<p>I received a 34 on the ACT and am wondering if I should sign up for another test. I know this is a high score but my parents are afraid it’s not high enough to warrant merit aid at the more selective schools. Obviously this isn’t a complete picture of my situation, but do my parents’ fears have any basis? Should I sign up for another test?</p>
<p>Only if you’re POSITIVE you will do better. Even so, your efforts may be better spent elsewhere–dedication to your extracurriculars, good grades, and your essays are often just as important as test scores.</p>
<p>If you have only taken it once and got a 34, it might be worth studying a bit on your weakest section and taking it again. You still haven’t fully gotten the advantage if being familiar. If you have already taken it 2-3 times, I think it would be a waste to take it again.</p>
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<p>That’s a silly answer because no one can ever be that “positive.”</p>
<p>Regardless, OP, it depends on: 1) what your individual scores were; 2) the colleges to which you are applying; 3) and whether they superstore.</p>
<p>(In general, your parents are correct: higher is (almost) always better than lower.)</p>
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<p>For example, if you were sick that day and weren’t able to concentrate, or if you didn’t study for one section and will for the next try.
But if you think maybe some of your higher subscores were flukes and you won’t be able to score that high again–I’d say that’s a pretty good indicator that you shouldn’t try again only to do worse on the test.</p>
<p>If you had one low section that brought you “down” to a 34, then try it again especially if your schools super score. 
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