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and she made a 32 on her first attempt! She got a 36 in Reading, but her lowest score was in Math. That is mainly due to her not having had any algebra 2 or trig yet...so predictably she missed most of her questions in that area.
We are hoping that she can pull it up to a 34 or even (dare we hope?) a 35 after taking algebra 2 / trig this semester in school. Still, she did wonderfully for her first attempt, and that bodes well for our goal to get her into the honors college at her university of choice. Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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(For those more familiar with the SAT, a 32 on the ACT is approximately equivalent to a 1450 on the older SAT, or a 2150 on the new one.)
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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Wow those are awesome scores. I found the math section the easiest one to improve upon with practice and additional classes. I found that the reading and writing sections were the most instinctual almost. If you didn't know it by then chances are it wasn't going to improve much with a year of classes. I tutored some for the ACT and pulling up math scores a couple of points is very doable if she takes addiotnal classes.
Posts: 416 | Registered: May 2005
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English composite - 34 Math - 28 Reading - 36 Science - 30 Writing - 7 (out of 12)
The writing was very disappointing, she's usually a good writer. We paid the extra money to get her answer document back, plus the correct answers and the scoring rubric for her essay. That way, I can go over it with her and help her see how to improve it.
She will be taking the SAT in October.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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That's really awesome Belle. I myself got a 32 my first try, though my math score was higher. I can attest that it's not difficult at all to improve on the numerical side of things in a year or two's time; much easier than trying to improve English and reading comprehension.
I'm sure she'll do even better next time, but those are still great numbers; I hope she knows that Well done!
Posts: 349 | Registered: Jul 2006
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I have an ACT releated question. I got a 33-35 range on my PLAN, I scored an 1800 on my SATs should I also take the ACT?
Posts: 549 | Registered: Feb 2008
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quote:Originally posted by Belle: The writing was very disappointing, she's usually a good writer. We paid the extra money to get her answer document back, plus the correct answers and the scoring rubric for her essay. That way, I can go over it with her and help her see how to improve it.
She will be taking the SAT in October.
Speaking as a test prep teacher, the writing on the ACT (and SAT, and GRE) is unlike anything she'll do in the real world. Or that she's done in school since about 6th grade. They expect something very specific, which it might be worth talking to a teacher or getting a Kaplan book on. Depends how much you care.
Great score, congrats.
Posts: 354 | Registered: Jan 2006
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I am thinking to apply for Unh early action, I have liked everything I have seen about it. Also will a higher ACT score help with scholorships?
Posts: 549 | Registered: Feb 2008
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You need to ask the school both of those questions. Unless someone at Hatrack is a member of their Admissions staff, you won't find those answers here. Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
Wow those are awesome scores. I found the math section the easiest one to improve upon with practice and additional classes. I found that the reading and writing sections were the most instinctual almost. If you didn't know it by then chances are it wasn't going to improve much with a year of classes. I tutored some for the ACT and pulling up math scores a couple of points is very doable if she takes addiotnal classes.
Posts: 416 | Registered: May 2005
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My kid got the same results on the ACT writing test.
He got out of the test and thought he had aced the writing part.
We get the results. 36 composite and a 7 out of 12 writing. He was upset and pissed off. His thoughts were this "If I had thought I had really messed up the writing part, I would not be upset, but I thought I did a great job and got a 7?"
We have also paid to get the writing sample back as well.
He had about the same thing happen on the SAT. Combined score of 1550 on the Math and Verbal section, but a much lower score on the writing part.
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I only missed two questions on the ACT, and when I got the report on which questions I missed, I was tempted to try again - I knew the answers to both of those questions, and had evidently been sloppy when marking the answers down. I figured I could get a perfect score next time if I was more careful.
Then my physics teacher at the time said something to the effect of "on how many questions did you get lucky?" And I realized he was right. I had only eliminated 2 of 4 options on something like 10 questions, and had little confidence in my guesses (though I tried never to be random). I had gotten lucky on 100% of those questions. It was unlikely the same thing would happen next time.
So I stuck with my 35 score.
I don't remember, though, if you can submit your highest score or if you're required to submit your most recent score when applying for college.
Posts: 4287 | Registered: Mar 2005
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The colleges we've looked into say to report the highest score. We know there is a chance her score will go down but doubt it...she has not even had trigonometry in school and got a 28 on the math. She also did not finish the math, answering C on the last 5 questions. So, I think if she knows the math better and answers all the questions she is likely to improve that math score.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Belle: She also did not finish the math, answering C on the last 5 questions.
Does the ACT not penalize for incorrect answers? If I recall correctly it was better on the SAT to leave an answer blank than to answer wrong, but I know absolutely nothing about the ACT (and may even be remembering the SAT wrong since it's been so long).
Posts: 409 | Registered: Apr 2002
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You are correct on the SAT (although being able to eliminate even one of the choices makes guessing among the others statistically beneficial).
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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I was told for the SAT that even with the penalties for getting wrong answers, you shouldn't leave any blank. It is almost always that case that you can eliminate one of the (five, I think) answers, so you have a 1 in 4 chance of guessing right. I think you lose 1/4 point for a wrong answer, so as long as you get one of the 4 right, you haven't lost any points. If you think you could get better than 1 in 4 guesses right, than guessing would most likely give you more points.
It's been awhile since I took them, and I know they changed since I did, but that's what I remember.
Posts: 1711 | Registered: Jun 2004
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With the ACT they do not subtract points for a wrong answer. Leaving it blank is the same as getting it wrong. Also with the ACT you only have to show your highest scoring test to colleges, unlike the SAT which you have to show every attempt.
Posts: 549 | Registered: Feb 2008
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We made certain there was no penalty for wrong answers, so instructed her to pick a letter and stick with it if she absolutely did not know or didn't have time to finish.
I do understand the SAT is different, so we will work with her to develop a new strategy for that test.
She has always tested well...plus she put in a fair amount of preparation time to get ready for the test. It's hard to prepare for an entire course of math you've never had, however. She takes Algebra II and Trig the first semester this year, so when she takes the ACT again in December, she will have had the math. I am hoping she'll improve based on that.
In other news, she took her driver's test today and is now a licensed driver! Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Belle: We are hoping that she can pull it up to a 34 or even (dare we hope?) a 35 after taking algebra 2 / trig this semester in school. Still, she did wonderfully for her first attempt, and that bodes well for our goal to get her into the honors college at her university of choice.
Congrats to her, first.
She may very well be able to get into "the university of her choice" with just her 32. My daughter scored 33 and got a nearly full-ride and had lots of colleges wanting her. (not that a high score would hurt, but you don't always pull up to a higher score on second attempt). What you can do, is that if she wants to take it again, don't have the scores sent out to colleges until you know how she did (in case she scores lower). Costs more to send them out after the fact, but that way you have control over them receiving whichever is the higher score.
Posts: 9538 | Registered: Aug 2003
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She actually can get in where she wants to go (we're only looking at state schools right now, we're not exactly thinking Ivy League or anything) and would be eligible for a lot of scholarships with the 32. Bringing it up to a 34 or 35 make those scholarships much more likely.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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after taking algebra 2 / trig this semester in school. Still, she did wonderfully for her first attempt, and that bodes well for our goal to get her into the honors college at her university of choice. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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Well done!
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