Should I retake the ACT?

Hi everyone! So I just took the ACT for the first time and I got a 34 composite. Though I was pretty excited, I saw that I got a 29 in English (35 in Math, Science and Reading). Will the fact that I got a subscore lower than a 30 hurt my chances at any top tier colleges (Yale, Brown), or will they only pay attention to the composite? Oh yeah also, I’m pretty sure I bombed the essay, which still hasn’t been scored, so that will probably bring my combined English/Writing score even lower. (Ugh, standardized testing :/) For some context, I do have a 4.0 UW GPA and have strong E.C.s (All-National Orchestra, established non-profit, ect.) Thanks!!

I once read on a testing site that a 34 is essentially the same as a 36 to a college admissions counselor. However, I mentioned that I’m not sure this goes for Ivies, since everybody is in the 30+ range.

Colleges don’t usually look at subscores, but they might. Still, if they do they might take into consideration that it was the first test and you might have had trouble pacing yourself.

I wouldn’t retake because even if you work on English you might do worse in the other sections. And I think you have enough making up for you almost-perfect ACT score that it really shouldn’t be an issue.