D21 took the ACT today. She said everyone was required to wear a mask in the school, so everyone wore one in her room except if they were eating a snack during the short breaks. She said there were about 20 students in her room. I asked if it was hard to test with the mask on and she said it was not a big deal.
I admit to stalking the ACT website (4-5 times/day) for the past week just to make sure she should get out of bed early this morning. Luckily, her test site is only 4 miles away. We feel very fortunate she was able to get this test in.
D claims her ACT test did not go well but did not give detailsā¹ļø. I did select a few freebie scores to be sent but none to schools that are top on her list. She has a decent score from Feb, is there any reason to consider cancelling the score if she feels strongly that she did not do well? She is not applying to any schools that would require all scores and even the ones that will see this score could also be sent or informed by self report about Feb score? Thoughts?
@1Lotus I do not see a benefit to cancelling. It seems to me that kids canāt always predict their score based on their perceived performance that day. Itās worth waiting to find out.
D took ACT today. Her site was very well managed. Masks on in line (even outside), and at all times inside except while testing. Her room had 12. She was in a science room with lab tables. Her friendās traditional room with desks had 14. Thought she did well. Super thankful to have this behind her now.
Thanks @evergreen5 I did let D know that we can cancel the 4 freebie scores that are supposed to be sent. I think Thursday is the deadline to not have score sent.
@1Lotus I think it makes sense not to use the free scores. Wait to see the score. Plus, many schools allow students to self-report scores in the application.
A while back I signed D21 up for a slew of SAT tests and Iām just now writing the dates in my calendar. Aug 29 is first. We will see if that happens. The next three are actually pretty hilarious. Sept 23 is school day SAT, Sept 26th is a national test I signed her up for and then, just one week later, another test on Oct. 3rd. Thatās a lot of chances if they happen!
S went to ACT since there wasnāt a way to change it to a future date yet. And heās been there for going on 6 hrs now! He was going to try to switch out of taking the writing, so Iām guessing that didnāt happen, but boy this seems like a long time. Hope heās still upright.
@homerdog I only signed D up for one SAT in Sept after the June? one was cancelled. If that one doesnāt happen, then she will not try to take and not have an SAT at all, which works out ok since she has an ACT score from Feb, today (July) and might test in Oct at school for free if that happens and if it works out with her dual enrollment schedule.
My friendās s21 has not been able to test for ACT or SAT.
@homerdog , Iām not betting on any SAT happening, but Iām hopeful for August in NY. D21 hasnāt taken an official test yet. She took a practice under test conditions last weekend (770 Verbal, 600 Math). She wants to work on her math (she has trouble finishing) but it would be hugely frustrating if she does, and then her test center closes at the last minute.
I would write it off because her schools are all test optional, but she wants to sit for the test. If she scores like her practice, do you guys think her verbal score would help her more than the math hurts?
Her APās are also all humanities (Euro, APUSH, Lit and Latin). I guess thereās no hiding that sheās academically lopsided! I find it amazing and wonderful that many kids here can score a 5 on Physics and Lang (or some such combination).
@3SailAway S21 is lopsided also. It is what it is, he isnāt interested in engineering so I hope it doesnāt hurt him.
Ugh, I canāt see when our 2021 kids will be able to visit schools. Doesnāt look like the fall will possible at all, so S will have to apply to schools without visiting.
Congrats to everyone who had the opportunity to take the ACT test today! I have to say, Iām a wee bit jealous. My S21 worked really hard the last few weeks (really the last year!) and had his test cancelled. Still no communication from ACT.
At least he wasnāt one of the many people throughout the country who showed up only to find out their test was cancelled.
The ACT is so shameful. They never even communicated anything and some test centers which were shut down were never on the ACT website. Just check their Twitter page.
Iād be curious to know the percentage of the students who were even able to take the test. They didnāt disclose this number in June but from what Iāve been able to gather, it is less than 10% of the population.
This whole testing thing has driven this household batty. We are over it!
@kanfly Iām so sorry about your son. This testing debacle has been so frustrating, and turned what used to be really just an annoyance (and money grab) into a high stakes situation. Not good for the kids.
@kanfly ā I peeked on the ACT subreddit and there were tons of kids posting they showed up only to find signs on doors saying it was cancelled. Some kids reported they drove two or three hours and stayed overnight at a hotel the night before. Shameful. Really feel for these kids.
For the kids who did take it they seemed to agree w/ my Sās assessment that the math was difficult, so thatās encouraging.
I doubt ACT will share the cancellation numbers publicly but the colleges might force them to divulge to them, esp. big state schools hat are still requiring tests (looking at you Wisconsin and NC State!)
My S said he was the only kid he knew testing today. I told him itās b/c his mother was ON IT and he said āyeah, I know ā thank youā No even an eye roll, lol.
I should have added last night my S was also LUCKY. I know lots of parents and kids on CC were also ON IT but then their seats or sites were canceled.
I emailed the principal of the HS where my S took the test last night to say thanks for hosting and working to create a safe environment. Right away he sent a nice response and cc:ed his test coordinator. Iām in education and know too well the constant complaints, so itās important to send kudos!
Thanks for the great idea! Iām emailing right now.
We drove to a rural location in another state for the test. 20-30 test takers and about 75% had out of state tags. It felt crazy to to book a hotel in the middle of nowhere for a test, but it ended up being worth it.
Nobody said they had to wear masks, but everyone did. She thought the math section was hard, and she has taken 8 practice tests so she probably is a good judge of that.
@AlwaysMoving ā tks for sharing your Dās take on the math section. Itās prolly the most important one for my S given heās pre-engineering and since heās not a great natural test taker, heās nervous. Weāll see!
@AlwaysMoving did your D need the test so badly to drive so far and get a hotel? Does she feel like she needs a score for merit purposes? D knows people who drove to other states just to be cancelled on in the morning. Seems like a risky move. I just donāt see us jumping through hoops like that for a test. I also think it would make D very nervous for the test since making a plan like that would then mean we find the test super important to her apps.
I am going to take a look at other testing centers near us and see if any private or Catholic schools pop up as options. Those might be more likely to have the test than a public school. I would hate to change her location and then have it backfire and the original location has the test and the new one does not!
Iām just hating on these testing companies so much. Driving so far for a test feels like giving them the power.
