I have taken the act 4 times now I am in 10th grade, and I am about to start my next semester. Anyway first time I took it in 9th grade and I got a 29, now I have taken it 3(!!!) times this year, and I keep getting 34 on the test, Please help I feel like a dumb idiot. I am aiming for a 36 so that I stand a chance in the ivys.
What’s going to kill your chances in the Ivys more than not scoring a 36 is re-taking the test multiple times. Your score is fine - time to move on to other aspects of your application.
34 is the 99th percentile and a 34 is in the average of most Ivys. Also, you are in 10th grade and this is a 11th grade test so you have plenty of time. If you retake it too many times and some colleges require all scores than they wont like seeing that you took it so many times.
You need to pay for your test and answer key so that you know specifically what you are missing. But really, the advice above is good, a 34 is a great score.
I completely agree. If you have to send all the scores in then retaking it multiple times will not reflect well.
Agree…it will make you look like a perfectionist and not sure that’s what they are looking for. You are better off spending this time on other activities.
A 34 is a great score. Many highly selective schools require you to send in all your test scores. Retaking the test over and over is going to look worse than your 34. You’ll leave the impression that you had nothing else to do than cramming for the test.
Since you have so many 34s please consider donating some to students in need. 
Stop taking the test. At this point, continuing to take it just makes you look desperate and test obsessed. A 36 wont get you anywhere a 34 wont. If you really want a 36 tho, you need to be super detial oriented- take a bunch of practice tests and analyze every question you got wrong or were unsure of. You need to budget time into your test to check every single answer, and that the bubbling is correct. Prep scholar’s articles on how to get a 36 on the ACT are really helpful in this regard, but only use offical practice tests.
Again though, only about 2000 kids per year (ACT sent me a letter with the exact number but I don’t feel like finding it). Some of those kids don’t go to “top schools,” but even if they all did, there are plenty of spots that will be filled by others. An ACT scores isn’t something that’s gonna get you into a college though. (Except for Vanderbilt) it is used more as a threshold and if you get a certian score, they say “yeah, he or she is academically qualified” and move on to other parts of the application.
Source: I got a 36 on the ACT first try by studying beforehand.
Why on earth would you take the test three times in 10th grade? That is your real mistake. If you want to study and retake once more in 11th grade I guess you can but there has to be something more productive you can do with your time than continually take the ACT.
Also instead of reaching for the Ivys (which are reaches for everyone) I’d recommend that when the time comes you create a solid college list that includes reach, match, and safety schools that appear affordable (find out your parents’ budget and run the net price calculator for each school) and that you would be happy to attend. The people I see who get hurt by the college admission process are the ones who focus on the hyper-competitive schools and then don’t get in.
If you browse this forum, you’ll find plenty of people with a score of 36 who were rejected from the Ivys. A 34 compared to a 36 will not be the reason why you do not get into an ivy.
OP, as long as you took the ACT on a National Test Date, and your high school does not post your ACT scores on your high school transcript, you can delete any ACT scores you don’t like.
Colleges can’t see what doesn’t exist.
So don’t listen to those who say it looks bad that you took the test too many times.
ACT Website FAQ:
How do I delete a test date record?
Students own their test scores and may direct ACT to delete their scores for a particular test date from our records. (Note: Students may not delete scores used to document participation in State and District Testing.)
To delete your scores for a particular test date, you must submit a written request. Provide us with your name and home address, and we will mail you a form to complete and return to us. We will then permanently remove your record for that test date from our files. All scores from that test date will be deleted.
Write to:
ACT Institutional Services
P.O. Box 168
Iowa City, IA 52243-0168
USA
You took the ACT threes times and got an amazing score each time. Why are you posting? And you feel like a dumb idiot? Really? Explain what about scoring in the 99th percentile makes you a dumb idiot?
If you have gotten a 34 three times, then that result probably reflects your abilities at this time. Most HS students would be ecstatic to get a 99+% score. I’d say you’re done. Enjoy your result and move on to something else.
If you really feel you must try one more time, I’d wait until the first testing date in your senior year. Many people believe that time spent in school will do more than anything else to increase scores.