Question about low ACT score

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Mere2033

5-Year Member
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Sep 12, 2016
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515
Hi all,
My DD has had all SAT test dates cancelled (we live in California) so at the last minute she went standby 2 hours away die the ACT. She had no idea how the teat was structured and scored a 22. She’s taking it again in a few weeks but my question is whether or not she should report this score and then as she does better, keep updating to show improvement or just hold out until a better score comes along. Thanks!
 
Mere2033 said:
Hi all,
My DD has had all SAT test dates cancelled (we live in California) so at the last minute she went standby 2 hours away die the ACT. She had no idea how the teat was structured and scored a 22. She’s taking it again in a few weeks but my question is whether or not she should report this score and then as she does better, keep updating to show improvement or just hold out until a better score comes along. Thanks!
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i would not report. we just went through this and my DS had a 24 and feel that was the reason he didn’t get in. My son is headed to NAPS.
 
USAFAHOPEFULL2025 said:
i would not report. we just went through this and my DS had a 24 and feel that was the reason he didn’t get in. My son is headed to NAPS.
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Second this. I got a 24 on math ( everything else 30 or above) and I'm going to Northwestern prep. Now there is always other factors and you can always report the score later if she doesn't get a second chance.
 
FlyFalcon said:
Second this. I got a 24 on math ( everything else 30 or above) and I'm going to Northwestern prep. Now there is always other factors and you can always report the score later if she doesn't get a second chance.
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I’m just wondering if she even has a slight improvement each time she takes it will show she’s on the right track and is capable of doing better. We lost many test dates and time is running out.
 
Mere2033 said:
I’m just wondering if she even has a slight improvement each time she takes it will show she’s on the right track and is capable of doing better. We lost many test dates and time is running out.
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When it comes to this I would probably say no. I took two tests in the middle of Covid. Just like your daughter my test were constantly being canceled even to the point of hours before. However the USAFA superscores which means if she score higher on her next test in all four categories they won't even take a look at the first test.

Also may I ask what do you mean times running out? Unless rules have changed, she'll be able to send in test scores till next January time frame. The application closing date is only for the items listed in the candidate booklet.

If this has change please let me know.
 
FlyFalcon said:
When it comes to this I would probably say no. I took two tests in the middle of Covid. Just like your daughter my test were constantly being canceled even to the point of hours before. However the USAFA superscores which means if she score higher on her next test in all four categories they won't even take a look at the first test.

Also may I ask what do you mean times running out? Unless rules have changed, she'll be able to send in test scores till next January time frame. The application closing date is only for the items listed in the candidate booklet.

If this has change please let me know.
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Yea you’re right about that. I think her biggest concern at this point is getting a nomination. The two senators in California have a deadline of October 1st.
 
Mere2033 said:
Yea you’re right about that. I think her biggest concern at this point is getting a nomination. The two senators in California have a deadline of October 1st.
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Ah that also my deadline, and an issue I had too ( IL). I would ask if they are willing to take everything now but accept other scores at a later date due to Covid closers. Many of the nominationers took into consideration lack of chances to take and mostly compared everything else.

However stating that, if she asks and they can't make an acception still give the senators the scores and hope they understand. Have her keep retesting till she has a score she's happy with to send to USAFA. Scores she send to the senators are separate from the scores she needs to send to USAFA.
 
Mere2033 said:
Hi all,
My DD has had all SAT test dates cancelled (we live in California) so at the last minute she went standby 2 hours away die the ACT. She had no idea how the teat was structured and scored a 22. She’s taking it again in a few weeks but my question is whether or not she should report this score and then as she does better, keep updating to show improvement or just hold out until a better score comes along. Thanks!
Click to expand...
I agree with above. I would wait to send a better score. Others will say send all scores.

I recommend she go into her My Score Details on the ACT website. From there she can determine her strengths and weakness. She can look up the types of questions under each sub score category. Both of my DD did this and determined just a few questions/problems which they needed to study/learn. It was shocking to me how a few types of questions could drastically impact scores. They did this on their own. No tutor etc necessary. Although, there is nothing wrong with hiring a good tutor. They were both able to raise their score each time they took the test. Good Luck!
 
Gabe_ said:
I agree with above. I would wait to send a better score. Others will say send all scores.

I recommend she go into her My Score Details on the ACT website. From there she can determine her strengths and weakness. She can look up the types of questions under each sub score category. Both of my DD did this and determined just a few questions/problems which they needed to study/learn. It was shocking to me how a few types of questions could drastically impact scores. They did this on their own. No tutor etc necessary. Although, there is nothing wrong with hiring a good tutor. They were both able to raise their score each time they took the test. Good Luck!
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On it now! My DD isn't really open to tutors so I found the self paced videos on the website for $99. Hopefully that will help.
 
We bought our DD official SAT and ACT study books. We also bought math and science specific ones since she’s strong in English and reading. She took the practice tests and read why she got things wrong. Helped considerably as she went up 3 points in each subject.
 
Whiller said:
We bought our DD official SAT and ACT study books. We also bought math and science specific ones since she’s strong in English and reading. She took the practice tests and read why she got things wrong. Helped considerably as she went up 3 points in each subject.
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Awesome to hear! Official SAT book is great if you want to get used to the wording plus I brought it myself and for 22 dollars ( at the time) was well worth it.
 
FlyFalcon said:
Awesome to hear! Official SAT book is great if you want to get used to the wording plus I brought it myself and for 22 dollars ( at the time) was well worth it.
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DD had OK SAT score but wanted to try ACT. Did poorly on ACT (score 22). Unfortunately we had scores sent before we knew how she did. Has since increased SAT score and plans to take again to hopefully get mid to upper 1300. Problem is the low ACT score.... will they just count the highest score of either SAT or ACT ? Or will that low ACT score be an albatross. Does she need to retake the ACT to try to increase the ACT score as well as her planned retake of SAT? Was hoping with good self study plan and concentrating on just one test she can really beef up the SAT score.
 
Limerick said:
DD had OK SAT score but wanted to try ACT. Did poorly on ACT (score 22). Unfortunately we had scores sent before we knew how she did. Has since increased SAT score and plans to take again to hopefully get mid to upper 1300. Problem is the low ACT score.... will they just count the highest score of either SAT or ACT ? Or will that low ACT score be an albatross. Does she need to retake the ACT to try to increase the ACT score as well as her planned retake of SAT? Was hoping with good self study plan and concentrating on just one test she can really beef up the SAT score.
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This is what happened with my oldest DD when she applied to West Point. She had a great admissions officer and he told her to keep taking the test to increase her score. She sent in 6 more tests and all increases. She never got a high score but he liked her deligence and constant improvement. She was accepted with a 1200 SAT.
 
So if she scores really well on the SAT but not the ACT they'll take the SAT and not look at the ACT. Same in reverse. They understand that some students don't do as well on the act or sat as they do on the other one.
 
Thank you go the advice and in this case good news. Since SAT seems to be her better format, would really like her to focus on just one test. Fingers crossed the August test date goes well.
 
Mere2033 said:
On it now! My DD isn't really open to tutors so I found the self paced videos on the website for $99. Hopefully that will help.
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I wasn't really open to tutors back when I was struggling in math. My mom eventually found one and "forced" me to have a lesson with her. Now I've been having lessons from her for almost 4 years, straight A's in my math courses, constantly imitate my Russian Pre-Calc teacher from junior year and drink our morning espressos during our lessons. She's been amazing and has really helped me feel more confident in my math ability and I don't know what I would've done without her. It's worth a shot!
 
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