Should I take the ACT again in September?

<p>So I took the ACT in April and I got a 28 which I was happy with but I need a 30 for my dream school so I took it again in June and GOT A 25!! I admit I was very distracted with finals, summer, and vacation during my prep time for the test so I believe that could be a reason why my score dropped. I am so disappointed! The reason retaking it in September isn't the clear cut option is because I was planning to apply EA to three schools and apply early to all of my regular decision schools. I realize that I have three options, send my 28 to all schools, wait to apply to the EA schools and retake it again in September, or retake it in September but send my 28 to the EA schools and later send the new score (if better) to the others. What should I do? Will taking it again in September even raise my score above a 28? Sorry if this was confusing but I really need help!</p>

<p>Do you feel like you can do better? If so, work on areas that you know you need improvement on and take it again in September. 28 is a great score! </p>

<p>September is the LAST time to take the ACT for early action schools. You could definitely retake it then and score higher than a 28 and still be able to send the score in. You would actually find out your score (except for writing) before September even ends and can decide whether or not you want to send that score for EA. If you avidly study during this summer and find out where your weakness are you can raise your score by September. If you do absolutely nothing to prepare for the test and assume that a 30 is going to magically fall out of the air by not studying you will be disappointed in your score come September. </p>

<p>View this guide to the ACT: <a href=“Jeandevaches' Guide to the ACT - ACT Preparation - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/act-preparation/1071765-jeandevaches-guide-to-the-act-p1.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I’m actually retaking the ACT in September to improve from my not studying ways to improve my writing score from a 29 to above a 30 so I can hopefully get a 33 or 34 superscore. My advice to you is to study this summer the sections your bad at which is what I’m doing. </p>

<p>If you haven’t done so already, purchase the Real ACT Prep Book, 3rd edition (aka the Red Book) so that you can practice with 5 real practice ACT tests from the creators of the ACT. </p>

<p>IMO there really is no studying for science because if the answer choice does not have support in the passage then it is WRONG. Same thing with reading if there is no support in the passage then it is wrong. </p>

<p>As for math though I have not actually used this site (onlinemathlearning. com), someone actually used the SAT math segment of the site and ended up scoring an 800. So it wouldn’t hurt you to try the ACT part.</p>

<p>As for English, I am currently using Erica Meltzer’s critical reader blog for ACT punctuation (because I never really cared for punctuation rules), Jane Straus’s Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation (for general punctuation and grammar rules), and Erica Meltzer’s Ultimate Guide to the SAT, along with Barron’s ACT 36 (because I’m studying for both at the same time, writing hurt my SAT score too). </p>

<p>A good prep book to use would be any Barron’s ACT prep book. I’ve heard that Barron’s ACT 36 is mostly for those who are already scoring in the 30s and just want to get over that hump. Barron’s also has a regular ACT prep book. </p>

<p>I’m in the same situation! I got a 27, then went down to a 24! And my goal score is a 30! </p>