ACT score question

[SCWDP911]

My oldest (daughter) just took ACT for first time (was supposed to take it a month earlier but forgot her picture ID - those guys are tough!)...

She is homeschooled. She scored a 26 composite. She would have scored 29-32 but her math score really drug her down. We just signed her up to take it again first week of February. We are trying to figure out best course of action to help her get her math scores up. Just curious if anyone out there has some practical experience. My daughter is very smart, but she does not get any enjoyment from math, particularly Algebra (she actually scored very well in the trig portion). I have thought about tutors, Kumon-type services, or self study resources.

She wants to major in archaeology.

[onewhippedpuppy]

ACT is supposed to simulate a lifetime of learning. Pretty tough to cram for that. I didn't study the first time and got a 27. Studied a bit and got a 28. That was good enough for me.

Really they're BS anyway. I had a 34 in reading and a 18 in math. I'm an Aerospace Engineer. Go figure.

[legion]

Back when I took the ACT, they didn't allow calculators. I think that has since changed...

Anyway, what does she respond best to? Can you sit her down with an ACT computer program and it will "click"? Will she be better with a private tutor, or a classroom?

Hate to tell her this, but anthropology uses a lot of math in the field--I'm no so certain of the coursework.

[nynor]

my method has been to relax. there is nothing wrong with a 26. now that she knows what to expect she may do better.

[legion]

Yep. I showed up hungover to my ACT and got a 29.

My best friend (hungover as well), got a 32.

A female friend of mine (I think she was at the party) got an 11. She had to retake it twice to get a 15.

[nynor]

i showed up tripping balls from the dissassociatives i had taken the night before. fell asleep during the english portion, more or less aced the rest (32-35) and got a 29 overall. i was going to take it again, but my grandfather, with PHd in education, thought it a waste of time. i couldn't very well tell them (my parents and all) why i thought taking it again might be beneficial.

[porsche4life]

I have a link for you when the net in the house comes back up. I'm on my phone at the moment.

[porsche4life]

Chad Cargill.com

His book has some good prep stuff it it. There is also free stuff available from ACT through HS counselors. Not sure how you would get it.

How old is she? What grade is she considered to be?

[SCWDP911]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Chad Cargill.com

His book has some good prep stuff it it. There is also free stuff available from ACT through HS counselors. Not sure how you would get it.

How old is she? What grade is she considered to be?

17, senior

[porsche4life]

Wow... Just now taking it? Definitely needs to hit the books and take it in February and April.

[MotoSook]

To the point: she has "female" going for her when applying for school. The admissions reviewer will consider that and her extracurricular/community activities. 26 is not bad.

What does she want to major in? At what school? Be realistic. If she isn't looking to get into Stanford or the like 26 will be adequate. Once she's in, no one will care about her ACT score.

She's probably better off spending her time crafting good essays than studying for a retest. She should take the test again if she feels she can do better after having taken it the first time, but I honestly believe that she won't be in the 30s simply by cramming. Testing tip: relax and hit all the easy questions first then circle back to the next easier ones. Don't waste time trying to solve the harder questions/problems when 2 or 3 easy ones can be answered. Getting the easier ones answered will boost confidence and so on.

She is late getting started if she hasn't applied and been accepted to a school. My niece, who we took and became guardians of, scored a 21 or 22 and was accepted to every school she applied to...in Finance. She had sports and community activites on top of her B+/A- GPA. I visited the schools with her and I was surprised there were so many students at open house that hadn't even applied yet.

She decided on a school in November and was contracted for housing in December.

[porsche4life]

Hate to put it this way but ACT score in many ways is directly relevant to scholarship $$$.

[Nathans_Dad]

I did much better on the ACT than the SAT. I think I got a 34 on the ACT or some such.

Anyhow, my ACT score is what got me into the college I wanted, they took it instead of my SAT.

I think a 26 is going to be ok if her grades are reasonable and she isn't looking at a highly competitive school. If you are really in doubt, just call the admissions office of her #1 college.

[nynor]

my score was enough to get accepted into school, despite my high school GPA of 2.1

no scholarship, of course.

[porsche4life]

Mine with my GPA got the school to comp my first semester plus give me a dorm waiver... I didn't take the dorm waiver....

[MotoSook]

IIRC I got a 31 but wasn't rolling in the scholarships. My Hispanic and black friends who scored well less and were no where near the top of our class got full rides or way sweeter scholarships than my small scholarships that didn't last all four years.

So basically, unless she scores near perfect, she won't be seeing a lot of scholarship money unless she wakes up a minority one morning. The truth ain't pretty sometimes. I was actually lied to by the AMOCO scholarship board because I am not a minority....got passed up for a full ride and a month later when things settled my buddy tells me he got the scholarship. He was probably higher than 50th in our class and had a lower GPA than me (7th). He ended up flunking out.

[porsche4life]

That depends on the school.... The whole minority thing

[MotoSook]

Yeah maybe, but you can bet they have a quota.

[nynor]

i guess the bottom line, IMO, is not to sweat it. 26 is a fine score. even if she does better, the record will show that she took it twice. she should do whatever y'all feel is best.

[porsche4life]

The Valedictorian of my class only got a 26...


I mean its not shabby.