ACT scores

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SA29hpfl

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Feb 5, 2024
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Looking for feedback on ACT score average for those getting into USNA. I know there are so many pieces to this process but wondering what the real average is? Does it help if you are higher in Math and Science but your English & Reading are a bit lower? Google search says 29, how many of you got higher and how many lower?
 
SA29hpfl said:
Looking for feedback on ACT score average for those getting into USNA. I know there are so many pieces to this process but wondering what the real average is? Does it help if you are higher in Math and Science but your English & Reading are a bit lower? Google search says 29, how many of you got higher and how many lower?
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I got a 28 ACT superscore and got foundation-so I would strive for the 30's at least
 
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Ballpark 50th percentile on the SAT is 675/675 for 1350 combined …. 75th percentile is somewhere around 1400 combined …

The SAT & ACT are marathons …. If you can do well on 1 test date without having to Superscore … it shows that you can “FOCUS” for many hours at a time.

I think Admissions appreciates candidates that are able to deliver a respectable score in 1 sitting …
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Make this easy: Go to the USNA website and find the annual class profile. It'll show you middle 50% ACT/SAT scores for the latest class (and maybe past ones). Far more reliable data than anecdotes you'll find here.

You ask what's more important, math or English. The answer is "yes."
 
"STANDARDIZED TEST DATAMiddle 50th percentile*SAT Verbal 610-700 SAT Math 610-710ACT English + Reading 51-64 ACT Math 26-31*** 50% of the class achieved SAT/ACT scores within the rangebetween the 25th and 75th percentile**ACT equivalent scores"

You won't get better information than USNA publishes. Look at the class portrait for any given year. The above information is the most recent class published with regard to standardized test scores.
 
mike1979 said:
31 was sufficient for LOA. I think admissions are using it to measure applicants ability to handle the curriculum.
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Not true at all. It really depends on SA / slate competition / other many unknown factors

DS scored SAT 1580 (convert to ACT 36 ) TD from USNA, no prep, no foundation, no wait list -- Nada

But he did get LOA from West Point fortunately !!!
 
USNA does superscore. I've never heard USNA say that they value a higher score in one test over two great scores across 2 tests. What they DO look for is someone who "tanks" one portion of the SAT/ACT to focus on the other. So, for example, say you had a 700/550 on test 1. If you then took it again and scored 400/660, that would be a problem as it would suggest you made zero effort on the verbal portion of your second test. A somewhat lower score on verbal is ok as it could represent natural variability in test taking. Tanking is not ok and would likely cause USNA not to "count" that test.
 
Historically the brainstorm of standardized testing for military reasons, was exposed by Daniel Ellsberg (sp).
 
usna1985 said:
USNA does superscore. I've never heard USNA say that they value a higher score in one test over two great scores across 2 tests. What they DO look for is someone who "tanks" one portion of the SAT/ACT to focus on the other. So, for example, say you had a 700/550 on test 1. If you then took it again and scored 400/660, that would be a problem as it would suggest you made zero effort on the verbal portion of your second test. A somewhat lower score on verbal is ok as it could represent natural variability in test taking. Tanking is not ok and would likely cause USNA not to "count" that test.
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Interesting...haven't heard that before. That's one of the test strategies that most groups suggest for the last test (where you're just trying to increase one or two sections). Basically if you have a HIGH xxx section, answer C for all and move on. This is definitely food for thought that that strategy may backfire a bit for SAs.
 
Not sure there is a lot of value in focusing on the 'average' ACT score when it is only one part of all the various factors USNA considers. There are many paths to getting an appointment offer. For example, ~90% who get an appointment are varsity athletes which also implies that ~10% are not. There are also various parts of an application we will never see such as the BGO evaluation, information submitted by requested h.s. teachers or the results of MOC NOM interviews.
 
gniyji said:
Not true at all. It really depends on SA / slate competition / other many unknown factors

DS scored SAT 1580 (convert to ACT 36 ) TD from USNA, no prep, no foundation, no wait list -- Nada

But he did get LOA from West Point fortunately !!!
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I respectfully disagree. DS got his LOA in September at this point there is plenty of time for the admissions to wait and see if someone with the higher ACT would appear out of the same district (that is if higher ACT would’ve made a big difference here). However, they’ve opted not to. That tells me that higher ACT score would’ve not made a big difference here.
 
mike1979 said:
I respectfully disagree. DS got his LOA in September at this point there is plenty of time for the admissions to wait and see if someone with the higher ACT would appear out of the same district (that is if higher ACT would’ve made a big difference here). However, they’ve opted not to. That tells me that higher ACT score would’ve not made a big difference here.
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100% agree
 
MidCakePa said:
You ask what's more important, math or English. The answer is "yes."
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Not necessarily. USNA does (or at least did when I went through initial BGO training) give more weight to the Math score. The explanation was that USNA is STEM school (even the "bull" majors get a Bachelor of Science degree, so math aptitude is more important. That said, the person who does well on both Math and English is going to fare better than one who comparably well only Math.
 
mike1979 said:
I respectfully disagree. DS got his LOA in September at this point there is plenty of time for the admissions to wait and see if someone with the higher ACT would appear out of the same district (that is if higher ACT would’ve made a big difference here). However, they’ve opted not to. That tells me that higher ACT score would’ve not made a big difference here.
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When did he receive his offer of appointment?
 
Georgia Hokie said:
Interesting...haven't heard that before. That's one of the test strategies that most groups suggest for the last test (where you're just trying to increase one or two sections). Basically if you have a HIGH xxx section, answer C for all and move on. This is definitely food for thought that that strategy may backfire a bit for SAs.
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The SAT tests your ability to “Focus for 3+ hours” … not to Game the system over multiple dates/sittings …
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Here is a Practical Point of View here:

The difference between a 1450 and 1600 SAT is 6 or 7 wrong questions … 5 possibly for some test dates …

… and 3 or 4 of those wrong questions are “Pure Chance” for practical purposes …

A 1450 SAT is a “Perfect Score” … done … go do something else constructive …

There is Nothing more that you can demonstrate by taking the test again after you reach this level …. Review the questions that you missed and see for yourself …. Go do something else constructive …

It’s sad, but for some Parents and Kids … it’s a game
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Do the best you can and take it multiple times. Invest in tutoring if you can.

At the same time, keep in mind there are plenty of Mids who got in with not-so-great scores.
 
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