I’m taking the September ACT as a senior in about a month. I’ve already taken 2 practice tests and feel like I’m not improving. I got a 30C (34E, 33M, 29R, 25S) last time I took it, and I want to take it to a 32. I’m trying do separate sections on reading and science, and I’m still not doing any better. I took a science test recently and missed 9 questions. What do I do to get out of this rut? And also, how significant of are my ACT scores to college? Is it possible to still be accepted to universities like Georgetown or Emory with my current score?
Another quick question! Can good SAT II tests offset a bad ACT score?
Not really, no.
They are pretty important to top colleges. Science is the easiest to improve… Focus ONLY on science now. Go to the ACT sub folder here, there are a lot of threads with great tips. Know WHY you got each one wrong. Try doing a practice science test where u don’t read the paragraph… Go straight to the questions. That works for a lot of kids. Time yourself strictly!
Are you specifically reviewing the types of questions you missed, studying them and reworking them?
Yeah, I’m trying to, but I think most of my errors come from the conflicting viewpoints passages. It’s hard for me to read it and understand what is happening.
Georgetown’s a no-go. I had a student ranked top 5 in a class of 500 and an ACT of 35 not get in to G’town this year. She’s happily enrolled in another school with less initial prestige but will give her a free education.
Bump
@midtntutor If you don’t mind sharing, what were her SAT Subject test scores? My understanding is unlike other schools, Georgetown places somewhat more value on SAT Subject test scores than the SAT/ACT, hence the continued requirement for the submission of 3 Subject tests. No real way to validate this other than students from my son’s school who matriculate at Georgetown every year (usually 7 to 8 from a graduating class of 130 or so each year) and most indicate that their SAT subject tests scores were solid.
I must advise both @ThinkOn and @midtntutor to resist the urge to draw conclusions about a college’s admissions standards based only on a single example. That’s the very definition of small sample size.
@marvin100 Not “a single example” on my end (I just have and shared data for 4 years covering about 8 students each year that attended Georgetown. Our high school does not participate in Naviance, thus, speaking to individual students and parents to collect data). While I, nor anyone else on this board, protends to be an oracle on anything, most come to this board to share what they heard/learn/gathered…supporting the “more information the better approach”. Thanks for your advise, but I’ll continue to share what I learn and always give the context so that others can take it for what its worth.
Please accept my apologies, @ThinkOn – I misread, pre-coffee. You’re definitely right that a sample size of 32 is meaningful.
@marvin100 Well, if you’re going to collect information in an unscientific way, gotta start somewhere I suppose. Enjoyed your sarcasm (ah, not really).
Not sarcastic–really. My apologies.