Really Low on One Section?

Test Preparation ACT Preparation
1

Hi,
I want to attend one of the top schools. Extracurriculars aside, I want to know if I should retake the ACT. I got very luck and got the lowest bound for a 35, with 36 English/36 Math/30 Reading/36 Science. My reading score is really low, do I need to retake it?

2

Retake it and focus on the reading section. Also, do the schools you plan to apply to superscore?

3

35 is a very good score! I would say not to retake it.

4

Hmmm. This is a little tricky, because your composite is very good, but the 30 in reading isn’t great for top colleges. Becasue you can cancel ACT scores, I see no harm in retaking. If you do worse, then you can cancel it if necessary. What was your essay score?

5

I just got my essay score today, it was an 11. Does that change things?

6

And also, for schools that require you to report all scores, like Yale, I would have to report my 730 Reading/800 Math/24 Essay, so the colleges would see that the 30 might not be a fluke as it may seem at first glance…

7

You seem to meet the standard for most highly selective colleges, just in a weird way.

Are you a senior? I’d call the ACT done. Spend the summer finishing your college list, writing essays, earning some money or getting some more service hours, etc. There is almost certainly something better to do with your time than studying ACT reading.

If you’re going to be a junior in the fall, maybe try one more time if that 30 is just driving you crazy.

8

Thanks for all the replies and advice; I think I will not take the ACT again. Is it worth trying to take the SAT again -
see above for my previous score - maybe (since I’ll have to report all of my scores anyway)?