should I take the ACT a 4th time?

ManaManaWegi
Sun, 19 Jun 2016 00:05:00 +0000

It seems the discussion generally boils down to if you genuinely think you can improve.
1.You should really never retake without putting in practice time, and seeing improvement (or evidence that you may improve).
2.Taking more than 3 times is not inherently bad, and will not matter at many schools (those who do not require all tests).
3.A better score is objectively better.
4.A standardized test score is generally not what decides admission decisions (especially at top schools who rate things like “personal characteristics” and “extracurriculars” as very important or important in decisions. For example, MIT, Princeton, Stanford etc.)
5. If you can improve and are willing to commit the time, go ahead and test again (bearing extreme circumstances like having a 35 or 1570)
6.Do NOT take time from other ,usually more important, parts of the application to study for and retake an act score that is “in range”, you can probably increase your chances more efficiently by doing something else.

These points, I think, are generally agreed upon and correct. Discussion is still open.