This was supposed to be it. :| Sigh... Any consolation?

Test Preparation ACT Preparation
1

<p>Yes, like I said, this was supposed to be it. But, for some reason, a feeling of failure looms over me. I was ready. In fact, I had studied many hours before I took the Dec 10 ACT. I felt a little uneasy before the test. It was nothing I couldn't shrug off. I zipped through the first section. I was happy. English, my best section, was finished with several minutes remaining. I felt perfection. But the rest was AWFUL. In the next two sections, I staggered on, finishing with 5 - 10 questions left on each section. I knew that was it. I became depressed, and saw that I had failed to pace myself. I had hope that the odds were on my side - hope that I could earn the 1 in 4 questions I guessed on. Then, I flipped to my worst section. SCIENCE. I can't say much about it. I was lost the entire time. I feel so sad when I think about it. I can't bear thinking about how stupid I was. Science, my best and favorite subject. How could I fail so miserably answering only about 50-60% of the questions. I had failed myself. I knew I would write a bad essay with that feeling. And, I did. My essay was by no means good. It lacked substance. It lacked everything. </p>

<p>I'm sitting here today knowing that I have another chance to succeed on this test in January. But, THIS was supposed IT. I was supposed to be content. And, tomorrow at 10pm I shall find out my score. In the past, I hoped that I would not have to wait in anxiety, but instead wait in hope. I hoped wrongly. I can't wait to see my score. That is, I can't wait to see how badly I did! I'm so dumb. I nearly have a 4.0, but I can't stay calm on a simple standardized test.</p>

<p>Does anyone have words of consolation to offer. I'm a junior. I know I can retake, and there's no reason I shouldn't. But, I was praying for a THIRTY. Now I know I will not get it, even though I have taken practice tests and received a score of thirty. Can anyone just write something nice or comforting? </p>

<p>Thank you CC</p>

2

<p>I know this is a whiny rant, but anything nice or helpful would make me sane. Something helpful would be like answering this question: is there ANY chance I could get a 30?</p>

3

<p>Just wondering, but for the English section (your best section), do you feel that you have a great understanding of most English concepts(Grammar)?</p>

4

<p>Well, I left the subject tests sure I had scored in the 400’s. I ended up getting in the high 600’s. So oftentimes, you feel you did worse than you actually did.</p>

5

<p>@ColumbianX The English section is my FAVORITE section. I feel as if I got a 36 on it, but I sometimes make small mistakes. But, I was unsure about 0 questions. On practice tests I have gotten above a 33 always. I feel as if I have a very good understanding of grammar. It’s hard to say that without sounding.ing pretentious.</p>

<p>@hoopser77 I would LOVE that to be the case. Feeling worse than I actually did would make me happy if I knew the outcome. Duh. Anyways, one person told me that I am my worst critic. That might play into my feeling. But, I’d like to hear more from CCers.</p>

6

<p>meh…
dumb me</p>

7

<p>Hey :slight_smile: </p>

<p>I seem to have had the exact same experience as you. I studied my a** off, literally. I did prep courses, I took every practice tests in every book I had, I timed myself so I 'd have a specific strategy during the real test etc. and yet now it seems like that it was all just for nothing. I was nervous too but not so much that I thought it would cripple my performance. Taking a standardized test was something that I’ve thought about for a long time and I guess, more than anything, I was ready to get it over with. Now, I only wish I could go back and redeem myself. </p>

<p>I’ve grown up in Europe, half American, half greek and last year I made a decision that I’d apply only to universities in the UK since it was not only financially more convenient for my family but made more sense for me as a prospective student since I was fulfilling all the correct qualifications in school. After applying and getting accepted to a few, I decided that England was not the place for me and I should take a gap year and fully prepare and apply to schools in the US. I guess I had been dreading taking a standardized exam since that moment simply because the american system of education was so different and foreign to me. Now, I worry that I made the wrong decision as I’m almost positive I messed up the ACT exam. </p>

<p>Although we had different tests (since I did the International paper and I’m assuming you did the american one) we more or less had the same experience. I finished English confidently with time to spare. Then I moved on to math (which I’ve struggled with my whole life) in which I think I didn’t do particularly well on. Then it all went from bad to worse; the reading section was killer which was especially upsetting to me since I’d consider reading my best section usually. After bombing the reading, my bad feelings hindered my performance on the science section.</p>

