Most high school seniors dread nothing more than the standardized tests their college admissions applications will be judged by and with ACT scores being reported this week, the question arises; how important are these tests, really?
The SAT’s counterpart, the ACT is made up of four parts; English Language, Reading, Math, and Science. Each section receives an individual grade from one to 36 and then the four scores are averaged to arrive at a composite score.
The average score is a 20, though selective colleges may only accept scores above 30. Harvard’s average is 31 to 34. A score of 34 or higher lands you among the top 1% of test-takers.
Fortunately for those who aren’t good test takers, college admissions counselors will also take into consideration your grades, admission’s essay, and overall application. Some may also favor candidates that travel to their campus for a face-to-face interview.
If you are still worried about your ACT score, you can always take the test again. To see where you rank compared to other students, you can check the admission data of the previous year’s freshman class at your top choice schools.
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