D thought today’s test was harder than any of the practice tests she took (out of the official guide). The science texts were very difficult to comprehend, but once she realized that most questions addressed interpreting the graphs and such, she calmed down and finished the section. The essay took more time than she expected, she was literally writing the last sentence when the proctor announced the end. Will find out in 5 to 8 weeks. Does anyone know if the kids who took it without the essay will get their scores earlier? Thanks!
Scattered S20 will start preparing for ACT for dec soon. thanks for the info above - like looking at the science graphs; I’ll share. the Dec ACT lets you get all of your questions & missed answers to go over for future prep; i hope that helps.
late to the party: He took the PSAT on wednesday. He said math wasn’t hard EXCEPT - he had to GO, and couldn’t concentrate at all and rushed through parts! so lesson learned for the ACT - use those facilities right before you test.
Yes @typiCAmom from what I heard, if you just did MC, you will receive you results earlier.
@typiCAmom @Darcy123 My S took ACT with writing in June. He got his composite/4 sectional scores the same time as everyone else by logging into his account. The essay score came a couple of weeks later. He received the email notifying his score was ready only when essay score came in.
FYI - according to Prepscholar, multiple choice scores will be available around November 13th and those taking the ACT w/ essay, the essay score is available November 23rd.
Thanks everyone, will let kiddo know. November 13 is actually a lot sooner than 5 weeks, she’ll be thrilled. And that would still give her a chance to sign up for Dec ACT if she needs to, right? She really hoped to be “one and done”, but I want to be realistic.
Btw, anyone else’s kid applying for some big summer programs like NSLI-Y? Takes a lot of time that could be spent on test prep 
We are not planning to apply any summer program. I think DS’ plan for the summer is essay writing/swimming/relaxation.
What is NSLI-Y? @typiCAmom
D is taking Physics at UCLA this summer which is a bummer as she won’t be able to join us for a family vacation : (
NSLI-Y National Security Language Initiative - Youth It a highly competitive merit based scholarship program sponsored by the US State Department to encourage students to learn languages that are deemed important for national security, Arabic, Turkish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Hindi … It’s an amazing program and 100% of expenses {excluding passport). My S18 did the Chinese program and they covered airfare to China and all his traveling expenses and even provided him a cell phone to use there. They offer both summer programs and academic year programs, my son did the summer program. DS20 is also taking Chinese but doesn’t want to spend the whole summer in China, if his teacher can pull it together he’ll go on a two week class trip to China and Taiwan this summer and take some DE classes.
@typiCAmom My D is applying for NSLI-Y, for either the China or Korea summer program. She is having a really tough time deciding which should be her first choice but she is taking first-year Chinese through her school’s online consortium, so she will probably choose China (Tuesday is the application deadline, so time’s a’wastin’, kiddo).
It is a really tough program to get into, from what I understand, with acceptance rates comparable to that of some top colleges. But she is giving it a shot and we’ll see where it gets her. It sounds like the experience of a lifetime for students who are into languages and cultures - I think she would be a great fit.
@Dancingmom518 yes it is very competitive. Our highly ranked high school sends many students to the very top colleges each year but has only had two students make the final cut for NSLI-Y. @typiCAmom and @Dancingmom518 best of luck to your kiddos!
My D20 said the ACT questions weren’t difficult but that she had a hard time finishing everything except the grammar section. Hopefully she also got the extra math questions because she said she left about the last 15 math questions blank.
D said her test had an extra experimental English section, not Math?
@3scoutsmom, thanks for well wishes, D will need them! She didn’t make it past the 1st round the last year, so I am not having high hopes this time, either. Still, the application part is a great practice run before the next year, just hoping for better outcomes… @Dancingmom518, I hope both our girls make it this year, mine is applying Russia summer and year, though I guess her chances for a year-long program are close to nil.
@socaldad2002, D also had an English experimental section.
Just out of curiosity do you know any class of 2019 kids that have been accepted to colleges already? My daughter, class of 2020, had a NHS walk through yesterday and noticed kids who are going to Princeton, Brown, and John Hopkins. We are from Illinois and I can understand state schools but I was surprised by this.
@nicki20 No, those schools have not released decisions yet. ED/SCEA responses typically come out in Dec. RD decisions are usually end of March/early April.
Are they athletes? I know a few recruits who have committed or been given likely letters (depending if it’s D1 or D3)
The Brown and Princeton are not athletes.
Then they are lying.
The NHS ceremony was last night. The seniors who were already in were introduced before the new inductees. There must of been 40-45 of them. While they were introduced it was mentioned where they were going to college. As my daughter heard before Brown, Princeton, John Hopkins, were mentioned. So was two were mentioned for MIT, a UCLA was mentioned. There was Illinois State, UIUC, UIC, Carroll University, and many others. There intended majors were also mentioned. I think the colleges mentioned were not where they were going but were planning on going. I don’t think they were necessarily lying about where they were going, especially the Illinois schools, but more like their dream schools. I just think it was part of the ceremony. I think my daughter doesn’t really understand the process of applying to a college. I’m certainly no expert but definitely no more than her.