<p>I’m a high school graduate and the December 10th ACT was my first and last attempt at a standardized exam for fall admission.</p>

<p>Although it might not mean much since I don’t know you; you are not dumb. One exam with ridiculous time constraints on a Saturday morning certainly does not measure your intellect nor does it really judge how well you’ll do in an actually university course. The way I see it, this exam is designed to provide universities with an excuse to reject people and cut out some incoming applications. It is also a way to make money. </p>

<p>As daunting and exhausting as it might sound, you can take the test again and if you do not get the score you wanted this time, then you can look at it all as fate. Maybe you were meant to not do so well this time round only to retake it and ace the next one. Also, you don’t necessarily know that you did badly. Believe me, I know what it feels like to have a bad feeling about the test, but perhaps, with all the adrenaline and nerves you were feeling , you could be reflecting on it in a less accurate way than it actually went. Finally, I will say, regardless of whatever score you eventually get, the schools you apply to will also look at other attributes of your application and not just your ACT score. A high GPA and good report can definitely go a long way considering that it is a more accurate depiction of what kind of student you are. </p>

<p>All hope is certainly not lost, so cheer up :slight_smile: </p>

<p>You’ll know your scores soon enough and then you can just look forward to what you can achieve in the future rather than dwell on your previous mistakes. </p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

8

<p>Don’t fret. Just take it again. I got a 33 in October and took it again in December and am POSITIVE I scored lower. I’m just going to delete this test record so it looks like I never took the exam. I’ll be taking it again in February, and you should do the same.</p>

<p>You’re only a junior, so you have like 5 more opportunities to take it before you apply to college. Take it all five times and delete all the scores except your highest one. This way it’ll look like you only took it once, with your highest score being that one time.</p>

<p>I think the whole test this December was just…weird. There’s a certain element of luck involved in standardized tests.</p>

9

<p>You’re just a junior!
I am a senior, and I got accepted to a top 25 school a week ago.
I didn’t know about the ACT until this fall.
If I knew about the ACT before then, I could have had a higher score.
The key thing is relaxing. I did better on standardized tests when I didn’t prep as much the previous week as opposed to when I did.</p>

<p>Don’t worry. Just take the ACT the next 5 times and I am sure that you will do fine.</p>

10

<p>The key word or words is that you’re a junior. You have plenty of time, don’t worry. Just retake it later and practice under strict time conditions </p>

<p>Sent from my ADR6300 using CC App</p>

11

<p>Thank you all. I feel much better. I know I’ll beat myself up a little when I get my scores, but at least I’ll know that the ACT IS a forgiving test, and that I can take it again. No pressure. This was just a first run. I’ll post my scores when they come out! Thanks.</p>

12

<p>Standardized testing levels the playing field. It seems as though it wouldn’t be very difficult to get a 4.0 at your school if you have a 4.0 and finished with 5-10 questions left on each section and only answered 50-60% of the questions on science. Maybe you just aren’t as smart as your parents say you are.</p>

13

<p>@statlanta you probably shouldn’t be posting on this thread. But, I think you’re right. In my old school I had a 3.95. I worked pretty hard. This was in the West. When I started going to school near Atlanta, I got a 4.0 with little effort. I learned NOTHING new. Not even in my AP Bio class. Nothing new in math either. I have wasted a semester. That is why I’m going back to my school in the West. I will actually have to WORK to get good grades. Lazy SOUTHERNERS like you probably think it’s HARD to get A 4.0 in the South. No wonder Georgia is one of the dumbest states in America as seen by their PSAT stats.</p>

14

<p>when do we get our scores back exactly? like what time?</p>

15

<p>I didn’t read any posts in this thread yet, so my some similar response may have already been said…</p>

<p>When I took the ACT for the first time in October I thought I got like a 29 or 30, I was not confident about it at all. Turned out I got a 32. I’m not saying that you will get a 32, but don’t think that you will do as well or as bad as you felt the test went. That said, you’re only waiting for a stupid standardized test score, it’s nothing to lose sleep over. I can’t really make you less anxious, so I can’t help you that way. Just remember, you have plenty more times to take the test. If you think you are worried, imagine how worried the seniors who took the ACT for the last time before the send out their RD apps. They are the ones who should be worried.</p>

16

<p>@Identify scores are released online in 6 hours and 45 no matter where you are in the world.</p>

<p>@dfree124 You’re sooo right. I’m not a senior. This was my first go. I’ll just have to work harder next time :D</p>