Retake a 34?

Test Preparation ACT Preparation
1

<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>Not to be the stereotypical neurotic CCer, but I’m wondering if I should retake my current ACT score or not. I’m applying to Duke, Vanderbilt, the University of Michigan (in-state), and the University of Chicago (considering adding a few more schools) and I’m hoping for a merit scholarship at the University of Michigan (and perhaps even the Robertson at Duke). Should I retake my scores?</p>

<p>First test:
March 2009 scores:
35 Math
34 English
32 Science
30 Reading</p>

<p>33 Composite.</p>

<p>Second test:
Bumped it up to:
33 Math (Hated a few questions, good curve though)
35 English (Can't believe I missed one)
36 Science (yessssss!!!!)
32 Reading (Oh reading, how I hate you)</p>

<p>Should I consider a retake or no? I'm planning on sending both scores to schools, and I'm hoping for a merit scholarship or two...</p>

<p>I really, really, really don't want to sit through another ACT test and I'm hoping that the difference between a 34 and a 35 is negligible in the eyes of admissions people.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>Don’t retake it. 34 and 35, not that big of a difference once you get in the 30’s anyway. 34 and 35 are the same percentile as well. 99th.</p>

3

<p>People would be lucky to have your test score.</p>

4

<p>I don’t suggest retaking it. 34 composite is incredible for a single-sitting, and super-scored your score would be 34.5. You don’t have very much to gain from retaking it.</p>

5

<p>I wouldn’t retake a 34, unless you feel you are really weak elsewhere.</p>

6

<p>You already retook it once and got the score you aimed for. Don’t retake again… You have TASP and various other things working for you.</p>

7

<p>How do the writing scores figure in your decision to retake?</p>

<p>My son is in a similar situation, having scored a 34 on his first ACT try. However, his writing score is not available yet. Judging by his SAT score of 8, his ACT writing score might not be so stellar.</p>

<p>Did your writing score meet your expectations? Do you care? How would colleges view a 34 ACT score with something like an 8 for the writing section? Would you retake solely to bump up your writing score?</p>

8

<p>34 is fine for all of your schools. You should know that you can even get like a 31 and get in because your grades, extracurricular activities, and essay are much more important than standardized test scores.</p>

9

<p>Thanks for all the replies everyone. I’ve decided not to retake it :)</p>

<p>@ PayFor: I took the ACT once before with a 10 on the essay (out of a possible 12) so I hope to do about the same. I think that if your son scores above an 8 that he should be happy with his score. 10+ is even better.</p>

10

<p>If I had your Science and English I would have a 35 right now =(
God I hate the science and essay!</p>

11

<p>ACT percentiles mean nothing. A 32 is also in the 99th percentile. Does that mean it is the same as a 34? Of course not.</p>

<p>I say retake.</p>

12

<p>Don’t retake, that would be ridiculous.</p>

13

<p>Look at it objectively. The odds of you getting another perfect score in science are very slim, and in English you probably only missed one out of seventy-five. Do you really think that you could pull that off twice in a row? Your reading could go up but probably not enough to balance the drop in science and reading (which will most likely happen). Plus a 34 is awesome!</p>

14

<p>Please, travite1118, don’t deal with odds. There is obviously a reason that the OP scored better in science and English the second time around. I would actually say retake it, because percentiles don’t mean anything, really, and since you’re in those score ranges, unless you thought you got really lucky, you have the potential to go for a 36.</p>

15

<p>^ easy to say when you have a 36 ;)</p>

16

<p>Hmm i’m in a similar position.
Compound: 34
English: 32 + essay (9) –> 30
Math: 35
Reading: 35
Science: 35</p>

<p>I’m going to retake, they have it in sept. and it’s not such a bad deal, plus I feel like I can improve my English over the summer and pump up the score a notch, I probably won’t get a 36 but I least want to get that 35. It depends on you and how much you want a higher score… My SATs aren’t that stellar and the schools I want to go to are pretty competitive so I’m just going to do it. Either way, it can’t really hurt you ;)</p>

17

<p>rawr @ Egbert Souse xD</p>

18

<p>It wont hurt to retake it since you have the chance to.</p>

19

<p>Only read title, and wouldn’t retake a 34 at all. I may retake the ACT in September ( or SAT in October), since I extremely needed more time with the test, but this could be all due to my health problem. Though I’m likely to have my health recovered by then ( appointment this week or next week), and could finally possibly ace the ACT ( or at least do good). So this will be exciting.</p>

20

<p>OP-i’m with you on the 34 boat…I got it my first try though. I flirted with the idea of retaking for a while, but eventually decided to just live with it</p>

<p>But i’m not applying anywhere ridic(no Top 20 for me), so that kinda played into it</p>