Is there any reason to retake the ACT if you scored a 35 composite the first time? Section scores were 33 math, 35 science, 36 reading and writing? Does it matter that the kid is interested in majoring in science?
What kind of science, and how selective are the colleges to be applied to?
Top SLACs. 4.0UW so far and top rigor (in AP chem and BC calc now as a junior). I think she wants to study Chem or Biochem.
Only on CC would someone ask about retaking a 35 ACT.
And this kid’s science score is high.
My opinion…work on something else…like finding colleges that are less selective for their application list.
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- Student lives in a state with mandated testing. Student feels that since the state is paying for the retake, why not try again. (Or in the case of my child, student thinks it is more work to apply for an exemption than to take the school-day sitting.)
- Student is applying to schools offering higher merit aid for 36 versus 35.
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OK, thanks. Yes, she will have a mix of schools on the list. My gut instinct is that her time is better spent on schoolwork or applying for summer programs than on retaking. Super-busy kid balancing school, pre-pro ballet, and a part-time job.
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Others will hopefully weigh in…but that’s my opinion too.
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Really? According to the CDS, Amherst’s 50th percentile score for math is a 31, Bowdoin’s is a 32, and Williams’s is a 33.
I guess the only harm in retaking is having to spend more mental energy on this.
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Another opinion - my S25 is applying for ME and also scored a 35 composite. However, his Math was the lowest section at 34 and our counselor said as long as it wasn’t lower than 34, he was fine to not retake. Not sure if it’s the same “standard” for your daughter’s major but just wanted to put that out there.
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I’d want to know if her schools superscore or not. If yes, then maybe consider retaking. Maybe. But only if she works on math.
Interesting. My S is at Williams and I was thinking of the year before where it was a 34. Didn’t look at the info carefully.
This simply isn’t true. There are over 200 LACs and a 33 in math would be above the 50% at most of them.
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she said top LACs., there are many hundreds of colleges where this would be an acceptional score, but not top LACs.
Yes, OP said this but your post does not make this designation. So factually inaccurate.
My belief is that you’re looking at a specific, additional detail of something that is already supplementary. It never hurts to retake if the student wants to, but at this point it will not be as meaningful.
ACT/SAT generally confirms something or answers questions raised by the transcript. If the student performed well in school in math, I doubt that ACT math 33 would cause any issues.
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edited! Thanks for helping me clarify!
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Your post is still incorrect. Are there any highly selective SLACs where 33 in math is below the 50 percent mark, let alone “most of the highly selective LACs”? Pomona is 32 and Swat is 33.
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better?
Great score. I would put a check mark on it and move on to other important things, like supplementals 
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