I’m in sort of a strange ACT spot. I’ve scored a 32 composite with a 36 English, 36 reading, 29 science, and 26 math. This was on my second attempt at the test.
My problem is that I want to major in biology and later genetics at a good school. My composite is good, but I’m worried about my math score. I’m doing practice tests almost every day and I can’t seem to score higher than a 27. My parents really want me to get a 30 on the math section so it doesn’t look like such a weakness but I think I’ve maxed out. Do colleges really care what my section scores are, or does it not matter if you have a good composite? I’m very worried about this!
Don’t worry about this now. What will matter for your success in college, is completing the math requirements for your major with the grades your department requires. If you find math challenging in general, then plan now to make space in your life for additional math classes so that you do get where you need to be eventually.
If you can identify specific areas of weakness, then some review with khanacademy.org or patrickjmt.com might be in order.
The more selective colleges will care about a score profile that is unbalanced. They will likely look at your grades and rigor in your math classes to get a clearer picture. Have you taken a math subject test? But a lot is going to depend on which schools you are applying to.
I haven’t taken math subject tests because my scores would be low if they match my practice. I want to go to Michigan or Emory, but I have some safeties I get into automatically from my gpa and act. My math classes are the standard algebra I through pre calc accel track and I have all A’s so far.
There are several possibilities for bad test scores relative to classroom grades. Here are some to think about, and if they might apply to you, get some help from your trachers and guidance counselor. You want this sorted out before you start college.
@MostlyWell
Well a 32 is a great score, however both UMich and Emory do not superstore the ACT, and a 32 is avg to slightly below avg for them. Ask your parents for a tutor.
I’ve seen two tutors for the ACT math. They helped me get my practices from a 26 to 27 and seemed helpful. Not helpful enough to boost my scores much unfortunately.
Colleges will care about your English and math subsections in particular.
If you’ve done all the released practice problems, have you gone back over all your mistakes? Are there formulas you need to memorize or specific weaknesses you need to key in on, for example? Do you run out of time? Are there topics you haven’t covered in math class? Are you fast with your calculator?
If you’re just sick of it, you could set it aside for a while and test again in the fall after you’ve had a little more high school math plus the summer to practice. It’s nice when you can get testing done by the end of junior year, but a lot of seniors take one more shot at the tests in the fall.
First, I not your scores are “unusual”; rather, they seem perfectly rational. Your reading and English scores are fantastic, math is your weakness, and science is in between, which makes perfect sense to me because ACT Science is cross between reading and chart analysis.
I think you should just focus some more on the math. Id recommend you get the Real ACT test book and a few other guides, and go through all the question types to identify the particular problems that are giving you trouble. Practice, practice, and practice some more.
The thing is, there are a finite number of math question types on the ACT, and if you train yourself to immediately recognize each type and instantly implement its solution, you’ll quickly get your score up.
Congratulations on the 32. I see a 34 in your future.
“My problem is that I want to major in biology and later genetics at a good school.” Right, the math and science don’t show you at your best. I wonder if you had the most effective tutors.