I just got my ACT scores back and am really pissed off and upset. I got a 25 C, 31 E, 21 M, 22 R, and 24 S. My english score is where I expected it to be. Same with my math score as I struggle with math at times. But, my reading and science scores are completely shocking to me. On practice tests I took with the official ACT prep book, I consistently scored 30+ on the reading and science sections, and even a 34 on reading the one time. I don’t understand how I did so bad on reading and science when those were my best sections on practice tests. Has this ever happened to anyone else? I cannot come up with an explanation for this. Now, I’m going to have to take the ACT and SAT again to score as high as I possibly can. I love standardized tests!
Yes, it’s happened to many others. Some call it "choking ".
Keep taking shots at the test. You will improve. How much depends on your effort and confidence.
It is difficult to simulate in practice tests the stress and conditions of a real test. Many people experience different scores from practice to real tests, as well as from real test to real test.
Since you are a senior, you have to decide where your score is relative to those of students at the colleges on your list. You do have time to study and take another test, but it will increase pressure to continue to do well in your senior classes and complete college applications. Only you can make the decision as to what is best for you.
Practice strictly timed - just those 2 sections.
When you did the practice exams, did you do them as the ACT is set up in real life? Timed, in silence, with only the breaks allowed, etc.? If you did not, then for the retake, make that change. It may be that you had difficulty handling the timing of the exam, the pace of it, or the stress of it, and practicing the exam as it really is given can help with some of that.
I did take the practice exams similar to how they are in real life. That’s why I’m confused about how I did so bad on reading and science when I scored so well on those on the practice tests. And I was stressed during the writing and math sections. Not as much the reading and science because I thought they were easier.