<p>Hello all,</p>
<p>After my first try as a second-semester HS junior, I received a 35 composite: 35 English, 35 Math, 34 Reading, 36 Science, yet I received a 9 on my essay. I am thinking about retaking the test to improve my essay. My intention isn't to sound arrogant and flaunt my score, so if it appears that way, my sincere apologies. I'm not even sure if a 9's that bad. I'm just a bit uncomfortable of submitting a 32 English+Essay composite to Stanford. </p>
<p>I'm considering retaking the test because the February essay was a quite different from the prompts that I'd prepped for. I couldn't think of much to write about and ended up BS'ing my second body paragraph. If given a more friendly topic, I'm pretty sure that I'd be able to get at least a 10. Likewise, I was pretty stable with the multiple choice sections when I took practice tests. However, I'm also a bit uncertain about retaking in that: a) I've read on CC that if you have a high score the first time around, and if you retake it to do better, colleges would think you're test-obsessive and trash your app; b) I had an A first semester in my AP English Language class, and I've had A's in my Honors English classes in freshman and sophomore year.</p>
<p>Should I retake the ACT just to improve the essay? Thanks in advance guys.</p>
<p>Oh, and P.S:
Should I consider taking the SAT as well? I'm in California, and I'm basically the only kid in the entire grade, maybe even school, that's taking only the ACT. Based off my PSAT experiences, I'm bound to make dumb errors and get tricked, and I'm simply not as strong on the SAT as I am on the ACT. Would any colleges discriminate between the two tests?</p>