 700 CR, 700 M, and 700 W would be more favorable than a 600 CR, 700 M, and 800 W even though the overall composite scores are the same.</p>

<p>You know that is really too bad since my D has an extreme imbalance between her sections. Nevertheless, it looks like with some studying she should be able to pull her scores up. She is just so tired of taking standardized tests, I was hoping this could be it.</p>