<p>Hey guys and girls, first time poster here, I took that Feb 9th (I think) ACT, first test I've taken so far (junior in HS), and banged out a 33 with very little prep.</p>
<p>Basically, I dunno what this score means. I'm looking at some pretty hefty schools (Columbia, Brown, WashU St. Louis), and I dunno what options I should consider. Is a 33 decent for some places like that? Should I take it again, try to go for a 34 (did awful on the science section)? I'm planning on taking the SAT this Saturday, should I just stick to the ACT score instead? </p>
<p>Thanks for your help.</p>
<p>Your ACT score is more than decent! It’s three points from the perfect 36!
If you want my opinion, I wouldn’t bother with the SAT with that score. Instead, I would sit back and not take any of the standardized testing anymore or try to get that 36 by prepping for the next time.
According to CollegeBoard, you’re right in the range of all three of those schools.</p>
<p>That is an outstanding score! Up to ivy league par! It cannot hurt to take the test again, especially because science is an easy section to get up! On the febb exam science was especially hard! So do some practice problems and try again! Good luck!</p>
<p>Since it’s your first try, taking it again would be beneficial. I also recommend taking the SAT, just in case you’re one of those people who is better at the SAT than the ACT.</p>
<p>If your SAT isn’t on par with your ACT, don’t send it and don’t retake it.</p>
<p>If this was your second time, I wouldn’t suggest retaking a 33, but I think it’s always worth taking the ACT twice. I got a 34 with no prep on my first time, and then a 36 with no prep for my second time, so you never know what might happen ;)</p>
<p>You’re in the score range where a different test could mean a 36, so try it once more (but only once - don’t get obsessed!).</p>
<p>Since you did better on math and reading than you did on science, I think you could score higher on science next time with just a bit of prep. The science section is not really science. It is reading words and graphs/figures. Do the science sections of a couple of free ACT tests and then retake the ACT; I think you will see a higher score.</p>
<p>Hey, MassMarket.</p>
<p>I found your message and very proud of you. Could you post the books you used to study ACT? I try help my daughter increase her ACT. However, she never change and she stays almost the same score with several times tryout. Whatever I spoke to her, she was not happy and told me I do not know what is ACT.</p>
<p>She is in junior now. Do you think she could increase her ACT score at June, 2011? What kind of book she should use? Her weak parts are math and Science. I almost to tell her"quitting test". Who can help her out?</p>
<p>Personally, I would focus on the other aspects of your college app rather than bothering retaking the ACT. Although it’s possible, the chances are slim that you would go up to a 36. 33 is an excellent score, and even if you retook it and got a 34, it wouldn’t make too much of a different admissions process. I’d say focus on school and ECs.</p>
<p>Ur ■■■■■■■■ no way u gota 33 first try wow ur so amazing!!!</p>
<p>^</p>
<p>No, that’s not ■■■■■■■■. It’s definitely doable.</p>
<p>@Cornellmom: Someone who got a 33 without much prep is not the right person to ask for tips on how to prep. People who are able to walk in and get 33+ don’t really know how to prep.</p>
<p>D got a 33 on her first real ACT test right after junior year spring break but she had done a free practice ACT at the library and all of the tenth graders took the PLAN (a pre-ACT) at her high school. She knew a 33 was fine for the schools she was applying to, so she was happy and was able to say “one and done.” A 33 is a perfectly fine score, very nice. </p>
<p>If you are aiming for top schools where the 25-75% ACT range is 30-33, a 34 or 35 is even better if you have the time and energy to prep a little bit and give it one more try. The middle 25% to 75% of ACT scores at Columbia is 31-34. A 34 or 35 might help.</p>
<p>I’m not settling for anything short of a 36. I only got a 34 on my first try, with little preparation–and I was hoping for a 35 then.</p>