How much does your ACT improve from freshman to junior year?

Test Preparation
1

<p>It's spring break, and since I was bored I decided to take an ACT practice test from my sister's old "official" ACT prep book (the red one) just to see where I was. I scored a 28 composite (29 Enlgish, 28 Math, 28 Reading, 25 Science) and am wondering if by my junior year I will be able to make a 34+. I think I will be able to do extremely well on the math (35-36) portion considering I am currently taking Algebra I and most of the math was pretty straight forward excluding the trigonometry and intermediate geometry. The English was easy, and with practice I am confident I can score a 34+. As for the reading and science, time is my main concern. Hopefully with practice I can speed these up. For anyone who took the ACT as a freshman, how much did your composite improve by your junior or senior year? I was also wondering if me taking Algebra I as a freshman will hurt my chances at a competitive school like Brown, Pomona, Chicago, etc., assuming I apply intending to major in something math oriented? I know next year I am taking Geometry and Algebra II, but Precalculus is offered. Hopefully I can take Precalculus next summer at a community college and then go into AP Calculus BC. The best students (top 5%) take Calculus BC as juniors, skipping AB. I make straight A's, so my main concern is just taking the most rigorous schedule possible. </p>

<p>P.S. I'm not one of those kids who have been practicing the ACT/SAT their whole lives, and I'm definitely not focusing on them until my junior year.</p>

2

<p>It should get better.
If you are taking Alg/2 Trig junior year, the material in that class is basically the extent of what is tested on the ACT. You technically won’t need information from more advanced math classes but it could help.</p>

3

<p>My D took the ACT explorer in 8th grade, PLAN in 10th grade, and then ACT in Junior. Each time she got a score and project a range of score at the next test level. Each time she scored one point higher than the top of expected range. I think that would be like increasing from 28 in freshmen to 35 in junior.</p>

4

<p>I know most people who apply to elite schools just send their SAT. Do these schools really have a preference?</p>

5

<p>No. There is no preference between the 2. Indeed, taking ACT may waive the requirement of subject test for many schools. The test preference by student is mostly due to a geographical or historical reason. One should try both in practice tests to see which test is more favorable to the student.</p>

6

<p>I took the ACT in 8th grade and scored a 27 and I’m a current junior. I’m taking the actual ACT in a month, but both practice tests I’ve taken, I’ve gotten a 35. I think you just learn more in sophomore/junior years, especially in math and English. You can definitely do it if you study!</p>