I’m looking at some top CS schools and I just took the ACT earlier this month. I got a composite 35(no writing score yet) but only a 33 in math. I know the composite score is sufficient but will I get dinged for my math score? Should I take it one more time to raise my math score?
ACT 35 is great, but Math 33 would be around the average or even below for top engineering schools. What is your practice score? If you expect a better Math score, you may edge up your composite score and that may help you to get some merit aids at many schools.
@billcsho Typically 34-36 on practice. I will be taking SAT next month so I might wait to see how that goes. From what I understand a lot of people struggled with math on the February test. It had a great deal to do with AP Stats which I haven’t taken. Currently I’m in Calculus BC so it’s been a couple years since I took algebra 2 which hurt slightly. I should have taken the ACT right after finishing 9th grade but I wanted to wait until my junior year to take it.
Math skills should not be forgotten that fast. Just do some practice and review the answer.
Bump
@luska19 I don’t think colleges can see your subscores… but if you think you can improve your math score then go for it. I don’t recall the ACT math section having anything to do with stat, just algebra, geometry, and trig.
College do see all section scores. Most students have not taken AP stat before ACT, if at all.
Got the writing score back which was a 10. I’m still undecided as to retake or not.
Why not take the SAT Math II subject test instead to demonstrate your math skills? Alternately, high scores on AP math related courses would achieve the same objective.
@mamaedefamilia I will also be taking the SAT II math in May. At this point I’m not concerned about raising my composite score, just my math but the risk would be a “possible” lower score on the writing as that is very hit or miss.
@Luska19 I would agree. Especially if you are going to be applying to schools that require that all scores be sent, the risk is that you might do less well.
33 is a fine math score. Would not think retaking is necessary.