<p>If you read this forum you will see lot of posts with people claiming they got 32-36. That may give false impression that it is easy to score high. One may feel down and disappointed at a time seeing such high scores. I think one of reason why you see relatively high number of forum members claiming high score is, if your score is not really really high you may not think there is anything out of the ordinary to boast about it and hence may not mention it but if your score is comparatively high then obviously you are elated to report it. </p>
<p>It doesn't mean you are not happy with 28 or 30 or 31, it just means you also know it is not super high. </p>
<p>From my own experience, I have worked really hard and I am above average student in my class and I managed to score 30. I believe 30 or 28 is not easy to achieve. Of course hats off to those who achieved 32-36. They may be genius or worked really really hard and smart. </p>
<p>I agree there is a reason 28+ puts you in the 90 percentile. Also, the average act for whites/asians is 20-21 for Hispanics like 19, and African Americans 17. So even if you feel its low you have to keep in account how you did compared to your race not that 1% scoring super high. Also, many people lie on scores. Ivy league schools and other schools accept plenty of 28+ scores. It’s just depends on what you do with it on your application!</p>
<p>The fact of the matter is that out of a group of one hundred given test takers, statistically only one would score a 32 or higher as a 32 is 99 percentile. On college Confidential, however, a 32 is probably a mere 70 percentile or something as everyone on here is college bound. I know I started at a 25 and was extremely discouraged. I worked my but off and after five test dates scored a 33. I am not at all a genius. I do however have a strong work ethic! May this be an inspiration to you!</p>
<p>Why do you feel the need to justify your score, rather than reasoning through the meaning it? </p>
<p>When you take the ACT, it may, to a certain degree, reflect your ability (I really can’t define ability, so let’s just assume it’s some abstract concept describing what knowledge you have acquired) up until the time that you took the exam. It doesn’t account for how much you will improve or how much harder you will work in the future. If you think your knowledge becomes stagnant once you have taken the ACT and received your scores, then you shouldn’t even bother doing anything anymore. You may as well give up and stop trying.</p>
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Who cares? Why do you feel the need to compare yourself to others?</p>
<p>@blahblah9393 - I think you missed the OP’s point. I saw nothing about being a stagnant learner after taking the test. He is just pointing out that the majority of CC’ers tend to be high score students and thus the 32+ scores are much more common on this forum than in the overall population and that a 28 is still a good score and in the 90th percentile as he stated.</p>
<p>He basically stated facts about averages and how not to feel bad earning a 28 instead of a 35. </p>
<p>give you my best example. There’s only 0.003 of test takers that could achieve a 2400, while there is like 20% of those people are on this site. Go figure. Not every out there is obsessed with Ivies that we get or give help every day. In short CC is not for every one, and those you see aren’t representing the entire population.</p>
<p>Not that it matters that much, but 32 is 98 percentile. All you have to do is look on the ACT website:
[Score</a> Information | National Ranks for Test Scores and Composite Score | ACT Student](<a href=“ACT Test Scores | ACT Scoring | ACT”>ACT Test Scores | ACT Scoring | ACT)</p>
<p>I use 28 because it is in the top 10% of test takers. If a student can even achieve this it’s great but i’m not saying it’s equal to 35s thats almost perfect. Everyone can’t get perfect scores! I only mentioned race because in college admissions I believe when (mostly) top tiered schools have enough high sat/act scores (34-36) they will need to fill diversity spots and compare those other students to those of his or her race. If a black student scores 28 (Nationally top 10%) and for that race the average is like 18, it makes an impact on their decision. You have to try to see who you are going against in the applicant pool and if you offer diversity or not. If schools see you are diverse and academically strong then why not take a 28? This is my theory correct me if i’m wrong…</p>
No, you’re missing the point. You don’t need to feel bad regardless of what score you get unless you think it has some intrinsic value on you as a person. There’s no need for this pitiful justification just because someone scored better than you on an exam. If you have a problem about having a lower score than someone else, go do something about it instead.</p>
<p>Plenty of people would love to be in the top 10% heck even the top 20% but I guess since plenty of people on CC claim being in the top 1% most of the time people feel bad</p>
<p>A good score is relative. Most people on CC are very interested in achieving high test scores, so a score that the average test taker may consider good is usually seen as mediocre to the CC community. There’s nothing wrong with that. If you’re content with a top 10% or top 20% score, CC is probably not the community for you. If you have a top 10% or top 20% score and want to improve, CC is great for learning how to improve your score.</p>
<p>@teekskim - Why would people bother to fake their scores online, in an anonymous forum? I don’t see the point to it.</p>