<p>I'm a rising senior. I'm a fairly good student (top 10 in a class of 470), a few good extra curriculars, and some good test scores. I'm not sure if the ACT would be a waste of my time, or a nice addition to my application.</p>
<p>My SAT scores are as follows:</p>
<p>Highest single sitting: 2180 (700CR 800M 680W) Essay: 10
Superscored: 2220 (740CR, 800M, 680W) Essay: 10</p>
<p>I got 680 in math the first time I took it though, which I'm afraid might make my 800 look like a fluke.</p>
<p>My subject test scores:
770 Math 2 (I'm retaking it in the fall)
780 Chem
530 Physics (We're going to pretend this didn't happen.)</p>
<p>I'm not sure what math is on the ACT, but I just finished Trig/Precalc in school.</p>
<p>Should I take the ACT in the fall? If I do and do badly, do I have to show it to colleges? What are some good prep books for it?</p>
<p>There’s trig on the ACT, so you’ll be fine. If you are applying to schools that don’t need to view all your scores, you should be ok. You can still take it if you want, but do you really want to take another standardized test in Sept?</p>
<p>If you do poorly, you won’t be obligated to send it. If you’ve prepped enough for the SAT, you really only need to review some trig and then do a couple practice Science sections. The English, Reading, and Essay sections are very similar, if not a tad easier.</p>
<p>Yeah, you might as well just take the ACT once to see how you do, although it really isn’t necessary (I mean, if you’re willing to sit another 3 hour standardized test, be my guest). I’m pretty sure your 770 on the Math II SAT would cover up the 680 to 800 jump on your SAT I’s. </p>
<p>Let’s see… English and Reading on the ACT are WAY easier than on the SAT. Just make sure you can read and comprehend information quickly (seriously, English on the ACT is like revising a friend’s essay; a friend that can’t use grammar correctly).</p>
<p>The Math on the ACT is more straightforward than that on the SAT, but it also includes Trig (but since you’ve finished Pre-Calc, it shouldn’t be a problem). Be able to answer the questions relatively quickly.</p>
<p>Science is the killer for most ACT takers… it probably drops their overall score by 1-3 points if they do poorly.</p>
<p>And if you do poorly on the ACT (basically if you get less than a 34 on the ACT - which, by the way, is equivalent to your 2220) then you don’t even have to submit your ACT score.</p>
<p>I would advise you to take the ACT. If you don’t do as well as you expect, (sounds like you should be around 33) then you dont have to send your scores in. The problem I had with math on the ACT was that I went in too cocky, causing me to forget basic algebra (ended up being my worst sub score). So when you take the math just make sure you are focused. As for the science, it’s really more of reading and comprehending graphs. If you can do that you should be able to get over 30 in Science easily.</p>