As a Testive coach, I often hear students inquire themselves if their ACT score is "expert enough," or wonder how many times the Deed is worth taking in the hopes of an improved score. Generally, information technology feels like taking the ACT again is an obvious choice if you're dissatisfied with your score, merely retaking the exam tin can cost you time and coin, and distract you from other important elements of applying to college, like crafting your admissions essays. If you're wondering whether or not you should retake the Human activity, there are several questions you should ask yourself earlier making a decision:

How Far Is My Current Score From My Platonic Score?

Very ofttimes, students have a specific score that they walk into the test hoping to attain—they want to "intermission" 25 or 30, for example. One of the biggest temptations for high-achieving students is to retake the test until the become their ideal score or equally close equally they tin—and this tin can be a great idea! Yet, the difference in score isn't always worth it. For instance, if you scored a 29, and you were hoping to go to 30, you may be improve off keeping your initial score and focusing on perfecting other aspects of your application.

You lot should retake the Act if your platonic score is in accomplish, reaching that score will significantly open your opportunities for college and you lot take time to prepare. (I'll go to those second points later on.)

What Score Practice I "Demand"?

While few if whatsoever colleges will explicitly state "You need to score Ten on the Act for comprisal," it'due south common for schools to publish a "range" of scores for the students they acknowledge ("University A's incoming Grade of 2021 on average scored between 10 and Y on the ACT"). If you are close to that range for your kickoff-choice school, but not quite there, retaking the ACT afterward some extensive study and exam prep can be an excellent style to boost your odds of admittance .

How practise I find the score I demand?

  • If you lot have a handful of target colleges in heed, you can locate their average ACT score of admitted students
  • The average ACT score of admitted students for the previous yr is a good approximation of the score that will help your chances of getting in
  • Visit a college's website, and then navigate to their admissions page to locate this information
  • If a college doesn't land the average Human action score of admitted students, you tin can discover an unofficial score from a 3rd-political party site similar College Simply with a quick Google search

What Happened the Terminal Fourth dimension I Took the Test?

I important question to ask yourself when you lot consider whether or non to retake the ACT is whether or not your first test was affected by extenuating circumstances.For case, if you had a bad cold the day of your kickoff examination, if you didn't become enough rest the nighttime before the test or if you had just received some startling personal news the night before which kept y'all from sleeping well, these could accept a profound consequence on your exam performance. Sometimes extenuating circumstances prevent you from doing your best on a specific test day, and this tin't be avoided. If that was the case when yous last took the Human activity, then retaking the test, particularly after going through some examination prep to continue the test materials fresh in your mind, can be an excellent idea.

How Heavily Will My Score Be Weighed?

This is non a fact that's often discussed, but unlike applications can exist weighed in different ways. If you lot're applying to college for the creative arts, for instance, your ACT score is certainly nevertheless of import, but probably not as important as your portfolio or your audience, every bit the case may be. If that's the instance, focusing on an Act retake instead of the artistic samples you'll be providing might be unwise. On the other hand, if you're applying to a university's engineering science program, information technology's most likely vital that you practice well on your ACT Math and Science Sections, and retaking after extensive report to boost your score is probably a good and practical decision.

How exercise I discover how heavily my score volition be weighed?

  • If you accept dialed in on a specific bookish program, you might find that your admissions criteria weighs some aspects more than others
  • The all-time manner to notice out which parts of your admissions profile matter the most is to speak with an admissions officer from that school

How Volition the Schools I'm Applying to Read My Scores?

Be sure to check the schools you're applying to for their policies regarding multiple Human action scores. Practice your meridian option schools let you to option your best score, or only your newest? If they counterbalance your highest score, then retaking the exam cannot maybe injure you, but only assist you. If, however, your schoolhouse weighs your near recent score, regardless of whether your earlier scores were college, proceed with caution.

With the Human activity, y'all volition also need to check if your schools crave the Writing Department or not. If so, think to incorporate writing review into your test prep strategy. Remember, which schools recommend or require the writing section is difficult to predict, so be sure to check the websites of the schools yous're applying to. If your school weighs your most recent score, and you practise determine to retake the exam, be sure to written report hard and develop a plan of action and so that you lot can be sure your score will exist improved when you lot retake the test.

Do I Accept Time?

This is a question of simple practicality. When are your higher applications due? What's the last test appointment yous can accept for your schools to yet consider information technology? The Human action requires registration well in advance, roughly half-dozen weeks from examination twenty-four hours at a minimum, given that there are simply six ACTs offered per year. And furthermore, do y'all take time between now and examination mean solar day to adequately prepare for a retake? These practical considerations are important to acquit in mind before you schedule a exam retake. You can look ahead to ACT examination dates here .

Going forward, you can stay on top of SAT test dates and deadlines by signing upwardly for the College Radar , our newsletter for parents about staying on height of college admissions.

Do I Have a Strategy?

This terminal question is quite mayhap the about of import. The Act is non similar a roulette wheel; retaking the test again and again at random in the hopes that you'll land a better score volition just get out yous exhausted and frustrated. If you want to retake the Deed, you'll demand a strategy of how to approach it. Take a wait at your previous test: what areas do y'all need to improve on? What areas are already your strengths? Have y'all taken the writing department before? Will you lot do so again? How will your study program for your retake differ from your first examination, and what strategies worked well and can exist kept?

It'due south of import to develop a physical plan of action when y'all're studying for your retake. This can hateful reviewing scientific concepts, practicing grammer concepts, or brushing upwardly on math. Yous might also consider looking to 1-on-one Coaching , like with Testive, specially if yous haven't before. An individualized strategy and someone "on your team" keeping you accountable and helping you forth as yous prepare for your examination.

How do I find the score I need?

  • Take a look at your ACT results and betoken out the content areas, like Algebra, Trouble Solving and Data Analytics, where you scored the lowest
  • Brand a prep program that focuses on those content areas
  • We kick off Testive Coaching programs by uploading your do test scores to Testive learning software. And so, your Motorbus will create a curriculum designed to improve these weak areas

Costless Digitally-Proctored Online ACT and Sabbatum Practice Tests

Take our total-length digitally-proctored online Human action and SAT practise tests. Timed proctored examination, instant scores, gratuitous score analysis and prep program.

Register