Hi guys! I checked the ACT website this morning and to my surprise, got a 31!!! I’m pretty excited because even though this lined up with my practice tests, I was pretty nervous when I left the test because I ran out of time on the Math (guessed on a lot in the last column… I think all but one or two) and was really rushing at the end of the reading so I didn’t have much time to get a few of the last answers in. Here’s my breakdown:
34 English
26 Math
32 Reading
31 Science
The only prep I did before the test was taking two practice tests and looking online at a few general test-taking strategies. So now, I’m wondering, should I take it again and go for a 32/33 by pacing myself through the math or do you think a 31 is okay?
For a reference, the schools I’m currently looking at are Tulane, USC, UMiami, BU, NYU, Penn State, Villanova, Pitt, and a few others. UCLA and UCSB are also on my list, but as an out of stater my GPA of 3.6 (low by CC standards, I know, but it’s with a lot of APs and Honors at a top school in my state) probably isn’t high enough for me to be accepted. For these schools, is a 31 good enough or should I take a prep course and then take the ACT again? Thanks so much!!
I would definitely take it again since you have admitted to little test prep. Many of the schools on your list will expect a higher score, especially with a lower than average GPA. HS course rigor is good but not always at the expense of your GPA.
Yes. Take it again. Your 31 is great, but Math may be low for some schools. Plus, with a little work you could improve.
Not sure about your financial need but if merit aid is of interest to you having a 33 or more will help you a lot. So a 31 is good enough for admissions at most of these schools but probably not high enough to maximize merit aid. On that basis alone the 20 or 30 hours you might spend in test prep is worth it