Some schools superscore dude
I like your theory because assuming it’s true the ACT people really hooked me up!!
I don’t really understand your theory because the test is on a bell shaped curve. All you need to do is ask what are the top 1% scores, or the top 0.1%. If the ACT is ‘sweetened’ so that more students can score higher flat scores, all that will mean is that the slope of the bell shaped curve will shift, which isn’t good; it won’t reliably differentiate between the top 0.1%, the top 1%, or even the top 5%. Colleges will definitely not like that, and colleges are what ACT cares about. If colleges reject ACT as an acceptable test, then ACT loses.
However, I do think many more people will be taking the ACT than in years past, and I think that will hold for the next 2 years. I don’t think ACT needs to sweeten any pot. The reason SAT has changed is because more people have been going over to ACT to begin with; the new SAT test is a marketing strategy in part to recapture the ACT market, and in part to capture the Pearson market in secondary schools (it’s trying to position itself as a test for each year in high school).
Having more people taking the ACT shouldn’t change the ACT’s bell shaped curve. It may, but if it’s a reliable, valid test, it shouldn’t. I"m sure ACT will be watching out to see if it does indeed change the curve and will adjust accordingly. The only way that would happen is if scorers move over disproportionately to the ACT (like more high scorers than low scorers).
This whole thing is an experiment and no one knows what will happen with either test but I do think the ACT is going to be a more reliable test this next year.
I did much better than I expected. On my practice tests, I was averaging a 28-30 composite. On the actual ACT, I ended up getting a 33 composite. Maybe Barron’s is harder, lol.
I got a 31 my first time without hardcore studying, just a practice test here and there. The second time I didn’t start studying until the night before (oops). I used the Princeton Review prep book and read all of their strategies on math and science. I ended up getting a 34 and an 11 on the essay, which I was pleasantly surprised about!! 
I must have just known the test better! (It’s funny bc my PLAN test predicted 31-34)
My score was much better than expected - I barely studied and got a 33. My ACT score is significantly higher than my PSAT/SAT score (when converted to ACT).
The first time I took the ACT without any studying I received a 29.
After using Method Test Prep and taking the ACT once more in June, I got a 31. Method Test Prep predicted my Math score to be a 31, and that’s exactly what I got on the actual test. English was higher than I expected with a 35 (I usually got 32s), but my Reading and Science scores were a bit lower (30 and 29, respectively). I’m probably planning to take the test again next year.
I scored pretty high on my PSAT with a 195 (I studied a little bit), but my SAT was a little bit worse as it came out to an 1800. I’m debating on whether to take the SAT a second time or not.
Over the last year or so I’ve taken it 3 times. I didn’t study at all for the first two, I got a 30 and a 31. I took 3 practice tests before the summer ACT. My scores there were 32, 29 and 31 I think, and I got a 35 on that ACT. I also took the SAT in March or April (around the same time as the 31) and stupidly, I didn’t study for that either, and got a 1890. So clearly I’m more of an ACT girl
I did about 10~15 practice tests and the highest score I got was a 32. I got a 35 on my first actual test. (September 2014)
I did much better on the ACT than the SAT. I had a 1950 on my March SAT (670CR, 600M, 680W). Took the April ACT and got a 31 (34E, 30M, 33R, 25S and 30E/W). Then on my May SAT, got a 2020 (700CR, 630M, 690W). I liked the ACT better and decided to stick with it. After heavy studying in the spring, summer, and fall, I retook the ACT in October and got a 33 (35E, 32M, 36R, 28S, and 33E/W). I ended up retaking the SAT anyways for scholarship purposes and ended up getting a 2130 (760CR, 660M, 710W).
I forget what I was getting on ACT practice tests in the official book.
Well I’ve taken the ACT two times, the first time with no prep I got a 22. The second time I made a 26 which was lower than I was expecting.
I really hope Sally’s theory doesn’t reduce the legitimacy of my score, as I prepped hard to bring my 32 up to a 34 for this June test.
I actually predicted both of my ACT scores accurately.
First time I got a 30, which was pretty much what I expected before the test, with my practice test scores ranging from 28-32. It was also how I felt I did after the test.
My mom insisted I retake it, even though I was told that most people do worse on their second test because of the pressure to get a higher score. I knew this would impact me at least a little. I figured I’d get a 29. And after the test, I felt I did worse than the first time. I guessed with my luck that I’d get a 29, which would probably drive me crazy more than any other score, considering I’d be soooo close to having gotten better.
Scores came in last week. Guess what I got?
I took the ACT for the first time in March with minimal studying but the couple practice tests predicted around a 30 and my explore/plan tests put me in the 28-32 range. That morning I ran out the door crying and screaming at my parents, and assuming I’d do miserably. Score report came back with 32, but of course I was not satisfied with the 98th percentile, so I took it again in June and thought I did much worse, but to my pleasant surprise that one came back as a 33. Unfortunately, math, which I always that I tested really well at (used to do competitive math comps in middle school) was my weakest at a 29 on the 32 and a 30 on the 33. If only I could’ve raised that a point or 2. I also took the June SAT after a 197 psat but only got a 2080 which was lower than I would’ve liked so I might take up College Board on the free retake in the fall because of the timing discrepancy. Also, coming out of the SAT I thought I had aced the math, come to find I only got a 710.
I took a lot of practice ACT exams, and I consistently got a 30 as my composite score. I got my scores from the June 2015 exam today and I got a 34 as my composite score. Needless to say, I nearly cried tears of joy.
@undergrad55 @zuminskee wowwww you guys are all amazing. I jusst crave for 30 or 31. just 31 :(((((( pls hlep me do you have any tips and the mental prepare or anything related to gain that score. pls help me :((( thanks you guys so much. Btw my current score is 28 and i scored lowest in english, just 24 :(((
@nthluongcnn The first practice test I took for the ACT I scored a 24 in English. I saw a tutor and scored a 34. Once you get the technique and speed for the English section your score will dramatically improve.
@Sally_Rubenstone I think there may be some truth behind what you’re saying. But I have an possible spin. The overall score distribution I think is valid. BUT at the upper end it is much much much easier to jump percentiles and get eyebrow raising scores. Thus, the ACT feels more rewarding and desireable.
What I mean is the jump from a 31 to a 34 is much easier with the ACT than with corresponding SAT scores. But at lower percentiles, I think scores are generally more constant.
I say this personally going from 30 to a 35 in less than a summer with no prep course or tutor.
The ACT maintains perhaps the correct curve, but in reality I think you’re on to something.
After all, it is a money making industry, right?
@nthluongcnn assuming you’re taking the September ACT, start prepping a month in advanced. What I find to be the most beneficial is to tackle each section at a time (math one week, english the next, etc). That’s how i studied for the SAT and my score increased 200 pts. After you finish your daily material, grade yourself and go over your mistakes. I usually write myself reminder notes to prevent myself from making the same mistakes. The day before the test, i went over those notes so they’re fresh in my head before the test. Hope that helps! (if needed, start 5 weeks in advanced and spend 2 weeks on English)
@ziminskee @2016senior Thank you two so much. I will try again. Btw, which strategies you two use for reading section?