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Post by Basket1lady on Oct 2, 2014 17:43:05 GMT
I'm looking for some opinions about DS retaking his ACT and SAT tests.
Some background: DS is a senior and is a great student. He is currently taking 6 weighted classes, 4 of which are AP classes. He is in the top 2% of his high school class of 850+ students. He missed the preliminary cutoff for National Merit Scholars by .5%. He's one of those geeky kids who actually likes tests.
He had a severe concussion in the spring and missed all the ACT & SAT test dates. So he is just now taking these tests as a senior. He took the ACT in September and takes the SAT next week.
We got his ACT score yesterday and it was a 33. Great score--it's in the 99th percentile for the nation. And yes, I'm super proud of him. And I feel bad for asking this, but is it good enough? Especially since he didn't take a prep class and it was his first time taking the test. He plans to major in Engineering and is looking at several colleges, including Notre Dame, which is probably the hardest one on his list to get into. And many schools pay out in scholarships based on grades and test scores.
His low score was in English, which isn't too surprising since he's a math/science guy. He had a 29 in English, a 33 in Math, a 34 in Science and a 35 in Reading. He could probably bring the English score up, but what if one of the other scores goes down?
So, would you have him take it again? Take him out for ice cream and forget any further tests? Something else? Thanks!
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Post by cmpeter on Oct 2, 2014 17:50:20 GMT
It might vary by colleges, but my understanding was that if you retake it and score lower in some sections, they still accept the higher score from the original test. Maybe someone can verify that or you could call the colleges to confirm?
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Post by Basket1lady on Oct 2, 2014 17:56:00 GMT
It might vary by colleges, but my understanding was that if you retake it and score lower in some sections, they still accept the higher score from the original test. Maybe someone can verify that or you could call the colleges to confirm? Some colleges do this, others don't. I think it's called leveling. I think all of the college he is looking at accept the highest overall score, regardless of how many times the test was taken. |
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Post by jemali on Oct 2, 2014 18:12:19 GMT
Remember, the score is an average of the 4 scores. So in order to increase the 33 to a 34, he would have to score a 32 in English, assuming none of the other scores change. That is a big improvement to make.
I would not have him retake it.
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Post by auntkelly on Oct 2, 2014 18:17:53 GMT
If he is trying to get into Notre Dame and you think he could possibly do a little better the second time around, I'd give it a try. The applications process is just so much more competitive these days than it used to be, one point might be the deciding factor.
My son goes to Notre Dame and he absolutely loves it. I hope your son is accepted if he wants to go there.
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1345
Posts: 4,209 
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Post by peppermintpatty on Oct 2, 2014 18:21:34 GMT
It's called a Superscore. Some schools do it, others do not. Some take the best of all the different categories from all the tests, some will only take the best overall score from one test, some will allow the student to choose which to submit, some will make their own determination. You need to look at each college and whether or not they superscore.
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Post by kmk1112 on Oct 2, 2014 18:22:37 GMT
We had college night this week, and they called the combining of different dates' scores "Super Scoring". Some did it, some didn't (these were all state schools.)
They all 4 said it is never a hinderance to take it again, they just look at the best score.
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Post by Clair on Oct 2, 2014 18:42:47 GMT
I'd see if he wants to retake-let him choose. Becoming a NMS would be the reason to retake. I don't think it would change his chance at admission.
Our experience has been is that there are many kids with great stats. With so many exceptional kids applying to all the top schools - it's the extra curriculars that set your child apart.
I have a kid who is a EE major at a very prestigious university. Everyone there was top of their class, with high test scores. The average Gpa was approx 4.5 for incoming engineering majors.
The kids with the unique engineering experience were the ones who got accepted. My son besides doing the basics like FIRST Robotics had won a major international engineering award as well as entered and won some unique engineering competitions. He was also an intern at a major aerospace company in high school.
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Post by littlemama on Oct 2, 2014 18:52:20 GMT
A 33 is phenomenal. I would not have him retake it.
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Post by anxiousmom on Oct 2, 2014 18:56:59 GMT
I have a bit of an overachiever for a son...one of the things that I have learned over the years is that I need to ask him what he wants to do. Sometimes the answers really surprise me. I have found, at least with my son, that he has a better over all understanding of what his goals are than I do.
What does your son want to do? What was his response to his test scores? Does he feel like he should have done better? Does he feel satisfied with his scores?
If his responses are realistic, then I would follow his lead.
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Post by maryland on Oct 2, 2014 18:57:34 GMT
That's a great score! My daughter is a senior and took it twice, getting a 27 the second time. She is also in all weighter/AP classes and is in the top 5% (569 students). Congratulations to your son!
My daughter is so lazy about getting her applications done. She wants to go to UNC but they don't accept many out of state students, so I am really getting on her to get her application submitted! A shame to waste great SAT scores/grades because she procrastinates getting her applications done.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 19:35:39 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2014 19:26:16 GMT
I would leave it up to him. My daughter got a 33 on her first try, too, and was NOT satisfied. I sure was, but she wasn't. She wanted another go at it. Upon retake, with no studying mind you, hello 35. Well worth the time and money, in my opinion. (Edited to say, she is a great student and ranked [HASH]1 in her class. Can't wait to see what she does with her life.)
