I just received my scores from the April ACT and earned the exact same composite score that I did last time…
1st Try: 29
2nd Try: 32
3rd Try: 32
If I took the ACT one more time for a higher score and/or the SAT once, would my persistence in trying for a 33+/1500+ hurt me for schools that require a full record of testing history such as the UCs?
Did you take ACT classes, have ACT tutoring, or study between each time that you took the test?
@DadTwoGirls Yes, I did light tutoring before my first try and more serious tutoring in between the other tries.
i think you’ve committed enough effort to the ACT but if you aren’t satisfied with your score you might want to give the SAT a try, but only once, and only after adequate practice. Keep in mind, a 32 is a very good ACT score.
@changemaker44. One of my kids improved dramatically taking the ACT on multiple occasions (like you, now sitting on a 32 up from, I believe, a 28 initial test score). The 4th time may have been the charm (though it could have been the 3rd). My kid is going to keep taking it as well. As an athlete, the CC advice has been to get up into the 30s, but now to impress coaches at competitive academic schools, it would be nice to get a 33+. There are not many schools that will require full disclosure of multiple ACT tests (Stanford is the only one that immediately comes to mind, and as you say the UCs). So I say go for it! Study your weakest areas in particular. Also, nothing wrong with taking a shot at the SAT! They will be on different Saturdays, and perhaps the SAT format will favor you. There are certain schools where merit aid will be based upon these scores, so you may be very happy later for the investment in time and money that you put into these tests now. Good luck whatever you decide!
NOTHING is wrong with taking standardized tests 4 (or more) times, except that it’s a loss of time and money. The notion that more than three sittings is frowned upon is an urban legend.