Low ACT Reading DQ?

Hopeful16USAFA

5-Year Member
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Feb 26, 2012
Messages
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Will a low ACT reading score of 23 automatically DQ a candidate?

My ACT reading score on my candidate kit is bracketed which means "it may not be competitive for academy admissions." Will take me out of consideration even with a SAT verbal of 610 and a 3.9 GPA?

Thanks in advance.
 
Will a low ACT reading score of 23 automatically DQ a candidate?

My ACT reading score on my candidate kit is bracketed which means "it may not be competitive for academy admissions." Will take me out of consideration even with a SAT verbal of 610 and a 3.9 GPA?

Thanks in advance.

USAFA superscores ACT and SAT scores. They will probably take your SAT verbal score instead. I'm not familar enough with the SAT to say a 610 will be good enough. According to the 2011-12 United States Air Force Academy Catalog, the average SAT verbal score is 641 with the middle 50% in the 590-680 band. So it appears you're in the ballpark. Good luck! :thumb:

For further reference check class profile at http://www.academyadmissions.com/#Page/Online_Catalog. See page 9 to see how your other scores compare.
 
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I remember seeing somewhere that as long as your SAT scores are good (or you retake the ACT) the Academy will just ignore whichever one isn't so good. I did pretty bad on the Science part of the ACT also. :frown:
 
SMB, don't feel bad about your science portion score- a lot of people struggle with that one. Something I learned that helped me is the 5 6 7 strategy. There are 3 sections with 5 questions that are the easiest, 3 sections with 6 Q's that are at a medium level, and one hard section with 7 Q's. The first thing I did when I opened the science portion all three times I took the ACT was identify which is section is which, and start with the easiest sections and work to the hardest one. And remember that it isn't really about how much science you know, it's more about reading what the problem is asking. If you have time to take the ACT again, I suggest going for it and trying this out if you haven't already. Hope this helps you and future aspiring cadets as well.
 
Definitely. I raised my first ACT science score from a 23 to a 27 using this strategy, helping get my composite up to a 31. It's definitely possible to improve substantially just by having good test taking skills.
 
If you have either an SAT or ACT score that is below the "standard" accepted for admission, yes, it will DQ you IF that's the only score you have. That's why I advise my candidates to take BOTH tests.

USAFA will score EITHER test...and if one is low but the other is not, they will use the one that IS good.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
My math score is a 610 but my english score is about average. I'm hoping that my math score doesn't keep me from attending. It's really the only thing limiting my application at the moment.
 
as Steve (Flieger) said; you should take the ACT/SAT as many times as you possibly can. It is the ONLY academic tool that every applicant has in common. The higher your scores, the better chance of getting in. It's not the only part of your academic score, but like I said, it's the only common denominator between ALL applicants. School profiles affect your academic score. Difficulty of classes you took compared to other applicants affect your score. Class ranking affects your score. Availability of classes, advanced, etc... affects your score. And each of these areas have to have a little bit of objectivity to them when scoring applicants. That's why it's so important to get the best ACT/SAT scores possible. If you have a 610, you take it again. When you get a 650 the next time, you take it again. And if you improve still......... You take it again.

I have only recommended 2 people to not retake their ACT/SAT again. Both of them had a 34 as their LOWEST SCORE on their ACT. One was an IB student which meant that all of their classes were advanced; and the other was in a school without the IB program, but they took a FULL COURSE of AP classes. Except for 2 electives, all of their classes were AP.

These are the people you are competing against. If you look in the academy brochure; (Click on the link in my signature block); you will see that the mean average for SAT is a 641 verbal and 672 in math. The LOWEST mean average of any area of the ACT is a 30. Remember; those are the average. Can someone on the lower end of the scale get in? Of course they can. There's always a lowest and highest scoring individual. But you shouldn't have that score and be satisfied. Not if you really want to attend the academies.

GPA, classes taken, class rank, etc... are all things that are cumulative. In other words, you can't go from a 3.4gpa to a 3.95 in 1 semester. You have to deal with what you have. But the ACT, the SAT, and the CFA are the 3 things that you have total control over. You get get a 500 SAT math one time, then ace it with an 800 the next time. You can have a 25 in the ACT and ace it with a 36 the next. NEVER be satisfied with the scores you have. Never be satisfied with ANYTHING you do. ALWAYS try to do better. And until you can't do it any longer because you ran out of time or something else, you should always strive to do better. When someone is satisfied because they believe that they "Did their best", then they really didn't do their best. In my opinion; you can never do your best; at anything. You can always do better. There is a time when you run into physical limitations such as how fast you can go or how far you can go. But when it comes to your mind and academics, I don't believe that anyone has every reached their maximum capabilities. Best of luck to you. mike.....
 