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Post by mikewozowski on Oct 2, 2014 20:04:35 GMT
if you have concrete reasons (like 34 gets you a full scholarship or something like that) for needing higher than a 33, then retake. if not, no
33 and 99th percentile should be plenty, IMO.
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gsquaredmom
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Oct 2, 2014 20:38:54 GMT
My son with no prep went from a composite of 33 to a 34 on retake. His colleges did not superscore and it made no difference in his scholarship offer.
But he is not at Notre Dame and does not want engineering
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Post by happymom on Oct 2, 2014 21:27:56 GMT
if you have concrete reasons (like 34 gets you a full scholarship or something like that) for needing higher than a 33, then retake. if not, no 33 and 99th percentile should be plenty, IMO. Notre dame doesn't give merit scholarships so just getting is is the issue. I wouls have him take it again. Sounds like a rough spring. |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 19:35:39 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2014 21:42:29 GMT
My son had a 33 ACT and a 2190 SAT (the essay portion had just been added which took it from a possible 1600 score to a 2400 possible score, I believe) and was accepted at Notre Dame but was not applying to the School of Engineering. That was about 6 years ago so I don't know if that has changed. He decided to go elsewhere  |
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peabay
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Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Oct 2, 2014 22:40:36 GMT
Yep, I would have him take it again. If he wanted to.
Sounds to me with some prep he could do better and, if he felt strongly about it, I would totally support him taking it again.
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ellen
Drama Llama
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Post by ellen on Oct 3, 2014 0:54:25 GMT
My daughter took it in February and got a 29. We knew she was taking it a bit on the early side and went in with the attitude that she'd take it again in June or September. There is no downside to taking it a second time. She got a 31 in September - well worth it. It was enough to put her comfortably in the top 25% of all the schools she is applying to. It bumped her up in merit awards for at least three of the schools. She's done. None of the schools she's applying to are ultra selective. She also cried the night before the test because she felt stressed out - another reason not to have her take it again. Have your son take it again, the worst that can happen is that his score stays the same or goes down. Notre Dame doesn't need to know about it because your son will choose what set of scores they will see. You send them the 33. Congratulations to your son. Those 30+ ACT scores open up a lot of doors for our kids.
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Post by Basket1lady on Oct 3, 2014 1:00:41 GMT
Remember, the score is an average of the 4 scores. So in order to increase the 33 to a 34, he would have to score a 32 in English, assuming none of the other scores change. That is a big improvement to make. I would not have him retake it. This is exactly my concern. I'm positive he could raise that English score, but could he raise it 3-4 points? |
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ellen
Drama Llama
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Post by ellen on Oct 3, 2014 1:07:35 GMT
My daughter raised her math score 5 points, but I think what helped her the most was finishing out the last five months of her Alg 2 class where a lot of tested material was covered. You could always buy him a book of English practice tests. My daughter got a 34 on the English section - always been a strong area for her. Her lowest was science. If she could have had 1 more point in science she would have had a 32 composite. That bugged her, but we reminded her that she is done.
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Post by Basket1lady on Oct 3, 2014 2:16:42 GMT
We spent some time tonight talking about this. We didn't decide what to do, but I read the thread to DS and he is thinking about it. I told him that ultimately it was his decision. That he had to live with it if he doesn't get into the college he wants to.
The thing is that he doesn't have the traditional engineering track. No robotics or physics club. He plays varsity football and is heavily involved in the upper leadership of Boy Scouts. Luckily, he has taken engineering classes at school and has the classes, but is it enough? It all seemed so simple 25 years ago. I got a 30 on my ACT and got into every college I applied to, all with merit scholarship offers.
thank you for everyone's advice. I can't wait until this is all over. He was out of school for 8 weeks this spring, only returning in time to take his AP exams. We didn't get our college visits done or tests taken because after he went back to school, he had 8 weeks of make up work to do.
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Post by gotranch on Oct 3, 2014 6:19:34 GMT
It might vary by colleges, but my understanding was that if you retake it and score lower in some sections, they still accept the higher score from the original test. Maybe someone can verify that or you could call the colleges to confirm? That is the way both of my dds were listed on there college info page. The both went to school in SD, so no Ivy League school. |
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M in Carolina
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by M in Carolina on Oct 3, 2014 6:44:51 GMT
I'm so sorry that your son has had to deal with a bad concussion, especially during his junior/senior year.
I had a stroke and have had a few bad concussions. My neurology team suggested that I drink coffee to help recover, and it really works. Espresso, decaf, whatever your son would drink. When I tried the coffee, there hadn't been many studies done. My fast recovery from my stroke was used as part of a study because my doctors were so impressed by how quickly I regained strength from my paralysis and bounced back from the language/fuzzy headed feeling.
In my area, the Kumon and other tutoring companies help with testing. I did really well on my English, but I remember that there was a lot of grammar/punctuation questions, so knowing the rules really comes in handy. I've also seen the prep books at Barnes and Noble.
My dh was an Eagle Scout. Through his scout contacts, he was able to get some great mentoring from professionals who were former Boy Scouts that gave him advice and let him see what their jobs were really like. I think some hands on experience with engineering would really help for his college application.
My uncle is a retired engineering professor from VMI. He mentored a lot of students and was happy to help any kid who contacted him personally and asked for help. He was asked to write a text book, and a few high school students helped him for a recommendation and something interesting to put on their college applications. They did very well.
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