I don't remember my individual scores, but I got a 34 overall back in the day (15 years ago). I was surprised - I hadn't found the test that hard. I retook it to try for a 35 or 36 and ended up with another 34 (though didn't study or really do anything to improve). I have no idea if this is true, but rumor back then was that it was really hard to get from a 34 to a 35. I don't remember why.

If his grades are not very good, I agree with your DH that it's not worth taking them again. The content of the high school courses and the grades are the two most important factors in college admission. If the standardized test scores are weak in comparison it makes sense to work to bring them up; in this case, no.

Schools don't superscore to help the students, schools superscore to make themselves look better. Most all schools superscore now. Another reason to take more tests and keep feeding the College Board monster.

Anonymous wrote:What is super scoring?

Taking the highest subtlest score from multiple testing dates. So in the OP case if her DC takes it a second time and gets a 36 in math but 33s or below in the other 3 the super score would be the 34s from the 1st test and the 36 from the second test. If there is no super score it would just be the highest composite, either the 1st or the 2nd test.

What is super scoring?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most schools don't super score the ACTs so he'd have to improve math and get at least 34s on the other sections to make a difference. Did he do better than 31 on practice tests? If no I'd stick with the scores he has, which are strong enough for most colleges.

I've heard that most do super score the ACTs.

Most of the ones we are looking at say they don't. They super score SATs, but not ACTs. The exception is UMD, which does super score ACTs. So OP you need to look at the super score policies for the schools he is looking at to see if it's worthwhile. Would be interesting to know what you find out.

Depends upon the school, some do superscore and some even superscore with SAT and ACT.

Anonymous wrote:You need 34 across the board for HYP consideration. Slacker must re-tutor and re-take.

His grades are not very good so he has almost no chance of getting into an Ivy. Also, because his grades aren't great my DH thought higher ACTs would only accentuate the discrepancy between his scores and grades.

Anonymous wrote:Most schools don't super score the ACTs so he'd have to improve math and get at least 34s on the other sections to make a difference. Did he do better than 31 on practice tests? If no I'd stick with the scores he has, which are strong enough for most colleges.

I've heard that most do super score the ACTs.

You need 34 across the board for HYP consideration. Slacker must re-tutor and re-take.

humblebrag.

Most schools don't super score the ACTs so he'd have to improve math and get at least 34s on the other sections to make a difference. Did he do better than 31 on practice tests? If no I'd stick with the scores he has, which are strong enough for most colleges.

Son got 34s on all the act sections except math. He got a 31 on the math. Should he take the test again to improve the math?