I am going to take my ACT sophomore year. I heard about needing to send your scores directly to colleges, but I’ll only be a sophomore, and colleges won’t even know who I am. What should I do? Assuming I get the score I want this year, can I just keep the scores and give them to my high school, so that I can submit them senior year while filling out college apps?
How does score reporting work anyways? Do the scores need to be sent directly to college or can the high school do that?
When you take the test, you can request the scores be sent directly to up to 4 schools for no extra fee. You can also send ACT scores to colleges later, but you will pay extra for this - currently $12 each, I believe. So there is a cost savings if you select schools to receive the scores when you register.
Colleges/universities are used to receiving test scores for high school students well in advance of applying for admission. Typically that identifies you as someone who is interested in the school. When you register for the ACT, make sure your name is spelled correctly, date of birth is correct, etc. and the school will be able to match your test scores with your application when you apply in a couple of years.
If you feel you didn’t do well you can request your scores not be sent to a college but you have to do it by noon Thursday following a Saturday test, so you won’t know your score yet.
Scores need to be sent directly from the test center. Some high schools include test score information on their transcripts, but most colleges require an official copy of the test scores directly from the test center.
Why are you taking the ACT as a sophomore? If you want to practice just do practice exams.
Maybe some old timers on this board can explain the benefit to me…both my kids started taking tests in December of their junior year with more knowledge and practice under their belt and did fine.
My kids took their first ACT at the end of their sophomore year. They both ended up taking it again – S in particular had lots of conflicts with test dates due to his extracurricular activities. Goal was to finish testing by the end of their junior year.
you’re going to get lots of email once you start taking the test. Here’s my advice: set up an email account specifically for all college testing and all college materials.
We’ve done that with our last name and the word college behind it; all AP scores, Act, Sat, Scholarship info, College info comes into that account. Surprisingly, nothing else has!
taking it as a sophomore gives you an idea how you are doing. Remember, some colleges require all test scores. You can always ask ACT to send your best score to colleges later on; it does cost a small amount.
Some states want an ACT score to sign up for College Credit courses. Both my kids took before junior year with only a few practice tests done ahead (recommend doing so as it will give you an idea of where you stand). One took again as junior and raised score 3 points. The other one was lucky enough to get a very high score first time around and is deciding whether or not to take again. As was mentioned, when you register for the exam it will ask you if you want to send to any colleges. If you do send the colleges will keep the records. If you send later, just log in and pay the fees. Good luck!
The ACT is inexpensive enough that it make sense to take it early and often. I’d send the scores to colleges you might want to apply to, such as your state safety school, and any others you feel strongly about (up to the free 4) which you can designate at the time of the test. My son had the same experience - did very well at the beginning of Sophomore year, then decided to take it again and raised it 3 points in winter of Jr year.