<p>I'm considering signing up for the June ACT test, just out of curiosity to see where I stand and what I need to improve on. I know some colleges require all test scores, so would they look down on me or see me as "test-obsessed" if I did this? I will definitely take it again Junior year (required by my state). How do the single-choice policies on the ACT differ from the SAT? Should I take one over the other?</p>
<p>Can you try practice tests?</p>
<p>I could, but I’d like to “get the feel” for the test. I’m just concerned it will show me in a negative light if I end up taking it too many times.</p>
<p>Whats your math level because you may not be prepared for the math section yet. I would advise you to wait until your sophomore year and get good at taking the ACT before actually taking it.</p>
<p>I am in Honors Algebra II right now (I will finish it by the test date), and I feel like I could manage it fairly well. I usually do well on math standardized tests. I took the Explore with my school this year, too, and I did well on that. I’m just worried that if it take it, it will reflect poorly on me. </p>
<p>Although, if I was unhappy with the score, I could cancel it with no problem, right?</p>
<p>I do not believe you can cancel it once you receive your scores. You could cancel it right after you take the test if you feel you did not do well but remember there is sort of an unofficial limit of 3 tests for ACT. You can always take more but it would be better to get high scores in your first or second try.</p>
<p>If I show a lot of improvement on it over 2 years, would it still look bad? </p>
<p>I don’t think I’ll take it more than 3 times total as an upperclassman, at least. And I may or may not take it sophomore year. I just don’t want the risk of too many tests being a turn-off to colleges.</p>
<p>@ooohcollege I thought that you could take it as many times as you wanted and it would be inconsequential?</p>
<p>Well taking it 5 times makes you look too test focused. Will a college look at the student who got a high school in his first couple of tries or someone who took it a bunch of times. Generally speaking, college advisors typically say to not take a test more than 3 times.</p>
<p>Can they tell how many times you have taken it?
@ooohcollege </p>
<p>I’ve taken the act once and Im a junior. Im going to take it again in June and possibly in September. For underclassmen, it would be best to tae sat subject tests after they finish the course. For example, if you take Bio freshman year, study sat bio and take it while you still have the info in your head.</p>
<p>Many elite colleges require all test scores, and some, like Stanford, require all scores from SAT and ACT. It is a much better idea to go to the websites and take the “official” practice tests, or go to a free Kaplan or sometimes school sponsored practice test under timed conditions. Once taken officially, these scores cannot be removed from your record, and colleges will likely not notice what year it was taken in. </p>
<p>This is what I found about the ACT and deleting test scores:
<a href=“http://www.actstudent.org/faq/delete.html”>http://www.actstudent.org/faq/delete.html</a></p>
<p>Wouldn’t a college consider that tests taken as an underclassman would more than likely just be practice though? Do they really take them that seriously?</p>
<p>Some test prep agent like Princeton Review or Kaplan would offer free mock test even in a setting like a real test. This would give you a test center experience without cost or any consequence. Do not take a real test unprepared for a baseline score. If you are thoroughly prepared for the test disregarding your grade year, you may give it a try. Don’t waste your money and leave any chance for potential negative outcome. There are many potential negative impacts. For instance, score may got invalidated if your second attempt later on appear much better. Also, when you apply to school that requires all score, you need to send that poor baseline score too.</p>
<p>Don’t assume a ‘poor’ score just taking as a 9th grader. Duke TIP (and others) offer an opportunity for 7th graders to take the ACT or SAT. S2 took it this year and got a 25 with no prep whatsoever. S1 took it years ago and got a 23. His Junior attempt was a 34 and he made NMF. No issues at all from having taken it and improved so much. They can see the difference in time when they look at the scores. Just don’t become too into it. Take it if you want and then take it again for real.</p>
<p>You can tell where you stand by doing practice tests. Save your money and save yourself the stress of later worrying about too many sittings or what colleges will think about that bad score on your record. Don’t become one of the kids anxiously posting on here “How many tests is too many?”</p>
<p>@Torveaux,
Note that ACT or SAT taken in 7th or 8th grade would have no impact on college admission at all, but scores from 9th grade do. Look at the other threads on test scores got invalidated and you will see what I mean. Again, I said one can give it a try if thoroughly prepared disregarding grade year. That is the main point.</p>
<p>I got a 24 on the Explore, so I’m assuming I could get at least that on the ACT. And I could do a little bit of test prep beforehand, too. My score just might not be as good as it could be Junior year.</p>
<p>This is one of the most important tests you will take in your life. Why would you want to take it before you’ve prepared, when you feel you will do better later?</p>
<p>@Jaitaz
You are doing fine and there is no need to hurry for taking the test until you are in Junior. Just keep up your good work. My D got 23 in Explore in 8th grade and then she got 29 in PLAN (1 point higher than the projected range from ACT Explore) in 10th grade. In Junior, she scored 35 in her first and only attempt of ACT (also 1 point higher than the projected range from PLAN). In other words, if you work hard, you will go beyond the projected range. However, the projected score is assuming you take the next test at the corresponding grade level (PLAN in 10th grade and ACT in 11th or 12th) not now. There is no point to take a real test in your 9th grade if you are going to take it again and do better in junior. Just do some timed full practice test to gauge your current standing.</p>