I recently got scores back from my March 1st ACT. It was my first time taking it and I didn’t really study because I didn’t know exactly what to study for. I ended up getting a 34 composite, with a 35 reading, 34 English, 34 math, and 31 science.
Before, I had taken the PSAT/NMSQT twice through my school. In 10th grade I got a 1260, this year I got a 1330. I think it’s pretty obvious that I know how to take the ACT better than the SAT.
I just wanted to ask for opinions on how to go from here. Should I stick with my ‘baseline’ ACT score, because it is in the 1st percentile after all? Or should I concentrate on science and give the ACT again for a higher superscore? Or, should I stick with this ACT score and try to get my SAT up as well?
Wouldn’t hurt to give the ACT once more. Don’t bother about the SAT. The PSAT of 1330 would correlate with a higher SAT, but not as high as what your ACT indicates. So, as you correctly interpreted, you seem more comfortable with the ACT than the SAT. Also, the science section on the ACT is mostly data interpretation. Not really science. You just need to slow down, read the question and answers one more time, and not make mistakes.
You have a great score on the ACT. There is literally no reason to take the SAT, given your score on the PSAT. The tests are absolutely equal as far as colleges are concerned.
If you don’t want to take the ACT again, congratulations, you’re done. If you want to give it another try to possibly raise your sub score, be aware that not all colleges accept super score ACTs. Most now do, I believe. So do a little research and give it another shot if you like.
As I read the advice I wonder - can admissions officers see if you have taken the SAT or ACT more than one time? If you think you have a “one and done” high enough score is that a benefit in the AO’s eyes?
Your PSAT score is equivalent to about a 31-32 ACT score. So you did very well on the ACT.
As far as improving the ACT score, note that your composite is actually 33.5 and rounded to 34. If you improve your science sub-score from 31 to 34, that will still leave your total ACT score at 34, assuming all other section scores stay the same. To get a 35 superscore, you will have to improve your scores in multiple sections.
Note that your 34 ACT is at the bottom edge of 34, since your average is 33.5 (rounded up). You would need to gain a net of 4 more ACT section points somewhere to bring your average to 34.5 (rounded up to 35) to get an ACT composite improvement (for colleges that superscore ACT, you need to gain 4 ACT section points while ignoring any ACT section losses).
So basically, the question is, can you gain 200 SAT points or 4 ACT section points? The answer to that question will inform whether it is worth retaking the SAT or ACT.
If you are still unsure, I would suggest trying a released ACT, or at least the science section (since there is the most room to gain there), and then finding out if there is a particular type of question that you tended to get wrong and which you can do targeted preparation in reasonable time to gain the 4 ACT section points.
Most schools don’t ask for all test scores but some (e.g., Georgetown) do.
Doubt it. Parents seem to enjoy bragging that their son/daughter got X in ‘one sitting’ but I think it’s mostly meaningless. For SATs, students only need a max of two scores for their best superscore.
Besides Georgetown, are you aware of any other Top 30 national universities or Top 15 liberal arts colleges that do not accept ACT super scoring? Thanks so much for any info!