Maybe I am mis-reading here, but the OP stated they have a 23 ACT and a 610 SAT regarding V.

As Flieger stated that 23 makes you a DQ since 24 is the min., but SAT wise you are above the academic DQ which is 490. If you look at the AFA site, it clearly states a score under 24 or 490 V is traditionally considered non-competitive.

Did you not submit both scores? I can't even mathematically figure out why you would submit the ACT. If you got a 36 on Math, you are still at a 29 composite. Assuming you hit higher on the Math SAT like the ACT, the AFA would still take the SAT for conversion purposes. A 36 = 800 SAT, and your score would be 1400+

On this forum there are 2 ALO's and both stated many, many months ago that due to the limited appointments this yr and the level of competition 1400 SAT superscore should be the target for all candidate, higher in competitive states.

Finally, MPO, the AFA is not known as the Little Engineering School in the Rockies for nothing. Math is going to be in your life for 4 yrs., along with science, which requires math for you to succeed.

If it is your weak subject compared to English, I strongly suggest to get a tutor now so you have the foundation under your belt when classes start in August. The AFA is no different than any college when it comes to the fast pace of classes. Honestly, it is college on steroids because you also have that other life which we call military training, or for C4C's sleeping on top of your bed and no comforts from home.
 
I originally took just the SAT and submitted those scores which were 700 math and 610 verbal. I decided to take the ACT and have the scores automatically sent (obviously a mistake with the low reading score). Both scores have been submitted so the ACT reading will be discarded in favor of the SAT verbal score? Is that correct flieger83?

Thanks for all your input.
 
I originally took just the SAT and submitted those scores which were 700 math and 610 verbal. I decided to take the ACT and have the scores automatically sent (obviously a mistake with the low reading score). Both scores have been submitted so the ACT reading will be discarded in favor of the SAT verbal score? Is that correct flieger83?

Thanks for all your input.

What USAFA/RRS (selections) will do is take BOTH of your tests: SAT and ACT and "evaluate" them as a complete package each. The one that gives you the MOST "overall points" will be the test used for your "package."

They don't "mix/match" a score from SAT and a score from ACT.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
SAT Scores

My DS scores are: 620 CR & 680. Hopefully, the lower CR will not keep him out of the race.
 
My DS scores are: 620 CR & 680. Hopefully, the lower CR will not keep him out of the race.

I know for certain that it won't dq him, but it might not be competitive enough compared to some other's stats.
 
I know for certain that it won't dq him, but it might not be competitive enough compared to some other's stats.

Some of DS stats: 3.97 UWGPA, 17 out 706 class rank, 2 varsity letters, team captain in track and cross country, etc. The competition this year must be unbelievable.
 
I agree in part with pilot2b, but also disagree.

CA is one of the big ones when people say "competitive" state.

However, nobody knows the background of that poster.

For example:
School profile

Much has been stated regarding how the services want to show diversity, that includes inner city schools.

4 yrs ago when or DS was graduating from HS, 1 HS in the county was in such a bad area nobody in their right mind would go within 10 blocks after the sunset. This was rural NC.

2 students made the front page of the newspaper, they had what people would call from the affluent HS "average" stats.

One got an AFROTC scholarship Type 1 to MIT
One got an SA appointment

Neither were jocks. They were just kids that had beat the odds where graduating in that school was seen as the 1st in the family.

Both I can say will be commissioned this May. Both go back home and are inspirations to their community.

Just trying to remind people, it is the WHOLE picture the AFA looks at, and so before we rush to a judgment regarding chances, we need to remember there are factors.
 
I agree in part with pilot2b, but also disagree.

CA is one of the big ones when people say "competitive" state.

However, nobody knows the background of that poster.

For example:
School profile

Much has been stated regarding how the services want to show diversity, that includes inner city schools.

4 yrs ago when or DS was graduating from HS, 1 HS in the county was in such a bad area nobody in their right mind would go within 10 blocks after the sunset. This was rural NC.

2 students made the front page of the newspaper, they had what people would call from the affluent HS "average" stats.

One got an AFROTC scholarship Type 1 to MIT
One got an SA appointment

Neither were jocks. They were just kids that had beat the odds where graduating in that school was seen as the 1st in the family.

Both I can say will be commissioned this May. Both go back home and are inspirations to their community.

Just trying to remind people, it is the WHOLE picture the AFA looks at, and so before we rush to a judgment regarding chances, we need to remember there are factors.

Pima,

I understand what you mean. DS is in a reasonably good High School in Northern California. However, factors such as the housing crisis, high unemployment (17.3%), and low tax revenues has really created some economic challenges for the San Joaquin Valley, especailly for our High School. Hard to really know if DS' High School falls into the category you mention. I guess we will have to wait and see. Thanks.
 
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