Jman2306

I went up two points every time I took it. Just take a lot of practice tests and the real thing a few times, and you will be fine.

I have a friend who got a 25 and got into UF, and he's certainly not valedictorian and doesn't have good ECs. It's really not as hard to get into as people say. lol

LMU10

Thank you all, for the negative comments. No really though, they don't matter. If I don't get into UF, my life's not over (unlike some the people on here). If I don't get it, oh well. I'm not the best at reading - I expected low scores, but not as low as I got.

"wait, why are you graduating early?"
- Because I don't want to stay my senior year, I hate my high school, my parents, and basically my life situation, as of now. I can't afford to get out of Florida, or else I would. I've talked it over with a few teachers and counselors and it's best for me, no matter what college I get in to.

"You did pretty bad overall, for a valedictorian. What kind of backwater school are you going to? (no offense) "
- Thank you. I'm a sophomore in a public school in South Florida, about half Hispanic half White. We focus on FCAT, LOL.

"No offense, but you're Valedictorian with an ACT of 23? "
- Yes, I am. Thank you please, no applause. I'm a hard-working sophomore with little time to study for things like this. On top, I had MONO and strep throat.

"Reading: 17
Wut. The. F***."
- Well, 35 minutes for 4 passages isn't easy. Did I forget to mention that the ENTIRE test my (LOVELY, of course) school was doing construction. It was a lucky chance for us to host the ACT's, but apparently a mistake. They were dropping desks from the 2nd floor down to the 1st, not really easy to focus, when every time you swallow is painful, due to your severe sore throat, which looked like it laid spider eggs in the back. But cool - cool.

I'm going to try and study harder for the next few times I take them. I'm probably going to take them both two more times. I don't have to pay, thank god, Florida can still come through there for me with their SAT/ACT waivers

I don't think my testing situation accurately measured my ability. Seriously, when I'm sick, I can do math. It's just numbers. But when I've got a headache, mono, strep, it's hard to read and comprehend passages.

"my friend went from a 23 to a 30. A lot of it is just timing. Good luck! "
- Thank you for the positive response

I'm going to retake it, and I'm sure I'll do at least somewhat better. Nothing like the 90% of Harvard bound kids who probably responded to this post, but I've got different and less quality goals...

raiderade

Even though I've never taken the ACT's all I can say is that my math score on SAT's jumped up 300 points by taking a word problems class over the summer (not even SAT prep) and my reading score jumped 280 by practicing one passage every night for 2 months. I've now got a M+CR score of 1400, pretty competetive compared to not competetive at all.

**I'm also a sophomore, but won't unfortunately be graduating early.

iEatReeds

I wish you luck on graduating early. It must be hard, even though you do dislike your high school.

As for a raise in score, I'd agree with everyone else: practice passages, brush up on your math, etc. You might just receive a generally easier test (for you) when you go to retake.

demoz

ya if this is your first time taking it then don't sweat it.

i remember when i first took the SATs i was nervous as **** and i scored low. then i retook it while being calm and i scored 300 points higher. i did not study for it both times.

your mentality on test day does affect your score.

xSteven

I don't know how you got a 22 in English.. that's seriously the easiest section there is. @_@

Anyway, the school construction would definitely hurt. Just retake it. Don't graduate early if you can't get at least a 28.

jckund

heres a tip... dont read the passages. Go to the questions first, answer those that can be directly obtained from the passage (ie in line 35... etc), then go back and skim the passage to answer the questions about the main idea/authors intentions. This worked well enough to get me a 31 in reading...

xSteven

I don't think jckund's tip is good. It's hard to get the mood and tone of the passage just glancing at lines.. wastes way too much time. I got a 33 in reading by actively reading the passage. I got a 35 in english because I had so much grammar work in high school english courses. I think graduating early may hurt you.

LMU10

" No offense but those are horrible scores I took it in 7th grade and I got a composite score of a 25 "

By who's standards? Good LORD - I swear some people on here.. Do you think I know their not good enough?

"I don't think jckund's tip is good. It's hard to get the mood and tone of the passage just glancing at lines.. wastes way too much time. I got a 33 in reading by actively reading the passage. I got a 35 in english because I had so much grammar work in high school english courses. I think graduating early may hurt you."

If I stay, it'll be a waste of time anyways. I will do at least somewhat better on the SAT/ACT next time I take it, guaranteed. Also, if I don't get into UF, it's not like my life is over. UCF, USF, FSU, are all very nice schools. I'm not obsessed with getting into anywhere. I haven't posted my EC's, or any other stats, anything. I'm not worried at all. Graduating early won't affect me. It's the University of Florida, and I still have plenty of chances to retake it.

Don't graduate early if you can't get at least a 28? Come on - that's silly

ansar

Well, you do need at least a 28 ACT or 1280 (CR + M) SAT I if you want to have the Standardized Testing requirement fulfilled for the 100% Bright Futures :P

briguy

thanks for answering my question, i was just wondering. i can sympathize with you on that point. HS is a drag

jckund

well, he was complaining about having to read 4 passages in 35 minutes... so obviously, he didnt have enough time to read every single passage thoroughly and answer the questions...

Emory2013?

I feel ya..I did good but at my school the ACT mean is probably 17-20, 20 being a high estimate.

4 people scored about a 20 out of 44 seniors
me (31)
2nd rank (24)
3rd rank (23)
15th rank (27)

just read some. I've taken it cold every time and I really wish I would have studied.

I got 28 soph, 31 senior, so if you study good you could easily get 26+

chronicfuture12

I got a 188 on PSATs as a Sophomore, and then got a 2220 as a Senior, without studying any significant amount.

LMU10

Ansar - I have 4 years full tuition thanks to our "Take Stock in Children" scholarship. Florida comes through again! (To any FLORIDA public university/college)

But you're right, I do need that 28. I'll get it. I wasn't confident, comfortable, or well when I took the test.